Companies expand partnership to boost app migration to the cloud
IBM and Docker recently announced they are extending their current partnership with an eye toward enabling companies to use Docker containers to transfer workloads to the cloud faster.
The collaboration will focus on three areas: expanding the partnership with a specific Docker Enterprise Edition (DEE) for IBM Cloud and a host of other integrations; IBM participating in Docker’s Modernize Traditional Applications (MTA) program; and making certified IBM software available in the Docker store.
The purpose of IBM participating in DEE is to provide customers with an alternative option for switching legacy systems to the cloud and updating older applications. The DEE platform was made available for Systems, LinuxONE and Power Systems in April to support hybrid cloud environments. The company added support for IBM mainframes with the latest edition of DEE as well. After workloads are moved to the IBM cloud, companies can connect them to IBM cloud services like artificial intelligence, analytics and A.I.
Expanding their partnership even more, IBM is joining the MTA program, which is intended to help make enterprises existing legacy apps more secure, efficient and portable for hybrid cloud infrastructure. More and more companies are seeking a way to run their existing legacy apps on public or hybrid clouds. The companies said the most efficient way to achieve this feat is to package apps into containers prior to making the the move.
“The Docker container platform that millions of developers are using to build modern applications and microservices is the same platform that can be used to modernize and manage your legacy application portfolio,” said Chairman and CEO of Docker Steve Singh. “Our partnership with IBM enables us to expand our MTA program to address a customer base that wants to make their existing legacy apps more secure, efficient and portable to both hybrid and public cloud platforms.”
Sealing the new agreement, IBM will make certified software available in the Docker Store, such as WebSphere Application Server and WebSphere MQ. The company said this will allow businesses to take a first step toward containerizing their applications, and boost confidence in those images through the promises of container certification.
“Through DEE for IBM Cloud and Docker’s MTA program, the two companies are making it easier than ever for clients to modernize their existing applications,” said Jason McGee, VP, IBM Cloud Platform. “Today’s announcement from IBM and Docker is another big step forward in our long-standing partnership to further fuel public cloud adoption with containers.”
