At it's SME launch, HP has introduced a solution, initially for US customers only, that will provide them with several ways to connect to the Cloud. This will enable HP customers to take advantage of Software as a Service (SaaS) as part of an integrated solution with their existing systems.

There are two ways to get involved in SaaS. The first is to use a hosted solution where everything is run and stored offsite. Users log into the system and work online giving them freedom to work wherever and reducing the burden on IT systems. The challenge here is ownership and management of data.

The second is to integrate your existing internal systems with an external application that allows users the best of both worlds but, at the same time, gives you much more control over your data and management regimes. The problem with the second option is that it can require significant integration.

According to Forrester Research, this challenge of integrating systems is one of the main reasons that the SME market has for not being interested in SaaS. In most cases, neither they nor their dealer/Value Added Reseller (VAR) has the in-house skills to make this simple.

In order to open up Cloud integration at an application level, HP has partnered with US company Cast Iron Systems to provide a solution that will be sold through HP's VAR channel.

The solution is a subscription system that can be deployed either through an Integration as a Service (IaaS) product called Cast Iron Cloud or through a self-contained Integration Appliance that is installed on an HP Server.

Both solutions allow customers to address three distinct problems:

1.    Connect SaaS / Cloud applications with each other (eg Salesforce.com and NetSuite)
2.    Connect SaaS / Cloud applications with on premise applications (eg NetSuite and Microsoft Dynamics)
3.    Connect internal applications with each other (eg home grown systems built on SQL Server)

This is a solution that is very flexible and you can not only connect applications on both sides of the solution, you can use it to transform data for other applications. As a result, this makes it attractive to developers as well as system integrators.

As part of this agreement, all of the on-premise deployments will run on HP servers sold through the HP channel. In addition, Cast Iron will recommend HP infrastructure to all its third party datacentre clients. For existing HP customers, this agreement with Cast Iron builds on existing arrangements with both NetSuite and Microsoft.

To prevent any problems over support and the need to create a new training arrangement for HP's VARs, Cast Iron has established dedicated resources to support HP resellers as they refer customers to them for integration services, including a toll-free hotline for sales support and a self-service portal where resellers can access sales tools and online training resources.