IBM Acquiring Finland’s Nordcloud To Advance Cloud Computing

IBM is acquiring Finland’s Nordcloud, a leading cloud implementation firm in Europe that specializes in application transformation and managed services.

“Our clients are increasingly taking a more holistic approach to application modernization that allows them to operate across a traditional IT environment, private cloud and public clouds,” John Granger, senior vice president, cloud application innovation and chief operating officer, IBM Global Business Services, said in a Monday (Dec. 21) press release.

“IBM’s acquisition of Nordcloud adds the kind of deep expertise that will drive our clients’ digital transformations as well as support the further adoption of IBM’s hybrid cloud platform. Nordcloud’s cloud-native tools, methodologies and talent send a strong signal that IBM is committed to deliver our clients’ successful journey to cloud,” he added.

The acquisition will result in Nordcloud becoming an IBM company in the first quarter of 2021. Financial details were not disclosed. The cloud market for professional services is anticipated to be more than $200 billion by 2024.

The acquisition will help IBM further grow its cloud migration and transformation capabilities. Nordcloud has offices in 10 European countries, and strives to help businesses move to the cloud to become stronger and more agile, according to the release.

Nordcloud is positioned as a leading firm offering public cloud services and is one of the few providers certified for Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure.

“IBM’s hybrid cloud approach is very complementary with our cloud-native approach to helping clients migrate, manage and modernize in the cloud,” said Nordcloud Chairman and Founder Fernando Herrera. “As an experienced partner in today’s cloud ecosystems, we work with all of the public cloud providers for the good of our clients throughout Europe. I am very excited to embrace IBM’s open innovation mindset and help grow its global footprint.”

The May edition of the PYMNTS Digital Banks And The Power Of The Cloud Tracker report found financial institutions have been adapting to better serve digital consumers but the pandemic accelerated the move.

Mike Cook, senior partner and head at IBM Payments Center, told PYMNTS that transactions once paid for using physical debit and credit cards can now be easily handled online.