Verizon Keeps Cloud Services Flame Blazing With CloudSwitch Acquisition

Verizon kept the carrier cloud computing charge moving forward Thursday with the acquisition of CloudSwitch, a maker of cloud software that enables users to move applications between cloud and on-premise infrastructure.

The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

According to Verizon, the acquisition of Burlington, Mass.-based CloudSwitch will help fuel enterprise cloud adoption and boost Verizon's ability to offer a full suite of cloud services.

CloudSwitch is among a sect of cloud computing startups that have focused on making the leap to the cloud a smooth transition and eliminating one of the key barriers to cloud adoption. The company's software lets users move applications securely from their on-premise data center infrastructure, into the cloud and back without having to re-architect the application or change the infrastructure.

Verizon said it will combine CloudSwitch with its Terremark IT services subsidiary as Verizon continues to accelerate its global cloud computing strategy and bulk up its hybrid cloud and cloud-to-cloud offerings. Verizon said using CloudSwitch technology will give enterprises more flexibility and control in moving to and from the cloud, while maintaining security over applications and data. At the same time, applications will remain integrated and can be managed as if they're running locally, despite being in the cloud.

Verizon said that coupling CloudSwitch technology with the Terremark IT and security capabilities enables enterprise-class cloud solutions for private-to-public, public-to-public and hybrid cloud computing environments.

"The cloud market is a rapidly growing opportunity, with very real benefits both for our business customers and the consumers they serve," Bob Toohey, president of Verizon's global enterprise unit, said in a statement. "With the acquisition of CloudSwitch, Verizon has taken another step forward in defining the enterprise cloud."

CloudSwitch CEO John McEleney added that the acquisition will help drive widespread adoption of cloud computing and ease the management of complex workloads.

"By joining Verizon, we will be able to deliver a solution that combines our software with the market-leading infrastructure cloud play," he said in a statement. "Our founding vision has always been to create a seamless and secure federation of cloud environments across enterprise data centers and global cloud services. Together, we will be able to provide enterprises with an unmatched level of flexibility, scalability and control in the cloud with point-and-click simplicity."

NEXT: Telco Cloud Acquisitions Trending Upward

The acquisition of CloudSwitch comes as Verizon and other traditional telecom carriers continue to bulk up their cloud computing profiles. Earlier this year, Verizon bought cloud computing provider Terremark in a $1.4 billion deal to gain a stronger foothold in the increasingly competitive cloud computing space.

On the heels of that, Time Warner Cable opened its wallet to buy cloud hosting player NaviSite for $220 million.

And massive telco CenturyLink topped them when it agreed to buy cloud service provider Savvis in a multi-billion dollar bid -- $2.5 billion in cash and stock and $700 million in debt resolution.

Meanwhile, other telecoms and carriers are also sharpening their cloud claws. AT&T has vowed to invest $1 billion in cloud computing and mobility endeavors, and there are rumors that rival Sprint is looking to launch its own cloud services.