The cloud computing secret is out in the managed services market. The latest example of this is NetApp, a data storage and management solution firm, adding new capabilities to NetApp OnCommand Management Software that will provide a foundation for NetApp enterprise customers’ public cloud, private cloud and hybrid cloud environments.

NetApp will also extend its Alliance Technology Partner Program to include more than 20 cloud management partners such as Fujitsu, Microsoft, Tivoli and VMWare.

According to NetApp, OnCommand Management Software improves the storage and service efficiency of NetApp’s enterprise clients by letting them control, automate and analyze their storage infrastructure. The new capabilities provide a complete enterprise cloud infrastructure service that includes service catalog, service analytics, automation and self-service.

So NetApp enterprise clients now have two options when it comes to a cloud computing solution: build a private cloud computing system based on NetApp storage and data management technologies or augment a private cloud computing system with cloud service built on NetApp.

NetApp’s additions to NetApp OnCommand Management Software and the extension of its Alliance Technology Partner Program to include cloud management partners are only two developments in a series of recent NetApp announcements. NetApp and Cisco Systems combined on a new design for the NetApp FlexPod in May 2011 that supports SAP applications. The groundwork for the new FlexPod was laid back in November when NetApp developed the first Cisco FlexPod solution with VMWare to help its customers switch to a flexible, efficient, shared IT infrastructure. NetApp also started a trend in June 2010 by implementing the first Partner Program for Service Providers in the storage industry.

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