VMware Partner Exchange: BlueLock Launches CloudSuite

Talk about timing: BlueLock, which will land on our third annual MSPmentor 100 list later this week, has unveiled a CloudSuite platform at the VMware Partner Exchange conference. Here are some preliminary details, and the implications for managed services providers.

According to an official announcement, BlueLock CloudSuite is a:

“comprehensive set of cloud computing solutions, offering a tailored selection of Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) environments to best fit the specific needs of individual applications. BlueLock CloudSuite is an array of public and private cloud computing solutions.”

The effort includes:

• BlueLock vCloud Express – This solution is suited for test and development teams, startup environments as well as departmental needs.
• BlueLock Virtual Cloud Professional – for clients who need a production environment hosted and managed by outside professionals.
• BlueLock Virtual Cloud Enterprise – designed for life sciences, financial services, government clients and other vertical market customers that have strict compliance, performance and disaster recovery needs,
• BlueLock Virtual Private Cloud – This solution is a virtual, managed, encapsulated private cloud environment that can be installed at a user’s datacenter or inside the BlueLock facility.

BlueLock is the latest in a growing list of managed service providers launching branded cloud services. We expect to share more details about BlueLock’s strategy later this week. But here’s an early teaser: The company landed on our third-annual MSPmentor 100 list, which is set to debut Feb. 10.

We’re watching the VMware Partner Exchange conference closely this week for more announcements that meld cloud and virtualization.

More Launches Coming

Meanwhile, I hear the CloudServicesRountable will interview ChannelCloud founder Kent Erickson in the next few days. Erickson also drives Pointivity, an application hosting and managed services company.

The differences between Pointivity’s ChannelCloud and BlueLock’s CloudSuite basically summarize the buy vs. build cloud debate. Small VARs and MSPs that don’t have the time or budget to build out their own CloudSuite-type services may ultimately turn to third-party cloud providers — such as ChannelCloud.

I realize many businesses (including the one I co-launched) have standardized on cloud services. And the MSP march toward cloud services is undeniable. But I still believe we’re in a cloud bubble, and many cloud companies are going to disappear over the next 18 months. The reason: Plenty of broken companies are repositioning themselves as cloud experts, in a flawed bid to catch and ride the cloud computing wave.