SoftLayer

SoftLayer is a cloud computing company that provides infrastructure as a service (IaaS) solutions to businesses and individuals, competing with other major players like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. Founded in 2005 by Lance Crosby, Thomas Blair, Gianni Colombo, and Duke Skarda, SoftLayer has its headquarters in Dallas, Texas, and is a subsidiary of IBM, which acquired the company in 2013. SoftLayer's services are used by a wide range of customers, including Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, as well as smaller businesses and startups like Dropbox and Airbnb. The company's infrastructure is built on a network of data centers located in United States, Europe, and Asia, including facilities in San Jose, California, Washington, D.C., and London.

● History

SoftLayer was founded in 2005 by a group of entrepreneurs, including Lance Crosby, who served as the company's CEO until his death in 2014. The company started as a small hosting provider, but quickly expanded its services to include dedicated hosting, cloud computing, and managed hosting. In the early 2010s, SoftLayer experienced rapid growth, with revenues increasing by over 500% between 2010 and 2012, and the company was recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States by Inc. (magazine). During this period, SoftLayer also expanded its infrastructure, opening new data centers in Dallas, Houston, and Seattle, and partnering with other companies like Cisco Systems and Juniper Networks to build out its network. In 2013, SoftLayer was acquired by IBM for $2 billion, and has since become a key part of IBM Cloud, working closely with other IBM divisions like IBM Research and IBM Watson.

● Products and Services

SoftLayer offers a range of products and services, including public cloud, private cloud, dedicated hosting, and managed hosting. The company's public cloud service allows customers to deploy virtual servers and storage on demand, using a pay-as-you-go pricing model, similar to those offered by Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. SoftLayer's private cloud service provides customers with a dedicated, single-tenant environment, which can be customized to meet their specific needs, and is often used by companies like Goldman Sachs and Coca-Cola. The company also offers a range of managed services, including server management, network management, and security management, which are designed to help customers manage their infrastructure and applications, and are often used in conjunction with other IBM services like IBM Cloudant and IBM Bluemix.

● Technology

SoftLayer's infrastructure is built on a range of technologies, including x86 servers from Dell and HP, storage systems from NetApp and EMC, and networking equipment from Cisco Systems and Juniper Networks. The company uses a software-defined networking (SDN) architecture to manage its network, which allows for greater flexibility and scalability, and is similar to the architectures used by other cloud computing providers like Google Cloud Platform and Amazon Web Services. SoftLayer also uses a range of open-source software components, including OpenStack and KVM, to manage its cloud infrastructure, and has contributed to the development of these projects, along with other companies like Red Hat and Canonical.

● Acquisition and Merger

In 2013, SoftLayer was acquired by IBM for $2 billion, in a deal that was seen as a major strategic move by IBM to expand its cloud computing capabilities, and was announced by Ginni Rometty, IBM's CEO. The acquisition was completed in July 2013, and SoftLayer has since become a key part of IBM Cloud, working closely with other IBM divisions like IBM Research and IBM Watson. The acquisition has allowed SoftLayer to leverage IBM's global resources and expertise, and has enabled the company to expand its services and reach new customers, including companies like Apple and Samsung. SoftLayer's founder, Lance Crosby, remained with the company as CEO until his death in 2014, and was succeeded by Lance Rosenzweig, who has continued to lead the company's growth and expansion.

● Data Centers

SoftLayer operates a network of data centers located in United States, Europe, and Asia, including facilities in San Jose, California, Washington, D.C., and London. The company's data centers are designed to provide high levels of reliability, security, and scalability, and are equipped with advanced cooling systems, power systems, and networking equipment from companies like Schneider Electric and Eaton Corporation. SoftLayer's data centers are also connected by a high-speed network that allows for fast and reliable data transfer between locations, and are often used by companies like Netflix and Uber to host their applications and data.

● Security and Compliance

SoftLayer takes a range of measures to ensure the security and compliance of its customers' data, including the use of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption technologies from companies like Check Point and Symantec. The company is also compliant with a range of industry standards and regulations, including PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and SOC 2, and has achieved certifications like ISO 27001 and SSAE 16, which are recognized by organizations like American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and International Organization for Standardization. SoftLayer's security and compliance measures are designed to provide customers with a high level of confidence in the security and integrity of their data, and are often used by companies like JPMorgan Chase and UnitedHealth Group to host sensitive data and applications. Category:Cloud computing