What is IBM Cloud
IBM Cloud is a cloud computing platform from IBM that combines Platform as a Service (PaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and a rich catalogue of AI, data, and enterprise services. Built on decades of enterprise computing expertise, IBM Cloud is designed for businesses that need security, compliance, and hybrid cloud flexibility.
A Brief History
- 2011 — IBM launches SmartCloud, its initial cloud offering
- 2013 — IBM acquires SoftLayer, a major IaaS provider, forming the foundation of IBM Cloud
- 2014 — IBM Bluemix launches as a PaaS built on Cloud Foundry
- 2017 — IBM Cloud brand unifies SoftLayer, Bluemix, and Watson services
- 2019 — IBM acquires Red Hat for $34 billion, making OpenShift central to IBM Cloud
- Today — IBM Cloud operates 60+ data centres across 19+ multizone regions globally
IBM Cloud differentiates itself through its focus on hybrid cloud, AI (watsonx), and enterprise-grade security and compliance.
Why Choose IBM Cloud?
1. Hybrid Cloud Leadership
IBM Cloud is built around Red Hat OpenShift, enabling you to run workloads consistently across:
- IBM Cloud public infrastructure
- On-premises data centres
- Other cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Edge locations
This "build once, deploy anywhere" approach is the core of IBM's hybrid cloud strategy.
2. AI and Data
IBM Cloud is home to watsonx, IBM's AI and data platform:
- watsonx.ai — build and deploy foundation models and machine learning
- watsonx.data — a lakehouse architecture for analytics
- watsonx.governance — manage AI lifecycle, bias, and compliance
3. Enterprise Security and Compliance
IBM Cloud offers industry-leading security features:
- Confidential computing — process encrypted data without decrypting it
- Keep Your Own Key (KYOK) — you retain sole control of encryption keys
- Compliance certifications — SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA, FedRAMP, and more
4. Comprehensive Service Catalogue
IBM Cloud provides 170+ services across key categories:
| Category | Example Services |
|---|
| Compute | Virtual Servers, Bare Metal, Code Engine, OpenShift |
| Storage | Cloud Object Storage, Block Storage, File Storage |
| Database | Db2, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis |
| Networking | VPC, Load Balancers, Direct Link, CDN |
| AI / ML | watsonx.ai, Watson Assistant, Watson Discovery |
| Security | Key Protect, Secrets Manager, Security and Compliance Centre |
| Integration | API Connect, Event Streams (Kafka), MQ |
How IBM Cloud Compares
| Feature | IBM Cloud | AWS | Azure | GCP |
|---|
| Founded | 2011 (SoftLayer 2005) | 2006 | 2010 | 2008 |
| Strongest area | Hybrid cloud, AI, enterprise | Breadth of services | Enterprise / hybrid | Data & AI |
| Container platform | Red Hat OpenShift (native) | EKS (Kubernetes) | AKS (Kubernetes) | GKE (Kubernetes) |
| AI platform | watsonx | Bedrock / SageMaker | Azure AI | Vertex AI |
Core Concepts
Accounts and Resource Groups
- Account — the top-level container for all your IBM Cloud resources and billing
- Resource groups — logical containers to organise and manage resources
- Access groups — define permissions for groups of users
Regions and Zones
IBM Cloud infrastructure is organised into:
- Multizone Regions (MZRs) — regions with 3+ availability zones (e.g., us-south, eu-de)
- Single-zone Regions — regions with a single data centre
- Data centres — 60+ worldwide
Pricing
IBM Cloud offers flexible pricing:
- Pay-as-you-go — no upfront commitment, pay for what you use
- Subscription — commit to monthly spending for discounts
- Lite plans — free tiers for many services (no credit card required)
- Reserved pricing — commit to 1–3 year terms for compute discounts
Interacting with IBM Cloud
- IBM Cloud Console — web-based graphical interface
- IBM Cloud CLI (ibmcloud) — command-line tool for automation
- APIs and SDKs — programmatic access in Python, Go, Java, Node.js, and more
- Terraform — first-class support via the IBM Cloud Terraform provider
Getting Started
- Create an account at cloud.ibm.com — Lite accounts are free with no credit card
- Explore the catalogue — browse 170+ services
- Create a resource group — organise your resources
- Launch your first service — try a Virtual Server, Cloud Object Storage, or watsonx
Summary
IBM Cloud is an enterprise-grade cloud platform built around hybrid cloud (Red Hat OpenShift), AI (watsonx), and industry-leading security. It provides a comprehensive catalogue of compute, storage, database, networking, and AI services. In the following lessons, we will explore IBM Cloud's infrastructure, identity management, and core services in detail.