Cisco Acquires Tidal Software
Cisco's Unified Computing System strategy received a boost last spring with Cisco's acquisition of Tidal Software, a developer of data center automation and job scheduling software. According to an analysis published by David Williams and Milind Govekar, while Cisco had launched its Unified Computing System strategy with several partners and vendors, it lacked a dedicated business unit and tools for managing batch automation and application performance. By acquiring Tidal Software, a company focused on application management and automation, and appointing Tidal's CEO to head a new business unit, these shortcomings were addressed.
The analysis looked at what the acquisition would bring to Cisco as well as the challenges the deal poses. Among the potential benefits this acquisition intend to deliver are: the creation of a datacenter automation business unit for managing Cisco datacenter assets, IT operations software, and vendor relationships; an expansion of Cisco's market focus and capabilities out of the network realm and into the application realm as well as the datacenter itself; the implementation of batch automation; and an extension of Tidal Software's technology into an offering of "software as a service."
Challenges include the fact that the application management market is brand new to Cisco; that Cisco must keep Tidal's customers happy and reassured that the scheduling capabilities they've come to expect will continue; and that current customers must be convinced that Cisco can develop and manage applications. In short, Cisco's credibility is at stake with application management customers and must be proven.
What does this mean to IT professionals? Potentially, additional Cisco training. As Cisco moves into the datacenter with application management and automation, qualified personnel will be needed to incorporate these technologies into network infrastructures. While CCNA training doesn't currently address Tidal's technologies, it does provide networking technicians with fundamental skills.
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