In an unexpected fleet in the digital world, IBM and HashiCorp have inked a deal that seems mutually beneficial. Yet, a microscopic scrutiny of the agreement portrays a potential alarming scenario. Here is a deeper dive into this alliance, with five thought-provoking points that are sure to arouse your curiosity.
1. A Sudden Foray by IBM into Terraform
Known for its limitations with cloud-native tools, IBM makes a sudden plunge with its association with HashiCorp. The tech giant now has access to HashiCorp’s Terraform, a tool for defining and providing infrastructure for cloud services.
2. IBM Cloud’s Limited Reach: A Setback?
IBM’s cloud software’s limited reach could potentially hamper HashiCorp’s ambitions. While IBM’s cloud has some robust offerings, its market penetration is not at par with major competitors like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platforms.
3. Two Titans Riding on HashiCorp’s Terraform
Notably, IBM is not the only benefactor of HashiCorp’s Terraform. Microsoft Azure also utilizes this efficient tool extensively. This could lead to a potential clash of interests in terms of technical developments and updates.
4. Is HashiCorp Giving Away too Much?
While the pact appears promising for IBM, it seems that HashiCorp might just be giving away too much. Granting IBM the ability to directly contribute to Terraform’s codebase may lead to significant control over HashiCorp’s prime product.
5. An Agreement Devoid of Financials
Most significantly, the pact’s details are silent on any financial agreements. This glaring omission fuels speculation about potential financial implications for both IBM and HashiCorp.
The IBM-HashiCorp deal may seem like a win-win at first glance, with IBM gaining access to HashiCorp’s Terraform, and HashiCorp benefitting potentially from IBM’s reputation. Yet, the limited reach of IBM’s cloud services, potential conflict with Microsoft Azure and control over HashiCorp’s product are definite eyebrow-raisers. These aspects, coupled with the absence of disclosed financial details, make this alliance way more intriguing than a mere corporate agreement.
Credit: BBC. TechCrunch, Reuters
