Cisco's cloud software is a hot topic.  First Cisco UCS Director was voted the SVC award winner for best virtualization management software.  Then Forrester released a new Private Cloud Wave and both Cisco Intelligent Automation for Cloud (IAC) and UCS Director combined garnered Cisco the highest ranking for cloud vision and strategy as well as a top three ranking for currently shipping product. Customer input was behind this success.

Building a private cloud today encompasses multiple strategies and approaches.  As cloud technology evolves beyond infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), the most common path utilized on the journey to private cloud is purchasing commercially available software.  If you are responsible for understanding the right solution for your organization, you already know that comprehending the strengths of each commercial solution is a daunting task.

The significance of these awards for you is that your evaluation process just got a lot easier.  The Forrester Wave simplifies private cloud evaluation because it encompasses data from 100 customer interviews and covers 61 criteria.  As you well know, choosing a solution for your private cloud has long-term impact for your organization and this report provides a framework of clarity for any organization planning their cloud strategy for the future.

Strategy is vital for long-term cloud success.  With the most common path for any cloud journey utilizing commercially available software, building any cloud requires a solution that can accommodate multiple approaches to serve their business today and into the future.  Customers want solutions that can align with long-term goals and need a vendor with strong vision and clear roadmaps.

Cisco has been a clear partner of choice for private cloud and this report is third-party market validation of that fact.

In coming weeks, Cisco will deliver new releases of their cloud duo, Cisco IAC and Cisco UCS Director.  Until then, consider your answers to these questions:

• Are you looking for someone who will tell you how to deploy your cloud, or a partner to work with you and your business?
• Are you content with a point solution that locks you down, or do you want a solution that will evolve as cloud technology evolves?
• Are you looking for a product that does the job today, or a strategic vision with a flexible roadmap that can adapt to the market?

Think about it.    Then review the Forrester Wave for yourself.