IBM partners with R3 to expand blockchain services on hybrid cloud

By Sunniva Kolostyak

IBM and R3 have teamed up to formally expand choice for clients scaling blockchain technology – with R3 running Corda Enterprise on IBM LinuxONE and IBM launching Corda Enterprise Services Offerings.

The R3 beta program, launched across the hybrid cloud next month, will be delivered via IBM Cloud Hyper Protect Services to both on-premise and IBM Cloud.

Customers will get access to the security of IBM cloud, which includes confidential computing capabilities such as ‘Keep Your Own Key’ workload isolation encryption, tamper protection from privileged user access and encryption of all data.

In the announcement, IBM and R3 noted that enterprises, especially those in regulated industries, are increasingly looking to build blockchain solutions with advanced security and data privacy features while addressing performance.

“In keeping with IBM’s efforts to bring choice to clients in the era of hybrid cloud, we support an open ecosystem of blockchain providers. Bringing R3 to IBM LinuxONE is another exciting example of leveraging our highly secured Confidential Computing capabilities to help our clients of all sizes, across any industry, protect their most sensitive data across the hybrid cloud,” Ross Mauri, GM of IBM Z, said.

“This announcement builds on the exciting work over the last several months to welcome new workloads to LinuxONE and IBM Cloud Hyper Protect Services in emerging areas like blockchain and digital asset custody – and we’re looking forward to taking this next step with R3 to build on this momentum with clients of all sizes from early-stage start-ups to the largest global enterprises.”

IBM added that for clients with highly sensitive data and workloads such as digital identity, digital assets, central bank digital currencies, tokens, payments information, or smart contracts being spread across hybrid cloud environments, IBM LinuxONE provides a highly secured platform certified to meet the highest level of security certification commercially available.

As part of the effort, IBM plans to work with clients across both buyer and supplier roles and across hybrid ecosystems to with a goal of advancing a network of networks to a hybrid of hybrids.

IBM Services, along with infrastructure support on IBM LinuxONE for R3’s Corda Enterprise platform, will complement IBM’s existing blockchain services and offerings.

Also commenting, David E. Rutter, CEO of R3, said: “Corda Enterprise and IBM LinuxONE bring together IBM’s best security, efficiency and scalability features in blockchain and hybrid cloud. The result is assurance that customers can run their most sensitive workloads with transparency and flexibility.”

“Blockchain is fast emerging as the technology of choice to drive digital transformation and R3 and IBM will provide access to the privacy and security inherent in blockchain technology underpinned by IBM LinuxONE. This combined with the deeply knowledgeable team within IBM Services’ new R3 Center of Excellence, can empower customers to level up their digital transformation drive.”