Orange Business Services forms cloud alliance with Accenture

Operator group Orange’s enterprise-focused unit has teamed up with management consultancy and technology services provider Accenture to help large enterprises devise their cloud strategies. The two firms will also set out to support enterprises moving their infrastructure and applications to the cloud.

Accenture will bring its planning, implementation and management strengths to the table while Orange Business Services will provide its end to end cloud infrastructure and managed services. The firms will initially target businesses in Orange’s home nation of France before expanding into other European markets where Accenture does not already have an alliance with a competing IaaS provider.

Orange Business Services recently ramped up its cloud capabilities. The firm acquired French security firm Atheos in January; a firm that helps enterprises design and implement cybersecurity strategies. The acquisition saw the transfer of 130 security staff with a security background giving the operator deeper expertise in enterprise IT.

The Broadband World Forum is taking place on the 21st – 23rd October 2014 at the RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre, Amsterdam. Click here to download a brochure for the event.

Orange and Accenture said that with this alliance, they can help businesses use the cloud to simplify their management of their IT assets and better adapt to market demands while keeping costs low.

“Cloud transformation is not just about transferring infrastructure and applications to the cloud; each company’s IT legacy and strategy is unique,” explained Philippe Laplane, head of Orange Cloud for Business.

“This is why they need customised support to make the right technology choices, to define their migration processes and pace and then manage their new cloud infrastructure.”