IBM unveils IT support service

IBM announced a new information technology service on Wednesday, for clients that own and operate their own IT equipment and software. The service will remotely automate, manage and support a customer's data center and should improve utilization and cost management, according to Big Blue. It features "sense and respond" server and storage provisioning designed to adjust computing capacity as demand changes, IBM said. It is part of IBM's set of Infrastructure Management services, formerly known under the code-name "Project Symphony."

In the past, IT outsourcers such as IBM have offered to take over a client's operations more fully through steps such as hiring on employees from the client or providing IT equipment. Large IT services deals are on the rise, according to a recent study.