Is Intel Inside Your Cloud? Now You'll Know update from January 2014

"Intel Inside" is coming to the cloud. Intel (INTC) is teaming with cloud service providers (CSPs) around the world to launch its Cloud Technology Program, aimed at providing cloud users with a clear view into the technology powering their cloud-based infrastructure.

Like the Intel Inside hardware logo, a "Powered by Intel Cloud Technology" badge will distinguish Intel-based instances. The Intel Cloud Technology program builds on the collaboration announced last September between Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Intel to communicate to customers the specifications, performance, quality, and security benefits of the Intel technology used in AWS instances.

Intel says that the processor driving a cloud instance matters, and companies need to understand the technology powering the infrastructure at their cloud provider.

“Much like when choosing a car, the type of engine that runs a cloud service dramatically affects performance and efficiency,” said Jason Waxman, vice president, Data Center Group and general manager, Cloud Platform Group, at Intel. “Cloud customers want to know what technology their applications are running on because it has direct impact to their business. For the first time, users will have the transparency to select the technologies that are optimal for running their applications in the cloud.”

Intel Offers Co-Marketing

CSPs will promote the users’ benefits of Intel cloud technologies powering their services, such as Intel Turbo Boost technology and Data Protection technology with Advanced Encryption Standard New Instructions (AES-NI), through multiple channels. Intel will also have direct marketing campaigns and participate in co-marketing activities with CSP partners - to educate customers and demonstrate the impact that Intel technologies have on application performance, user experience, and ultimately the business.

“Rackspace has customers around the world that trust us to fulfill their cloud infrastructure needs,” said Rajeev Shrivastava, vice president of product marketing at Rackspace. “Our participation in the Intel Cloud Technology program strengthens our ability to deliver a broader range of hybrid cloud solutions to optimize application performance, and helps assure current and potential customers that Rackspace will run their business critical services on a cloud developed with the best available technology.”

Other participants include Savvis (CenturyLink), Expedient, Virtustream, UOL Host and OVH.com.

The Intel Cloud Finder tool facilitates a comparison of over 50 CSPs, and examines 80 end-user requirements to help find services based on Intel cloud technology. Intel Cloud Finder now offers access to trial offers, through participating cloud service providers. This tool will be integrated with the Intel Cloud Technology program.