Dive Brief:

• IBM is reportedly looking into a cloud broker strategy to bolster its struggling systems integration business, according to ZDNet.

• The strategy would be based on an IT-as-a-service offering called cloudMatrix, which IBM would use as a “gateway to public cloud providers as well as in-house infrastructure,” ZDNet reported.

• IBM believes companies will eventually use a number of cloud providers and could utilize cloud brokers to get better deals and switch providers quickly as needed.

Dive Insight:

The strategy would include the use of IBM’s own SoftLayer technology, but the company would also act as a reseller of other cloud services such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, allowing companies to optimize their cloud services quickly and easily.

IBM's services unit has struggled to grow, and the company has been looking to build its capabilities in other areas, such as cognitive computing, cloud and IoT businesses and shift away from its older business platforms. In January, IBM announced it would lay off thousands of workers as part of its strategy to reinvent its core business. Some believe the layoffs are a sign the company is not shifting its business model fast enough to remain profitable.