VMware Acquires IT Benchmarking Firm, Launches Cloud Advisory Services

In addition to in-house expertise, Accelerate Advisory Services include technology from VMware's recent acquisition of assets from Info Tech Health Check, a Lynchburg, Va.-based IT analytics vendor. That deal, details of which weren't disclosed, brought in some 3,500 additional IT performance metrics spanning 20 industries and four geographical regions, according to VMware.

iTHC's background lies in providing services to Department Of Defense and government agencies, and its team of analysts -- who average more than 18 years of experience -- provide analysis of costs, staffing, processes, technologies, outsourcing and best practices

"Our team is experienced in the analysis of information technology infrastructures, processes, and business cases in order to help organizations improve quality and reduce overall costs," iTHC says on its website.

CIOs love using Key Performance Indexes (KPIs) to make strategic decisions, and with Accelerate Advisory Services, VMware wants to help them choose the most appropriate ones for cloud and virtualization projects.

There is also a channel angle: VMware says its consulting and integration partners who familiarize themselves with Accelerate Advisory Services will have a chance to serve as cloud advisors, thereby widening the scope of their own potential services.

Partners with expertise in IT Business Management (ITBM) services and products will also have access to a broader range of products, VMware said.

VMware Accelerate Advisory Services are now available in North America, the U.K., France, Germany, China, Australia, Japan and Southeast Asia, and an expanded roll out in Europe and Asia is planned for the second half of 2012.