Opsware ranked #2 in server provisioning market; gains share on leader according to new research from IDC analyst report

In a recent market report (1) analyst firm IDC identified Opsware Inc., as the number two vendor in the worldwide server provisioning software market for the period 2005-2006, in terms of software revenue. Opsware achieved this ranking with $82 million in revenue and 24.4% market share, just 1.6 share points behind the number one vendor, IBM.

Opsware is recognised as one of only two vendors to increase its market share from 2005-2006, with Opsware securing more than double the market share of the other vendor. IBM and the vendors other than Opsware in the previous year’s top five ranking all lost market share for the year period. Based on this data, Opsware is positioned as the number one independent provider of server provisioning software.

“IDC’s research confirms Opsware's leadership in Data Centre Automation and specifically in server automation confirms Opsware’s continued leadership in Data Center Automation and our rapid penetration into enterprise IT worldwide,” said Ben Horowitz, CEO of Opsware Inc. “We took significant share from IBM, growing more than four times faster than they did - a clear testament to Opsware’s superior offering.”Opsware’s suite of Data Centre Automation software is the only solution that can automate all data center domains – servers, networks, storage and processes. Our ranking is testament to customer demand for a comprehensive automation solution and to the unprecedented value and ROI customers achieve thanks to our relentless drive to help them achieve zero-latency in their data centre management.”

According to IDC, the server provisioning market is centered on the deployment, configuration, and management of server system and application software stack images. Key market drivers for server provisioning software include compliance reporting, change and configuration management, datacentre consolidation, and the ability to lower IT operations costs through process standardisation.

“IT organisations are accelerating investments in solutions that can drive automated processes and tasks to reduce human operator error,” said Stephen Elliot, research director of IDC's Enterprise Systems Management service. “Task automation is a key selling point for provisioning tools. Enterprise IT organisations will continue to invest in technologies that enable more efficient and effective process standardisation.”

(1) Worldwide Server Provisioning Software 2007-2011 Forecast and 2006 Vendor Shares, IDC Report #208399, August, 2007.