IBM announced the beta launch of a new cloud environment enabling companies to test and run blockchain projects. Its first customer is Everledger, specialised in the tracking of diamonds and luxury items.

According to the рrеss release, the new service “allows companies to test performance, privacy and interoperability of blockchain ecosystems.” The cloud service uses IBM LinuxONE, claimed by the company to be “the industry’s most secure server” that helps prevent insider threats. It is designed for private business-owned blockchains that handle sensitive data. According to Donna Dillenberger, IBM Fellow,

“Blockchain will change the way we transfer high value goods, digital assets and financial instruments. To accelerate blockchain adoption, clients must trust the infrastructure and the system that blockchain is running on.”

The press release states that with the global spread of blockchains, the cybersecurity threats grow accordingly, and the companies seek to maximise the security of their projects. Indeed, the first customer of the new cloud service, certification startup Everledger that allows tracking of diamonds and other valuable assets, has never as yet experienced a hack attack but is keen to take a pre-emptive measure to secure its services. According to Leanne Kemp, founder and CEO of Everledger:

“When you are in the business of provenance, secured records, access and transparency are everything. There is no compromise when it comes to security and one cannot underestimate the expertise required to enable this.”

The cloud service is currently in limited beta.

IBM is one of the most active world promoters of blockchain development and integration. In December 2015, the company together with the Linux Foundation founded the Hyperledger project and two months later, it announced the launch of its global programme supporting the advance of distributed ledger. In June 2016, the technological giant concluded partnerships with such banks as Mizuho Bank and Crédit Mutuel Arkéa in order to help them develop private blockchains.

Alexey Tereshchenko