The IBM Blockchain Platform is a cloud service that offers customers a platform for developing and managing their blockchain networks. IBM has worked to develop a secure platform for its corporate customers. The cloud services make it easier for customers to develop and maintain their networks than if they tried to do this strictly in-house.

The IBM Blockchain Platform considers the needs of enterprise customers through its open standards, security, scalability, as well as industry expertise and creation of new ecosystems.

IBM provides a user plan corresponding to where a company is in the process of developing a blockchain network:

Developer Tools – This service provides tutorials and tools, along with a Hyperledger Composer, to learn and develop a blockchain application.

Starter Plan – This plan allows deployment of a blockchain application to a starter network for proof of concept.

Enterprise Plan – When it is time for deployment and scaling, this can be done on the IBM Cloud.

Enterprise Plus Plan – This plan offers the highest security and performance to maintain an enterprise blockchain network.

The IBM Blockchain Network scales up with enterprise clients. As the client’s network grows, the capacity is available to support that growth.

IBM provides an extensive array of tools and educational experiences to meet companies wherever they are in the blockchain technology utilization process. This includes demos, use cases, an overview and in-depth introduction to Hyperledger, as well as a blockchain application developer center. IBM also provides extensive blockchain developer training and certification.

The IBM Blockchain Workshop provides expert consultation to accelerate an enterprise’s blockchain development and deployment. Depending on a company’s needs, workshops can range from one day to one week, with additional consultations. For both developers and businesses, IBM also offers partnership opportunities.

IBM has worked with clients on more than 400 projects to implement blockchain applications through the IBM Blockchain Network. Projects include green asset management, food safety through IBM Food Trust, bank guarantees, a new trade finance platform, digitizing the shipping supply chain process, and more.

To assist companies in learning more about blockchain technology, IBM has created a Now Being Served series of webinars and a weekly live webcast series called Blockchain Innovators. The webinars, conducted by IBM experts and partners, are dedicated to helping companies learn blockchain strategies for transformation. Blockchain Innovators includes live demos, previews of new capabilities on the IBM Blockchain, tips, best practices, and live interaction with IBM blockchain experts.

The IBM Blockchain Network is dedicated to continued collaboration with its enterprise customers, not only to improve processes within each company, but also to transform industries through secure and innovative use of blockchain technology.

By Janet Eriksson, BIG Writer