Southern University Plans “Cloud Computing” Enterprise

Many colleges and universities have vast computer and technology resources. Often these resources are operating at a fraction of their potential capacity. Now Southern University, the historically black educational institution in Baton Rouge, is teaming up with IBM to make this excess capacity available to local schools, governments, and businesses that will produce a revenue stream for the university.

Students at the university will also benefit by being involved in the project and learning advanced computer skills. IBM will train Southern University faculty members and students in so-called cloud computing technology. IBM will create a network that will bundle all the university’s computer capacity together and make it available for use by outside entities without breaching the security of the university’s internal operations.