IBM announced that it has signed a seven-year deal with NiSource to continue providing IT services, including a hybrid cloud computing environment. The deal is for $600 million.

IBM says the deal will help it accelerate business innovation, and support NiSource’s customer service, security and business app performance.

“NiSource is a powerful example of how companies today are turning to the cloud as a competitive lever for their business,” said Philip Guido, GM of IBM Global Technology Services, North America. “Embracing the cloud not only provides a better way to integrate hybrid IT systems, it enables companies to forge new pathways to innovation and improve services by applying technologies such as analytics across their enterprise,” he said.

“Our longtime partnership with IBM has been built on a shared commitment to innovation, performance and continuous improvement,” added Violet Sistovaris, SVP and CIO at NiSource. “This new agreement builds on our existing partnership and keeps us on a trajectory to further leverage IBM’s extensive capabilities, new delivery models and advanced technologies to deliver efficient, reliable service to our customers.”

Under the terms, IBM will help NiSource implement a hybrid IT model using its SoftLayer solution and a private secure cloud. This will help NiSource’s customer service performance.

NiSource will have the ability to collaborate with IBM’s Client Center for Advanced Analytics.

The two companies have worked together for about nine years. The new seven-year deal is similar to their previous deal in terms of price.

Image via PRNewsWire