INTERNATIONAL Business Machines Corp. (IBM), the biggest computer services provider, is introducing a package of software and services that lets customers outsource storage, reducing costs to run their own data centers.

The package uses the so-called cloud model, where companies store and access data over the Web instead of maintaining networks of servers. Clients can save less sensitive data on IBM’s public cloud and put confidential information on clouds within their own security systems, IBM said.

IBM and rivals, including Amazon.com Inc. and Salesforce.com Inc., have touted cloud computing as a way for businesses to save money as they fight off the global economic slump. With the private cloud, IBM is hoping to woo large business customers concerned about security, said Erich Clementi, head of IBM’s cloud unit.

IBM also started selling its CloudBurst device, equipped with software that controls users’ server networks as though they are operating their own cloud.

IBM started a cloud division in February by combining its cloud-computing software, hardware and services into one group.

The cloud-computing market for corporations will grow to about $66 billion by 2012, Clementi said. He declined to say how much revenue Armonk, New York-based IBM expects to earn from the new products. (Bloomberg)