VMware is targeting the hybrid cloud market with the launch of a platform and virtualisation program aimed at users of both private and public cloud.

vSphere 6 claims to enable users to integrate their cloud-native and traditional apps across the breadth of their cloud environment, allowing firms greater flexibility in how they deploy IT.

Pat Gelsinger, chief executive at VMware, said: "Every traditional industry across the globe is being transformed by software. To navigate and thrive in the face of this change, businesses must be decisive in the face of uncertainty."

"Today, we are taking another leap forward in helping our customers meet these demands through a unified platform, defined in software, which will offer unmatched choice and extends our innovations across compute, networking and storage to deliver the hybrid cloud."

Alongside the launch VMware also announced an OpenStack distribution service which will grant developers access to open application programming interfaces (APIs) around the company’s infrastructure.

It also previewed a technology that it says will allow it to secure public and private cloud under one network domain, using a mix of network virtualisation and vCloud Air, its public cloud service.

"As our customers accelerate growth, their IT organizations are expected to drive transformation, enhance efficiency and bring more value to the business than ever before," said Ben Fathi, CTO at VMware.

"We are helping them achieve these goals through continued innovation in VMware vSphere as the platform for their hybrid cloud strategy."