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    Vendor passport · Updated Nov 2026

    IBM

    GCC Enablement Service ProvidersData + AI Platform Providers

    Placed in 2 PeMa markets and a Leader in 2 of them, with its strongest showing in GCC Enablement Service Providers and Data + AI Platform Providers.

    2

    PeMa markets

    2

    Leader placements

    2

    AIM reports

    1911

    Founded

    New York, USA

    Headquarters

    Where it sits, market by market

    Each card shows its position against everyone else in that market's latest study.

    2Leader
    0Seasoned
    0Challenger
    0Growth
    GCC Enablement Service ProvidersSeasonedLeadersLeaders2025 · Quadrant →Download with IBM highlighted ↓
    Data + AI Platform ProvidersSeasonedLeadersLeaders2026 · Quadrant →Download with IBM highlighted ↓

    Placement history

    How its position has moved since 2018

    One row per market, one dot per PeMa study. Lines join consecutive years.

    201820192020202120222023202420252026
    Data + AI Platform ProvidersLeader · 2026
    GCC Enablement Service ProvidersLeader · 2025
    LeaderNot evaluated

    Profile

    About IBM

    IBM is a New York-based technology and consulting company, founded in 1911, that serves large enterprises and governments with hybrid cloud, AI, data, infrastructure and consulting services.

    Its data and AI portfolio centres on watsonx, including watsonx.data for governed data access and watsonx Orchestrate for building and governing AI agents, and it strengthened real-time data streaming with the Confluent acquisition completed in March 2026. In October 2026 IBM reported 19% growth in its Data software sub-segment and, at TechXchange, made Agent Identity, HashiCorp Vault 2.2 and Orchestrate evaluation features generally available for governing AI agents, with cross-platform agent discovery in preview. IBM Consulting and its large India delivery base support clients that set up and run global capability centres. AIM Research places IBM as a Leader in Data + AI Platform Providers and in GCC Enablement Service Providers.

    Rising

    Website ibm.com

    Buyer signals

    What changed lately

    IBM
    IBM▲

    Ships agent identity and evaluation controls in Vault and watsonx Orchestrate

    At TechXchange 2026, IBM made HashiCorp Vault 2.2, Agent Identity and watsonx Orchestrate evaluation features generally available, giving AI agents managed credentials, ownership records and pre-deployment testing. Discovery and sandbox containment of third-party agents on Amazon Bedrock, Microsoft Foundry and Google Gemini remain in tech preview.

    Buyer takeawayIBM now offers generally available identity and evaluation controls for agents, while cross-platform discovery is still a preview.

    ▲ New governance capabilitySecurity & riskExisting customersBanking & insurance

    Ask IBMWhen will watsonx Orchestrate Discover and Contain reach general availability, and how are they priced relative to existing Orchestrate licences?

    IBM
    IBM▲

    Reports 19% growth in Data software as third-quarter revenue rises 5%

    IBM reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of $17.1 billion, up 5%, with software up 8% to $7.8 billion and its Data sub-segment up 19%. It held its full-year constant-currency growth outlook of 4% to 5% and raised its free cash flow expectation.

    Buyer takeawayData software is now one of IBM's fastest-growing lines, which supports continued investment in watsonx.data and Confluent.

    ● Lower vendor riskExisting customersData & analytics teams

    Ask IBMHow much of the 19% Data growth came from Confluent, and what integration milestones with watsonx are planned next year?

    IBM
    IBM▲

    IBM updates watsonx Orchestrate with custom-model guardrails and AI Gateway preview

    IBM's September mid-month release for watsonx Orchestrate reorganised the product around build, AgentOps, governance and an AI Gateway in preview. It added content guardrails that can evaluate agent inputs and outputs with any model registered in a tenant, and a consolidated settings panel in the flow builder covering scheduling, data masking, translations and notifications.

    Buyer takeawayTeams running agents on watsonx Orchestrate get finer control over content safety policies and a clearer path toward governing agents from a single console.

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    Reports featuring IBM

    2 AIM Research reports

    All reports →
    Top Data + AI Platform Providers PeMa Quadrant 2026 report coverTop Data + AI Platform Providers PeMa Quadrant 2026PeMa · 2026Top GCC Enablement Service Providers 2025 - India report coverTop GCC Enablement Service Providers 2025 - IndiaPeMa · 2025

    Analyst scorecard

    Scores, strengths and buyer signals

    Market names and placements are public. Scores and buyer signals are for signed-in buyers.

    MarketPlacementPenetrationMaturityBuyer signal
    GCC Enablement Service ProvidersLeaders
    Data + AI Platform ProvidersLeaders

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    Frequently asked

    Questions about IBM

    IBM is a New York-based technology and consulting company, founded in 1911, that serves large enterprises and governments with hybrid cloud, AI, data, infrastructure and consulting services. Its data and AI portfolio centres on watsonx, including watsonx.

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