HP launches consulting service to help firms transition to IPv6

HP has launched a series of consulting services aimed at helping businesses migrate to IPv6 networks as the importance of shifting away from IPv4 grows.

HP Network Consulting for IPv6 Services is designed to ease the move to IPv6 by offering several tools run by HP's Technical Services division.

Chief among these is the Transformation Experience Workshop for IPv6 that will help businesses devise a strategy for IPv6, while the IPv6 Web Start Service helps firms create a dual-stack environment to run both protocols.

An IPv6 Readiness Assessment Service, meanwhile, evaluates the technical impact of IPv6 on an existing network so that HP can tell customers when they should proceed with the transition for maximum return on their investment.

HP also offers an Architecture and Design Service that develops the ideal blueprint for adopting IPv6, while the IPv6 Transition Consulting Service provides feedback on ensuring that IPv6 systems remain up to date.

Yanick Pouffary, HP's IPv6 worldwide leader, told V3 that the services will help companies understand and prepare for the transition as the need to move to IPv6 networks becomes more important.

"We've reached an inflection point with IPv4 and firms need to address the move to IPv6 to ensure they are not cut off from other areas of the internet, especially as more organisations, particularly in Asia, start using IPv6," she said.

"Some businesses are being proactive and coming to us to talk about IPv6, but some are more reactive so we are now making them aware of these services to help them plan for the transition."

Pricing depends on the different services used. Companies can use just one service or a combination of several, all of which are available from today.

The UK government has urged businesses to migrate to IPv6 ahead of schedule to make sure the nation is not left behind in the digital world.