Bangalore, Jan 15 (IANS): Indian IT bellwether HCL Technologies has tied up with US-based $13.5-billion IT major CSC to offer application modernisation and transition to cloud by enterprises.

"As partners, we will set up application modernisation delivery network to help enterprises shift to a cloud-enabled platform from legacy technologies," HCL chief executive Anant Gupta said in a statement here Wednesday.

The first two delivery centres will be set up in Bangalore and Chennai to lower risks and costs for clients transitioning to the cloud.

As a technology platform, the cloud relies on sharing computing resources than having local servers or personal devices to handle applications on the internet. Like grid computing, cloud computing uses a network of computers to solve problems too complex for a single machine to process.

"The joint application modernisation offering will be enhanced with vertical initiatives in banking and financial services through a banking centre of excellence," Gupta said.

According to global research and advisory firm Gartner's 2014 market forecast for IT services, the addressable market for applications services is $210 billion this year worldwide.

"Our strategic partnership addresses what we believe to be one of the fastest growing segments of the applications services market," Gupta asserted.

Application modernisation forms the first phase of $4.8 million HCL's digital system integration strategy.

Though enterprises view digitalisation as a route to business model transformation, many of them are yet to adapt by overcoming the shackles of legacy technologies.

"Our partnership with HCL is a innovative approach to delivering next-generation IT services which enable enterprises achieve greater operational agility and reductions to operating costs," CSC chief executive Mike Lawrie said in the statement.

As part of the partnership, HCL will white label CSC's BizCloud, industry leading, secure and flexible private cloud offering for an enterprise.