15 elite Amazon cloud integrators

Several days ago, I wrote about a deal between two Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud integrator partners, including 2nd Watch, one of only 15 companies that hold the cloud infrastructure service provider's elite Premier Consulting Partner designation.

To earn that distinction, an integrator has to meet the status requirements for an Advance Consulting Partner and then meet other qualitative and quantitative requirements. Among those considerations are "exceptional customer service", a significant number of customers that run their applications on top of the Amazon cloud infrastructure, and a healthy consulting practice based on cloud migration and implementations.

Amazon updates this list every year (the next selection process will begin in mid 2013), but here are the 15 companies that currently make up the Premier Consulting Partner list. I'm listing them alphabetically.

• 2nd Watch: Based near Seattle, the company specializes in operational management tools and customized cloud infrastructure solutions.

• 8k Miles: Security is the big theme for this San Ramon, California-based integrator, which offers turnkey mobility and big data services built on the Amazon cloud.

• Aquilent : Hailing from Laurel, Maryland, the services firm is focused on cloud solutions for government agencies.

• Booz Allen Hamilton: Its big focus is on helping enterprise businesses migrate mission-critical applications into hybrid cloud services architectures. Its main base is McLean, Virginia.

• Capgemini: The global integrator has created a "cloud orchestration management platform" specifically focused on running SAP applications within a cloud environment.

• Citytech: Based in Chicago, it specializes in moving enterprise and mobile applications into a cloud environment.

• Cognizant: The Teaneck, New Jersey, service provider and developer specializes in cloud transformation assessments; its Cloud360 platform provides end-to-end management services once a migration has taken place.

• CSS Corp.: With headquarters in San Jose, California, and locations throughout North America, the integrator's services run the full gamut from assessment to migration to management.

• Datapipe: The Jersey City, New Jersey, integrator specializes in cloud application management. Its key verticals include financial services, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals.

• Dedalus: The Brazilian company has created cloud infrastructure services based on the Amazon offerings, including an authentication and access control platform.

• Full 360: Focused on Amazon Web Services since 2007, the New York-based company focuses on data warehousing, business intelligence, and hyperion in the cloud.

• MarketShare: Offers cross-media analytics solutions in the cloud for supporting global marketers. The company is based in London.

• Razorfish: Focused on digital marketing and interactive applications, the New York-based company's software as a service offerings are built on the Amazon cloud platform.

• Smartronix: The firm from Reston, Virginia, has built a number of large-scale SharePoint solutions for businesses built on the Amazon cloud, including the ones for the US Treasury Department.

• Wipro: The India-based IT services firm is one of Amazon's biggest global strategic integrators.

Stay tuned for more specific and detailed coverage of these companies as I get to know them better.