IBM Introduces Self-Hosted Deployment for IBM Bob to Help Enterprises Advance AI Sovereignty and Governance

Enterprises can now benefit from AI-powered software development and modernization without moving sensitive code, data, or workflows outside their controlled infrastructure

ARMONK, N.Y., Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced self-hosted deployment for IBM Bob, allowing organizations to bring AI software development to on-premises, private-cloud, sovereign-cloud, and air-gapped environments where they have control. Bob is IBM's agentic software development platform that helps teams move beyond code generation to apply AI to the work of software delivery and modernization.

Enterprises are investing heavily in AI-powered software development, but organizations that manage sensitive source code, regulated data, or mission-critical infrastructure often face strict security and compliance requirements that can limit their ability to use public AI platforms. For many organizations, especially those in regulated industries, AI adoption requires control over where AI runs, what data AI can access, and how AI systems are governed.

According to a report from Futurum Research, hybrid and edge deployments are projected to capture 44% of the AI infrastructure market by 2030 as organizations seek sovereign control alongside ecosystem connectivity, while public cloud share is projected to decline to 46% in that same timeframe.

IBM Bob's self-hosted deployment option brings AI to customer-managed infrastructure and is specifically designed for organizations that require greater control over data residency, security policies, AI governance, and software development workflows. Unlike many AI coding and software development tools that require organizations to move data to external services, the self-hosted version of IBM Bob allows enterprises to deploy AI software development and modernization capabilities in environments where their code, application context, and data already reside.

"The future of enterprise AI will depend on security, governance and sovereignty," said Neel Sundaresan, GM of AI and Automation, IBM. "Organizations need AI that operates inside environments they have control over, especially when working with sensitive code and regulated data. Bob's self-hosted deployment provides a way for enterprises to bring agentic AI directly to those environments so they can benefit from the technology while maintaining security, compliance, and operational control."

Most enterprises operate software environments that contain sensitive data like intellectual property, proprietary source code, and regulated customer information. According to The Calculus of AI Sovereignty, a report published in June 2026 by IBM's Institute for Business Value, 68% of surveyed executives say meeting data residency and sovereignty requirements across geographies is challenging.

Now, IBM Bob's deployment flexibility can help enterprises address those requirements by allowing them to bring AI to the data instead of moving their data for the AI. Enterprises can run supported models on premises, including in air-gapped environments, using supported models they've licensed or connect Bob to supported external model services through hybrid configurations.

While many AI development tools have been designed primarily for cloud-native environments, enterprise modernization often involves applications and data distributed across on-premises systems, private clouds and other controlled environments. IBM Bob's deployment flexibility allows organizations to use AI for software development and modernization across infrastructure environments and models, helping them achieve true AI adoption.

For additional information about self-hosted options for IBM Bob, visit: https://www.ibm.com/new/announcements/ibm-bob-expands-to-self-hosted-environments-for-sensitive-and-mission-critical-enterprise-software 

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service.

Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media contact:
Rebecca Neufeld
IBM
rebecca.neufeld@ibm.com

Sources:

• "Sovereign AI: What Nations Want (And What They'll Actually Get)" Futurum Research, 2026
• "The Calculus of AI Sovereignty" IBM Institute for Business Value, 2026

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

IBM Introduces Self-Hosted Deployment for IBM Bob to Help Enterprises Advance AI Sovereignty and Governance

AI-powered English assessment gives organisations a consistent way to measure the communication skills employees need in today's workplace

SINGAPORE, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As businesses operate across increasingly international teams, markets and customers, employers need more than a candidate's stated level of English. They need reliable evidence that employees have the communication skills required for their roles.

Linguaskill Business from Cambridge provides employers with an online, on-demand and internationally recognised way to assess workplace English proficiency, supporting more informed decisions in recruitment, employee development and career progression.

Developed by Cambridge University Press & Assessment, part of the University of Cambridge, Linguaskill Business combines Cambridge's expertise in language assessment with artificial intelligence and computer-adaptive technology to deliver accurate and reliable results.

From hiring decisions to workforce development

English proficiency can affect how effectively employees participate in meetings, deliver presentations, communicate with customers, write reports and collaborate across international teams.

Linguaskill Business assesses English proficiency from B1 to C2 on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), providing employers with an internationally recognised benchmark of an individual's ability.

The exam assesses four workplace communication skills: speaking, writing, reading and listening. Its modular format allows organisations to select the skills relevant to specific roles.

This means employers can move from subjective assessments of whether someone has "good English" to defined proficiency requirements supported by measurable results.

A practical tool for HR and business leaders

Organisations can use Linguaskill Business across the employee journey, including:

• Recruitment and candidate selection
• Graduate and management programmes
• Employee skills benchmarking
• Learning and development needs analysis
• Internal mobility and promotion
• Measurement of language training outcomes

Employers can also establish different English proficiency requirements for different roles. A customer-facing employee, for example, may require a different combination of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills from an employee whose role focuses primarily on written communication.

Designed for modern organisations

Linguaskill Business is delivered online and on demand, allowing organisations to administer assessment when and where required.

AI and computer-adaptive technology tailor the assessment to the candidate's ability, while results are reported against CEFR levels. Candidates receive a certificate and detailed results, while organisations can access group reporting to review results across cohorts.

CEFR stands for Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It is an international framework used to describe a person's language ability. Instead of saying someone has "good English" or "intermediate English," CEFR provides defined proficiency levels.

For employers managing teams across different functions, locations or markets, this provides a consistent framework for understanding English proficiency across the organisation.

Turning English proficiency into measurable workforce capability

Rather than relying solely on interviews, self-declared proficiency or different assessment approaches across departments, organisations can establish defined English standards for roles and measure employees and candidates against a common international framework.

This gives HR and business leaders stronger evidence to support recruitment, development and workforce planning decisions.

For organisations where English communication matters to employee performance, Linguaskill Business provides a scalable way to identify existing capability, uncover skills gaps and support targeted development.

To learn more about how Linguaskill Business can support recruitment and workforce development, visit Cambridge English https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/linguaskill/ 

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

Cambridge Linguaskill Business helps employers make more confident hiring and workforce decisions

Cambridge Linguaskill Business helps employers make more confident hiring and workforce decisions

Cambridge Linguaskill Business helps employers make more confident hiring and workforce decisions