Hybrid Cloud Strategies for IBM i Workloads: The Best of Both Worlds

When traditional on-premises infrastructure can struggle to meet evolving demands for scalability, cost efficiency, and modern testing or recovery needs. Hybrid cloud offers a strategic alternative, combining the reliability of your on-premises IBM Power Systems with the agility and scalability of IBM Power Virtual Server in the cloud. 

IBM Power Virtual Server enables businesses to modernize their IBM i environments while preserving the control and performance of on-premises systems. Here’s how hybrid cloud strategies can transform your IT operations. 

Seamless Integration of On-Premises and Cloud 

Hybrid cloud models allow organizations to extend their IBM i environments into the IBM Cloud without a full migration, providing flexibility while ensuring operational continuity. 

• Integrated Workloads: IBM Power Virtual Server integrates seamlessly with on-premises systems, enabling unified management of resources across environments. 

• Consistent Architecture: With IBM Power Systems running both on-premises and in the cloud, workloads are fully compatible, avoiding the need for replatforming or costly rewrites. 

This approach allows IT teams to maintain core operations locally while taking advantage of cloud-based capabilities where they deliver the greatest value. 

Key Use Cases for Hybrid Cloud with IBM i 

1. Capacity Expansion
   1. Quickly extend your IBM i resources during peak demand periods without investing in additional on-premises hardware.
   2. The elastic nature of IBM Power Virtual Server ensures you only pay for what you use, optimizing costs while meeting demand. 

1. Cloud-Based Testing and Development: 
   1. Use IBM Power Virtual Server to create isolated environments for testing and development, freeing up on-premises resources for production workloads. 
   2. Cloud-based test environments can be provisioned and decommissioned quickly, accelerating development cycles and reducing costs. 

1. Disaster Recovery (DR):
   1. Implement a cost-effective disaster recovery solution by replicating critical IBM i workloads to IBM Power Virtual Server. 
   2. IBM Cloud’s global network of data centers enables geo-redundancy, ensuring rapid failover and meeting stringent RTO/RPO requirements. 

Benefits of Hybrid IT for IBM i Workloads 

1. Scalability and Flexibility: Scale resources in real-time to meet business needs without overprovisioning or underutilizing infrastructure. 

1. Cost Efficiency: Reduce CapEx by leveraging the cloud for non-production workloads, backups, and temporary capacity. 

1. Business Continuity: Ensure high availability with hybrid DR strategies, reducing downtime risk for mission-critical applications. 

1. Incremental Modernization: Transition legacy IBM i workloads into modern cloud environments at your own pace, without disrupting existing operations. 

Why IBM Power Virtual Server? 

IBM Power Virtual Server is purpose-built to integrate with IBM Power Systems, offering unparalleled compatibility, performance, and security. With a hybrid cloud approach, you retain the reliability of your on-premises IBM i workloads while unlocking the scalability and innovation of the cloud. 

Embrace Hybrid Cloud for IBM i Today 

Hybrid cloud strategies enable IT leaders to balance innovation with operational stability, transforming IBM i environments without a full migration. IBM Power Virtual Server delivers the flexibility, scalability, and cost efficiency your business needs to thrive in today’s competitive landscape. 

Modernize your IT strategy with IBM Power Virtual Server. It’s time to embrace the cloud while maintaining the best of your on-premises IBM i systems. Transition with confidence and unlock new possibilities for your business. 

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