
Businesses increasingly turn to the IBM Cloud to modernize their IT environments, focusing on transitioning large, complex, mission-critical workloads. We have been partnering with organizations across industries to migrate their IBM Power i and other mixed workloads, helping them address scalability, security, and operational efficiency challenges. These migrations also provided critical solutions to a growing issue: the talent shortage in IBM Power i expertise. Here are seven insights you need to know before you start:
1. IBM Power i: The Core of Mission-Critical Operations
For many clients, IBM Power i remained the foundation of their business-critical processes. Its unparalleled reliability, security, and performance made it indispensable for running essential applications. However, maintaining these systems on-premises often became a challenge due to aging hardware and increasing complexity.
IBM Cloud on Power Virtual Server provided a seamless transition, preserving the trusted capabilities of IBM Power i while introducing modern cloud benefits. Clients gained scalability and operational flexibility without sacrificing the dependability they rely on.
2. Addressing Talent Shortages in IBM Power i
A key trend in 2024 was the growing scarcity of skilled professionals experienced in managing and maintaining IBM Power i systems. Many organizations struggled to recruit or retain the talent needed to support their on-premises environments.
Moving to the IBM Cloud alleviated this challenge by reducing the reliance on in-house expertise for infrastructure maintenance. By leveraging the cloud, businesses could access modern management tools, automation, and managed services to simplify operations. This shift allowed IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than routine infrastructure tasks, addressing the talent gap effectively.
3. Seamless Support for Mixed Workloads
While IBM Power i was the anchor for many migrations, clients often operated mixed environments, including Windows and Linux workloads. The IBM Cloud provided a unified platform that accommodated these diverse systems, allowing organizations to consolidate operations and improve efficiency.
This flexibility enabled clients to modernize incrementally, combining legacy systems with newer technologies to support evolving business needs.
4. Scalability for Growing Businesses
Dynamic scalability was a significant benefit of the IBM Cloud. Businesses facing rising transaction volumes or seasonal peaks could adjust resources to meet demand without costly hardware investments. This agility allowed clients to respond to growth opportunities while maintaining consistent performance and controlling costs.
5. Modernized Backup and Disaster Recovery
Legacy tape-based backup solutions often limit recovery speed and reliability. Migrating to cloud-native backup and disaster recovery options improved resilience and minimized downtime for IBM Power i and other workloads. These solutions provided peace of mind, ensuring critical systems were protected and quickly recoverable.
6. Enhanced Security for Critical Workloads
Security was a top concern for all clients. The IBM Cloud’s built-in security features, including encryption and role-based access controls, addressed these challenges effectively. Its compliance certifications also simplified regulatory requirements, especially for industries managing sensitive data.
7. Simplified IT Operations
Moving to the IBM Cloud streamlined infrastructure management by eliminating the need for on-premises hardware maintenance. Automation and cloud-based tools further reduced operational complexity, allowing IT teams to focus on innovation instead of day-to-day management.
A Future in the Cloud
The migrations of 2024 revealed the IBM Cloud’s ability to support mission-critical workloads while addressing modern challenges such as talent shortages and scalability demands. For businesses relying on IBM Power i, the cloud not only preserved reliability but also opened new pathways for efficiency and growth.
At GlassHouse Systems, we are proud to have guided clients through these transformations, delivering tailored solutions that balanced continuity with modernization. As the demand for cloud adoption grows, the lessons of 2024 will continue to inform our approach, ensuring that our clients thrive in an evolving IT landscape.