
In a world where regulatory compliance and security are paramount, choosing the right platform for IBM Power Systems, VMware, and mission-critical workloads is more than an IT decision—it’s a strategic imperative. At GlassHouse Systems, we’ve supported clients in highly regulated industries for over 31 years, and we understand the complexity and cost involved in managing secure and compliant environments.
This paper explains why IBM Cloud, with its support for both IBM Power Virtual Server and VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF), is the ideal platform for mission-critical workloads. By addressing security and regulatory compliance needs with ease and efficiency, IBM Cloud provides a cost-effective, resilient solution that empowers businesses to focus on innovation and growth.
1. THE STAKES OF COMPLIANCE AND SECURITY IN REGULATED INDUSTRIES
For industries such as finance, healthcare, and government, regulatory oversight demands rigorous security and data protection at every level of the IT infrastructure. Ensuring compliance in these environments is not just a necessity—it’s a business-critical requirement. Running mission-critical workloads involves adhering to strict security protocols and managing continuous audits to ensure compliance.
Maintaining these standards independently requires massive investments in technology, talent acquisition, operations support, and ongoing audits. The costs and complexity can become barriers to innovation as resources are diverted to compliance rather than business growth.
1.1 THE HIGH COSTS OF COMPLIANCE
Organizations running mission-critical applications often face significant investments—sometimes tens or hundreds of millions of dollars—to build and maintain secure, compliant infrastructures. With zero tolerance for downtime or security breaches, these organizations must prioritize robust, compliant systems that can support their operations reliably.
2. IBM CLOUD: A SECURE, COMPLIANT SOLUTION FROM DAY ONE
IBM Cloud offers a compliant, secure platform for mission-critical workloads from the moment they’re deployed. Unlike building and maintaining infrastructure independently, IBM Cloud provides immediate access to a pre-compliant, secure environment designed specifically for regulated industries.
2.1 SECURITY AND COMPLIANCE AT THE CORE
IBM Cloud’s infrastructure supports workloads with the highest security and regulatory demands. Integrated features such as end-to-end encryption, role-based access controls, and automated compliance checks ensure that systems are protected, auditable, and meet regulatory requirements.
IBM Cloud’s built-in security and compliance eliminate the need for costly, time-consuming compliance management processes. This allows organizations to focus on their core business operations while IBM Cloud ensures that their infrastructure remains secure and compliant.
2.2 IBM CLOUD’S UNIQUE SUPPORT FOR POWER SYSTEMS AND VMWARE WORKLOADS
IBM Cloud uniquely supports both IBM Power Virtual Server and VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF), making it an optimal platform for organizations with diverse mission-critical workloads. Power Virtual Server allows organizations to run their IBM Power workloads in the cloud, maintaining performance and reliability. Simultaneously, VCF on IBM Cloud provides a native VMware environment for seamless hybrid cloud deployment, allowing organizations to lift and shift their VMware workloads without modification.
These capabilities enable businesses to preserve existing investments in Power and VMware, ensuring efficient hybrid cloud setups that can meet stringent SLAs and KPIs in mission-critical environments.
3. SIMPLIFYING COMPLIANCE AND REDUCING COSTS WITH IBM CLOUD
For organizations managing complex compliance and security demands, IBM Cloud offers a streamlined approach that reduces the burden and cost of compliance. The platform’s design integrates compliance and security at every level, minimizing the need for upfront investment and ongoing monitoring.
3.1 ELIMINATING MASSIVE UPFRONT INVESTMENTS
IBM Cloud’s pay-as-you-go model allows organizations to scale their operations without significant upfront costs in security and compliance infrastructure. This model supports regulated industries by reducing costs while meeting the highest compliance standards, enabling organizations to shift resources from compliance management to business innovation.
3.2 FOCUS ON INNOVATION OVER COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT
By choosing IBM Cloud, organizations offload the complexities of compliance management, allowing their IT teams to focus on digital transformation, customer experience enhancements, and new growth opportunities. IBM Cloud’s compliance capabilities, coupled with the expertise of GlassHouse Systems, mean businesses can confidently pursue innovation, knowing their infrastructure remains secure and compliant.
4. PEACE OF MIND WITH TRUST, RELIABILITY, AND RESILIENCE
IBM Cloud provides organizations with peace of mind through its secure, compliant, and resilient platform. Built for the most demanding regulatory environments, IBM Cloud supports business continuity with features like high availability, disaster recovery, and geo-redundant storage.
4.1 A RESILIENT PLATFORM FOR MISSION-CRITICAL OPERATIONS
IBM Cloud’s global capabilities ensure that workloads are protected and accessible at all times. Integrated disaster recovery and high-availability features guarantee minimal downtime and data protection under any circumstance, allowing businesses to maintain critical operations without interruption.
4.2 THE IBM CLOUD ADVANTAGE FOR POWER AND VMWARE WORKLOADS
For regulated industries, IBM Cloud is more than just a cloud platform; it’s a strategic necessity. It provides the security, compliance, and resilience needed for mission-critical operations. Whether running IBM Power Systems, VMware environments, or both, IBM Cloud offers a cohesive solution that ensures business resilience without the added complexity and costs associated with compliance management.
CONCLUSION: IBM CLOUD—THE STRATEGIC PARTNER FOR COMPLIANCE, SECURITY, AND MISSION-CRITICAL WORKLOADS
At GlassHouse Systems, we recognize that selecting the right cloud platform is a decision that goes beyond technology. It’s about trust, reliability, and resilience. For organizations operating in highly regulated industries, IBM Cloud is the clear choice, providing an infrastructure that meets today’s compliance challenges with ease and efficiency.
By choosing IBM Cloud, businesses can reduce compliance costs, simplify security management, and access a resilient platform that supports Power Systems, VMware, and other mission-critical workloads. This choice empowers organizations to focus on growth, innovation, and transformation, secure in the knowledge that their infrastructure is compliant, secure, and strategically positioned for long-term success.
Contact us today to discuss how GlassHouse Systems can help you leverage IBM Cloud for your mission-critical workloads, ensuring a smooth transition to a platform built for security, compliance, and business resilience.
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Choosing IBM Cloud is more than adopting a cloud platform—it’s about strategically positioning your business for sustained success in an increasingly regulated and security-focused digital landscape.