The purpose of this blog is to highlight the reasons IBM i users are moving to cloud hosting in 2018. So what? What I now sense that is most striking is the desire for 1) Safe, Secure And Reliable Hosting (protection from downtime and unexpected disruption) and 2) IBM i Expertise to manage the hosted environment (so the IT staff can focus on supporting their users). In the past, Cost Savings had a higher priority for the move to the cloud.
Disclaimer: IBM i is an operating system and iSeries/AS400 are server names. While I know better, I use the terms interchangeably so IBM customers can more easily find with search engines the information they seek.
Safe, Secure, Reliable Computing Continuity
More IBM i clients tell us that they are concerned about their ability to provide continuous support to their users. This is a particularly common theme we hear from those parts of North America most vulnerable to storms, flooding, power outages and natural disaster.
While they may have several options to recover within 24-72 hours, with their increased dependence to access their critical applications, recovering within 1-3 days is too long to be down. And, way too expensive and disruptive when downtime occurs
When IBM i users evaluate their options, they are pleasantly surprised (or “thrilled” if that is not too strong an expression) to discover that cloud hosting at an SSAE-18 certified data center is far more reliable …and cost-effective …than their current solution of on premise server and backup recovery plan.
IBM i Expertise – Accessible, Attentive And Easy To Talk To
More IBM i users have limited-to-no in house IBM i expertise. They are concerned about their current talent retiring and uncertain about the caliber, reliability and cost-effectiveness to recruit from the shrinking IBM i talent pool.
Qualified IBM i cloud hosting providers offer in-depth staff of US-based IBM i experts with decades of field experience. You will find them to be accessible, attentive, friendly and easy to talk to (this is really wonderful for those who do not speak “IBM i”) without the frustrations of “voice mail maze” or over-seas technical support.
You can rely on the IBM i experts to manage all aspects of your IBM environment…from backups, software patches, version upgrades and console messages…so you don’t have to be overwhelmed with these details. Instead, you can focus on supporting your users and your business.
Save Money
Big picture…IBM i cloud hosting can just be plain less expensive. Anywhere from 30%-70% less expensive than an on premise server.
When users consider all the costs related to an on premise server beyond the server itself:
- Software licensing fees,
- User count fees,
- IBM i activation fees,
- Hardware support,
- Software support,
- IBM i administration,
- Server management,
- Backup management,
- Managing and maintaining peripheral devices and services, and
- More…
…hosting generally wins with a simple, low monthly fee.
The savings can be so straight-forward that many of our clients exclaim that the decision to host their IBM i applications is a “no brainer.”
Flexible Terms
Many IBM i users confront uncertainty with their applications.
Many are under pressure to transition to new solutions.
Others are making the transition and need interim server support with recent IBM end of service announcements.
Several require an archive solution to satisfy compliance or information accessibility.
Hosting offers flexibility that a capital investment cannot satisfy.
With hosting, you use it as long as you need it. When you no longer have the need, you may terminate your service. It can be as short as 3 months or as long as 3 years. It is really up to you and your hosting provider to work out.
It is easy to tailor a plan that fits your foreseeable needs and adjust it as you go.
Why Move To IBM i Cloud Hosting?
Simple. 4 good reasons to consider cloud hosting:
- Safe, Secure, And Reliable
- IBM i Expertise
- Save Money
- Flexible Term
If You Enjoyed Reading This, You May Also Like Reading:
7 IBM iSeries/AS400 Cloud Hosting Misconceptions
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