In today’s rapidly changing landscape, it’s more important than ever for companies to take advantage of the agility, resilience, and cost saving benefits of the cloud. We recently held a webinar on mainframe and AS/400 modernization where we led a discussion about the state of IBM modernization, real-world modernization examples from customers, and the role of our hybrid architecture for IBM Power Systems. The panel included Connectria’s VP of Alliances and Channel, Troy Mitchell, as well as modernization experts at AWS, Bill Seubert and Jeff Fritz.

What is Mainframe Modernization?

By definition, mainframe modernization is the process of updating an outdated system to take advantage of newer technologies. This can include anything from updating the hardware or software, moving parts of the system, or even migrating the entire system to the cloud. The key objective of mainframe modernization is to improve the efficiency, speed, and scalability of the system while also reducing costs.

Why is Mainframe Modernization Important today?

One of the biggest reasons why mainframe modernization has been a topic of interest is because of its utility. When the pandemic hit, businesses had to pivot strategies depending on the market’s needs. This often led to companies being thrown into the fire to make changes to their system. In reality, older mainframe systems can be inflexible and slow to adapt to changing business needs. Modernizing the system helps you be agile and responsive to your customers’ needs.

Another reason for the shift is to address any gaps in available internal skill sets. Not all mainframe and midrange systems are easily comprehended by a company’s internal teams and resources alone. This is particularly the case for companies that leverage older systems now withdrawn from mainstream technologies. Mainframe modernization often includes managed tools that are easy to learn and use. Whether you’re going through a complete replatform or an incremental cloud migration, being able to access these managed tools of a modernized system fills the skill gap.

Finally, cloud technologies are making it possible for businesses to run their operations more efficiently than ever before. By moving to a cloud-based platform, you can take advantage of economies of scale and pay only for the resources you use. Cloud systems also make it easier for integration, which is critical for business automation and process optimization. Additionally, you’re able to access data and applications from anywhere in the world, allowing your employees to work from anywhere they have an internet connection.

Mainframe modernization is clearly becoming essential for companies that want to stay competitive. But how do you go about modernizing your system? And what are some of the benefits of doing so?

Understanding Modernization Paths

Many organizations have mainframes that are decades old yet still running mission-critical applications. While these systems can be reliable, they are costly to maintain and may not take advantage of newer technologies. Here, incremental modernization can help to address these problems safely and efficiently.

An incremental approach reduces the burden of cloud migration while still advancing your systems and capabilities. For example, an existing mainframe can continue to run critical applications, while newer technologies are adopted for others. This approach can help to reduce costs and improve efficiency while introducing a path for future modernization efforts.

For IBM Power Systems, we enable you to choose your unique modernization path, whatever that might mean for your business. One path may see modernization as a full replacement of your application. Another could focus on incrementally upgrading the underlying capabilities of the systems that are running your applications. There are also others in between, such as paths just for disaster recovery.

We believe in the future of IBM Power Systems and we’re proud to help IBM customers find ways to retain their investment in the platform while also exploring opportunities in the cloud. By working with a partner like Connectria, your organization can get expert advice on migration solutions, hybrid architecture that combines the best of both worlds, standalone disaster recovery support, and more.

Modernize What Matters

From migration services, cloud services, hardware upgrades, software updates, security improvements, and more Connectria can help your businesses modernize your essential systems. We understand that every business is different, which is why we offer personalized service plans that are tailored to meet your specific needs.

Click below for access to our latest on-demand webinar to learn more about our IBM modernization services. Already have questions? Contact us to see how we can help you modernize your systems one step at a time.