ARMONK, N.Y., Dec. 8, 2021 — IBM today unveiled the IBM Z and Cloud Modernization Center, a digital front door to a vast array of tools, training, resources and ecosystem partners to help IBM Z clients accelerate the modernization of their applications, data and processes in an open hybrid cloud architecture.

In the IBM Institute for Business Value study, “Application Modernization on the Mainframe,” 71 percent of executives say mainframe-based applications are central to their business strategy. Four out of five respondents say their organizations need to rapidly transform to keep up with competition, which includes modernizing mainframe-based apps and adopting a more open approach. The report confirmed that executives view modernizing mainframe-based applications—and connecting them with new applications through a hybrid cloud environment—as crucial to driving a holistic digital transformation strategy across the mainframe and cloud.  They are seamlessly intertwined in delivering cutting-edge enterprise-wide agility and capability. And together they help secure operations, reduce latency, and drive legacy processes to a higher levels of business agility.

According to a recent IBM Institute for Business Value survey, “The hybrid cloud platform advantage,” the value derived from a full hybrid, multicloud platform technology and operating model at scale is 2.5 times the value derived from a single-platform, single-cloud vendor approach. Further, an IBM hybrid cloud transformation that integrates IBM Z can extend up to 5x the value of a public cloud only approach¹. A Hurwitz and Associates whitepaper sponsored by IBM confirms this additional value is derived by: business acceleration, developer productivity, infrastructure cost efficiency, regulatory, compliance and security and deployment flexibility².

Today, many IBM Z clients are running on modern infrastructure. However, to truly leverage the benefits of hybrid cloud, organizations must continue to modernize their applications and data. With the IBM Z and Cloud Modernization Center, clients can gain insights on maintaining their current IT estate, while focusing on the design and execution of a strategy for their core applications and data running on IBM Z to prepare for hybrid cloud. Leveraging decades of experience resident in IBM Consulting and IBM’s key ecosystem partners, this includes a detailed assessment of the client’s IT and business objectives, modernization of existing apps and data to extend them to the cloud, including IBM Cloud and third-party hyperscalers, and developing new cloud native apps and integrating them with existing apps and data already on IBM Z.

“The world class reliability and security of IBM’s Z solutions have contributed significantly to the mainframe’s remarkable longevity and business value for enterprise customers,” said Charles King, PUND-IT. “However, another crucial feature—adaptability—is just as important. For well over two decades, IBM has ensured that Z mainframes addressed vital requirements in both existing and emerging applications and use cases, including Linux, open systems and hybrid cloud. With the new IBM Z and Cloud Modernization Center, IBM and its partners are providing customers the tools, resources and training they need to successfully modernize and transform mainframe-based applications, data and processes in hybrid cloud environments, and thus maximize their IBM Z investments.”

As part of the IBM Z Cloud and Modernization Center, clients can access a digital journey showcasing comprehensive resources and guidance for business professionals, IT executives and developers alike. The main zones of the center include:

• Domain-specific IBM expertise, including IBM Consulting assets, expertise and methodologies, co-creation with clients via IBM Consulting methodologies, demos, trials, minimum viable product (MVPs), workshops and other point services designed to help accelerate the digital transformation journey. Accelerators include IBM Consulting Garage, reference architectures and patterns, sample modernization journeys and other technical solutions.
• A strategic ecosystem of leading global services and technology partners, including:
  • Services: Systems integrators with offerings and competencies including in-place modernization. Partners today include Capgemini and Deloitte Consulting LLP, with more expected to be announced in the coming months.
  • Technology partners: Software vendors and managed service partners including: Episode Six; Fiorano Software; Fujitsu Limited, Software Business Unit; HEXANIKA; Illumio; Luxoft, a DXC Technology Company; MuleSoft; Pennant Technologies; Software AG; Suntec Business Solutions; and Zafin.
• Additional resources such as links to a learning hub to enable architects and developers on application modernization techniques, a reference center with client use cases, analyst papers and other materials designed to help educate and empower.

“Until now, global businesses that run on IBM Z have had limited choices for a one-stop shop for information and steps to take toward modernization. Coupled with confusing narratives by vendors in the marketplace and accounts of failed migrations, finding a resource IT leaders can turn to can be a challenge,” said Meredith Stowell, VP, IBM Z Ecosystem.  “The reality is that the future is hybrid, where IBM Z and Cloud are better together. While lift and shift migration may seem like an attractive choice for modernization, in many cases it can be a one-way street and lock-in to one public cloud which may have implications on cost, governance and security. IBM deeply understands the IBM Z environment, cloud ecosystem and the industries that rely on us, and we’ve brought together all the elements needed to help our clients adopt hybrid cloud in one place.”

From the world’s top finance and banking institutions to retailers, airlines and other industries, 67 of the Fortune 100 rely on IBM Z today. Many of these enterprises and hundreds more are modernizing on IBM Z as an integral part of their hybrid cloud strategies. For more information please visit ibm.biz/zandcloud.

¹ An IBM IT Economics business value model based on four areas of business efficiency (business acceleration, developer productivity, infrastructure efficiency, and regulation and security) examined estimated incremental business opportunity and IT cost reductions in an IBM hybrid cloud with IBM Z environment versus a public cloud only approach for a financial services customer profile of $10B annual revenue and a $1B IT budget with a 64,000 MIPS IBM Z environment and distributed database software, licensed per core, and labor for 1,024 x86 cores. Floor space and energy consumption savings are based on 500 x86 servers replaced by 11 LinuxONE III LT2 servers. Public cloud and IBM hybrid cloud business value data is based on an IBM internal, cross-industry assessment by the IBM Institute of Business Value, https://www.ibm.com/downloads/cas/QMRQEROB. IBM Z hybrid cloud integration capabilities and estimated business values are based on data from IBM IT Economics assessments for IBM Z client environments. Business values will vary according to company size, infrastructure and types of workloads. For additional information on the business value model contact the IBM IT Economics team, [email protected].
² Hurwitz and Associates, “Outperforming Businesses: Realize 2.5-x value with a hybrid cloud platform approach,” June 2020

About IBM

IBM is a leading global hybrid cloud and AI, and business services provider, helping clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Nearly 3,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and business services deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. For more information, visit www.ibm.com.

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Source: IBM