Migrating your AS400 (IBM i) infrastructure to the cloud is a strategic move that offers a multitude of benefits for your business.  

AS400, also known as the IBM iSeries, has been a reliable workhorse for many organizations, but modernizing it by moving to the cloud can unlock new opportunities and efficiencies. In this blog, we’ll explore the key advantages of AS400 cloud migration. 

Cost Savings 

One of the most compelling reasons to consider AS400 cloud migration is the potential for significant cost savings. Maintaining on-premises AS400 hardware and infrastructure can be expensive, involving expenditures for hardware, software licenses, power, cooling, and dedicated IT staff.  

Cloud providers offer pay-as-you-go pricing models, allowing you to scale resources up or down based on your needs. This cloud cost flexibility can result in substantial savings and improved budget predictability. 

Scalability 

The cloud provides unmatched scalability for AS400 workloads. Whether you need to handle increased data processing, accommodate seasonal spikes, or support a growing user base, cloud platforms can seamlessly adjust resources to meet demand.  

This cloud scalability ensures that your AS400 applications can grow without the need for expensive hardware upgrades or disruptions to your operations. 

Enhanced Security 

Security is a paramount concern for any organization, and AS400 cloud migration can significantly enhance your security posture. Cloud providers invest heavily in security infrastructure, often surpassing the capabilities of on-premises environments. 

By migrating AS400 to the cloud, you can leverage advanced security features such as encryption, identity and access management, and continuous monitoring to protect your data and applications.  

Additionally, cloud-based disaster recovery and data backup options add extra layers of security and peace of mind. 

Improved Reliability and Availability 

Cloud providers offer high availability and redundancy features that can dramatically improve the uptime of your AS400 applications. This reduces the risk of downtime due to hardware failures, maintenance, or other issues.  

numerous cloud providers extend service level agreements (SLAs) that assure a specified level of availability, instilling confidence that your essential applications will stay accessible. 

Modernization Opportunities 

Migrating AS400 to the cloud opens the door to modernization. You can leverage cloud-native services, such as serverless computing, containerization, and microservices architecture, to revamp your applications and make them more agile and efficient. 

This modernization approach can help your organization stay competitive in a rapidly evolving business landscape. 

Geographic Reach 

Cloud providers have data centers distributed around the world. This geographic reach can be advantageous if your business operates globally or needs to serve customers in different regions.  

AS400 cloud migration allows you to deploy instances closer to your target audience, reducing latency and improving user experience, ultimately unlocking global growth potential. 

Flexibility and Agility 

Cloud environments are highly flexible and can accommodate diverse workloads, including development and testing, production, and disaster recovery.  

This adaptability empowers your organization to swiftly respond to evolving business requirements and explore innovative solutions without being locked into extended, fixed investments. 

Conclusion 

AS400 cloud migration offers a plethora of benefits, including substantial cost savings, unparalleled scalability, enhanced security, improved reliability, modernization opportunities, global reach, and unmatched flexibility.  

However, it’s essential to plan your migration carefully, considering factors like data migration, application compatibility, and compliance requirements. With the right strategy and execution, AS400 migration can position your organization for greater success in the digital age, unlocking its full potential.