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For major projects like an IBM i system upgrade, most companies will readily recognize the need for specialized, outsourced services. In many cases, this means seeking out a traditional managed service provider (MSP) to handle the system essentials – from performing the upgrade, to troubleshooting system problems, to ensuring stable OS performance. For the same project, that same company may also need application expertise and support — in other words, an additional resource to perform the application upgrades that are required to stay compatible with the upgraded OS.  

It’s been close to three decades since IBM launched IBM i, and in the technology industry, that may just feel like an eternity. But for people wondering about IBM i's place in the marketplace — and where it is headed in the future — there’s good news: there are plenty of signs that serve as reminders that IBM ensures this platform truly is built to last, and here to stay. 

It has been a long time since the release of version 6.1 of IBM i. In fact, that version was released in January of 2008, and there are still some companies that have yet to upgrade. We’re also working with several companies that are just now upgrading to 6.1, but most of them are only doing so because IBM will soon no longer support prior versions. However, supportability is not the only reason you should keep an eye on updates. There have been several since the release of 6.1, and this post will focus on the critical components of the latest version, 7.3. 

The enterprise solutions running on your IBM i platform are your most important business assets. Are you covered in the event of a disaster? As reliable as the platform is, every system will eventually face unexpected downtime, and even a short-term hiccup can cause a long-term business disruption. Between re-work, missing data and even lost customers, you can’t afford to leave your backup and recovery strategy to chance. To operate with efficiency and peace of mind, you need a fast, flexible DR solution that meets your company’s unique needs. One way to create a solution based on your company’s unique needs: start with your business requirements. Learn how in The Ultimate Guide to Disaster Recovery.

When it comes to IBM i managed services, most small and mid-sized businesses think big – perhaps a little too big. Given the broad range of system and OS support services many MSPs offer, people often make the mental leap from handling everything in-house to outsourcing all IT-related processes and equipment. From hardware to hosting to backup, analysis and other support services, they’ll automatically envision an all-or-nothing approach to hiring an MSP. When outsourcing seems like such a major undertaking, companies with smaller, more intermittent needs tend to avoid the process altogether. 

Throughout the business world, IBM i and its predecessor, the AS/400, has gained a solid reputation as a robust OS platform. Over the years, this popular and reliable operating system, comprised of integrated and dependable hardware and software, has been viewed as a relatively closed system, as secure as secure can be from outside intrusion and risk. But security cannot be taken for granted. 

As IT systems, infrastructure, and platforms grow increasingly larger and more complex, the risk for unplanned outages grows with them. Unfortunately, many CIOs and IT managers underestimate the damage and expense that unplanned outages can cause. Those that utilize an IBM i ecosystem are often  lulled into complacency by the longstanding but misguided conventional wisdom that says “IBM I maintains itself”. No platform “maintains itself”, even one as proven and reliable as IBM i, and every system is vulnerable to unplanned downtime cause by power outages, failed upgrades, security violations, natural disasters, and a host of others.