The conversation around IBM i has shifted. The focus is no longer just on maintaining legacy systems, but on preserving the value of core applications while preparing for a future that inevitably includes the cloud.
Many organizations find themselves at a crossroads with their IBM i systems, which have long been the reliable computing engines for mission-critical applications. As we look toward a future defined by data-driven decisions, hybrid cloud, and AI, the need to modernize your infrastructure (without disruption) is more important than ever.
According to an independent ITIC survey of 357 current Power server customers running a mix of Power9 and Power10 servers, 31% of enterprises plan to migrate to Power11 within the next 12 to 15 months, and 88% expect to upgrade within two years. Top drivers include the promise of high performance, cloud support, integrated AI, and enhanced reliability.
If your organization is operating on Power8, Power9, or even earlier systems, you’re not alone in feeling the urgency to upgrade. But the path forward doesn’t have to be complicated or disruptive when you have the right plan and the right partner.
In this blog, you’ll gain a tangible blueprint for modernizing your IBM i environment, including actionable steps to migrate to Power11, minimize disruption, and optimize your infrastructure.
Why Modernize IBM i Now? The Power11 Advantage.
Businesses stay with IBM i for a reason: unmatched stability, performance, and ROI. But today, the conversation has evolved. Here’s why organizations are making the move:
- Performance Gains
IBM Power11 delivers up to 55% better performance compared to Power9 and allows a 3:1 server consolidation ratio for many clients, dramatically reducing infrastructure footprint and energy costs. Performance improvements go hand-in-hand with lower operational costs and better resource utilization. - Six Nines Reliability
Power11 achieves 99.9999% uptime, which translates to just 31.5 seconds of annual unplanned downtime. Automated patching, live updates, and spare-core technology mean zero planned maintenance downtime and built-in business continuity (TechChannel). - AI-Ready Architecture
Power11 is engineered for the AI era, featuring on-chip AI inferencing with four Matrix Math Accelerators (MMAs) per core and seamless hybrid cloud support. That means faster data processing, real-time analytics, and future-proofing your environment for emerging workloads. - Security and Ransomware Defense
The new platform implements quantum-safe security, firmware integrity checks, and behavioral anti-ransomware features, letting you sleep easier in a world of rising cyber threats. - Cost-Effective Performance
Despite new capabilities, Power11 systems are up to 10.5% more cost-effective per CPW than comparable Power10 systems, according to a price/performance analysis from IT Jungle. Server consolidation also reduces licensing and support expenses.
Many organizations we talk to are concerned about upgrade risk, especially application compatibility and fear of downtime. The good news is that Power11’s design, with live migration support and cloud-native features, ensures upgrades will be seamless and disruption-free.
IBM i Cloud Migration Without Disruption: Two Interdependent Paths
As hardware ages and the experts who manage IBM i systems approach retirement, the question is no longer if you should modernize, but how to evolve for the next decade.
At Fresche, we see a move to IBM i Power11 cloud as more than just a hardware upgrade. It’s a holistic solution that integrates infrastructure and applications.
Here’s how we approach it:
#1 – The Hardware Path: Infrastructure-First
This is your foundation for performance and reliability. Migrating to a modern IBM i Power11 cloud, whether on-prem, hosted, or hybrid, immediately positions you for reduced risk and operational lift. For most, it’s not a single leap but a series of well-orchestrated hops (think about going from Windows 98 to Windows 11). If you’re on V5R4, expect multiple OS and hardware upgrades along the way. This multi-hop journey requires both the right hardware, including interim environments, and deep technical expertise.
Resiliency advantages of Power11 include:
- Automated patching
- Built-in spare cores
- Zero planned downtime
Our teams oversee every aspect of the migration process to support your business continuity goals, from partitioning to testing to disaster recovery.
#2 – The Application Path: Value-First
What sets Fresche apart is that we don’t just move your workloads, we ensure your applications work and unlock modern value in the new environment. Most cloud partners stop at the hardware; we keep going by providing application remediation, modernization, and long-term management:
- Compatibility Testing: Guaranteeing your apps meet IBM i V7R4 requirements. This is a must for Power11.
- Remediation/Modernization: Adjusting code, UIs, databases, and integrating APIs for cloud-native operations.
- Application Management: Continuous operational and application-level support. Your technology keeps pace with your business needs, both now and as your hybrid cloud strategy evolves.
This all-in-one approach solves the number one pain point cited by IT leaders: the talent gap. With IBM i experts retiring, having a partner who can manage both infrastructure and applications is more critical than ever.
What to Expect: The Fresche Cloud Migration Experience
Migrating to IBM i Power11 cloud is a strategic step toward modernizing your business. Fresche brings decades of IBM i expertise and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities involved in cloud migration.
Our experienced team works closely with you to design a tailored plan that aligns with your business goals. From infrastructure upgrades to application optimization, every phase is handled with precision and care.
By focusing on risk reduction, operational efficiency, and long-term value, Fresche delivers a seamless migration experience. A great example of this is PriceSmart, a large retail membership club that partnered with Fresche to modernize its IT environment. Through cloud migration, they improved system performance and achieved greater scalability to support their growing business, all while minimizing disruption to daily operations.
Here’s the step-by-step of our cloud migration experience:
- System Assessment: We start by analyzing your environment, hardware, OS, PTFs, application dependencies, and growth trends.
- Proof of Concept (POC): We give you a sandbox in the cloud, uploading copies of your production data for full testing. There will be no surprises.
- Customer Testing: Your team puts the new environment through its paces, validating every business-critical process.
- Cutover Planning: We jointly map out the smoothest, safest migration approach, timed for your business needs.
- Go-Live: We execute the migration with as close to a non-disruptive handover as possible, backed by our expert support.
Are you worried about the rest of your ecosystem? Many clients hesitate because of adjacent Windows or Linux workloads, but Power11 cloud supports x86 and AIX as well. This lets you modernize the entire data center.
Looking for a detailed guide to get started? Download our IBM i Cloud Migration Guide for expert insights and actionable steps.
Achieving a Future-Ready Cloud with Power11 and Fresche
Moving to IBM i Power11 cloud is more than just another hardware refresh. It brings together AI acceleration, the ability to consolidate servers by up to 3 to 1, robust ransomware protection, and delivers industry-leading uptime. When you pair these features with Fresche’s end-to-end migration and application management services, you get a truly seamless, non-disruptive path to a future-ready cloud infrastructure.
Don’t just take our word for it. The 94% satisfaction rating for IBM Power support in the ITIC survey reflects the experiences our own clients have shared after migrating with Fresche. We make seamless cloud migrations a reality for every client.
If you’re ready to unlock the value of Power11 and take your IBM i environment to a new level with minimal downtime, risk, or talent headaches, start with a free, no-obligation 2-hour system analysis from the IBM i experts at Fresche.
We’ll assess your readiness, show you real-world cost and performance scenarios (including potential 3:1 server consolidation and significantly improved cost efficiency and performance), and create a low-risk, best-fit modernization plan for you.
