The Background: When working with customers on renewing their IBM hardware or software maintenance, the question often comes up “are there alternatives to IBM maintenance”? Customers who have been with IBM maintenance for decades will have a history and trust with IBM only, while newer generations of IT leaders will look at what else is…
Does IBM offer maintenance in “less than 1 year” increments?
The Background: During any given year, customers ask us to quote IBM hardware or software maintenance in “less than 1 year” increments. The request might be for invoicing monthly, quarterly, or twice a year – but something less than a full 1-year commitment. This can also be due to the customer moving off an older…
Even IBM i shops need to be focused on Security
Today’s IT threat landscape is constantly changing, with more new unforeseen threats each day. Data breaches, hacks, ransomware, and malware are more prevalent than ever before. System monitoring and prevention of these attacks has become a top concern of company leaders. Until recently, security has not been a concern for IBM i shops. Many IBM…
Modernizing your DR plan and Backups: Virtual Tape Library (VTL)
Once upon a time, tape backup was the only answer for a Disaster Recovery (DR) strategy. In many cases today, we have found this strategy incomplete and not successful. Often times, tapes are stored next to the system, stored in a closet, in the trunk of a car, or other places where they are unprotected…
DSC: Running IBM i Software Applications in the Cloud
Since the late 1970s, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and financial software have comprised the bulk of software applications run on IBM POWER systems — specifically the IBM i (AS/400, i Series, System i) operating system. This should come as no surprise, as IBM was founded on the premise of producing computers and hardware specifically earmarked for business….