CloudFirst delivers multi-cloud connectivity allowing enterprises to host traditional IBM I and AIX workloads seamlessly integrated to AWS, Azure, Google, or IBM clouds.
Through high bandwidth, low latency direct connections with the major cloud services providers, CloudFirst enables organizations to harness the power of its cloud to deliver local area network (LAN) performance as if IBM i and AIX workloads are hosted in the same environment alongside non-IBM Power workloads like Windows and Linux.
Enterprises that have multiple data centers can have latency issues when machines in different locations using different operating systems need to communicate. Ideally organizations would use a single cloud services provider to host all their business operations.
However, each cloud offers a unique mix of features, services, and different areas of expertise. There is no one-size-fits-all cloud; so, businesses choose the provider that meets most of their needs, but functional gaps remain.
IBM Power systems typically run back-office ERP and accounting workloads, but they need to interface with non-IBM systems. None of the major cloud providers natively support IBM i and AIX workloads.
For those organizations wishing to maintain and extend their investment in classic IBM Power infrastructure, there is a better way:
Support IBM Power and x86 workloads natively with CloudFirst and any other major cloud service provider. Utilizing direct connections to CloudFirst makes it transparent to users that applications are being executed in different locations.
Businesses can leverage CloudFirst knowledge, experience, and management while taking advantage of scale, agility, and value-added native cloud services such as advanced analytics, data visualization and modeling, cognitive intelligence, and accelerated DevOps.
Cloud-to-Multi-Cloud Connectivity through Cloudfirst
Bringing legacy IT and cloud-native workloads together in Cloudfirst’s fully managed hybrid cloud environment allows organizations to:
- Streamline mission critical operations.
- Reduce data center footprint, hardware requirements, and energy consumption.
- Enjoy low-latency connectivity across all systems and locations.
- Move from a CapEx to OPEX billing model to reduce TCO.
- Free up IT staff to solve more pressing issues.
- Compensate for the scarcity of expertise in maintaining legacy workloads.
- Maximize resiliency and reduce unplanned downtime through redundancy.
- Enable dynamic scalability to meet changing business needs.
This allows CloudFirst to service the world’s largest enterprises across multiple geographies and clouds. In addition, enterprises running on-premises IBM i and AIX workloads that aspire to the cloud can leverage a Cloudfirst direct connection to access the cloud-based resources of AWS, for example.
Cloudfirst managed services for IBM assumes the burden of maintaining all hardware, offers 24×7 monitoring and support, uses disaster-proof data centers, and provides the skilled staff to administer and manage IBM i and AIX systems in its secure, reliable cloud environment.
Visit us at cloudfirst to learn more about how you can develop an effective multi-cloud strategy.
