IBM, CA Pair to Bring the Power of the Mainframe to the Cloud

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For companies all over the world, the power of the mainframe is critical to the success of their enterprise transformations. As they transform toward cloud deployment models, many rely on the traditional strengths of the mainframe to maintain secure, reliable, and scalable computing. And for good reason. For example, nearly 80 percent of all enterprise data is managed on the mainframe.

So, as we assist clients in their digital transformations, it is important that they have the flexibility to continue to quickly deploy and access their mission-critical apps in a mainframe environment. To accomplish this, last year IBM introduced IBM Cloud Managed Services on z Systems (zCloud), which provides clients with another option to move critical workloads into a cloud environment with the flexibility and security of the mainframe. In addition, we offer the IBM Services Platform with Watson that provides another level of automation within zCloud to assist clients with their moves to IBM Public and Private Clouds. As they transform, clients can work with IBM to create a hybrid cloud environment that offers the right mix of services to address their evolving business needs.

To extend the reach of zCloud, today IBM and long-time partner CA Technologies are announcing a strategic partnership to provide new cloud services and speed digital transformation for companies.

With so much data being managed on mainframes, including the data of 92 of the world’s top 100 banks, the need to ensure a reliable environment that is updated, secure, and scalable is critical. zCloud helps to ensure that our clients have the managed services and capacity when needed, and has helped to reduce the costs associated with operating mainframes by as much as 30 percent.

For example, zCloud provides the State of Arizona with the agility to carry out some of state’s most critical IT operations including mainframe services and disaster recovery efforts. By taking advantage of zCloud, the state can execute the statewide information technology strategy and to offer capabilities, services, and infrastructure across to additional State agencies.

“The services announced today from CA and IBM enable us to run mission-critical workloads in a cloud environment with access to the latest mainframe technology and expertise,” said Morgan Reed, the State of Arizona’s Chief Information Officer.

In addition, one of the leading health benefits companies in the United States, Anthem Inc., sees the benefits in this partnership.

“The investment in mainframe innovation that CA and IBM are making together supports our digital transformation and demonstrates a real commitment to giving businesses an edge,” said Tim Skeen, Chief Information Officer, Anthem. “This offering demonstrates a real possibility for us to deliver new innovations and features faster and securely through a true cloud experience for the mainframe.”

The partnership pillars include enhanced mainframe software solutions, a new development toolset, and accelerated operational efficiencies for our zCloud clients.

Enhanced Mainframe Software Solutions

Through this relationship, IBM and CA will provide clients with a suite of mainframe software solutions that will be available as elastic, consumption-based models targeted to core platform domains. These platform services will enable companies using zCloud to:

• Easily develop their core applications using state of the art development tools and make the platform easily accessible to the emerging generation of developers
• Quickly test and modify applications in place, making it easier for companies to do MF test and development in the cloud
• Monitor applications in the cloud and integrate into existing digital performance management solutions
• Access regulatory compliance services to make it easier for clients to protect their clients personally identifiable information

Modern Development Toolset

In addition, to create an innovative DevOps experience, CA is announcing the general availability of CA Brightside, a modern development toolset that enables clients to control, script and develop on the mainframe using similar tools and processes as they would use in any other cloud platform. CA Brightside works with best in breed developer tools including visual studio to integrate the mainframe into a company’s enterprise DevOps initiatives and will be first available to clients via the IBM Cloud.

Enhanced Efficiencies

Further, CA and IBM will continue to partner on operational capabilities to drive greater zCloud efficiencies. These initiatives will focus on streamlining client onboarding, on automating operations and speeding the provisioning process for new environments. For clients, this helps to further reduce service costs and deliver a frictionless, cloud-like user experience.

Through this strategic relationship, the companies are architecting new and innovative ways to enable clients to develop, run and manage mainframe applications in the cloud. Our clients can now quickly access development, testing, application management and regulatory compliance services to deliver operational resiliency, efficiencies, and workforce agility that their businesses require.

The software and services are available today to all IBM Cloud Managed Services on z Systems client environments in North America and will be rolled out globally throughout the rest of 2018.