Is IBM Power 11 worth the switch? Everything IT leaders need to know

Business Continuity and Unprecedented Uptime

At the core of Power 11’s design is a commitment to business continuity. Through customer co-creation and feedback, IBM recognized that high availability, security, and system manageability all serve one goal: keeping mission-critical operations online.

Power 11 introduces several features that directly support this goal:

• Automated, zero-downtime upgrades: From firmware to OS, Power 11 enables end-to-end updates without interrupting your business.
  
• Sub-second ransomware detection: With IBM Power Cyber Vault and integration with IBM Storage, attacks can be detected in under one minute—versus days or weeks on most platforms.
  
• 6x9s availability (99.9999%): Technically validated for the first time on IBM Power, this level of uptime sets a new standard for distributed computing platforms.
  
• Spare cores for failover: Much like a spare tire, Power 11 includes unused cores that automatically activate in case of failure—ensuring there’s no downtime at all.

This level of resilience is rare outside the world of mainframes. IBM Power 11 brings it to distributed systems, making it a serious contender for any organization focused on uptime and reliability.

Security in a Quantum-Ready World

Security is another area where Power 11 makes significant leaps. With quantum computing on the horizon, IBM has anticipated the next generation of threats and acted now to help organizations stay ahead.

Power 11 includes:

• Quantum-safe algorithms to protect data today from “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks.
  
• FIPS 140-3 Level 4 compliant crypto cards that secure system access and data movement.
  
• Quantum-safe protections during LPM (Live Partition Mobility) that ensure data is encrypted even while in transit between systems.
  
• Automated cryptographic scanning and hardened hardware security modules.

Whether you’re a large enterprise or a mid-sized business, quantum computing represents a serious emerging threat. Power 11 offers protections that anticipate that future today.

Built With Customers, For Customers

What sets Power 11 apart is not just its technology but the way it was built. IBM involved nearly 100 clients, ISVs, and partners through formal sponsor-user programs and customer councils. These collaborators helped shape everything from automation features to security layers, ensuring the platform reflects real-world needs.

This direct input has paid off. Power 11 is not just more capable—it’s more usable. From day-one update automation to integrated workload management, every feature was designed with operational simplicity and customer priorities in mind.

Top Three Reasons to Move to Power 11

For existing IBM i users—and for businesses evaluating high-performance enterprise platforms—Power 11 offers three compelling advantages:

1. Security: From transparent memory encryption to quantum-safe architecture, Power 11 offers the most comprehensive security posture in the Power family to date.
   
2. Autonomous IT and efficiency: With zero-downtime upgrades, intelligent energy management, and automation across support and security, Power 11 streamlines operations and boosts productivity.
   
3. Scalability and performance: Whether you’re scaling AI inference workloads or mission-critical ERP systems, Power 11 offers extreme performance headroom and consistent platform behavior.

A Smart Move for Modern Enterprises

With next-gen security, near-zero downtime, and automation that enables true operational efficiency, Power 11 is designed for the demands of today’s—and tomorrow’s—enterprise workloads.

For businesses running IBM i or considering moving critical systems to a more resilient platform, Power 11 is a smart choice. And with deep expertise in IBM infrastructure, R2i can help you make the transition smoothly so that the benefits you gain from Power 11 far outweigh any inconveniences of updating your system.

Contact us if you would like support on modernizing to Power 11.