iSeries Modernization – Need of the Hour for Businesses to Stay Future-Proof
With the evolving IT panorama, mid-sized companies and enterprise-level organizations are planning for AS400 Systems modernization to drive digital transformation. The purpose behind the modernization is that the AS400 System is perceived as outdated know-how, which is susceptible to potential safety threats.
Enterprises utilizing AS400 Systems incessantly encounter a collection of issues starting from poor consumer expertise to lack of readiness for dynamic software program and internet apps, excessive server improve prices, incompatibility with the Cloud and different rising applied sciences, and efficiency points. Since there’s a excessive danger of working mission-critical workloads and purposes on AS400 Systems, it is smart to contemplate iSeries modernization. Before you get down to modernization to bid adieu to safety, efficiency, and different points related to AS400 Systems, it is vital to find out about this getting old IT asset.
What is AS400 System?
AS400 System is a sturdy structure of each {hardware} and software program, which incorporates its proprietary OS/400 working system (OS) and an embedded database. When launched again in 1988 by the trade titan IBM, AS400 System was not solely unbeatable but additionally acclaimed for its low possession price, scalability, reliability, stability, compatibility, and an unimaginable uptime of practically 100%.
AS400 Systems had been unsung heroes practically three many years in the past since they used to energy computing-heavy, strong, and mission-critical purposes like ERP for healthcare, banking, training, and authorities establishments. However, over a interval of time, AS400 System has aged properly and is now perceived as out of date. In reality, many tech innovators and analysts have been criticizing AS400 System for its poor usability and manageability, obscure enterprise guidelines, inexperienced display UI, and different challenges posed by this legacy platform. This could also be the purpose why enterprises throughout verticals are investing in AS400 modernization companies. By modernizing AS400 Systems, enterprises can expertise a bunch of advantages corresponding to improved enterprise agility, scalability, safety, and compatibility with fashionable rising applied sciences to acquire a aggressive edge and keep future-proof.
The 5-Step Foolproof Method for iSeries Modernization
Step 1: Application Assessment
- Functional data of utility ought to be derived from present system documentation
- Technical setting evaluation
- Database evaluation
- Size of the utility
- OS model, RPG (model), Case Tools (Synon), and different third-party instruments
- Third-party Applications, Interfaces, and APIs concerned
- Deciding the path for IBM iSeries Modernization
Step 2: Analyzing Business Requirements
- Target system UI design
- Impact evaluation
- Ongoing and deliberate improvisations in utility
Step 3: Modernization and Post-Modernization Changes
- Automatic or guide modernization
- Target database design
- Interfaces redesign
- Unused code will probably be eliminated
- Reusable elements identification
- Enhancement and redesign of present structure
- GAP evaluation and post-modernization customization
Step 4: Data Migration
- Normalization of DB tables
- Target system database structure
- Database creation and re-structuring
- Database migration
- Archive information importing
- Migrating energetic database in a phased method
Step 5: Testing utility
- Run testing of the utility with outlined enterprise guidelines
- Comparative analysis with the supply utility
Types of AS400 Systems Modernization
Primarily, there are three varieties of AS400 Systems modernization together with front-end modernization, code modernization, and Cloud migration. Let’s take a look at them in a short.
1) Front-End Modernization
In this modernization strategy, a whole redesigning of the AS400 Systems consumer expertise will probably be achieved by revamping inexperienced display 5250. Modernization of the IBM iSeries inexperienced display is carried out in 4 methods:
- API & UI Framework
- Screen Re-facing
- RPG Open Access
- Zend PHP Server
2) Code Modernization
Some enterprises utilizing AS400 Sytems nonetheless make use of RPG mounted kind as a substitute of free-form code. The downside related to fixed-form RPG is that many functionalities of fashionable programming language will not be accessible on this format, whereas, free-form coding is less complicated to perceive. Furthermore, fixed-form RPG programming is incompatible with rising languages, since all of them are free-form. Therefore, the present code construction of the AS400 System is re-evaluated right into a three-tier modernized code.
3) Cloud Migration
This modernization strategy is very efficient each in phrases of safety and reliability. In this technique, all of your essential enterprise information will probably be shifted from IBM iSeries/AS400 Systems to the Cloud platform like Azure, Google Cloud, or AWS. Migrating your information from on-premise to the Cloud platform offers enterprises a way of safety. Furthermore, it reduces excessive upkeep prices and ensures that delicate enterprise information is totally secure and safe throughout IT emergencies.
Some common strategies for transferring your information from AS400 Systems to the Cloud server embrace:
- Application re-internet hosting (carry and shift)
- Batch job migration
- Application re-engineering
Key Benefits of AS400 Systems Modernization
1) Mitigate Security Risk
Legacy techniques are susceptible to safety assaults, but they’re nonetheless in use in lots of authorities and banking establishments, background checking techniques, and large-scale enterprises since most of their customers are already acquainted with the getting old techniques. BitSight analyzed greater than 35,000 firms throughout industries and located that 2,000+ organizations run over 50% of their techniques on an outdated OS, making them susceptible to expertise an information breach. However, modernizing legacy techniques like AS400 can merely thwart away cyber assaults and different safety dangers. Besides averting safety dangers, the modernization of legacy techniques can enhance income by greater than 14% per 12 months and cut back working prices by 13% yearly.
2) High Return on Investment (ROI)
Enterprises contemplate ROI earlier than they make any funding. In the case of AS400 Systems modernization, enterprises are extra possible to expertise a excessive return on funding in a small interval of time. The purpose being is that modernization infuses a brand new life to out of date IT belongings, which leads to compatibility with Cloud, higher consumer expertise, excessive efficiency, and far more.
3) Improve Business Capabilities
Enterprises which are reluctant to modernization and are nonetheless utilizing AS400 Systems might have to battle in utilizing fashionable enterprise functionalities and applied sciences which are essential for the development of their enterprise. In different phrases, banking on legacy techniques can inhibit the scalability and development potential of a enterprise. Therefore, it’s strongly really helpful to modernize the RPG code of AS400 Systems and enhance your small business capabilities.
Wrapping Up
Businesses utilizing AS400 Systems are contemplating modernization to overcome the challenges they’re coping with. If you might be additionally utilizing IBM iSeries/AS400 Systems, it is excessive time to modernize your legacy IT belongings. By doing so, you possibly can bid adieu to potential safety dangers and keep future-ready.
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