The IBM i and the Hybrid Cloud World: Things To Keep In Mind
April 27, 2026 Gregg Rohaly
As hybrid IT becomes the default operating model, the IBM i platform is increasingly positioned not as a legacy “system in the corner,” but as a high-value, mission-critical core surrounded by modern integration layers and cloud-connected services.
In The IBM i And The Hybrid Cloud World: Things To Keep In Mind, a fast-paced conversation explores what IBM i leaders – and the partners who advise them – should prioritize when aligning IBM i with today’s hybrid cloud expectations.
For this video interview, Gregg Rohaly as CloudSAFE’s business development manager, joined Ron Venzin, a CloudSAFE founder and chief development officer, discuss IBM i topics with respect to on prem to cloud transformation. They touch on areas such as costs, skills, what they see in the marketplace, and useful advice compiled from the many conversations they have had with customers and business partners over the past couple of years.
The conversation introduces CloudSAFE and its evolution into a scaled, multi-platform hosting and managed services provider, emphasizing growth, broader infrastructure footprint, and a partner-friendly model – while reinforcing deep roots in IBM i backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity services. From there, the conversation tackles a critical reality: IBM i environments are rarely isolated anymore. Instead, they commonly connect to AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and adjacent workloads such as analytics, customer-facing web/mobile applications, DevOps pipelines, and resilience architectures – often with IBM i handling core transactions while cloud services support innovation at the edge.
For midmarket organizations, the discussion highlights the “tipping points” that accelerate cloud adoption: the IBM i skills gap, rising operational burden, the need for CapEx avoidance and predictable TCO, and the desire to modernize faster without rewriting dependable core applications. It also frames how managed cloud can stabilize infrastructure economics through provider scale and long-term sourcing advantages, while delivering on-demand expertise for migration planning, performance optimization, governance/FinOps, and 24/7 operations – without forcing customers to staff every specialized role internally. The piece closes with practical guidance that you should listen to and note before jumping in.
We hope that you enjoy the conversation.
Gregg Rohaly is business development manager at CloudSAFE.
This content was sponsored by CloudSAFE.
RELATED STORIES
You Are Much More Than Power Systems, And So Are We
CloudSAFE And Focal Point Solutions Group Combine Services, Unify Brands
What IBM i Shops Are Thinking About Right Now
DR Testing As A Service: One More Thing That You Don’t Have To Do
We Are Filling Our Talent Pool Because Yours Is Going To Drain
When You Need Us, We Are Ready To Do Grunt Work
Get Help To Batten Down The Hatches On Your IBM i
The Security Awareness Of People Is The Important Firewall In IT
Managed Cloud Saves Money By Cutting System And People Overprovisioning
With IBM i Security, You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know
Focal Point Buys UCG Technologies, On The Hunt For More IBM i Deals
Focal Point Emphasizes Security Assessments, Documents In The Cloud
Managed Service Provider Picks Its Niche
Focal Point Updates DR FlashCopy
Startup Looks To Take the Pain Out Of HA Testing
Hit A Fiduciary Home Run With A Backup, DR, Cybersecurity Triple Play
Don’t Forget About The Co-Lo Alternative To Cloud
Ransomware Epidemic Hits Epic Proportions, And IBM i Shops Take Notice
Do The Math When Looking at IBM i Hosting For Cost Savings
Disaster Recovery, At Your Service
Taking The Pulse Of The IBM i Market
If You Can’t Get To The Tape, It Doesn’t Matter If It Is Dead Or Not
