Even mature legacy systems such as AS400/IBM iSeries need constant mending to support evolving business demands. While these systems continue to serve most organizations as the backbone for running crucial operations, when not properly updated and supported, they can become a bottleneck.
The problem? Challenges due to aging infrastructure and increasing complexity of IT to maintain high performance as well as security. The solution? Full-cycle IT support & maintenance services that can keep business-critical systems operating effectively and safely and provide maximum ROI.
What are IBMi/AS400 Maintenance and Support Services?
AS400 application maintenance and support services offer regular IT support needed for IBM’s powerful applications running on the AS400/iSeries system. The services include many different activities to maintain AS400’s state of stability, relevancy, and readiness for crucial business operations.
Maintenance tasks include system monitoring, applying PTFs (Program Temporary Fix) and security patches, and regular hardware checks among many others. This is important to avoid any possible problems regarding business operations and information security.
For instance, it can be outdated software that leaves the system open to vulnerabilities or compromised hardware leading to mission-critical failures that could disrupt business continuity.
On the other hand, support goes way beyond maintenance. It involves troubleshooting and resolving any issues caused by a technical glitch or performance bottleneck or even security threat.
AS400 support requires a team of experts deeply familiar with the system’s architecture who can diagnose and fix issues promptly to avoid downtime.
What are the Benefits of AS400 Maintenance and Support?
The need for AS400 application maintenance and support is essential for several reasons, all of which contribute to the system’s reliability, performance, and long-term value.
Fast Resolution of Technical Problems
One of the most essential roles served by AS400 support services is solving technical system issues. System failures or performance issues can greatly affect business operations, causing downtime and service interruptions.
Having access to the expertise and experience of those who have worked with AS400 systems can drastically decrease downtime by rapidly identifying issues and getting operations up and running swiftly.
Regular Maintenance for Problem Prevention
Through regular maintenance, you can keep your AS400 system in good shape and increase overall efficiency which ultimately saves time and money over a long period.
Keeping up with scheduled system checks and updates can help detect problems before they escalate. Being one step ahead to make sure system performance is always on point can avoid potential disruptions that could cost businesses plenty.
Access to Expertise and Specialized Knowledge
With AS400 support services, you can tap into this trove of industry and domain expertise that is so hard to find, especially with an aging system like AS400. Seasoned experts know the AS400 systems inside out and can provide custom solutions that fit your needs.
This expertise is especially valuable when facing difficult technical problems or seeking to tune systems. This allows enterprises to benefit from AS400-domain experts who can enhance system reliability, reduce response times, and improve user experience.
Enhanced Security and System Stability
As with any business, security is a top concern and AS400 systems are no different. The support services provide security that protects you from unwanted intruders, guards sensitive data, and allows safe access only to licensed users.
In addition, regular updates and maintenance help to keep the system stable so it minimizes outages due to unexpected failures while maintaining a steady performance.
Cost Efficiency and Long-Term ROI
By investing in AS400 support services, businesses can prevent costly emergency repairs and downtime by proactively monitoring and maintaining the system.
Additionally, the gains in efficiency and performance from effective support translate into enhanced productivity which brings the most ROI.
Major AS400 Maintenance and Support Services
Application maintenance and support services are crucial for organizations that rely on AS400/iSeries systems for their core business operations. Following are some of the major maintenance and support services offered for AS400 systems.
Active Monitoring & Maintenance
Effective AS400 support is built upon regular monitoring and maintenance. Proactive services look at the system’s health daily and inform about issues that they find in real-time.
This form of approach to maintenance will avoid system slowdowns, downtime, and other operational disruptions further ensuring that services can be delivered without interruption.
Security Services
Security is a major concern for businesses of all sizes that are using AS400 systems.
The suite of security services includes server traffic monitoring, implementing advanced encryption and strong authentication to prevent unauthorized access attempts as well as defend against cyber-attacks.
Training on Regular Intervals
Technical training services provide intensive classes on the use and management of AS400 platform that will prepare employees to operate efficiently in their daily routine.
In addition, these programs provide personnel with training on new features and best practices that ensure the capability of getting the most out of their system.
Consulting & Strategy Services
Consulting services are indispensable in helping organizations to develop and implement IT strategies that are designed specifically for their needs.
The team of veteran consultants at SrinSoft works in tandem with you to evaluate your existing use of the systems and find areas you can improve on. Modernizing existing processes, integrating with new functionalities, and optimizing the overall IT infrastructure is also part of this
Backup & Recovery Solutions
Backup and recovery solutions are intentionally built to limit the impact of data loss and expedite recovery, so that businesses can avoid downtime costs while retaining operational flexibility.
These services provide extensive backup and recovery facilities that protect sensitive data and ensure fast access to critical information. Backup and recovery play a vital role in safeguarding data and maintaining business-critical applications when a mishap strikes.
Application Enhancements and Bug Fixes
Legacy applications need to evolve and be brought up-to-date with ever-changing business realities which necessitates enhancements and bug fixes.
Enhancements are anything from adding new features to optimization of existing functionalities, performance improvement as well as even enhancing user experiences or compliance with regulations.
Bug fixes address any issues or errors in the system so that operations won’t be disrupted, or data accuracy be affected.
User Maintenance
User Maintenance in the AS400 mainly includes the creation, modification, and maintenance of user profiles so that system access is safe & efficient. The service comes with creating new users, changing permission flags, resetting passwords, and enforcing security policies so that have a secure user environment.
Granting Object Authorities
Object authorities refer to what kind of system objects like files, programs, and libraries a user can access in AS400. This involves ensuring the security aspects and operational robustness, granting only correct permissions to be accessed so as to prevent unwarranted access.
Managing Subsystems
This involves configuring and monitoring the various subsystems that handle different types of workloads. This service ensures that jobs are efficiently processed, system resources are optimized, and performance remains stable, thereby supporting smooth business operations.
Managing Environments (PROD/UAT/DEV)
Managing AS400 environments, including Production (PROD), User Acceptance Testing (UAT), and Development (DEV), involves setting up and maintaining these distinct environments to ensure seamless application development and testing. A structured workflow is supported through this service to test the changes more rigorously before they are pushed in production.
Conclusion
While businesses rely on AS400 systems for critical operations, they may also face the challenges of a dwindling pool of experts and difficulty in integrating legacy systems with modern ones — all leading to unexpected downtimes that can prove expensive.
To navigate these challenges effectively, working with a trusted provider partner like SrinSoft will give you one less thing to worry about. SrinSoft specializes in maintaining AS400 applications along with a wide range of services ranging from proactive monitoring, security enhancements, and tailored consulting.
With our experienced professionals, you can trust in the fact that your AS400 systems are safe and efficient and meet today’s business demands.
FAQs
What is the AS400 used for?
It is commonly used for business applications, such as accounting, inventory management, and order processing.
Is AS400 skills valuable?
Thousands of businesses across the globe continue to use AS400 technology to run some of their critical application. Despite the rapid advancements in technology, it has stood the test of time and still provides value in business operations.
Is AS400 still used?
Thousands of businesses continue to use AS400 technology to run some of their critical application. These businesses include banks, manufacturing and distribution centres, retailers and even government agencies.
What is AS400 called now?
AS400 is now commonly referred to as IBM i or IBM Power Systems. While AS400 was the name of the system in the past, IBM rebranded it to IBM i to reflect its evolution into a more modern and integrated platform.