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Covenco & CloudFirst: The Expert Partnership for Your IBM i Cloud Journey

AS/400 cloud hosting in the UK

Moving IBM i to the Cloud? There’s Finally a Smarter Way.

For over 35 years, Covenco has been a trusted partner for organisations running IBM i (AS/400, iSeries) workloads. We’ve supported countless businesses relying on the legendary security, reliability, and performance of IBM Power Systems. While many IT workloads have readily migrated to the cloud over the years, IBM i has often remained steadfastly on-premises.

Now, in 2025, the push to move all critical workloads to the cloud is undeniable. However, for experienced IT managers and infrastructure leaders like you, migrating IBM i presents unique challenges. Concerns around cloud orchestration complexity, true reliability, unpredictable costs, and maintaining robust security are valid and significant. After all, platforms handling high-throughput, critical data for manufacturing, retail, and finance demand certainty.

The Trouble with Existing IBM i Cloud Options

Until now, the path to the cloud for IBM i has often been less than ideal. While various UK providers offer hosting solutions, significant drawbacks have persisted:

  1. The Management Gap:
    Some existing IBM i cloud solutions, while powerful, are essentially a infrastructure as a service offering. They demand significant customer effort in orchestration, management, ongoing support, OS updates, and PTF application. This contradicts the very reason many seek cloud solutions – a desire for a more agile, hands-off IT environment, not simply shifting infrastructure management tasks.
  2. The Cost Conundrum:
    Unpredictable and inconsistent costs plague many existing IBM i cloud hosting solutions. Complex pricing models, confusing terms, and invoices that surprise (and rarely delight) the finance department have become frustratingly common. This lack of transparency makes budgeting and demonstrating ROI incredibly difficult.

Introducing the Solution: Covenco & CloudFirst Partnership

Covenco is thrilled to announce our new strategic partnership with CloudFirst, bringing a truly differentiated IBM i cloud hosting solution to the UK market.

CloudFirst isn’t new to this space. They possess decades of specialised IBM i hosting experience, honed in the demanding US market. Now, in 2025, they have established their own dedicated, purpose-built data centres right here in the United Kingdom, specifically designed for optimal IBM i hosting.

Available exclusively through trusted partners like Covenco, the CloudFirst solution directly addresses the core challenges faced by organisations looking to migrate their IBM i workloads:

  1. Consistent and Predictable Monthly Costs:
    Say goodbye to billing surprises. CloudFirst from Covenco offers a truly transparent and predictable hosting cost model for your IBM i workloads. The CloudFirst model provides clarity upfront, allowing for reliable budgeting and financial planning.
  2. Fully Managed Cloud Hosting for IBM i:
    This is not just infrastructure; it’s a complete service. Your IBM i environment is fully managed 24/7/365 by expert, IBM-certified staff. Covenco and CloudFirst jointly handle OS updates, PTF application, proactive monitoring, and issue remediation, giving your team peace of mind and freeing up valuable resources.

Beyond the Core: Robustness, Compliance, and Connectivity

The benefits don’t stop there. Choosing CloudFirst through Covenco also provides:

  • Rock-Solid Reliability:
    Backed by a clear and enforceable SLA guaranteeing 100% uptime.
  • Certified Compliance:
    Meeting stringent requirements including ISO 27001, SOC 1 Type 2, SOC 2 Type 2, HIPAA & GDPR.
  • Seamless Interconnectivity:
    Easily connect your IBM i environment to major hyperscalers like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

Expert Guidance for a Smooth Migration

Worried about the transition? Don’t be. Covenco and CloudFirst bring deep, collective experience in migrating IBM Power clients to the cloud, whether from on-premises setups or other cloud environments. We partner with you at every stage, starting with a thorough pre-migration assessment, developing a customised roadmap, and executing a migration plan designed to minimise disruption and guarantee success.

Take the First Step: Free IBM i Cloud Migration Assessment

Ready to explore a predictable, fully managed future for your IBM i systems in the cloud? Covenco is currently offering a Complimentary Cloud Migration Assessment exclusively for IBM i users in the United Kingdom.

Our expert technicians will provide:

  • A detailed assessment of your current environment.
  • A comprehensive SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) for migration.
  • A full report and tailored migration roadmap.
  • Comparative cost projections for our fully managed IBM i cloud solution, giving you a reliable understanding of upfront and ongoing expenses.

Get Started Today:

There’s no obligation. Simply complete the form below or contact our IBM specialist, Simon Gooding, directly:

Stop grappling with unpredictable costs and management overhead. Discover the Covenco and CloudFirst difference for your IBM i cloud journey today.

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