The volume of data and transaction processing required in your business makes a mainframe essential. Properly maintaining a mainframe environment requires a large, ongoing investment, and the intertwined systems and processes that result can hurt business growth by limiting productivity, innovation and security. HP provides Managed Mainframe Services that deliver the flexibility, stability, capacity and higher processing efficiency you need to support business growth while reducing your total cost of ownership. Our approach supports continual operational improvement of your mainframe operation with the ultimate goal of transforming it into a highly scalable, leveraged utility environment.
Phase 1 – Transition/Migration
Modernization Viewpoints
HP expresses the importance of identifying and executing the right mix of Mainframe Modernization activities to achieve mainframe-related cost savings and operational improvements.
Mainframe Modernization with Shawna Rudd 3min:31sec
Windows Media Player is required to view the videos
We assume responsibility for the present mode of operation at your site, then successfully migrate your mainframe environment to a dedicated logical partition in one of our Service Management Centers.
Phase 2 – Transformation
Once in an HP facility, we begin transformation activities to convert your mainframe environment to its desired future mode of operation. This is accomplished by moving to shared resources and utilized MIPS (millions of instructions per second) consumption versus a fixed amount of compute power.
Phase 3 – Operation
Your mainframe is fully transformed, operating in our most highly leveraged utility-based environment. Processing is supported using HP's standardized automation tools and processes, proprietary procedures, industry-certified processes and hosting templates to maximize cost savings, stability and processing efficiency.
The end result is a leveraged mainframe environment aligned to your technology strategies and key business outcome objectives.
HP Managed Mainframe Services Feature Set
HP Managed Mainframe Services provides a complete spectrum of management services for the IBM z/Series platform. Our comprehensive set of base and optional features can accommodate any mainframe environment – from client-dedicated to leveraged utility. This flexible design allows for the addition of custom features.
Base service features provide the mainframe platform, storage hardware, operating software and 24/7 management that includes:
- Hardware planning
- Installation
- Monitoring
- Asset management
- Configuration management
- Facilities management (power, HVAC and raised floor)
- Client service management based on ITIL processes
Optional service features are available to tailor the configuration to your specific business requirements. These include:
- System software configuration and support
- Storage management
- Disaster recovery options
- Security upgrades
- Batch scheduling and monitoring
Additional management service features may be chosen, including site migration, mainframe transformation and nonbase software support.
Management of the Complete Mainframe Environment
Managed Mainframe Services includes capabilities required to manage a complex mainframe environment. This comprehensive approach creates a top-performing systems environment that delivers maximum performance, productivity and user satisfaction.
Technical Support
We provide second-level technical support for managing, maintaining and refreshing the hardware and software used in your mainframe environment.
HP technical support personnel:
- Plan, stage, execute and test scheduled changes
- Provide Level 2 and Level 3 incident and problem management
- Conduct hardware and software refresh
- Perform preventive maintenance
- Provide audit support
- Manage capacity and performance
Regional delivery hubs and capability centers act as the technical escalation point for staff to restore service within specified periods during any event that affects service.
Storage Management
HP provides support, control and management for disk space and tape. This involves naming standards, usage standards, file archiving, proper file storage (on-site and off-site) and media monitoring and maintenance to prevent problems due to obsolescence, abuse, improper usage or defect.
HP Storage Management Encompasses:
- Quality assurance
- Validation of created output
- Compliance with security and disaster recovery requirements
- Operation of media devices
- Library management
- Off-site storage management
- Retention management
- Data inventory and recall
Every 24 hours, HP will perform a tape transfer or electronically transmit your mainframe data to a secured off-site storage location; this data is archived and rotated monthly.
Security Management
To protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of your data, HP defines, implements, maintains and continuously evaluates an agreed-upon security plan that incorporates:
- Policy management
- Threat management
- Security asset management
- Security incident management
- Risk management
- Access and resource management
- Incident and compliance management
To help you meet industry and governmental regulations for encryption of data communication, HP offers three optional encrypted/secure access methods:
- Secure TN3270e access
- Secure FTPS (SSL/TLS) access
- Secure SFTP (SSH) access
Facilities Management
Your information is maintained in a secure, stable environment with experienced data center facilities management. HP installs, tests and maintains all equipment at an HP data center. We work to resolve equipment problems, track configurations of equipment and peripherals, and maintain complete documentation of the data center's physical configuration.
HP Facilities Management includes:
- Maintains all facility equipment
- Coordinates, oversees and assumes quality assurance responsibility for all equipment service contracts
- Continually monitors and evaluates facilities
HP has facilities in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the South Pacific and Latin America. These facilities consist of the following:
- Top-tier data centers (SMCs)
- Lower tiered regional data centers
- Disaster recovery centers
Quality control and best practices are maintained and shared globally by continually monitoring and evaluating facilities for performance, efficiency and their ability to support client requirements.
Systems Management
To reduce costs, promote greater consistency and enhance service quality for our clients, we consolidate monitoring and control functions. Support is provided from designated onshore, near-shore and offshore locations worldwide. Systems Management uses cost-advantaged control centers and automated operations for event/alert management and batch monitoring.
- Cost-advantage control centers
- Automated operations for event/alert management
- Batch processing
- Batch scheduling
- Monitoring and event management
Disaster Recovery
HP offers a range of disaster recovery (DR) service levels to match both your budget and the criticality of your applications. Facility, hardware, and software recovery options are supplemented with IT Service Continuity Management (ITSCM) services. Based on client requirements, we can provide the following:
- DR account management through an assigned, certified Business Continuity Planner
- DR plan development and management
- DR exercises (also known as rehearsals or tests)
- Change management of DR plans
- DR assistance at time of disaster
Through proper planning and a methodology based on industry best practices, we work with you to preserve the continuity of your mainframe operation during exceptional and unexpected disasters.
Choose HP
HP's service-level commitments were developed using industry best practices, time-proven processes and our four decades of mainframe management experience. But the value we deliver to your mainframe environment goes beyond technical expertise. HP offers unmatched depth and breadth, industry-leading global delivery capabilities and a “zero-outage” mentality.
HP Managed Mainframe Services provides:
- High-value mainframe services
- Fast access to the right technologies
- Leverage of current technology investment
- Reliable and secure 24/7 backbone
- Quality through ITIL and ISO processes
- Flexible solutions to ensure business growth
In addition to mobilizing the people, resources, methodologies and delivery mechanisms required to support your mainframe environment, we also minimize performance-related issues through the use of multiple safeguards. The result is an environment that is more stable, predictable, reliable and business-ready.
For more information about what HP Enterprise Services can do for you, submit a business inquiry.