Rethinking infrastructure with IBM Power11
by Marcel Baur
If servers are end of life, a hardware refresh is usually due. But the AI boom and geopolitical tensions are increasingly causing bottlenecks for x86 processors. Prices are risin, in some cases even between order and delivery. This becomes a burden for companies. However, extended operation is not a sustainable solution. This is why a rethink is beginning in many places: away from fixed manufacturer ties and towards a strategically planned infrastructure. The readily available IBM Power11 servers can play a role here.
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The current development of the chip market is alarming. Demand is growing, but production capacities remain limited. Large buyers have secured chip contingents at an early stage, while others are coming under pressure. Classic procurement processes only work to a limited extent. This is not a short-term bottleneck, but a structural change in the processor market.
Predictability is lost.
For IT departments, this raises a central question: How can infrastructure be planned when prices and delivery times are hardly reliable? "Business as usual" with existing strategies does not go far enough here. If you rely on a manufacturer, you make yourself vulnerable – both economically and technically. Infrastructures must therefore be more diversified. More towards multi-vendor, with fewer dependencies and tailored to real risks.
x86 particularly affected.
x86 platforms in particular are under pressure. They depend heavily on global supply chains. If there are disruptions there, as in the current geopolitical situation, or if demand increases, as due to the current AI boom, bottlenecks will arise. This is exactly what can be observed at the moment. If servers have to be replaced, it fails due to delivery times. Up to six months are not uncommon. This delays server refreshes and puts pressure on budgets. Performance losses and security gaps are the result. This can have far-reaching consequences, especially for business-critical applications such as SAP or Oracle.
Alternatives are gaining in importance.
Many companies are therefore currently increasingly examining alternatives. Not as a replacement, but as a supplement to your existing server landscape. Their goal: to secure critical workloads and avoid bottlenecks. Multi-vendor strategies are a central component of this. Components from different manufacturers avoid monocultures. In Germany, this is even required by the state for critical companies.
If several x86 systems can be replaced by a few more powerful servers, this leads to less complexity. This makes IBM Power11 a real alternative for a reimagined infrastructure - as long as the workloads fit. The platform is aimed at applications with high demands on performance, availability and security, such as large databases or SAP environments. At the same time, IBM Power11 systems are currently ready to deliver* and can reliably cover both short-term and long-term infrastructure needs.
*As of early May 2026 – Subject to daily change
Source: https://newsroom.ibm.com/2025-07-08-ibm-power11-raises-the-bar-for-enterprise-it
Fewer systems, more efficiency and safety.
A key advantage of the multi-vendor strategy with the use of IBM Power11 is server consolidation. Fewer systems take on more tasks. This reduces operating expenses, energy consumption and licensing costs. At the same time, performance remains high. This can also have an economic impact. Power systems achieve twice the performance per watt compared to x86 platforms and offer additional optimization modes for less load-intensive workloads. This reduces the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership), improves the overview, and allows resources to be used more efficiently. (Source: IBM)
In addition, there are security aspects: Mechanisms integrated into IBM Power11 servers detect ransomware activity at an early stage and enable automated responses. At the same time, the platform is designed for very high availability – up to 99.9999 percent. This is crucial for critical applications. (Source: IBM)
Data sovereignty and relief of the environment.
At the same time, the topic of data sovereignty is becoming increasingly important. In view of the current geopolitical situation, many companies are questioning their cloud strategy. The question is no longer just whether the cloud makes sense, but also where which data should be stored. Platforms such as IBM Power make it possible to keep data in one's own data center and at the same time implement hybrid scenarios. This makes companies flexible and independent again. It also relieves the burden on existing environments by moving critical workloads to more stable systems while others continue to run on the existing platforms.
Orientation in the platform environment.
However, the challenge lies less in the technology itself than in the decision to do so. Sitting out the situation is not a solution. Instead, companies need to realign their entire IT strategy and gain a comprehensive overview of the market:
- Which platform suits which requirements?
- What options are available at short notice?
- And what risks actually exist?
A structured view of one's own infrastructure helps to answer these questions. External analyses can help to classify the current situation and compare the various options with each other. Providers such as Bechtle hold corresponding workshops and assess the market and location – with a holistic view. The goal is not to make a quick decision, but to develop a reliable basis.
In the end, infrastructure always remains a strategic task. Those who review and adapt them at an early stage gain room for manoeuvre, regardless of which platform they ultimately choose.
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Learn more about IBM Power.
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