As legacy MF environments support mainly business-critical applications, with over two decades of experience—HPE helps to ensure business continuity throughout the migration process to AWS. We’ve designed the MF Alternative (MFA) methodology used by this service, combining proven processes and tools. The methodology offers four key services: MF Migration Business Case Service (BCS), MF Migration Roadmap Analysis (MRA), MF Migration Design and Planning (DAP), and MF Migration Implementation Service (MIS). These services make up the HPE MFA Migration services portfolio and span the entire end‑to-end migration journey.

Mainframe Migration business case. The first step is to understand the business case and migration feasibility. Typically, four to five weeks in length, it helps build the business case for full mainframe migration, including TCO/ROI economic analysis, along with technical and timeline feasibility. Other deliverables include a high-level target hybrid cloud Architecture design concept, source-to-target migration mapping, high-level project plan, and schedule showing major phases, activities, and milestones, as well as information on risks and impacts.

Strategic Road Map Analysis. Planning migration from a large mainframe environment needs to be addressed in phases, identifying potential roadblocks, dependencies, support and technical constraints, and an overall business case. This service makes arriving at the right decisions faster, supported by an actionable plan. It builds a more elaborate business case when phased migration of a vast mainframe estate is involved. The analysis covers how the environment can be partitioned and the order in which the migrations should occur.

HPE Mainframe Application Migration Mainframe migration design and planning The final step before embarking on migration implementation. This service is designed to cover all aspects of the due-diligence process to help mitigate migration risks and provide the best possible start for a successful migration. Typically, it follows either of the previous services, though it can be a standalone engagement for those who already have clarity on the need for migration, as well as a high-level scope establishing that a single-project migration is feasible. After performing all the in-depth analysis and due diligence required to integrate the scope and feasibility, a fixed-price migration implementation proposal is finalized. Mainframe migration implementation The specialist and dedicated Mainframe Migration Center of Expertise from HPE delivers the implementation. The implementation covers all critical services including target Hybrid cloud Infrastructure, sizing, application migration & data, security, testing, project management, education, training, and XaaS models aligned with the customer needs. It is designed to enable a low-risk migration with minimal impact on day to day business operations.

These services enable complete, partial, or phased mainframe migration to various hybrid cloud platforms. It has become clear the debate over public cloud or mainframe as an either/or decision is no longer valid when the choice to take a cloud everywhere approach can be made.