{"id":835770,"date":"2025-08-28T14:44:37","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T12:44:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=835770"},"modified":"2025-08-28T17:01:28","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T15:01:28","slug":"first-distribution-debuts-secure-and-resilient-ibm-power11-powering-ai-value","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/industry-news\/835770\/first-distribution-debuts-secure-and-resilient-ibm-power11-powering-ai-value\/","title":{"rendered":"First Distribution debuts secure and resilient IBM Power11, powering AI value"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\"><em>Sylvia Scheerova, Vice President of IBM Power Sales EMEA<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>IBM\u2019s Power11 launch is one of the company\u2019s most significant in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new technology promises to improve customers\u2019 productivity and reduce costs while paving the road to full artificial intelligence (AI) value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/firstdistribution.com\/our-brands\/ibm\/?utm_source=BusinessTech&amp;utm_medium=Sponsored+Article&amp;utm_term=August+2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here to learn more about First Distribution\u2019s IBM offerings.<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>IBM\u2019s Power11 servers deliver the availability, resiliency, performance, and scalability modern enterprises demand for seamless hybrid deployment on-premises or in the IBM Cloud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Power11 is designed to be the most resilient server in the history of the IBM Power platform, with 99,9999% of uptime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Together with zero planned downtime for system maintenance and less than one minute guaranteed ransomware threat detection with IBM Power Cyber Vault, Power11 sets a new bar for business continuity &#8211; addressing both planned and cyber-incident-related downtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the first time ever, the Power11 general availability will simultaneously include high-end, mid-range, and entry-level servers as well as IBM Power Virtual Servers in the IBM Cloud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>IBM Power Virtual Server offers a fast path to the cloud for power workloads, and is certified as a hyperscaler platform for RISE with SAP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Power11 is also the first IBM Power server to support the IBM Spyre Accelerator &#8211; IBM&#8217;s system-on-a-chip that will be available in Q4 2025 and is purpose-built for today&#8217;s AI-intensive inference workloads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With support for autonomous operations, Power11 delivers intelligent performance gains that reduce complexity and improve workload efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Power11 offers up to 55% better core performance compared to Power9 and has up to 45% more capacity &#8211; with higher core counts in entry and mid-range systems compared to Power10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This upgraded performance means that with Power11, enterprises are positioned to achieve enhanced flexibility and security, enabling them to transform their enterprise processes through automation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Power11, customers can expect:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Zero planned downtime for system maintenance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Less than one minute ransomware threat detection with IBM Power Cyber Vault.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transformed business processes with AI integration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Efficient IT that saves time and money.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Sylvia Scheerova, VP of IBM Power sales for the EMEA region, explained that the new Power11 will help customers to reap the benefits of autonomous computing in the AI era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She points out that IBM always aims to integrate the full stack in any new technology &#8211; \u201cso there is integration all the way horizontally as well as vertically.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means the full stack of hybrid cloud platform operating systems and firmware, computing hardware, and silicon technology is tightly operated &#8211; and these are all built on a solid foundation of performance, availability, and security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A key innovation in Power11 is zero downtime, which Scheerova explained is critically important for mission-critical workloads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Security is another major innovation, with Power11 guaranteeing one-minute ransomware detection with automated response and recovery within minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vastly improved performance drives a 5-times increase in business process rate, as does AI integration into existing enterprise workflows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Autonomy is key to operating in the AI era, so the Power11 portfolio includes the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A new energy-efficient operating model that optimises power consumption without compromising service level agreements (SLAs).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>New 2.5D integrated stacked capacitor and innovative thermal technologies to optimise power consumption.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improved performance through workload isolation with Resource Groups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Next-generation memory with 3-time DDR bandwidth delivering performance to larger, memory-intensive applications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>New off-chip acceleration based on IBM Spyre planned for the fourth quarter of 2025.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The technology is also secure by design, with quantum-enabled IT guarding against cyber incidents and guaranteeing ransomware detection within one minute, and automated response and recovery within minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scheerova said that IBM Power11 closes the operational efficiency gap, thereby improving business processes for customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The true value of Power11 also lies in its extreme automation, reduced costs, and optimised workloads, she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Power11, customers can scale AI across the enterprise, boost productivity with assistants and agents, and unlock enterprise data with data fabric and platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>IBM Power is one of the most open systems available today, Scheerova added, so customers have a choice about what they want to implement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the end of the day, customers are looking to improve their bottom line &#8211; and IBM Power11 allows them to do so by reducing costs and improving productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/firstdistribution.com\/our-brands\/ibm\/?utm_source=BusinessTech&amp;utm_medium=Sponsored+Article&amp;utm_term=August+2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Click here to learn more about First Distribution\u2019s IBM offerings.<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Raising the security bar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/First-Distribution-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/First-Distribution-2-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-835774\" srcset=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/First-Distribution-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/First-Distribution-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/First-Distribution-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/First-Distribution-2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\"><em>David-Chancellor Maddison, Cyber Practice Program Leader for EMEA at IBM<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With cybersecurity one of the most pressing challenges facing companies, reseller partners should be mapping protection features to the threats that hang over their customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is according to David-Chancellor Maddison, Cyber Practice Program Leader for EMEA at IBM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first stop is identity verification &#8211; and Power11 layers multi-factor authentication with two-person integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also includes ransomware detection, where every IO is tested, while applications are scanned with additional enhanced app scanning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To mitigate data theft, Power11 offers Quantum Safe, which encrypts data at rest and offers key management via GKL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since most infiltration takes place while data is moving, Power 22 Quantum Safe also protects data in transit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For recovery, the Power11 Clean Room is a secure environment where data is scanned and mounted. It provides enhanced vault scanning so organisations have a golden copy that is immutable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speed of recovery is paramount, so the clean room provides data availability within less than 60 seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>IT organisations can spin up a number of clean rooms, creating multiple sources of clean data &#8211; and since the clean room is on the primary source, it can be restored within seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere is no other combination of technology that can do all of that,\u201d Maddison said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/firstdistribution.com\/our-brands\/ibm\/?utm_source=BusinessTech&amp;utm_medium=Sponsored+Article&amp;utm_term=August+2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Click here to learn more about First Distribution\u2019s IBM offerings.<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Resilience enables business continuity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/First-Distribution-3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/First-Distribution-3-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-835773\" srcset=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/First-Distribution-3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/First-Distribution-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/First-Distribution-3-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/First-Distribution-3.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\"><em>Ashwin Srinivas, Lead Applied AI and Hybrid Cloud Offerings at IBM.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ashwin Srinivas, Senior Product Manager for AI at IBM Power, said IBM Power11 aims to ensure cyber resilience, protection, and security by design to protect its enterprise clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>IBM Power11 servers are designed with advanced security features, including quantum-safe cryptography, to protect against future threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They are built for resilience with the capability to offer zero-downtime maintenance and rapid ransomware threat detection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Power11 implements the Quantum-Safe Secure Boot process that uses quantum-resistant algorithms for digital signatures, ensuring the integrity of the entire software stack &#8211; from firmware to operating system &#8211; against emerging quantum-era threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hardware Memory Tagging protects against vulnerabilities like buffer overflows and side-channel exploits by validating any buffer access, safeguarding system integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With IBM Power Cyber Vault, Power11 offers guaranteed ransomware threat detection in less than one minute, contributing to overall business continuity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And the servers are built with features like memory encryption and automated key lifecycle management to enhance system integrity and data protection, and are designed to protect against &#8220;harvest-now, decrypt-later&#8221; attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/firstdistribution.com\/our-brands\/ibm\/?utm_source=BusinessTech&amp;utm_medium=Sponsored+Article&amp;utm_term=August+2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Click here to learn more about First Distribution\u2019s IBM offerings.<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBM Concert ensures zero downtime<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ronnie Moodley, Global Principal Sales Leader of Power at IBM, stressed that one of the core focuses around the Power11 launch has been eliminating business disruption with zero downtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Planned downtime is a major cost for IT organisations, he added, with the annual average cost coming in at $5.6 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A system that offers zero planned downtime means these costs are eliminated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>IBM Concert is an application-centric resilience hub that unifies siloed data across cost, runtime, incident, and release tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Customers can proactively manage their security to reduce the time spent on CVE mitigation by 90%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using AI, Concert uncovers crucial insights about operations and provides application-specific recommendations for improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apart from AI-driven recommendations and remediation tips, it offers automated data analysis from disparate systems and tools, plus insights and remediation recommendations that lead to a lower mean time to resolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Concert lets IT teams be more proactive about application health and security by identifying operational issues before they escalate, leading to higher application uptime and lower risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/firstdistribution.com\/our-brands\/ibm\/?utm_source=BusinessTech&amp;utm_medium=Sponsored+Article&amp;utm_term=August+2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Click here to learn more about First Distribution\u2019s IBM offerings.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OlbcIm1Dkj4?si=SWKc5wDseU-J45_J\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>IBM has launched its new flagship Power11 servers \u2013 and First Distribution has given South African reseller partners an in-depth look at the system\u2019s features and benefits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":835772,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10459],"tags":[8556,11985,753,23491],"class_list":["post-835770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry-news","tag-ai","tag-first-distribution","tag-ibm","tag-ibm-power11"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/835770","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=835770"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/835770\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":836298,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/835770\/revisions\/836298"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/835772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=835770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=835770"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=835770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}