IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) is a tech giant worldwide and is renowned for its impressive server hardware. Within the IBM Power range of servers, we’ve seen significant improvements as each new range has been introduced – and as the developments in technology have happened so swiftly, there are now four IBM Power models being used at once. These are the Power8, Power9, Power10 and Power11 product families.
Each product family is slightly different, and each reaches its EOSL point at a different time. Here, we cover off the intricacies of each and their practical impacts.
What the IBM Power Architecture is
The IBM Power Architecture is composed of product families of high-performance, RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) processor designers. The first was simply named Power1, followed by PowerPC and PowerISA, which were then integrated into IBM’s servers for enterprise applications, cloud computing, and supercomputing.
Today, the IBM Power family is known well for efficiency, scalability, and strong virtualization support through built-in hypervisors and runs flexibly across multiple operating systems.
As the models of IBM Power have developed, they’ve become suited to managing demanding enterprise workloads such as big data, large databases and AI processing. Their versatility is crucial for hybrid cloud computing and modernization. What’s more, IBM has embraced Open Source development through the OpenPOWER Foundation, which has helped to foster broader adoption of the systems.
Currently in use are Power8, Power9 and Power10, with the Power11 just introduced.
IBM Power8
IBM Power8 was brought to market in 2014. It boasted higher reliability and throughput than previous iterations, and was lauded for its strong single-thread performance. Typically, it has been used for legacy ERP, on-prem workloads and databases.
While a solid choice for smaller workloads, IBM Power8 is now somewhat ageing in its design and uses higher power consumption than most organizations would expect. The AI and Cloud integration facilities are limited, and so for many businesses, it wouldn’t hold the sufficient flexibility for use.
IBM Power8 works with DDR3 memory, basic security features and a process node of 22nm. This may be suitable for smaller operations but is unlikely to continue to translate as appropriate for many organizations.
IBM ended their OEM full maintenance support for Power8 hardware in 2024, between March and October depending on the exact model within the range. However, this does not necessarily mean that the hardware ceases to function. Its lifespan can be expanded with Third Party Maintenance, providing the operational organization finds it appropriate for use.
IBM Power9
Some three years later in 2017, IBM introduced Power9. Power9 included the introduction of NVLink for GPU acceleration, improved virtualization, support for Linux and better support for SAP HANA. It was intended to help businesses in their transition toward more hybrid environments.
Primarily, IBM Power9 was used for GPU-heavy workloads. However, due its only moderate readiness for Cloud computing and only somewhat improved security features, many businesses didn’t upgrade from Power8 to Power9; instead opting to wait for the next iteration to be introduced.
IBM Power9 is set to reach its EOSL point with the end of standard OEM maintenance and support services at the end of January 2026. This means that organizations looking to continue with the operation of Power9 should look to move to a Third Party Maintenance provider if they haven’t already.
IBM Power10
In 2021, IBM Power10 was introduced; arguably marking the biggest leap in terms of product development for the Power family. It is currently the most widely deployed of all the IBM Power models.
The performance per watt was considerably improved from its precursor, with a process mode of 7nm. On-chip AI acceleration means that no GPU is required for many workloads, and the memory bandwidth is hugely increased with the introduction of OMI (Open Memory Interface). With Quantum-safe cryptography built in, IBM Power10 is much better designed for hybrid Cloud, containers and OpenShift systems, and the IBM Power Virtual Server.
For more organizations, IBM Power10 can be considered the best target for current upgrade if an existing member of the Power family is still in place.
As IBM Power10 is the currently most used version of the product family, there has yet to be any confirmed EOSL date. As such, IBM still offers full direct maintenance support. Given this, alongside previous lifecycle trends, it’s likely that Power10 will not reach its EOSL point until at least 2028; unless Power11 is rapidly adopted and in effect ‘replaces’ it.
IBM Power11
IBM Power11 is the next generation of enterprise server platform in the Power series, and was introduced in July 2025. Designed for AI-native workloads, autonomous systems and Cloud-first enterprise computing, its performance is up to 55% improved on Power9 and boasts:
- Built-in AI acceleration
- Quantum-safe security
- Autonomous IT features including live patching
- Support for OpenShift, AIX, Linux and Red Hat
- Improved energy efficiency
- Advanced RAS (Reliability, Availability, Serviceability).
DDR5 memory and 7nm tech is incorporated, and the most advanced security yet includes cryptography and Cyber Valut ransomware protection.
IBM Power11 is still new and is only available on select entry, mid-range and high-end systems; with further availability expected to increase over the coming months. This means that OEM support is fully available for the foreseeable future, and EOSL dates are not expected to be defined for a long time – likely 8+ years.
Security Evolution of the IBM Power Series
As technology develops and evolves, so too do the security threats toward it. In many cases, security is a key factor in the decision making towards which version of IBM Power to utilise.
Generally speaking, the security levels can be considered as following:
- IBM Power8 – traditional encryption
- IBM Power9 – enhanced memory protection
- IBM Power10 – Quantum-safe encryption
- IBM Power11 – Zero Trust and Automated Threat Response.
Quantum-safe Encryption
Quantum-safe encryption, also known as PQC (Post-Quantum Cryptography) is the integration of a series of cryptographic algorithms that are designed to protect data from attacks by quantum computers. The future of quantum computing development is likely to present solutions that could easily break standard public-key systems, and so such vulnerable maths problems like these are replaced. Instead, newer problems present calculations based on lattices, codes or hashes, and are intractable for both classical and quantum machines. This infers long-term security protection solution information.
Zero Trust and Automated Threat Response
Zero Trust and Automated Threat Response (ATR) are two security models used in conjunction with one another.
Zero Trust works on the principle of ‘Never Trust, Always Verify’; assuming breaches and attackers are already present in the network, so instilling strict verification and least privilege access by default. Automated Threat Response models uses AI and automation to detect, analyze and neutralize threats in real time. ATR interacts directly with Zero Trust for continuous access verification and anomaly response without human intervention.
Together, Zero Trust and ATR can be considered the most reliable and resilient security defence.
Which IBM Power model next?
For organizations already operating IBM Power models, it may be prudent to upgrade dependent on your business requirements. Generally speaking, the advice is as follows for each:
- IBM Power8 – upgrade immediately to avoid security issues. Patches and support is available via Third Party Maintenance services, but the security infrastructure of this system is not considered adequate for sensitive information or large workloads
- IBM Power9 – this remains functional and can continue to be maintained with Third Party Maintenance. However, if the business holds intent to move to the Cloud, utilize AI or increase efficiency, plans should be made to upgrade models at a suitable point
IBM Power10 – this system is well-positioned for at least the next 5 years or so, and after this time, can continue to be supported by Third Party Maintenance.
Speak to the Experts
When it comes to choosing which IBM Power system to use in your IT infrastructure, and how best to maintain it for efficiency, longevity and ROI, there’s no better partner than Procurri. Our Third Party Maintenance services allow for even the oldest of hardware to remain functional years past its EOSL point, for maximum value to be derived. What’s more, we guarantee 24/7/365 service around-the-clock and have the world’s largest stockholding of networking, server and storage hardware worldwide at our fingertips for our customers.
Want to learn more on the IBM Power series and how best to proceed? Arrange a call with the Procurri team today.
