PacSol moves IBM Power 9 Support from 3rd Party to IBM
15 July 2025 - 2 Minute Read
Pacsol Challenges
- PacSol faced compliance concerns on their IBM Power 9 systems, restrictions on firmware, microcode and OS access due to using a third-party maintenance provider presented risk to the platform and to compliance.
- Needed up-to-date systems to meet ISO certifications, maintain security, and respond to client compliance audits.
As PacSol evolved, compliance pressures grew, including the need to meet ISO
certifications, address client security audits, and prepare for emerging regulations like DORA. With their own DMS product code base to maintain, PacSol also needed to support a full and robust program of development to ensure continuing security and compatibility. However, their existing Power Systems running IBMi faced restrictions legally accessing essential firmware microcode and operating system updates due to using a third-party maintenance provider. PacSol needed to avoid costly hardware replacements while ensuring system stability, security and compatibility for the research and development projects commissioned by clients.
Moving back to genuine IBM hardware & software maintenance PacSol gained:
1. Improved Compliance: Baby Blue's solution enabled PacSol to maintain ISO 9001 certification, pursue Cyber Essentials accreditation, and prepare for B-Corp status, demonstrating commitment to customer data security and compliance.
2. Cost-Efficient System Longevity: By accessing the latest firmware without
hardware replacement, PacSol avoided unnecessary costs while maximizing the
value of their existing IBM investment.
3.Enhanced Customer Support: PacSol could continue providing reliable and secure solutions to their clients, confident in the stability and compliance of their systems.
4. Future proof product development: PacSol are able to utilise the latest technology in the advancement of their own products development. Bring greater benefit to their clients.

"Baby Blue helped us keep our systems secure and compliant. Their support allows us to focus on delivering the best for our clients - whether proactively providing new releases for compatibility or allowing us to research utilising the latest technology in our products. Being able to cost effectively maintain our IBM platform is beneficial in so many ways."
Toby Gilbertson, PacSol
Download the full case study (link at top of this page) where you can learn more about Pacsol's business and how they benefited moving support back to IBM TLS on their IBM Power 9.
About the Author

Chris Smith
Chris Smith is a sales leader and consultant with over 30 years of experience in IT managed services. With a background in IBM hardware maintenance, he transitioned from field engineer to sales and marketing director, creating the foundations for Blue Chip Cloud, which became the largest IBM Power Cloud globally at the time. Chris played a key role in the 2021 sale of Blue Chip and grew managed services revenue by 50%. He’s passionate about building customer relationships and has implemented Gap Selling by Keenan to drive sales performance. Now, Chris helps managed service providers and third-party maintenance businesses with growth planning and operational improvement.
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