The World’s Most Comprehensive IBM Infrastructure Monitoring, Free with Maintenance (and What You’ll Miss Without It)

If you’re running IBM infrastructure, whether that’s IBM i, AIX, Power Systems, IBM Storage, or IBM Z mainframes, and you’re not on genuine IBM Maintenance, you’re missing out on the most advanced infrastructure monitoring available anywhere in the world.

It’s called IBM Electronic Service Agent (ESA), and it’s free with your IBM Maintenance agreement. ESA is not just another monitoring tool, it’s an embedded, intelligent system that continuously checks the health of your IBM estate, proactively detects issues, and automatically engages IBM Support before you’ve even noticed a problem.

And here’s the good news: if you’re currently with a third-party maintenance provider, Baby Blue IT & Consulting can get you back onto IBM Maintenance quickly, easily, and with zero penalty. We’ll even cover any after-licence fees that IBM would normally charge for time away from maintenance. We welcome returning customers with open arms and help them get the very best from their IBM investment.

Built-In, Not Bolted On

Unlike many third-party solutions, ESA doesn’t require extra software, licences, or hardware. It’s already embedded in:

• IBM Operating Systems such as IBM i and AIX
• Hardware Management Consoles (HMCs)
• IBM Storage systems
• Power Systems
• IBM Z mainframes

With ESA, there’s nothing to install, you simply activate it and let it work.

What ESA Delivers

• Faster issue resolution: IBM receives all system data instantly, avoiding lengthy log collection.
• Reduced downtime: Faults are fixed before they cause outages.
• Automated support requests: ESA opens and updates cases on your behalf.
• Complete platform coverage: Servers, storage, and mainframes, all protected.

Customer Case Studies

Case Study 1 – Preventing Costly Downtime for a UK Retail Chain

A nationwide retailer running IBM Power Systems experienced intermittent hardware errors. ESA flagged the issue overnight, automatically opened a case, and provided IBM with full diagnostics. A replacement part arrived the next morning, before the server failed, avoiding an outage that could have cost thousands in lost sales.

Case Study 2 – Protecting Critical Data in a Financial Services Firm

A financial services provider using IBM DS8000 storage arrays avoided potential data loss when ESA detected a failing component in a mirrored system. IBM engineers replaced the part within hours, with zero impact on trading operations.

Case Study 3 – Safeguarding Production for a Global Manufacturer

An IBM Z mainframe in a manufacturing plant was saved from a complete shutdown when ESA identified early signs of a cooling system fault. Engineers were on site before the issue caused downtime, protecting millions in production value.

Why Baby Blue IT & Consulting Recommends ESA

As a genuine IBM Business Partner, Baby Blue IT & Consulting knows that ESA is one of the most valuable, yet often overlooked benefits of IBM Maintenance. And if you’ve been away from IBM for a while, you don’t have to miss out any longer.

We’ll:

• Move you back to IBM Maintenance
• Re-enable ESA monitoring across your IBM estate
• Cover any IBM after-licence fees for returning customers
• Help you maximise the value of your IBM infrastructure

The Bottom Line

Without IBM Maintenance, you’re not just missing access to IBM’s engineers, you’re missing the proactive, always-on protection of ESA. By detecting issues early, automating IBM support calls, and enabling faster resolution, ESA keeps your systems running, your data safe, and your downtime risk to a minimum.

If you’re with a third-party maintenance provider today, contact Baby Blue IT & Consulting. We’ll bring you back to IBM Maintenance without penalty, re-enable ESA, and ensure your IBM infrastructure is protected by the most comprehensive monitoring system on the planet at no extra cost.

Contact us to get the IBM Electronic Service Agent working around the clock for you.