IBM Power on Azure
IBM i and AIX on Azure: Skytap and Kyndryl Cloud Uplift
Skytap on Azure did not disappear: Kyndryl bought it in 2024 and renamed it Kyndryl Cloud Uplift. What the platform runs, how it ties into Azure, and how it structurally differs from IBM's own Power Virtual Server.
Independent overview: Power Systems Advisors is not affiliated with Kyndryl, Microsoft, or IBM. Product names and marks belong to their respective owners. Verify current terms directly with the provider.
What is Kyndryl Cloud Uplift (formerly Skytap on Azure)?
Kyndryl Cloud Uplift is the service previously sold as Skytap on Azure: real IBM Power hardware installed inside Microsoft Azure datacenters, running IBM i, AIX, and Linux on Power LPARs natively, without rewriting applications, on low-latency connections to Azure services. Kyndryl acquired Skytap in 2024 (announced May 13, 2024) and renamed the offering after May 2025; the platform, the documentation site at help.skytap.com, the Azure Marketplace listings, and the 99.95% uptime SLA all continue under the new brand. If you searched for Skytap and found Kyndryl Cloud Uplift, or the reverse, you are looking at the same platform.
Practical decision support
Separate the rebrand from the platform before you commit
Use this overview to pin down what the Cloud Uplift name covers, then verify regions, hardware generation, OS levels, and contract terms directly with Kyndryl.
- Confirm which regions offer Power10 capacity and which remain Power9, and what that means for your LPAR sizes and IBM i release plans.
- Map integration needs (ExpressRoute, virtual networks, Azure-side services) against where your users and data actually sit.
- Price HA/DR replication licensing, connectivity, backup storage, and any Kyndryl managed-service add-ons alongside base capacity.
The Naming Story
The Skytap to Kyndryl Cloud Uplift Rename, at a Glance
The single most confusing thing about this platform is its name. Here is the short version.
Same platform, new name
Kyndryl Cloud Uplift is the offering formerly sold as Skytap on Azure. The documentation site, the Azure Marketplace listings under the original skytapinc publisher, and the SLA all continue under the new brand.
Acquired in 2024
Kyndryl announced on May 13, 2024 that it had acquired Seattle-based Skytap. Skytap's CEO Brad Schick joined Kyndryl and, as of January 2026, runs the business as General Manager.
Renamed after May 2025
Kyndryl still used the Skytap name in its May 2025 Australia announcement. By early 2026 its materials say Kyndryl Cloud Uplift, formerly Skytap. No exact rebrand date was published.
Expansion continued
Australia East arrived in May 2025, Canada in March 2026, and Japan in May 2026, which Kyndryl says brings the service to fifteen Microsoft datacenter regions worldwide.
Timeline
From Skytap on Azure to Kyndryl Cloud Uplift, 2019 to 2026
The ownership and naming sequence, from launch to today, based on the public record.
- 1
2019 to 2020: launch
Microsoft and Skytap announced plans to install IBM Power9 servers in Azure datacenters in 2019, and Skytap on Azure became publicly available on February 27, 2020, starting in the East US region.
- 2
2024: Kyndryl acquires Skytap
Kyndryl announced the acquisition on May 13, 2024, reportedly for about $51 million per deal-tracking coverage. Skytap's CEO and employees joined Kyndryl.
- 3
2025: growth under the old name
Kyndryl expanded the platform to Australia East (Sydney) in May 2025, its first new geography after the acquisition, still branding the service Skytap.
- 4
2026: Kyndryl Cloud Uplift
By January 2026, Kyndryl materials used the name Kyndryl Cloud Uplift, formerly Skytap. Canada followed in March 2026 and Japan in May 2026 under the new brand.
Continuity
What the Rename Means for Buyers
The practical takeaway is that this is an observable rebrand, not a retirement. The documentation site still lives at help.skytap.com, now titled Kyndryl Cloud Uplift help and documentation. The Azure Marketplace listings remain published under the original skytapinc publisher account, retitled Kyndryl Cloud Uplift, so the offering is still transactable through Microsoft’s marketplace. The 99.95% uptime SLA is published under Kyndryl’s Cloud Uplift terms. Our research found no public evidence of forced migrations or platform retirement for existing Skytap customers, though individual contract terms sit between each customer and Kyndryl and should be confirmed directly.
The rename does complicate research. Kyndryl’s own releases used the Skytap name as late as May 2025, and the exact rebrand announcement date is not publicly pinned down, so “renamed in late 2025 or early 2026” is the honest version. Microsoft’s two Azure Architecture Center scenarios for the platform now reference Kyndryl Cloud Uplift (formerly Skytap on Azure), but both carry a June 7, 2024 date and still describe Power9-era infrastructure. When you see conflicting names or capacity figures, check the document date first.
Platform
What It Runs, and Where
According to Kyndryl’s service page, Cloud Uplift runs IBM Power workloads (AIX, IBM i, and Linux on Power) alongside x86 workloads natively, without rewriting or refactoring, on hardware installed in Microsoft Azure datacenters. Microsoft’s architecture guidance, dated June 2024, describes dedicated native IBM Power9 infrastructure with SSD RAID 6+1 storage and 10 Gb per second backplane networking, with capacity ceilings of 16 vCPUs and 512 GB of RAM per AIX LPAR and 44,000 CPW and 512 GB of RAM per IBM i LPAR. Kyndryl’s documentation derives AIX entitled capacity from memory: entitled capacity equals GB of RAM divided by 40, to a stated maximum of 12.80, with maximums varying by region.
The hardware story has since moved past those figures. The platform’s 2025 documentation archive records IBM Power10 capacity in the Amsterdam region, with more memory and processors per LPAR and support for IBM i 7.6, and partner documentation from L3C describes IBM i on Power10 scaling to roughly 60,000 CPW, characterized as an IBM restriction tied to the P10 processor group. Historically the platform documented IBM i 7.1 through 7.4 imports and published Service Extension terms for running IBM i 7.3, 7.2, and 7.1 past their normal IBM support dates; confirm the current OS support matrix with Kyndryl before planning. On geography, Kyndryl’s May 2026 Japan announcement puts the service in fifteen Microsoft datacenter regions worldwide. A variant on IBM Cloud also exists in the IBM Cloud catalog; whether it is actively sold to new customers is worth asking Kyndryl directly.
Integration
How It Connects to Azure
Per Microsoft’s reference architectures, LPARs in the Cloud Uplift environment connect to an Azure Virtual Network, and on-premises users reach them over Azure ExpressRoute or VPN. Azure Private Link and Blob Storage handle backup and migration data movement, Azure Data Box Gateway stages backup data over NFS or SMB, and bastion-host VMs inside the virtual network are the recommended administrative access pattern, including 5250 emulation for IBM i. Migration relies on native tooling rather than conversion: AIX systems move via mksysb or savevg backups restored through a NIM server inside the environment, and IBM i systems move via GO SAVE option 21 or 23 or BRMS, staged through an FTP proxy and the Data Box Gateway. Our IBM i cloud migration checklist covers the planning steps that surround that mechanical path.
Kyndryl positions Cloud Uplift as self-service and consumption-based, with capacity on demand, REST APIs, and environment templates that reflect Skytap’s virtual-lab heritage. Kyndryl also sells adjacent managed services through its Kyndryl Bridge catalog, such as Kyndryl Managed Extended Cloud IaaS for IBM i on Skytap. The platform itself is infrastructure: if you expect someone else to run the operating system, scope those managed services separately or evaluate managed hosting instead.
Resilience
SLA, Compliance, and HA/DR
Kyndryl publishes a 99.95% monthly uptime SLA for Cloud Uplift, with service credits of 10% of the monthly bill for the affected region when uptime falls between 99.00% and 99.95%, and 20% when it falls below 99.00%. Microsoft’s June 2024 article cites SOC 2 and SOC 3 attestations, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS 3.2 for the platform as of that date; ask Kyndryl for current attestations rather than relying on either summary.
For IBM i high availability and disaster recovery, logical replication is the documented pattern. Skytap announced an integration with Precisely Assure MIMIX in October 2023, with consumption-based MIMIX pricing through the Azure Marketplace, and Microsoft’s IBM i article describes near-real-time journal replication over ExpressRoute or VPN with role-swap failover. Backups flow to Azure Blob Storage through the Data Box Gateway. AIX-side HA options inside the platform were not verifiable in public documentation during our research, so put them on your verification list. Our IBM Power disaster recovery guide covers how to set recovery targets before picking replication tooling.
Comparison
How It Differs From PowerVS, IP4G, and Managed Hosting
The structural question is where the Power hardware sits and who operates it. Cloud Uplift places Kyndryl-operated Power systems inside Microsoft Azure datacenters, adjacent to your Azure estate. IBM Power Virtual Serveris IBM’s own service in IBM Cloud datacenters, and per IBM’s release notes it has offered Power11 deployments since July 25, 2025, a generation beyond the Power10 ceiling we could verify for Cloud Uplift. IBM Power for Google Cloud (IP4G) is the Google-side analog, built and operated by Pellera Technologies (formed in 2025 from Converge and Mainline) on Power9 and Power10 hardware sold through the Google Cloud Marketplace. Managed IBM Power hosting is a different shape again: provider-owned data centers, usually with the OS layer operated for you.
The shortlist logic follows the gravity of your integration: if your identity, data services, and users live in Azure, Azure-adjacent Power is the natural starting point; if you need the newest hardware generation or prefer IBM operating the service, PowerVS deserves a look; if you want the operating system off your plate, weigh managed hosting. If the shortlist is not obvious for your environment, an independent assessment of your Power estate is the inexpensive way to find out.
| Option | Where the hardware sits | Who operates it | Hardware generation (verify) | Integration gravity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyndryl Cloud Uplift (formerly Skytap on Azure) | IBM Power systems inside Microsoft Azure datacenters | Kyndryl (acquired Skytap in 2024) | Power9, with Power10 in some regions per 2025 documentation | Azure virtual networks, ExpressRoute, Azure services |
| IBM Power Virtual Server | IBM Cloud data centers | IBM | Up to Power11, available since July 2025 per IBM release notes | IBM Cloud networking and services |
| IBM Power for Google Cloud (IP4G) | Power hardware connected via Google Cloud's network | Pellera Technologies (formerly Converge) | Power9 and Power10 per IP4G documentation | Google Cloud Marketplace and networking |
| Managed IBM Power hosting | Provider-owned data centers | The hosting provider, often including the OS layer | Varies by provider | Provider network links to any cloud or site |
Fit Check
Is Azure-Adjacent Power a Good Fit?
Best fit
Good fit signals
Your users, data services, and network gravity already sit in Azure, you want IBM i or AIX LPARs on real Power hardware without owning it, and your workloads fit within the platform's published LPAR limits.
Use caution
Proceed with caution if
You need the newest Power generation or very large LPARs (PowerVS offers Power11; verified Cloud Uplift sources top out at Power10), your target regions lack capacity, or you expect a fully managed OS layer, which is an add-on rather than the default.
Key decision
Decision point
If the operating system and application layer should be someone else's job, compare infrastructure-only options against managed IBM Power hosting before you commit.
What Drives Kyndryl Cloud Uplift Cost
Marketplace pricing and terms
Purchasing runs through the Azure Marketplace listings and Kyndryl sales. Published rate cards were not verifiable in our research; get a written quote and confirm how the spend counts toward any Azure commitments.
Compute sizing driven by memory
Kyndryl documentation derives AIX entitled capacity from RAM, so memory sizing drives compute cost as well as capacity. Size from measured utilization, not nameplate.
Storage and backup movement
Provisioned platform storage plus the Azure-side components (Blob Storage, Data Box Gateway) used for backup staging and migration data movement.
Connectivity and egress
ExpressRoute circuits or VPN, plus data transfer between the platform, Azure services, and your sites, are recurring costs that scale with integration depth.
HA/DR replication licensing
MIMIX or similar logical replication tooling is priced separately, on consumption through the Azure Marketplace per the 2023 integration announcement.
Managed services add-ons
Kyndryl's Bridge catalog lists separate managed and consulting services for IBM i on this platform. Confirm what is bundled versus billed on top.
IBM i and AIX on Azure FAQ
Is Skytap on Azure still available?
Yes, under a new name. Kyndryl acquired Skytap in 2024 (announced May 13, 2024) and now sells the platform as Kyndryl Cloud Uplift. The Azure Marketplace listings, the documentation site at help.skytap.com, and the published 99.95% uptime SLA all continue under the Kyndryl brand, so references to Skytap on Azure generally point at the same service.
Can I run IBM i or AIX directly on Azure virtual machines?
No. Azure virtual machines are x86, and IBM i and AIX require IBM Power hardware. Kyndryl Cloud Uplift addresses this by placing real Power systems inside Microsoft datacenters, so LPARs run natively and sit on low-latency links to Azure services. Microsoft's own Azure Architecture Center documents this pattern for both AIX and IBM i migrations.
What happened to existing Skytap customers after the Kyndryl acquisition?
What is observable is continuity: the same platform, the same documentation URLs, the same Azure Marketplace product listings, and Skytap's former CEO Brad Schick now running the business as General Manager of Kyndryl Cloud Uplift. Kyndryl has since expanded regions (Australia in 2025, Canada and Japan in 2026). Our research found no public evidence of forced migrations or terms changes, but individual contract specifics should be verified with Kyndryl.
Which Azure regions offer Kyndryl Cloud Uplift?
As of May 2026, Kyndryl states the service runs in fifteen Microsoft datacenter regions across the US, Canada, Europe, India, Asia, Japan, and Australia. Regions named in the platform's documentation include East US, South Central US, West Europe, North Europe, UK South, Central India, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia East, with Canada and Japan added in 2026. Verify the current list, and which regions offer Power10 capacity, with Kyndryl before planning.
What are the LPAR size limits?
Published Power9-era limits, per Microsoft's June 2024 guidance: AIX LPARs up to 16 vCPUs and 512 GB of RAM (with entitled capacity derived from RAM in Kyndryl's documentation), and IBM i LPARs up to 44,000 CPW and 512 GB of RAM. Power10 capacity raises the ceilings: partner documentation describes IBM i scaling to roughly 60,000 CPW, plus more memory and processors per LPAR and IBM i 7.6 support. Exact Power10 figures should be verified with Kyndryl.
What HA and DR options exist for IBM i on this platform?
Logical replication is the documented pattern. Skytap announced a Precisely Assure MIMIX integration in October 2023, with consumption-based MIMIX pricing through the Azure Marketplace, and Microsoft's architecture guidance describes near-real-time journal replication over ExpressRoute or VPN with role-swap failover. Backups flow to Azure Blob Storage via Data Box Gateway using native BRMS or GO SAVE on IBM i, and mksysb or savevg on AIX. AIX-side HA options inside the platform are less publicly documented; verify them with Kyndryl.
How is this different from IBM Power Virtual Server?
The difference is structural, not just brand. Cloud Uplift puts Power hardware inside Microsoft Azure datacenters, operated by Kyndryl, adjacent to your Azure estate. Power Virtual Server is IBM's own service in IBM Cloud datacenters, with Power11 deployments available since July 25, 2025 per IBM's release notes; the Cloud Uplift sources we could verify top out at Power10. IBM Power for Google Cloud (IP4G) is the Google-side analog, operated by Pellera Technologies (formerly Converge). Pick based on which cloud your integration and networking gravity points toward, plus scale and OS-version needs.
Is Microsoft's documentation for Skytap on Azure still current?
Partially. The two Azure Architecture Center scenarios (AIX and IBM i migration with Skytap) are still published and now reference Kyndryl Cloud Uplift, but both carry a last-updated date of June 7, 2024 and still describe Power9 infrastructure and Power9-era capacity limits. Treat their hardware and capacity figures as of that date; Power10 has since rolled out in at least some regions per the platform's own documentation.
Sources
- Kyndryl: Cloud Uplift service page (formerly Skytap)
- Kyndryl newsroom: portfolio optimization and Skytap acquisition (May 13, 2024)
- Kyndryl newsroom: Cloud Uplift expands into Japan, fifteen Azure regions (May 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Migrate AIX workloads to Azure with Skytap
- Microsoft Learn: Migrate IBM i series to Azure with Skytap
- Kyndryl Cloud Uplift help and documentation (help.skytap.com)
- IBM Power Virtual Server release notes (Power11 availability)
- IP4G documentation overview (Pellera/Converge, IBM Power for Google Cloud)
Deciding Between Azure-Adjacent Power, PowerVS, and Managed Hosting?
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