Cobalt Iron Unveils New SaaS Tool To Modernise IBM i Backup Systems

Cobalt Iron has announced the launch of Compass Tape Gateway™ (CTG), a new addition to its Compass® enterprise backup platform aimed at transforming how organizations manage IBM i data protection.

The company said the new offering modernises traditional virtual tape library (VTL) systems by introducing a fully automated, software-defined solution. Compass Tape Gateway integrates IBM i workloads into a unified, policy-driven framework, helping businesses streamline backup operations across multiple environments.

"IBM i customers continue to face high costs and operational burdens from current tape products on the market," said Michael Miller, IBM Champion and Enterprise Architect at Pellera Technologies. "Compass Tape Gateway eliminates these challenges, delivering the benefits of a VTL with modern automation, cyber protection, and secure multitenancy."

Automation Replaces Legacy Complexity
Cobalt Iron emphasized that CTG eliminates many of the manual processes associated with legacy VTL systems. Instead of requiring hardware setup, firmware updates, and ongoing maintenance, the platform is provisioned within minutes and managed entirely through its SaaS interface.

By removing the need for system-level upkeep such as BIOS patches and operating system updates, the company says organizations can maintain continuously updated, secure, and optimized backup environments while reducing operational costs.

Bringing IBM i Into the Enterprise Fold
The launch also signals a shift in how IBM i systems are treated within enterprise IT strategies. Traditionally isolated from broader backup infrastructures, IBM i can now be managed alongside platforms such as AIX, Linux, and Windows within a centralized system.

Cobalt Iron noted that this integration supports policy-based data sovereignty, enabling companies to control where data is stored and replicated—an important feature for compliance with regulations like GDPR.

Security Built on Zero Access Architecture
CTG is built on the company's Zero Access® architecture, which removes traditional access points entirely. Rather than relying on login-based security models, the system eliminates direct access to operating systems, backup software, and storage layers.

According to the company, this approach reduces attack surfaces and simplifies compliance requirements by removing the need for credential management and access auditing. Additional features include encryption, immutability, ransomware detection, logical air gaps, and audit-ready reporting.

Flexible Deployment Across Cloud and On-Premises
The platform supports multiple deployment options, including on-premises backup with replication to the IBM Cloud for disaster recovery, as well as fully cloud-based setups through IBM Power Virtual Server.

Hybrid configurations across multiple data centers are also supported, with built-in traffic management designed to minimize disruption to business operations. Through the IBM Cloud Catalog, CTG can be deployed in as little as 15 minutes without requiring hardware installation.

Pricing Model Targets Scalability
Cobalt Iron stated that Compass Tape Gateway is included with its Compass platform at no additional cost. Customers are billed based on the volume of stored data after deduplication and compression, using a per-gigabyte pricing model.

The system also supports multitenant environments, allowing enterprises and managed service providers to segment workloads across teams, departments, or clients without deploying separate infrastructure.

With the launch of CTG, Cobalt Iron is positioning itself to address long-standing challenges in IBM i backup while aligning with broader industry trends toward automation, cloud integration, and zero-access security models.

www.colbaltiron.com