Red Hat Partner for OpenShift, Linux and Automation | Phases

The platform question behind Red Hat

Many enterprise technology environments now combine older applications, virtual machines, Linux workloads, container services, APIs, SaaS platforms, data services, and public cloud hosting.
That mix needs a platform approach that supports security, release governance, cost control, service reliability, and future application changes.

Red Hat is useful in this context because its portfolio covers several connected layers. Red Hat Enterprise Linux provides a supported Linux base. Red Hat OpenShift provides a Kubernetes-based application platform. OpenShift Virtualisation supports selected virtual machine workloads. Ansible Automation Platform supports repeatable operational tasks. Red Hat describes OpenShift as an application platform for building, modernising, and deploying applications on hybrid cloud infrastructure. Red Hat also positions its hybrid cloud work around Linux standardisation, application development, automation, and AI.

For Phases, Red Hat strengthens the platform work we already deliver across software development, cloud, DevOps, integration, enterprise modernisation, and managed operations.

Where each Red Hat technology fits

Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is the operating platform used to run many enterprise applications, databases, cloud workloads, and shared services.

Shared services can include identity services, API gateways, integration services, reporting servers, scheduled jobs, message queues, monitoring tools, and file transfer services. These are often small in the business view, but important in daily operation because many applications depend on them.

For example, an organisation may use RHEL to run customer portals, ERP integrations, internal business applications, data processing services, API layers, or database servers. These workloads need approved updates, controlled admin rights, audit records, security settings, and vendor-backed maintenance.

Phases can review where Linux is used today, which environments need standardisation, and how RHEL should be introduced or managed. The work can include migration planning, security hardening, update rules, permission design, documentation, and managed operations.

Red Hat OpenShift

Red Hat OpenShift gives enterprises a supported Kubernetes platform for applications that need faster release cycles, stronger governance, and hybrid cloud flexibility.

Its value comes from creating a standard way to run containerised applications, manage environments, apply security controls, automate releases, and operate services across on-premise and cloud infrastructure.

This is useful when legacy applications are being modernised, manual release work is slowing delivery, or services need to run reliably across different hosting models.

Phases can shape OpenShift around the software and operational model already in place. The work can include application readiness, platform architecture, CI/CD, identity integration, monitoring, security review, release governance, documentation, handover, and managed operations.

OpenShift Virtualization

OpenShift Virtualisation allows virtual machines to run through Red Hat OpenShift with container workloads.

This is very useful when your organisation is reviewing VMware but cannot rebuild every application at once. Some workloads may suit virtual machine hosting first. Other applications may be prepared for containers after review.

Red Hat’s Migration Toolkit for Virtualisation enables virtual machine migration from VMware vSphere to OpenShift Virtualization. Red Hat documentation also notes that OpenShift Virtualization can run and manage virtual machine workloads with container workloads. 

Ansible Automation Platform

Ansible Automation Platform supports enterprise automation across infrastructure, cloud, security, network, and application operations. (Red Hat)

Phases can use Ansible for provisioning, patching, configuration, release tasks, compliance checks, recovery runbooks, and approved operational workflows.

In a Red Hat programme, automation should be introduced with access control, logging, review points, and documentation. That keeps operational efficiency aligned with governance.

VMware review within a wider platform plan

Broadcom completed its acquisition of VMware in November 2023. Since then, many enterprises have reviewed VMware renewals, licence terms, platform cost, and future hosting plans. 

A VMware review should cover more than where virtual machines will run next. It should examine how each workload is used, how it is supported, which data paths it relies on, and whether it belongs in the next platform phase.

A balanced review will usually identify four paths.

1. Keep selected workloads as virtual machines

Some applications may need to continue as virtual machines because of vendor terms, technical age, data requirements, or timing.

These workloads can be reviewed for hosting, backup, monitoring, security, and service support.

2. Test selected workloads on OpenShift Virtualization

Some virtual machines may be good candidates for OpenShift Virtualization.

These should be tested with storage, network rules, identity, logging, backup, recovery, and service processes before production use.

3. Prepare selected applications for containers

Applications with active development, API use, or cloud plans may be better candidates for containers.

That path often needs code review, pipeline work, environment design, observability, and release governance.

4. Retire or replace low-value workloads

A platform review can reveal workloads that no longer justify hosting, licensing, or support costs.

Removing those workloads from the plan can reduce migration effort and improve the business case.

What to review before Red Hat delivery begins

A Red Hat programme should begin with the services that need to run on it.

The review should cover applications, virtual machines, databases, APIs, storage, files, identity, monitoring, backup, release process, and support duties.

Security should be reviewed early. That includes IAM, SSO, MFA, secrets, patching, encryption, audit logs, vulnerability handling, backup, and disaster recovery.

Compliance should also be checked where it applies. For some sectors and regions, that may include GDPR, ISO 27001, NIS2, DORA, HIPAA, SOC 2, procurement rules, or internal audit requirements.

The Review output should give your organisation a working plan for the first pilot, workload groups, risk areas, cost range, service model, and handover needs.

How Phases supports Red Hat delivery

Phases supports Red Hat work as a full delivery path, not as a standalone installation.

1. Review

We review the current platform, application groups, virtual machines, cost view, security requirements, integrations, and operating needs.

The output is a delivery plan that shows where to begin and what should be proved first.

2. Pilot

The pilot tests selected workloads on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Red Hat OpenShift, OpenShift Virtualization, or Ansible Automation Platform.

A useful pilot includes identity, logging, monitoring, backup, security checks, release flow, documentation, and support handover.

3. First workload group

The first workload group proves the delivery method with limited risk.

This stage helps refine the runbooks, access model, release process, monitoring approach, and service support before wider adoption.

4. Wider delivery

Further workloads can be added once the first group has proved the method.

At this stage, automation, reporting, governance, and operational routines can mature with the platform.

5. Managed operations

After launch, Phases can support patching, monitoring, incident review, backup checks, documentation, and SLA based support.

Phases plans, builds, and runs enterprise software and platforms. Giving your organisation one partner for platform review, application work, cloud delivery, DevOps, integration, security review, documentation, and support.

If your organisation is reviewing Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Red Hat OpenShift, OpenShift Virtualization, Ansible Automation Platform, or VMware migration, Phases can help form the first delivery plan.

A technical session with our senior engineer can cover the first workload group, risk areas, pilot scope, cost range, and support model.

Book a Red Hat consultation