Skytap
Skytap, now Kyndryl Cloud Uplift, runs enterprise IBM Power and x86 workloads natively on Microsoft Azure without rewrites, serving large organizations seeking data center exit and modernization through pay-as-you-go cloud infrastructure sold via Kyndryl and Azure Marketplace.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Skytap does
Skytap, founded in 2006 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington, is a cloud infrastructure platform that enables enterprises to run IBM Power workloads (AIX, IBM i, Linux on Power) and x86 workloads natively on Microsoft Azure without rewriting or refactoring applications. The core technology provisions IBM Power LPARs in Azure, leveraging Microsoft-procured and -maintained IBM Power hardware hosted in Azure datacenters worldwide, with self-service provisioning, automated backups, and a 99.95% uptime SLA across regions. Skytap also supports virtual IT labs for training, demos, and proofs of concept, and integrates with Azure Synapse, Azure AI/ML, and Azure SQL to let customers modernize alongside legacy workloads.
The business model is a pay-as-you-go cloud infrastructure subscription sold primarily through enterprise channels and Microsoft Azure Marketplace with Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC) eligibility. The customer base consists of large enterprises operating mission-critical workloads on aging on-premises IBM Power and x86 infrastructure, with use cases centered on data center exit, hardware refresh avoidance, modernization on the customer's own timeline, and disaster recovery. Disclosed case studies include a multinational insurance and wealth management firm and a global steel producer.
In May 2024, Skytap was acquired by Kyndryl Holdings Inc. (NYSE: K) and rebranded as Kyndryl Cloud Uplift, integrating the platform into Kyndryl's hybrid cloud and modernization services portfolio. Following the acquisition, distribution is anchored by Kyndryl's global enterprise salesforce and consulting organization alongside the existing Azure Marketplace listing, materially expanding the addressable buyer base across the US, Canada, Europe, Southeast Asia, India, Japan, and Australia. The company continues to operate with 101-250 employees as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kyndryl.
Skytap firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Skytap
- Legal name
- Skytap Inc.
- Website
- https://skytap.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Skytap, now Kyndryl Cloud Uplift, runs enterprise IBM Power and x86 workloads natively on Microsoft Azure without rewrites, serving large organizations seeking data center exit and modernization through pay-as-you-go cloud infrastructure sold via Kyndryl and Azure Marketplace.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Skytap industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cloud Migration and Modernization Services
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Computer Facilities Management Services (541513)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cloud Architecture & Migration Integration (BPAEAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cloud Migration & Rehosting (Lift-and-Shift) (BPAEACAB), Multi-Cloud & Hybrid Cloud Enablement (BPAEACAK), Cloud Managed Services (Operations, Monitoring, Patching) (BPAEACAF), Hybrid Cloud Migration, Modernization & Integration (HDABAMAH)
Keywords
Where Skytap is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Skytap business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Cloud Infrastructure Subscription: Subscription-based access to IBM Power and x86 workloads running on Azure, with pay-as-you-go consumption model allowing customers to pay only for what they use
- Usage-based consumption: Pay-as-you-go consumption model with Azure Marketplace billing, including MACC (Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment) eligibility for enterprise customers
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Pay-as-you-go consumption through Azure Marketplace |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Skytap product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kyndryl Cloud Uplift (formerly Skytap) is a cloud migration and modernization service that enables enterprises to run specialized IBM Power workloads (AIX, IBM i, Linux on Power) and x86 workloads natively on Microsoft Azure without rewriting or refactoring. The platform delivers self-service provisioning of LPARs in minutes, enterprise-grade HA/DR with a 99.95% uptime SLA, and integration with Azure services such as Azure Synapse, Azure AI/ML, and Azure SQL. It is sold as a SaaS subscription through Azure Marketplace with pay-as-you-go consumption and MACC eligibility.
Product overview
Kyndryl Cloud Uplift (formerly Skytap) is a unified cloud migration and modernization platform that enables enterprises to migrate IBM Power and x86 workloads to Microsoft Azure without rewriting or refactoring. The service is the evolution of Skytap on Azure following Kyndryl's acquisition in 2024. It runs on Azure infrastructure worldwide, offering capacity on demand, self-service provisioning, HA/DR capabilities, and integration with Azure services including Azure Synapse, AI/ML, and Azure SQL. The platform supports virtual IT labs for training, demos, and proofs of concept, and is available through Microsoft Azure Marketplace with pay-as-you-go consumption billing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Kyndryl Cloud Uplift (formerly Skytap) A cloud migration and modernization service for enterprises running IBM Power (AIX, IBM i, Linux on Power) and x86 workloads, enabling native execution on Microsoft Azure without rewriting or refactoring. Provides self-service provisioning, capacity on demand, HA/DR with a 99.95% uptime SLA, and integration with Azure Synapse, Azure AI/ML, and Azure SQL. Sold via Azure Marketplace SaaS subscription and through Kyndryl's enterprise field sales.
Quantifiable outcome
- 99.95% uptime SLA across Azure regions
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Skytap
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Skytap technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature5 records
Skytap partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Microsoft AzurecoreKyndryl Cloud Uplift runs IBM Power and x86 workloads natively on Microsoft Azure infrastructure. Azure provides the underlying compute, storage, and global datacenter footprint. Kyndryl Cloud Uplift is available as a SaaS subscription through Azure Marketplace with MACC eligibility for enterprise customers.
- Kyndryl Holdings Inc.coreKyndryl acquired Skytap in May 2024 and rebranded the service as Kyndryl Cloud Uplift. The acquisition enhanced Kyndryl's hybrid cloud and data center migration service offerings, integrating Skytap's capabilities into Kyndryl's global cloud services portfolio.
- IBMcoreKyndryl Cloud Uplift supports IBM Power workloads including AIX, IBM i, and Linux on Power. The solution runs on IBM Power hardware procured and maintained by Microsoft, enabling enterprises to run existing IBM workloads in Azure without modification.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Skytap competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Capgemini: Global SI delivering enterprise cloud migration, mainframe modernization, and managed services across AWS, Azure, and GCP. Competes for the same enterprise modernization wallet share as Skytap-via-Kyndryl.
- NTT Data: Global SI and managed services provider with strong mainframe and hybrid cloud migration offerings. Comparable delivery capability for legacy-to-cloud transformation programs at large enterprises.
- Wipro: Large IT services provider with mainframe, hybrid cloud, and application modernization practices serving regulated enterprise customers. Overlaps with Skytap's enterprise modernization buyer profile.
- OpenText (Micro Focus): Provides enterprise legacy modernization tooling and middleware, including mainframe-to-cloud migration and DevOps tooling, via the former Micro Focus portfolio. Broad incumbent offering overlapping capabilities across the same enterprise modernization buyer.
- Atos: Global systems integrator with large mainframe and hybrid cloud migration practices serving enterprise customers. Comparable delivery model for mission-critical workload migration, though not specialized in IBM Power on Azure.
Direct peers
- Modern Systems: Provides automated legacy application and database modernization, including IBM Power, IBM i, and mainframe re-platforming to cloud. Closely comparable niche player focused on low-risk migration of Power and AS/400 workloads.
- Heirloom Computing (Broadcom): Specializes in refactoring and migrating legacy mainframe and midrange workloads (including IBM Power and AIX) to cloud and distributed environments. Comparable niche focus on running mission-critical legacy workloads natively in modern cloud environments.
- AWS Mainframe Modernization: AWS's managed service for migrating and modernizing mainframe and legacy workloads to AWS. Most directly comparable to Skytap in offering a low-friction, lift-and-shift style path for mission-critical legacy workloads onto hyperscale infrastructure.
Emerging players
- TmaxSoft: Offers mainframe re-platforming and modernization (Tibero, OpenFrame) targeting enterprises seeking to exit IBM mainframe and Power environments. Comparable re-platforming focus but with a proprietary stack rather than a hyperscaler partnership.
- IBM Cloud (IBM Power Virtual Server): IBM offers Power Virtual Server as an alternative destination for AIX and IBM i workloads in IBM Cloud. Acts as a partner to Skytap on the IBM Power hardware side but also competes as an alternative migration destination for the same workloads.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Skytap social profiles
Digital presenceSkytap financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Skytap leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Skytap funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds8 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Skytap M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Skytap
What does Skytap do?
Kyndryl Cloud Uplift (formerly Skytap) is a cloud migration and modernization service that enables enterprises to run specialized IBM Power workloads (AIX, IBM i, Linux on Power) and x86 workloads natively on Microsoft Azure without rewriting or refactoring. The platform delivers self-service provisioning of LPARs in minutes, enterprise-grade HA/DR with a 99.95% uptime SLA, and integration with Azure services such as Azure Synapse, Azure AI/ML, and Azure SQL. It is sold as a SaaS subscription through Azure Marketplace with pay-as-you-go consumption and MACC eligibility.
Is Skytap a public or private company?
Skytap is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Skytap founded?
Skytap was founded in 2006. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Skytap based?
Skytap is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Skytap make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Cloud Infrastructure Subscription is the primary driver. The others are usage-based consumption.
Who are Skytap's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Capgemini, NTT Data, Wipro, OpenText (Micro Focus) and Atos. Direct peers are Modern Systems, Heirloom Computing (Broadcom) and AWS Mainframe Modernization. Emerging players are TmaxSoft and IBM Cloud (IBM Power Virtual Server).
Does Skytap have an API?
No public API is recorded for Skytap.
What industry is Skytap in?
Skytap's product category is Cloud Migration and Modernization Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEAAAH, Cloud Architecture & Migration Integration, with a secondary code of BPAEACAB, Cloud Migration & Rehosting (Lift-and-Shift). Its NAICS code is 54151 and its SIC code is 7373.