IT modernization with Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Ansible Automation Platform: building a foundation ready for the future

IT modernization has become a priority for organizations across all industries. Whether you work in finance, healthcare or transportation, the desire to innovate more quickly while reducing risk is stronger than ever. Recent industry insights reveal that modernization remains top of mind:

• IDC forecasts that global digital transformation spending will reach $3.9 trillion by 2027, growing at a 16.1% CAGR.
• According to a Deloitte MarginPLUS  study, 82% of companies missed cost reductions goals due to legacy infrastructure challenges.
• Red Hat’s 2024 Global Tech Trends reports that 45% of organizations cite IT modernization as a top application development funding priority.

At the heart of this journey is one critical decision: Which operating system should power our workloads?

In the early days of enterprise IT, proprietary systems or free, open source distributions often got the job done. But modern organizations need more than just an operating system (OS); they need a scalable, secure foundation that is ready for the future. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) excels in delivering technical excellence, predictable support and robust lifecycle management. Coupled with Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, RHEL becomes a powerful engine for accelerating digital transformation while reducing complexity and risk.

Why the OS choice matters

Selecting and standardizing on the right OS is often the biggest hurdle in an IT modernization project. Workloads today span physical servers, virtual machines, containers and public clouds. Each of these environments demands consistent security, performance and compliance—no small feat if you’re juggling multiple operating systems or versions.

RHEL offers a stable, trusted foundation for running critical applications at scale, whether on-premise or in the cloud. By unifying around RHEL, IT teams gain a single, predictable platform that drastically reduces OS fragmentation. This consistency helps teams work together, making it far easier to focus on bigger goals like application modernization, cost optimization and operational efficiency.

Automation and migration: the path to IT efficiency

Even after choosing an enterprise-grade OS, many organizations struggle with ongoing migrations and day-to-day maintenance. Whether you're moving to the cloud or modernizing legacy applications, it's easy to hit issues like downtime, drift or security gaps.

This is where automation makes a difference. Ansible Automation Platform helps teams move faster and cut complexity. A major UK bank, for example, used Ansible Automation Platform to shrink their Apache Hadoop cluster rollout from weeks to hours—a clear win for automation at scale.

When paired with RHEL, automation becomes more scalable and consistent. RHEL provides the foundation—security-focused capabilities, stability and lifecycle management—while Ansible Automation Platform enables repeatability across environments. Together, they support migrations, maintenance and long-term modernization.

Why choose Red Hat 

Red Hat is more than a software vendor—it’s a trusted partner for thousands of enterprises worldwide. Our subscription model goes beyond merely providing patches and updates; it delivers ongoing security, proactive support and a transparent roadmap. Gartner and Forrester repeatedly recognize Red Hat for leadership in IT automation and hybrid cloud solutions, reflecting our commitment to both innovation and reliability.

Unlike DIY open source alternatives, Red Hat provides comprehensive support, security capabilities and lifecycle management, enabling organizations to confidently migrate workloads without operational disruptions. With Red Hat’s approach,  migration isn’t just about moving workloads—it’s about optimizing performance, security and long-term sustainability.

Looking ahead: AI for next-level automation

As modernization continues, emerging technologies like AI are adding a new dimension to automation. Solutions such as Red Hat Ansible Lightspeed, Red Hat Insights and other AI-empowered services can forecast potential issues, auto-generate playbooks and proactively help secure environments before problems arise.

By integrating RHEL, Ansible Automation Platform and AI, organizations can develop a cohesive platform that not only optimizes current operations but also evolves with the demands of a data-driven, intelligent enterprise.

Want to explore how automation can power your AI journey? Check out Why choose Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform as your AI foundation? for an in-depth look into real-world AI use cases, AIOps and how to get started.