Is the seventy PVU to one VPC ratio fixed?

The seventy to one ratio is IBM's published default for the Cloud Pak conversion. The ratio is negotiable, particularly when the conversion includes new product attach or a multi year subscription. Better ratios appear in larger enterprise transactions on the buyer side.

Do we still need ILMT after the Cloud Pak conversion?

Cloud Pak entitlements use the VPC metric and require their own compliance reporting through the IBM License Service. Legacy PVU products that remain on the estate still need ILMT. Most enterprises run both reporting systems in parallel during a migration year.

Can we run Cloud Pak workloads on AWS or Azure?

Yes. Cloud Pak entitlements are portable across Red Hat OpenShift on any cloud, including AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and IBM Cloud. The container portability is a primary reason customers convert to Cloud Pak rather than continue on the PVU model.

What happens to support if we move to SaaS subscription?

The SaaS subscription replaces the underlying support stream. The original PVU or VPC entitlement is retired through a trade in credit at conversion. The customer no longer pays a separate maintenance fee on that workload. Term renewal becomes the only commercial lever.

How does IBM audit cloud workloads in practice?

IBM compliance teams request ILMT reports, Cloud Pak License Service output, and architecture documentation. Cloud platforms make deployment visibility easier for the auditor. The customer pays for any unlicensed deployment at list, often with a back maintenance charge added on.

How does Redress engage on IBM cloud migration?

Redress runs IBM cloud migration advisory inside the Vendor Shield subscription and the Renewal Program. Every engagement is led by a former IBM commercial executive on the buyer side, with no IBM sales or cloud provider conflict of interest.

White Paper · IBM

Move IBM workloads to cloud without license risk

IBM workloads move to AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and IBM Cloud on different licensing tracks. Cloud Pak conversion, PVU to VPC mapping, BYOSL constraints, and sub capacity rules each change the answer. Read the.

Format PDF + HTML

Read Time 20 Minutes

Last Updated April 17, 2026

What you will take away

Three tracks. Cloud Pak conversion, bring your own license, or SaaS subscription.
Cloud Pak conversion uses VPC. Virtual Processor Cores replace the legacy PVU metric.
The ratio is published. Seventy PVU equals one VPC on the standard exchange.
BYOSL requires ILMT. IBM License Metric Tool reports remain mandatory in cloud.
Sub capacity rules apply. Container based deployments need correct partitioning evidence.

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