Azul reposted this
Choosing a #Java support partner is a critical decision for enterprises. Scott Sellers, CEO & Co-Founder of Azul, recently shared insights into what businesses truly value and require when it comes to supporting their vast Java estates. His perspective highlights the complexities beyond simple runtime provision, emphasizing the need for deep expertise and comprehensive service. According to Sellers, enterprises fundamentally rely on commercial support for several key reasons. High on the list is the need for deep technical expertise that a dedicated vendor provides. When issues inevitably arise, businesses need reliable help in triaging failures to minimize downtime and impact. In addition to that, customers also need guarantees around updates. Given Java's widespread use, it's a prime target for vulnerabilities. Therefore, guaranteed access to timely security updates is a major driver for enterprises seeking commercial support arrangements. This isn't just about staying current; it's about mitigating significant security risks. Commercial support also includes access to older Java builds and features, even those that may have reached end-of-life status from Oracle. Sellers notes that a surprising number of enterprises still rely on very old versions like Java 6 and Java 7. Finding a vendor that supports these legacy versions is essential for organizations that haven't fully migrated newer platforms. Enterprises manage hundreds, sometimes thousands, of Java applications, often running on many different Java versions. They aren't looking to juggle multiple support vendors for different builds. Instead, Sellers points out, they seek one trusted support partner capable of providing a holistic set of builds, offerings, and support across their entire Java landscape. While Oracle certainly offers comprehensive, high-quality support, matching that level requires significant engineering capabilities and technical depth.