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Maximo 7.6.1 End-of Support Decision Matrix STAY & SELF-SUPPORT VS. IBM EXTENDED/SUSTAINED VS. MIGRATE TO MAS VS. THIRD-PARTY
Learn how the four post-support paths; stay and self-support, IBM Extended/Sustained Support, migrate to MAS, or third-party support/replacement compare across cost, security, compliance, effort, roadmap, and timeline, and which one best fits your organization's risk tolerance, budget, and readiness to migrate.
TECHNICAL GUIDANCE PAPER
STAY & SELF-SUPPORT VS. IBM EXTENDED/SUSTAINED VS. MIGRATE TO MAS VS. THIRD-PARTY
Maximo 7.6.1 End-of Support Decision Matrix
Regular base support for IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.6.1.x ended 30 September 2025. Perpetual licenses keep running, but no further IBM fixes, patches, or security updates are issued. IBM's recommended path is to trade up to the Maximo Application Suite (MAS); the options below weigh that against staying put.
| Dimension | 1. Stay & self-support | 2. IBM Extended / Sustained | 3. Migrate to MAS | 4. Third-party support / replace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Lowest No new spend | Low–Moderate Annual support fee | Highest Licensing + infra + project | Moderate Vendor fee, or full re-platform |
| Security / patching | None Unpatched after 30 Sep 2025 | Limited Existing fixes; Extended adds 1 yr of new | Full Current, actively maintained | Vendor-dependent Workarounds, not IBM fixes |
| Compliance / audit | High risk Unsupported = audit exposure | Defensible Supported posture maintained | Strong Fully supported platform | Defensible If SLA-backed |
| Implementation effort | None Do nothing | Low Must be on 7.6.1.3; show MAS plan | High OpenShift, data/config migration, retraining | Low–High Low to onboard vendor; high to replace |
| New features / roadmap | None 7.6.x is end of line | None Support only, no enhancements | Full AI, IoT, mobile, monitoring | Varies None on v7; new platform if replacing |
| Timeline / runway | Indefinite* Runs until something breaks | To 2030 Sustained Support purchasable thru 30 Sep 2030 | Permanent Long-term endpoint | Flexible As long as vendor offers it |
| Best fit when | Short bridge only; non-regulated; tight budget | Not ready for MAS but need a supported, audit-safe posture | Committed to IBM long-term; have budget & OpenShift capacity | Want v7 kept alive cheaply, or already exiting Maximo |
Notes & key gates
- License trade-up to AppPoints can be done now without migrating — it decouples the commercial decision from the technical upgrade.
- IBM Extended Support adds one year (to 30 Sep 2026) and requires being on fixpack 7.6.1.3, active S&S, and a documented MAS upgrade plan; it must be bought alongside Sustained Support.
- Sustained Support (existing fixes, how-to support — no new security fixes) remains purchasable through 30 Sep 2030.
- If on 7.6 or 7.6.1.1, you must first upgrade to 7.6.1.3 before any move to MAS.
- MAS hosting is either self-managed (cloud/infra of your choice) or the IBM Managed Service (IBM installs and operates it).
- *Self-support has no end date, but unpatched security exposure and compliance risk grow over time.
This matrix summarizes IBM's published end-of-support terms and is for planning only. It is not legal, financial, or contractual advice. Actual eligibility, pricing, and AppPoint conversion depend on your current entitlements; confirm with your IBM sales representative or Maximo partner before committing.