SSAB Modernizes Codebase and Databases to Azure Public Cloud

SSAB is a global leader in advanced high-strength and quenched & tempered steels, with its North American subsidiary producing approximately 2.5 million tons of crude steel annually. As a top supplier of heavy plate and strip products in North America, SSAB operates in a highly competitive, efficiency-driven industry—making IT and operational excellence mission-critical.

For nearly 15 years, SSAB has relied on Ensono as a trusted ally. Following a North American acquisition, SSAB faced a pivotal challenge: decommissioning its last remaining mainframe application and migrating to the public cloud.

The aging mainframe infrastructure had become costly and difficult to maintain, consuming resources in outdated technology that could no longer scale with the business. Each year spent maintaining legacy systems led to growing inefficiencies. Compounding the issue, COBOL and IDMS talent was becoming increasingly scarce.

SSAB needed a partner who could help them:

• Eliminate reliance on costly mainframe systems
• Reduce operational expenses and boost profitability
• Improve scalability and ensure future readiness through cloud transformation

Faced with these challenges, SSAB needed a partner who could guide them through this critical modernization journey.

Ensono conducted a thorough mainframe modernization assessment in February 2022, providing a clear roadmap to decommission legacy systems and embrace cloud technology. Recognizing Ensono’s expertise in mainframe-to-cloud migrations, SSAB moved forward with the project, trusting Ensono to lead this strategic transformation to Microsoft Azure.

Ensono’s expert team designed a tailored solution aligned with their goals, transforming the North American subsidiary’s legacy codebase and databases.

The modernization solution included:

• Converting COBOL programs and ADS/O modules to C# .NET
• Migrating IDMS databases to SQL Server
• Replacing JCL files with PowerShell scripts

To ensure secure integration and deployment, Ensono configured an Azure Landing Zone, enabling enterprise-grade scalability. Using Agile development practices and a CI/CD toolchain with Kubernetes containers, SSAB’s modernized application was ready to deliver business-critical services with the resilience and flexibility that only the cloud can provide.

Ensono completed the 14-month modernization program with impressive speed, converting 100 programs per month while minimizing disruptions to ongoing operations. This seamless migration was a remarkable achievement, considering the scope of the transformation.

SSAB’s mainframe-to-cloud migration resulted in significant and measurable benefits:

• Cost Savings: Achieved a $1 million one-time mainframe cost avoidance and an additional $1.3 million in annual operational savings, resulting in a $2.9 million net savings over five years. ROI is expected in just three years.
• Operational Improvements: By moving away from legacy mainframe technology, SSAB retrained their workforce on modern cloud technologies, retaining skilled employees and optimizing internal processes.
• Enhanced Agility and Scalability: The new cloud infrastructure provides greater agility and scalability, allowing the client to swiftly respond to market changes while reducing the complexity and costs of IT management.
• Future-Ready Infrastructure: SSAB now benefits from a future-proof, scalable IT environment, positioned for future growth and innovation.