What happens when Java 8 Community support ends? IBM and Wipro have a plan

The challenge

Enterprises running business-critical applications on IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS) are quickly approaching a turning point.  Java 8 —still widely used across the enterprise—will lose community support in 2026. When that happens, many open-source libraries and frameworks will no longer offer security updates. This isn’t just a compliance concern—it opens the door to rising maintenance costs, limited developer agility, and serious performance and security risks if left unaddressed. 

IBM and Wipro are teaming up to offer a suite of solutions to joint clients, enabling them to maintain what they can, modernize what they must, and build what their customers need – safely and efficiently.

The IBM and Wipro advantage

IBM and Wipro offer a solution approach  that helps enterprises address technical debt, scale with confidence, and accelerate delivery across their Java estate. Clients work with one integrated team that streamlines every phase– from initial presentation, discovery workshop, Proof of Technology (PoT) with a sample app, to Proof of Concept (PoC) with a client's app and environment. 

• IBM provides automation tools, modern runtimes, and a managed cloud application service built for enterprise scale.
• Wipro delivers consulting expertise, cost-effective implementation, a modernization knowledge base, and global support to drive consistent execution.

This joint approach shortens the timeline to remove operational complexity, helps remove security exposures, and frees up developers to focus on innovation.

Solutions for modernizing the enterprise’s Java application estate

IBM and Wipro offer clients the flexibility to move forward on their terms. We recognize that enterprises will adopt a variety of strategies for managing the Java application estate. Organizations may prefer to retain selected applications on virtual machines (VMs)  while moving them to run on a modern cloud-native runtime. They may choose to containerize another set of applications for greater operational flexibility.  

We offer a comprehensive range of solutions to align with these strategies, enabling enterprises to maintain applications on Java 8 that will not undergo further enhancement, modernize those requiring ongoing development, and support the efficient development of new applications and features driven by evolving business needs.

Enterprises adopting a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) first strategy can transition applications out of the data center and utilize IBM’s managed cloud service. IBM Enterprise Application Service for Java (EASeJ) is a fully managed application platform designed to simplify the delivery, operation, and modernization of Java applications in the cloud. It helps organizations move faster and deliver continuous value, whether they’re managing existing workloads, switching virtualization platforms, or building new digital services. Teams are being asked to do more with less—deliver faster, scale reliably, and reduce operational burden. The EASeJ approach eliminates the need for enterprise operations teams to manage and maintain the middleware and underlying infrastructure, allowing resources to be redirected toward innovation and value creation.  

Key benefits of adopting IBM Enterprise Application Service for Java (EASeJ):

• Includes automation tools that help move Java applications to the cloud with minimal effort, many without any code changes. 
• Uses the IBM Liberty runtime, trusted to run large mission-critical workloads around the world, with the unique ‘zero-migration’ feature that keeps applications current without developers having to touch code or configurations.
• Provides a streamlined developer experience that simplifies build and deploy cycles, so teams can deliver new capabilities faster. 
• Offers a modern UI and workflow that reduces friction, enhances productivity, and speeds up innovation across the application lifecycle.

Services and expertise to execute application modernization efficiently at scale

Wipro brings strong execution capabilities through its  global delivery model and vast pool of modernization experts, complementing IBM’s consulting strengths. With over 3,000 specialists focused on Java application modernization, Wipro adds significant scale and implementation efficiency to this joint offering. Their expertise, combined with IBM’s automation tooling and managed services, ensures clients receive a holistic approach from strategic planning to successful execution.

This specialized workforce is further empowered by a comprehensive modernization knowledge base, distilled from numerous successful assignments, ensuring best practices and accelerated delivery for every project. Wipro’s ability to deploy highly skilled teams rapidly and in a cost-effective manner, combined with a proven methodology for large-scale modernization, helps organizations realize the value of their modernization investment. 

Wipro’s approach often unlocks significant immediate cost savings, such as migrating to open standards or more efficient platforms, which can then be reinvested by customers to self-fund subsequent stages of their modernization journey. 

Being recognized as a Leader in the Forrester Wave for Application Modernization and Migration Services in 2024 validates Wipro’s capabilities and market leadership. This external validation, coupled with Wipro’s extensive knowledge base and proven track record, significantly de-risks modernization initiatives for the clients.  

Commenting on the collaboration with IBM, Sorabh Singhal, VP & Business Head, Industry Cloud & Digital,Wipro, said, “We at Wipro are excited about working with IBM to deliver AI-powered Application Modernization solutions to our clients. This collaboration between Wipro and IBM provides a unique value proposition for our clients – the scale and expertise to execute complex Java modernizations globally, powered by GenAI that ensures efficient code migration, consistent architectural patterns, and strategic alignment with cloud-native environments. For our clients, this means faster time-to-market, optimized operational expenditure through resource rationalization, and a future-ready application landscape leveraging container orchestration and cloud services.”

Marc Haberkorn, VP, WebSphere & Runtimes, added, "With the end of Java 8 community support on the horizon, enterprises face tough decisions. Not every application needs to be modernized, but more are reaching a point where security, performance, and scalability make it unavoidable. Modernization can be resource-intensive, often competing with priorities like AI and other emerging tech. That’s why IBM and Wipro are combining best-in-class technology and expertise to help clients modernize what matters most and reinvest those gains into future innovation."

Together, this powerful collaboration delivers a comprehensive, industry-leading, and financially smart path to modernize Java applications, helping ensure your business thrives in a digital future. 

What’s next?

• Join the webinar to hear from IBM and Wipro experts – Register here.
• Try EASeJ for yourself—sign up here for the hands-on experience.
• Join the TechXchange Community: WebSphere Application Server & Liberty. Ask questions, share feedback, and connect with others navigating the same modernization journey.