321 Gang – Newsletter – October – 2025

Kimba Hackett

16 hours ago

Hello October! 🎃

🍁Fall is in full swing, and so are we! We’ve been busy meeting with clients, working on-site, and attending live events – and there’s more to come.

Upcoming: FinOps Webinar
Join us for our upcoming live webinar on FinOps, happening October 24. We’ll explore how to gain financial visibility and control across DevOps and cloud environments. Register>>>

On the Road in November
It’s conference season, and we’re hitting the road! From live webinars to in-person events, the 321 Gang team is all in this fall. We’ll be at the TBM Conference in Miami next month – sponsoring, presenting, and giving away gold nuggets (yes, real ones!) at our booth (#117). We’re also sponsoring embeddedworld North America in Anaheim (booth #9072), so come say hi if you’re attending either event.

Event Highlights: IBM TechXchange
We recently attended the IBM TechXchange conference, where our very own Walter van der Heiden co-presented with Jan-Willem Steur. Both are IBM Champions, and their session was a great success. 👏 Thanks to everyone who joined us there!

We’re going full steam ahead – partnering with customers, working on-site, and showing up at live events across the country. Hope to see you soon!

🧡 The 321 Gang Team

Partner News and Announcements

IBM Apptio, Turbonomic, Targetprocess, Instana, Cloudability, and Kubecost

Unified cost + performance visibility for Kubernetes (Instana + Kubecost).
IBM announced a new cost monitoring feature inside Instana powered by IBM Kubecost, bringing app performance and K8s cost data together in one place – ideal for engineering-led FinOps. Read>>>

Turbonomic 8.17.x updates (UI refresh + continuous optimization)
The latest Turbonomic 8.17.4 release notes and “What’s New” highlight the completed UI migration and continued improvements in optimization across compute, storage, and DBaaS. These updates support safe automation to help reduce cloud waste and improve resource efficiency. Read>>>

Instana and Turbonomic integration for actionable optimization
IBM now supports integration between Instana and Turbonomic, allowing teams to review and execute Turbonomic actions directly from the Instana UI. This tightens the loop from observability to automated savings. Read>>>

Is your cloud bill creeping higher each month? Discover how to stop overspending and bring clarity to your cloud costs. Learn the real cost culprits, why traditional cost‑controls fail, and how adopting a FinOps mindset can turn your cloud into a lean, accountable system. Read>>>

Check out the Guide to IBM FinOps Tools to see how Instana, Turbonomic, Cloudability, and Kubecost fit together.

What’s New in Cloudability Gov
Recent updates include Cost Sharing for Business Metrics, improved dashboard filtering, enhanced anomaly detection, and the new Container Insights 2.0. Engineers can now better understand cost impact before deployment, helping shift FinOps left across the pipeline.

SodiusWillert

Discover how the AI Modeling Assistant for IBM Rhapsody revolutionizes Model-Based Engineering by transforming natural language requirements into structured models. This AI-powered tool accelerates model creation, enhances legacy system understanding, and ensures consistency across complex engineering projects. Learn more about this practical application of AI in engineering. Read>>>

OSLC Broker for Jira Cloud – First Demo SodiusWillert previewed its OSLC Broker for Jira Cloud, connecting IBM ELM tools and Jira for seamless requirements and test traceability. Read>>>

It’s Rhapsody Power Pack time! Add New Model Element

Interoperability & Modeling Updates
At INCOSE IS2025, SodiusWillert showcased Publisher, OSLC Connect, and SECollab – tools enabling model exchange and SysML v2 readiness. Read>>>

Automotive Day 2025 is coming up in Germany on Nov. 4/5 with a workshop included.

Pure Variants

Pure Variants 7.1 Released
The latest release adds performance enhancements, new integration, and UI improvements, making variant management faster and more intuitive.

IBM

Take a First Look at DevOps Loop
IBM’s new DevOps Loop is poised to transform the DevOps ecosystem with deeper integration, improved visibility, and streamlined workflows. Discover how this unified platform boosts productivity and collaboration across your software delivery pipeline.

Accelerate Engineering with AI Agents Join IBM experts on Oct 30 at 9 AM ET for a live demo of powerful new AI features designed to improve requirements quality, resolve issues faster, and reduce manual work. Don’t miss how AI can streamline your engineering workflow! Here>>>

Requirements: Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! In safety-critical engineering, the real danger isn’t in the forest — it’s in using spreadsheets and lightweight tools. Learn why robust requirements management is essential to avoid costly rework, compliance failures, and missed requirements. Read>>>

GitLab

GitLab 18 – AI Native GitLab’s latest release adds AI Code Suggestions and AI Chat, plus stronger DevSecOps features for compliance and security.

GitLab Ultimate for IBM Z GitLab and IBM partnered to bring modern CI/CD pipelines, source control, and DevOps practices to IBM Z mainframes (z/OS).

IBM Maximo

Maximo MAS 9.1 Now Available
The new release includes Maximo Assistant (AI-enabled support), advanced analytics, and streamlined asset lifecycle management.

Maximo Inventory Optimization Essentials IBM rebranded its MRO Optimization tool into a lighter, more accessible version designed to help organizations improve inventory planning. Read>>>

Unveiled at IBM TechXchange: New AI + Infrastructure Capabilities
At IBM TechXchange last week, IBM introduced powerful new software and intelligent infrastructure tools to help enterprises scale and operationalize AI – with smarter orchestration, governance, and hybrid cloud integration.

Jira Align

Jira Align v11.15
New features include enhanced filtering in Kanban team rooms, improved objective panels, and multiple UI refinements.
👉 Release notes
👉 Release calendar