BMC Mainframe Research

Survey methodology

“Modernizing mainframe investments” explores how organizations are optimizing their investments in the platform.

• Objectives

  This year, we take an in-depth look at how artificial intelligence (AI) and DevOps are driving the future of the mainframe.

• Priorities

  For the fifth consecutive year, compliance and security top the list of priorities, but AIOps and operational analytics have also seen a significant increase in focus.

• Respondents

  Over 1,000 global businesses were surveyed about how they’re using the mainframe.

The mainframe is still big business

Ninety percent of respondents are continuing to invest in the mainframe, and organizations worldwide are maximizing those investments and exploring new options in application languages and configurations to fit their needs.

Mainframe-driven businesses continue to have an overwhelmingly strong perception of the platform

Ninety-four percent of those surveyed cite an overall positive perception of the mainframe and see it as a long-term platform or platform for new workloads—holding steady from 2023. And it’s the ninth year in a row where that perception ranked higher than 90 percent.

AIOps is rising quickly as a priority for mainframe houses

With a remarkable jump of 11 points over last year, AIOps and operational analytics are on the ascent for respondents, moving into the top three overall priorities, and they’re a top priority for 54 percent of extra-large mainframe shops (with more than 50K MIPS), second only to compliance and security.