In an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving technological environment, the mainframe remains a key piece for many organizations on their journey to digital transformation. According to the 2024 Mainframe Modernization Survey Report by Kyndryl, the mainframe has proven to be a critical technology, especially in the context of hybrid IT strategies that combine the best of traditional performance with the flexibility of the cloud.
One of the most important findings of the report is the growing interest in generative artificial intelligence (AI) in mainframe environments. 86% of surveyed companies are already implementing or planning to implement generative AI tools and solutions, marking a paradigm shift in how organizations leverage their data and applications hosted on mainframes.
This trend not only has the potential to modernize monolithic applications, but also offers the ability to analyze and extract value from complex unstructured data residing in these systems, opening the door to new use cases and innovation opportunities in key sectors such as finance, insurance, and manufacturing.
Another crucial aspect driving mainframe modernization is security. 66% of respondents stated that the mainframe offers unparalleled security levels, making it the preferred choice for critical applications where regulatory compliance and data protection are essential. In fact, the need to comply with increasingly strict regulations, such as DORA or NIS2, is leading many organizations to invest more in modernizing their mainframes.
With the rise of cyberattacks and the growing exposure to IT risks, security remains the primary driver of modernization in 49% of surveyed organizations. This investment in security ensures that systems are resilient and can handle the growing volume and complexity of data.
The report also highlights three key strategic approaches that organizations are adopting to modernize their mainframes in a hybrid IT environment:
1. Partial or complete migration to the cloud: Some organizations are moving a significant portion of their applications and data off the mainframe to cloud solutions, while keeping the most critical applications on traditional systems.
2. Integration with other platforms: Many companies choose to integrate their mainframes with cloud platforms or distributed systems, enabling broader and more flexible access to data hosted on the mainframe.
3. Internal modernization of the mainframe: This approach focuses on modernizing workloads directly within the mainframe, using emerging technologies like generative AI and containerization to maximize performance and efficiency.
Despite the clear benefits of modernization, many organizations still face significant obstacles, such as skills gaps. The report notes that 53% of new employees entering the workforce lack skills to handle mainframe technologies. Furthermore, the retirement of more experienced staff is leaving a critical knowledge gap.
To address this issue, 77% of organizations rely on external providers offering expertise in mainframe modernization, allowing them to stay competitive and address the challenges posed by the lack of specialized talent.
In conclusion, the Kyndryl report underscores the importance of the mainframe as a strategic pillar for hybrid IT. The combination of emerging technologies like generative AI, together with the inherent strength and security of the mainframe, enables organizations to modernize their systems and optimize their operations effectively. As companies progress on their journey to digitization, mainframe modernization will remain a key priority, yielding cost savings, improving security, and above all, offering a considerable return on investment in the short and long term.
This report not only highlights the ongoing relevance of the mainframe, but also its ability to evolve and adapt to the technological and business demands of an ever-changing world.