Mainframes still have lead role storing, exchanging data

Survey finds 6 of 10 organizations expect more mainframe investment, says Tim Grieser.


Mainframes are a critical IT platform supporting the volume and velocity of data, and transactions being created by digital business, according to a new research report by enterprise software company BMC.

Nearly 60 percent of the 1,200 companies worldwide surveyed for the study are seeing increased data and transaction volumes and a growing number of databases.



A huge majority of the survey respondents (89 percent) expect continued strong support for the mainframe. Respondents fall into three groups based on their mainframe investment strategies: 58 percent are looking to grow their investment and use of the mainframe; 23 percent indicate they will keep a steady amount of work on the mainframe; and 19 percent plan to reduce the usage of the platform.

Executives planning to expand their investment see value in the mainframe for its availability, performance and security strengths. These respondents are focused on modernization and taking advantage of technologies such as Java, advanced automation and lower-cost specialty mainframes, the report said.

Respondents who plan to remain steady view mainframes as a secure and highly available engine for running their businesses, but are not looking to add new workloads.

Many companies surveyed are focused on addressing increasing demands, including the rapidly growing speed of application requirements, and higher levels of volatility and workload unpredictability.

“Digital technologies are transforming the ways in which organizations of all types conduct business and interact with their customers,” said Tim Grieser, program vice president of enterprise system management software at International Data Corp. “Mainframes play a key role in digital business as many digital applications are based on mobile or handheld-device access to data stored on the mainframe. This is driving growth in mainframe transactions and data volumes.”

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