Articles about mainframe

IBM has announced what it's calling its most advanced mainframe to date, with major new AI capabilities.

Powered by a new IBM Telum II processor, the IBM z17 expands the system’s capabilities beyond transactional AI capabilities, enabling the platform to take on new workloads.

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A new report suggests that faced with mounting competition and economic uncertainty, 92 percent of global enterprises are changing course to retain mainframes as part of pragmatic hybrid strategies, rather than pursuing wholesale cloud shifts.

The latest Mainframe Modernization Business Barometer Report from Advanced, based on a survey of 400 IT leaders worldwide, reveals hybrid infrastructure strategies taking hold to balance workloads across cloud and mainframe. In fact, only six percent expect outright mainframe replacement anytime soon.

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Many large enterprises still rely heavily on mainframes to offer a reliable and secure basis for their systems.

But as digital transformation efforts gain pace, developers are eyeing frameworks that can boost their modernization efforts. We spoke to Phil Buckellew, president of infrastructure modernization at Rocket Software, to find out how open source software can bridge the divide between modern applications and mission-critical mainframe infrastructure.

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In today's fast-paced and 24-hour world, achieving a healthy work-life balance has become increasingly challenging for professionals across various industries. However, it is particularly crucial for individuals starting their careers in the mainframe technology field. Maintaining a good work-life balance is vital for new entrants in the mainframe industry, but equally important is the need to put robust support systems in place for new starters.

According to research from the mental wellbeing platform Yerbo, 40 percent of IT professionals are at high risk of burnout. Success in IT is often viewed through the prism of a ‘hustle culture’ that prizes long hours and an always-on mentality as the hallmarks of success. That is particularly true for the mainframe, given its criticality within businesses. In a field dominated by experts with decades of experience, new entrants can feel pressured to constantly go above and beyond, abandoning any work-life balance and striving to meet the standards of their more experienced peers. Unfortunately, this mindset can be detrimental to the well-being and productivity of new professionals entering the field.

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Many large enterprises still rely on mainframes, but the use of legacy technology can hold back modernization and digital transformation efforts.

To help organizations progress their modernization plans, IBM is launching watsonx Code Assistant for Z, a new generative AI-assisted product that will help enable faster translation of COBOL to Java on IBM Z systems and enhance developer productivity on the platform.

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Many large enterprises have legacy systems running on IBM Z-series mainframe platforms. In order to help digital transformation efforts and modernize apps across hybrid environments, Big Blue is announcing a series of new capabilities.

Plans include delivering IBM Z as-a-service on IBM Cloud for development and test, as well as introducing additional tools for developing hybrid applications.

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Over the past decade, cloud technology has become the IT infrastructure of choice for many organizations. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses to send workers home, cloud adoption accelerated, ensuring teams stayed connected and productive while working remotely. But in the rush to capitalize on the agile capabilities offered by cloud, larger enterprises should be wary of neglecting a critical piece of technology: the mainframe.

A majority of the world’s top banks, airlines, and retailers are estimated to rely on mainframes -- trusting them as a reliable and secure part of their IT infrastructure. Market appetite for future growth of the technology is strong: IBM recently reported 49 percent YOY growth in its mainframe division for Q1 2021.

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A new survey of 650 IT leaders around the world shows that while 96 percent consider their organization's mainframe applications as important or critical to business operations, 98 percent would consider migrating off the platform.

The preferred destination for these apps is the cloud, with 82 percent of respondents saying they would use public and/or hybrid cloud deployment models if they were to move their organization's applications off the mainframe.

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According to a new study from the IBM Institute for Business Value, 71 percent of executives surveyed say mainframe-based applications are central to their business strategy.

Also, in three years, the percentage of organizations using mainframe assets in a hybrid cloud environment is expected to increase by more than two times.

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A new study from IT services provider Advanced shows 89 percent of large enterprises worldwide are worried they won't have access to the right IT talent to maintain and manage their legacy systems.

But the skill to modernize these systems are also scarce. Almost two-fifths (37 percent) of senior professionals -- including CIOs and Heads of IT -- admit their modernization programs have failed because they lack the depth and breadth of skills required for newer technologies like the Cloud. In addition 38 percent blame a lack of planning for the success of modernization projects.

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A new survey of over 1,000 IT executives and practitioners shows that 90 percent of respondents see the mainframe as a platform for growth and long-term applications.

The annual mainframe survey from IT solutions company BMC also shows that more than half of survey respondents increased mainframe platform data and transaction volume by 25 percent or more, signaling its ongoing importance in the digital business environment.

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