Despite the shift to cloud-based systems, 90 per cent of companies expect that mainframes will remain a platform for growth and long-term applications.

A survey of 1,000 IT professionals by software company BMC also found that contrary to predictions of a phasing out of mainframe systems, 68 per cent expect MIPS, the mainframe’s measure of computing performance, to grow in the coming years.

A further 78 per cent of respondents want to be able to update mainframe applications more frequently than currently possible.

In terms of recent activity, more than half of respondents said they had increased mainframe platform data and transaction volume by 25 per cent or more.

While the mainframe has a reputation of being a naturally secure platform, respondents are seeing the growing need to fortify its “walls”. Security trumped cost optimisation as the leading mainframe priority among respondents for the first time in the 15-year history of BMC’s annual mainframe survey.

A total of 63 per cent of respondents said security and compliance were their top mainframe priorities.

The study also highlighted the need for new processes to keep up with digital demand, as application development and DevOps across the mainframe combine with implementation
of new technologies such as machine learning, which have risen by over eight per cent on a year on year basis.

Stephen Elliot, program vice president at IDC, said: “The mainframe survey validates that businesses see the mainframe as a critical component of the modern digital
enterprise and an emerging hub for innovation.

“They’re putting it to work more and more to support digital business demands as they strive to achieve greater agility and success across the enterprise.”

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