A recent IBM Mainframe 2025 study surveyed 2,500 IT executives worldwide, and 75% said that mainframes are equal to or better than the cloud in terms of total cost of ownership.
After more than six decades of evolution, the mainframe remains one of the most important technology platforms for organizations that run mission-critical processes. This is confirmed by the new report from the IBM Institute for Business Value, which analyzes the role of the mainframe within hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation strategies.
IBM Mainframe 2025: Technology Ready for the Future
Far from being a technology of the past, the report highlights that the mainframe continues to evolve to meet today’s business challenges. Its ability to process large volumes of transactions, protect critical information, and operate with high levels of availability ensures that it remains a strategic component for sectors such as banking, insurance, healthcare, retail, and government agencies.
Currently, 43 of the world's top 50 banks and 8 of the 10 largest payment companies use mainframes as their core platform for running their most critical operations.
The Hybrid Cloud and the Mainframe Work Together
One of the key concepts in the report is the "Hybrid by Design" approach, a strategy that integrates mainframes, the public cloud, distributed applications, and data within a single technology architecture.
According to IBM, this model allows each workload to be run in the most appropriate environment, optimizing aspects such as performance, security, scalability, and costs. It also facilitates integration between traditional applications and new digital services, accelerating the transformation of organizations.
Artificial Intelligence Applied to Critical Data
The report also examines how artificial intelligence finds the mainframe to be an ideal platform for processing critical information in real time.
IBM notes that 78% of executives believe that mainframe-based applications will continue to play a key role in digital transformation, while many organizations are already incorporating AI capabilities to optimize operations, strengthen cybersecurity, and improve decision-making.
In addition, 61% of executives believe it is important to use generative artificial intelligence to accelerate the modernization of mainframe applications and improve development processes.
Key findings from the report
Among the study's main conclusions are:
- 75% of executives believe that the mainframe offers a total cost of ownership equal to or lower than that of other cloud alternatives for mission-critical applications.
- Organizations that adopt a "Hybrid by Design" strategy achieve more than three times the return on investment (ROI) on their digital transformation initiatives.
- Approximately 70% of global transaction volume continues to be processed on mainframe platforms.
The G&L Group's Vision
At G&L Group, we partner with organizations seeking to modernize their IBM Z environments, integrate the mainframe with hybrid architectures, and harness the potential of artificial intelligence for critical applications.
The evolution of the mainframe demonstrates that innovation does not mean replacing established technologies, but rather integrating them into modern, secure ecosystems that are prepared for the challenges of the future. In this context, IBM Mainframe 2025 confirms that this platform remains a cornerstone for driving the digital transformation of businesses.
A recent IBM study surveyed 2,500 IT executives worldwide, and 75% said that mainframes are equal to or better than the cloud in terms of total cost of ownership.
After more than six decades of evolution, the mainframe remains one of the most important technology platforms for organizations that run mission-critical processes. This is confirmed by the new report from the IBM Institute for Business Value, which analyzes the role of the mainframe within hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation strategies.
IBM Mainframe 2025: Technology Ready for the Future
Far from being a technology of the past, the report highlights that the mainframe continues to evolve to meet today’s business challenges. Its ability to process large volumes of transactions, protect critical information, and operate with high levels of availability ensures that it remains a strategic component for sectors such as banking, insurance, healthcare, retail, and government agencies.
Currently, 43 of the world's top 50 banks and 8 of the 10 largest payment companies use mainframes as their core platform for running their most critical operations.
The Hybrid Cloud and the Mainframe Work Together
One of the key concepts in the report is the "Hybrid by Design" approach, a strategy that integrates mainframes, the public cloud, distributed applications, and data within a single technology architecture.
According to the findings of IBM Mainframe 2025, integrating the mainframe into a "Hybrid by Design" strategy allows organizations to take advantage of the best the cloud has to offer while maintaining the performance, security, and availability of critical applications.
According to IBM, this model allows each workload to be run in the most appropriate environment, optimizing aspects such as performance, security, scalability, and costs. It also facilitates integration between traditional applications and new digital services, accelerating the transformation of organizations.
Artificial Intelligence Applied to Critical Data
IBM Mainframe 2025 also highlights that incorporating artificial intelligence into data hosted on IBM Z helps accelerate innovation without compromising security or regulatory compliance.
The report also examines how artificial intelligence finds the mainframe to be an ideal platform for processing critical information in real time.
IBM notes that 78% of executives believe that mainframe-based applications will continue to play a key role in digital transformation, while many organizations are already incorporating AI capabilities to optimize operations, strengthen cybersecurity, and improve decision-making.
In addition, 61% of executives believe it is important to use generative artificial intelligence to accelerate the modernization of mainframe applications and improve development processes.
Key findings from the report
Among the study's main conclusions are:
- 75% of executives believe that the mainframe offers a total cost of ownership equal to or lower than that of other cloud alternatives for mission-critical applications.
- Organizations that adopt a "Hybrid by Design" strategy achieve more than three times the return on investment (ROI) on their digital transformation initiatives.
- Approximately 70% of global transaction volume continues to be processed on mainframe platforms.
The G&L Group's Vision
At G&L Group, we partner with organizations seeking to modernize their IBM Z environments, integrate the mainframe with hybrid architectures, and harness the potential of artificial intelligence for critical applications.
The evolution of the mainframe demonstrates that innovation does not mean replacing established technologies, but rather integrating them into modern, secure ecosystems that are prepared for the challenges of the future. In this context, IBM Mainframe 2025 confirms that this platform remains a cornerstone for driving the digital transformation of businesses.
The IBM Mainframe 2025 study shows that organizations continue to invest in this platform because it combines reliability, scalability, and the ability to innovate. As projects involving artificial intelligence, hybrid cloud, and application modernization move forward, the mainframe continues to play a central role for companies that need to process large volumes of data with high levels of security and availability.
The findings of IBM Mainframe 2025 confirm that the mainframe remains a key component of organizations' digital transformation and will continue to play a strategic role in the coming years.
