A Modern Platform, Positioned for the Age of AI

Discover insights from more than 1,100 global respondents in the 20th edition of the BMC Mainframe Survey. See how organizations are modernizing, adopting artificial intelligence (AI), and preparing the platform for the future.

Mainframe Survey
Survey Methodology

Why this report matters

As the mainframe enters its seventh decade as a critical business platform, it’s evolving faster than ever.

In this year’s survey, you’ll learn:

  • Why record-high confidence in the mainframe signals future growth

  • How new talent and modern workloads are driving change

  • Where organizations are investing in security, AI, and modernization

Key Findings

Record-high confidence

97% of enterprises report a positive perception of the mainframe — the highest in survey history.

Twenty years after the first BMC Mainframe Survey, the platform remains the system of record worldwide and is seen as essential to innovation.

Modern workloads, modern workforce

A new generation is changing how mainframe work gets done. Professionals with fewer than 10 years of experience are the most optimistic about platform growth and new workloads, and they’re adopting modern tools, processes, and languages that keep the platform evolving.

Java adoption surges

Java is becoming increasingly important to mainframe development:

72%

are writing new apps in Java (up from 64% in 2024)

47%

report growth in existing Java applications

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51%

are rewriting existing apps into Java

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This rapid expansion shows how the platform continues to embrace modern languages and keep pace with business needs.

AI maturing on the mainframe

AI is moving from experimental to essential:

  • The use of generative AI (GenAI) and agentic AI continues to rise

  • A majority of survey respondents use GenAI on the platform

  • AIOps and operational analytics have risen to third place among top priorities

  • AI, GenAI, and AIOps are becoming foundational to mainframe optimization and transformation

    The mainframe is not just supporting AI—it’s becoming a foundation for it.

What else is driving modernization?

Ebook

Download the full report to explore:

  • How enterprises are defending against ransomware threats

  • Which technologies are shaping modernization strategies

  • How organizations are preparing the platform for the future