The 20th annual BMC Mainframe Survey highlights the ongoing importance and transformation of mainframe technology in 2025. The survey, which gathers input from professionals worldwide, shows that mainframes are not only surviving but also adapting to new technology trends, including artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and modern software practices.
Mainframe Seen as a Long-Term Platform
According to the survey, 97 percent of respondents believe the mainframe will remain a long-term platform or will attract new workloads. This is the highest level of confidence recorded in the survey’s 20-year history. The positive outlook is especially strong among younger professionals, with Millennials and Gen Z now making up 66 percent of the mainframe workforce. This is a major shift from 2018, when only 37 percent of respondents were from these younger generations.
Workloads and Applications Are Growing
Seventy-two percent of organizations report that their mainframe capacity is increasing. This growth is driven by both new and existing applications. Java, a modern programming language, is now one of the four most used languages on the mainframe, with 60 percent of respondents reporting frequent use. Nearly half say Java usage has increased in the past two years. This shift away from older languages like COBOL and Assembler shows a move toward modernization.
Focus on Modernization and New Processes
Application modernization is becoming a higher priority. In 2025, 42 percent of respondents list it as a top focus, up from 37 percent in 2024. For the largest mainframe environments, this number rises to 49 percent. Modern practices like DevOps and AIOps are also gaining ground. DevOps adoption increased from 63 percent in 2024 to 67 percent in 2025. AIOps, which uses AI to improve operations, is now used by 72 percent of organizations, up 11 percent since 2023. These changes help teams deliver value faster and solve problems more quickly.
Security and Compliance Remain Key
Security and compliance continue to be the top priorities for mainframe teams. Organizations are increasing their use of ransomware detection and recovery systems. More respondents report that their controls against ransomware are effective. There is also a rise in the use of tools to monitor privileged users and identify sensitive data. Integration of security tools is now the highest security priority, replacing last year’s focus on preventing intrusions.
Cloud Storage and AI Adoption
Cloud object storage is being considered by many organizations to meet regulatory requirements. However, a lack of knowledge about these solutions is slowing adoption. Developing in-house expertise is seen as a way to address this gap.
Generative AI (GenAI) is also on the rise. Sixty-five percent of respondents already use GenAI on the mainframe, and 74 percent say it will be important to their strategy in the next two years. Main uses include problem detection, automated testing, and compliance reporting. There is growing trust in AI, with many professionals willing to let AI not only advise but also take action on their behalf.
Looking Ahead
The survey concludes that the mainframe remains a vital part of the IT landscape. As workloads and data grow, organizations are encouraged to keep security as a top priority and to invest in AI and cloud capabilities. Embracing new technologies and modern practices will help organizations get the most from their mainframe investments.
The mainframe, once seen as outdated, is now positioned as a modern platform ready for the future.
