20th Annual BMC Mainframe Survey Reveals Confidence, Generational Shift in Views on Mainframe Development

Modernization, automation, and AIOps on the rise as Gen Z and millennials embrace mainframe development

HOUSTON, Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- BMC, a global leader in software solutions enabling business faster than humanly possible, released the 20^th annual BMC mainframe survey¹, which finds that positive perception of the mainframe has reached an all-time high of 97%, highlighting that the mainframe remains a vibrant and growing platform. This historic confidence is fueled by a significant generational change in the workforce, and the widespread interest and adoption of modern technologies like generative AI and cloud-based practices.

Surveying more than 1,000 mainframe practitioners and stakeholders globally, the report highlights a dramatic change in the mainframe workforce, with a combined 66% of survey respondents identifying as millennial or Gen Z – an increase from 37% in 2018.

This new generation of professionals is driving a modernization agenda for the mainframe, with younger practitioners more likely to say the platform will grow and attract new workloads. Accordingly, mainframe MIPS growth is robust, with 72% of organizations reporting an increase in general-purpose capacity, and a significant portion of this growth is attributed to new applications. 

Additionally, for the sixth consecutive year, compliance and security are still a top priority overall, but AIOps, automation, and modernization are gaining steam. 

"The mainframe has always been the backbone of the enterprise, but what we're seeing now is a redefinition of its role to fit modern mainframe optimization practices," said Steven Dickens, CEO and principal analyst of HyperFRAME Research. "With a digitally native workforce, the rise of cloud and AI-driven workflows, and the emergence of AIOps as a top priority, the mainframe is no longer just about stability—it's about fueling innovation and driving competitive advantage."

Key findings from the 2025 BMC Mainframe Survey include:

• AIOps Remains a Top Priority: While compliance and security, and also cost optimization continue to top the list, in just a few years, AIOps has leapfrogged other areas to solidify its status as a top three priority for IT operations teams in 2025. To manage AIOps complexity, 53% are implementing generative AI.
• GenAI is Mainstream: A majority of respondents (65%) are already using generative AI with the mainframe, and in total,74% consider it critical to their mainframe strategy over the next two years.
• The Rise of Agentic AI: Respondents show a growing willingness to use AI not just for alerts but to recommend and even complete actions autonomously, signaling a new level of trust in intelligent automation. For example, in determining what data to back up and when, while 24% of respondents still want AI to simply alert them when action is needed, a combined 67% are open to AI making recommendations or completing the task automatically.

Financial services industry views mainframe as platform for growth
An overwhelming 96% of financial services respondents had a positive view of the platform. Fifty-three percent 53% see it as a launchpad for new workloads, while 43% expect steady, organic growth from their core systems, underscoring the platform's strength both for innovation and for sustaining critical operations for financial services firms. Mainframe MIPS growth is equally strong in this sector, with much of it fueled by new applications.

Additionally, cost optimization (58%) and security (53%) top the list of priorities for financial services firms, reflecting the dual pressures of margin efficiency and regulatory compliance. Nearly half of this sector's respondents also highlight application modernization and automation as critical to their ongoing evolution.

"Twenty years ago, the conversation around the mainframe was often about its longevity," said John McKenny, senior vice president and general manager of Intelligent Z Optimization and Transformation at BMC. "Today, that narrative has completely transformed. This year's survey shows the mainframe is not just enduring but thriving to power a new wave of applications and resilience at the center of digital transformation efforts. A new generation of professionals is embracing the platform, driving innovation, and leveraging AI technologies like BMC AMI Assistant, as well as the hybrid cloud to unlock its full potential."

Additional Resources

• Download the full 2025 Mainframe Survey Report here
• Register here for the webinar on September 25, 2025
• Read our latest blog post about the mainframe survey
• Read more about financial services view of the mainframe here
• Learn what's new in BMC mainframe solutions

¹2025 BMC Mainframe Survey Report, a study conducted by BMC among more than 1000 mainframe and IT professionals globally, with responses gathered March 31 – April 15, 2025, via email invitations to an online survey.

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