Mainframe Modernization: Strategic Frameworks for Enterprise Transformation

Abstract

Mainframe modernization challenges organizations to balance the reliability, in addition to the capacity to process transactions with legacy applications, along with the agility and innovation that the cloud enables. Challenges exist. One must assess the existing application portfolio. One must select from various migration strategies, such as rehosting versus complete refactoring. One must manage the difficulties of migrating data from legacy to modern data models. Another reason is a security component, as organizations are transitioning to defence-in-depth to address the larger attack surface posed by APIs and integration with the cloud, as well as the need to comply with applicable regulations. Finally, the organizational aspect of modernization can be addressed by ensuring knowledge transfer when retiring employees and adopting agile ways of working, and change management and capability development. Those modernization programs that focus on technology excellence and alignment to corporate strategy by leveraging AI-based automation, a hybrid cloud architecture, and cross-functional team structures experience measurable business value beyond implementation by achieving improved operational efficiency and differentiation via optimised technology capabilities that improve their organization's services.