Future-proofing your mainframe: three takeaways from the frontlines of innovation

The mainframe is no longer a system to modernize away from, but a critical foundation to build the future on. Over the past few months, the Rocket Software team has participated in some of the biggest tech events and this message has been heard loud and clear. At every gathering of CIOs, IT leaders, and technologists there has been a shared sense of urgency—and opportunity—centered around one idea: future-proofing the mainframe.

To prepare your mainframe for the future, these events highlighted three key conversations tied to the modernization journey.

1. AI can’t work without the right data—and that data lives on the mainframe

At the recent Gartner Data & Analytics (D&A) Summit in Orlando, one of the hottest topics was how to operationalize AI in a way that delivers business value. Yet, as organizations race to build AI models, many overlook a crucial asset: the mainframe.

Mainframes still run critical operations for industries like banking, healthcare, retail, and transportation. They house decades of rich transactional data—precisely the kind of high-value, high-integrity data that AI models need to produce reliable insights.

But tapping into that data can be challenging. Silos, outdated tools, and integration gaps often stand in the way. To future-proof the mainframe, organizations need to ensure frictionless access to mainframe data, not only for reporting and compliance but also to feed modern data pipelines and AI workflows.

As we heard in Orlando, the message is clear: your AI is only as good as the data you feed it—and much of that data still lives on the mainframe.

2. The talent gap is real—but so is the opportunity

As we look to the future of the mainframe, an adjacent conversation took place at SHARE Washington D.C.: the accelerating retirement of seasoned mainframe professionals.

This isn’t just a staffing issue—it’s a knowledge management crisis. Years of expertise in COBOL, JCL, and system administration can’t be replaced overnight. But this transition also opens the door to empowering the next generation with modern tools, languages, and interfaces that abstract away complexity while preserving the power of the platform.

We heard inspiring stories of companies creating mentorship programs, investing in mainframe bootcamps, and using DevOps tools to help new developers ramp up faster. These efforts don’t just bridge the skills gap—they create a culture of innovation around the mainframe.

To future-proof your workforce, not only do you need to rethink who works on the mainframe, but how they work on it.

3. Modernization isn’t a one-time event—it’s a continuous strategy

Modernization was a major throughline at both events, but with a clear shift in tone. It’s no longer about “ripping and replacing” mainframes with cloud-native architectures. Instead, organizations are looking for hybrid approaches that modernize without disruption.

That means taking a measured, iterative approach to modernization, and finding the infrastructure that works best for the unique needs of your enterprise. The most successful organizations are the ones who view modernization as a strategic, ongoing capability, not a one-time project.

As one CIO put it at SHARE: “The goal isn’t to move off the mainframe. The goal is to move forward—with it.”

Final thoughts: the mainframe as a modern platform

The future of enterprise IT will be powered by AI, automation, and hybrid cloud. But none of these trends can succeed without a solid data foundation, a skilled workforce, and a modernization strategy that respects what already works.

Learn more about modernization strategies at the Rocket Software Insights Hub.