November 7, 2023 at 08:23PM
Mainframe systems continue to dominate certain sectors of the economy, particularly those that require high-performance and high-reliability applications like financial transactions. Security remains a major concern for mainframe users, with the complex software architecture making it difficult to secure. Despite the growing popularity of cloud infrastructure, mainframes are expected to continue powering much of the information economy, posing challenges for software development and security. Additionally, the scarcity of mainframe technical expertise is a growing issue, with AI potentially offering a solution by mapping mainframe code to more modern languages.
Key Takeaways from Meeting Notes:
1. Mainframe systems continue to dominate major segments of the economy, particularly in high-performance and high-reliability applications such as financial transactions.
2. Security is the top concern for mainframe users, with the complexity of software architecture and the growing scarcity of mainframe technical expertise posing challenges.
3. Despite the increased focus on cloud infrastructure, the majority of business and IT executives have a positive view of the future of mainframes.
4. Mainframe systems market continues to grow, with IBM Z Systems, Fujitsu’s GS series, and Unisys’ Libra servers being the most popular ecosystems.
5. Mainframe users struggle with securing and managing the complex software portfolio connected to their systems, and they weigh the cost and benefit of migrating to alternative infrastructure.
6. Mainframes offer robust in-built security capabilities, but software complexity and the need for agility pose challenges.
7. Many companies are transitioning workloads from mainframes to the cloud, with concerns about business disruption and dealing with critical applications during migration.
8. COBOL-based applications in mainframes are more prone to SQL Injection attacks, highlighting the need for code cleanup and improved protections.
9. Hybrid cloud infrastructure is gaining popularity as a solution that combines the benefits of mainframes and the cloud.
10. The scarcity of skilled mainframe operators and engineers is a significant problem, and AI may be a potential solution by mapping mainframe code to modern languages and enabling younger engineers to maintain mainframes.