A high-performance hierarchical database and transaction manager for z/OS that secures, scales and modernizes critical business applications
Overview
Power your enterprise with IBM Information Management System
IBM Information Management System (IMS™) is a secure, high-performance database and transaction processing platform for z/OS®. Built for scale and resilience, IMS delivers fast, reliable transaction processing and seamless integration with APIs, automation, and modern cloud-native tools. IMS Database and IMS Transaction Manager can be deployed together or separately, providing flexibility for a wide range of enterprise workloads.
Products
IMS Database Manager
IMS Database Manager(IMS DM) is a proven hierarchical database that helps organizations manage and protect mission-critical data at scale. Combining industry-leading performance with strong data integrity, continuous availability, and enterprise-grade security, IMS DB serves as a trusted foundation for business-critical applications while enabling seamless integration with modern digital ecosystems.
IMS Transaction Manager
IMS Transaction Manager (IMS TM) is a high-throughput transaction processing system for IBM Z® that powers billions of transactions each day. Combining industry-leading scale and reliability with modern APIs, Java integration, automation, and hybrid cloud connectivity, IMS TM helps organizations innovate faster while preserving the performance and reliability of their core applications.
Features
Built for speed, security and scale
Modernize IMS applications by leveraging Java interoperability with COBOL or PL/I. Seamlessly access data across distributed systems via the IMS TM resource adapter and RESTful APIs, empowering digital transformation initiatives.
Speed up deployment cycles with certified Ansible collections for IMS. Enable continuous integration and delivery pipelines by automating repetitive tasks and enhancing collaboration across teams.
Strengthen protection for sensitive information with z/OS data set encryption, IBM Z pervasive encryption, and Secure by Design principles. Safeguard mission-critical applications while supporting compliance goals without requiring application changes.
Access IMS data from cloud-native applications via SQL or API. With universal drivers and IMS integration into IBM z/OS Connect, developers can use standard interfaces to extend legacy systems to modern platforms.
Enable modern application development with support for contemporary languages, VS Code integration, APIs, Git-based workflows, and DevOps tooling. AI agent capabilities extend trusted IMS transactions and business logic into intelligent applications and workflows.
OpenTelemetry support provides standardized telemetry data for monitoring IMS applications and transactions. Integrated observability capabilities help streamline performance analysis, troubleshooting, operational visibility, and application optimization across environments.
Use cases
Support resilience and modernization
Organizations rely on proven transaction processing, modern security, hybrid cloud connectivity, and streamlined automation to keep critical systems running efficiently, protect sensitive data, accelerate modernization, and deliver services with confidence.
Process billions of transactions daily with trusted data integrity and built-in recovery capabilities.
Protect sensitive data with IBM Z® pervasive encryption and access controls with no code changes required.
Connect IMS to cloud applications using Java™, APIs, and IBM z/OS Connect for easier modernization.
Automate IMS operations with Ansible and streamline deployments for faster delivery.
Case studies
Real stories. Real impact.
Atruvia AG, the digital partner for more than 800 cooperative banks in Germany, processes 80 billion transactions annually with peaks of 12,000 per second on IBM systems. Using IBM zSystems, IMS, and Db2, it integrates Java into its core banking environment—preserving COBOL performance while simplifying architecture and accelerating the delivery of new digital services.1
85%
of transactions now Java-enabled
3x
faster performance for key workloads
Resources
Discover expert resources
Discover resources that help you build knowledge, accelerate adoption, and maximize the value of IBM IMS.
Explore IMS sample code and tutorials for your IMS application and development needs.
Download IMS TM resource adapter. It is used by Java™ applications or web services
to access IMS transactions that are running on host IMS systems
Download IMS Enterprise Suite. It provides user-friendly standard interfaces,
simplifies IMS metadata generation, eases application development and expands IMS
access.
Download IMS Universal Drivers. Its software components provide Java
applications with connectivity and access to IMS databases from z/OS and distributed
environments through TCP/IP.
Pricing
Product comparison
Explore the different products that give you the flexibility to choose what works best for your enterprise.
Access IMS catalog and data with SQL by using IMS Explorer and automate IMS administrative tasks by using Red Hat® Ansible Certified Content for IBM Z.
Experience the traditional pairing of IMS Database Manager and IMS Transaction Manager, which is offered as a monthly licensed system.
Host mission-critical applications that support billions of transactions per day1 in a cost-effective way.
Manage growth with this right-size IMS data server solution offered with onetime charge pricing.
Pricing plan
N/A
Monthly licensed version
One-time charge price metric based on Value Units
One-time charge price metric based on Value Units
Flexible pricing
N/A
Qualified workloads
Qualified workloads
Continuous access to the latest features
N/A
Access to educational materials
N/A
World class personalized support
N/A
Sold separately
Software description support
Sold separately
Software description support
*Prices shown are indicative, may vary by country, exclude any applicable taxes and duties, and are subject to product offering availability in a locale.
Footnotes
1 Atruvia AG case study https://www.ibm.com/case-studies/atruvia-ag
DISCLAIMER: The performance data and client examples cited are presented for illustrative purposes only. Actual performance results may vary depending on specific configurations and operating conditions. THE INFORMATION IN THE DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND ANY WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF NON-INFRINGEMENT. IBM products are warranted according to the terms and conditions of the agreements under which they are provided.