The mission-critical transaction data and business insights that mainframes create will provide vital context and value across many AI use cases. This data must be normalized, shared, and analyzed in collaboration with AI models and agents deployed across hybrid enterprise IT environments. To ensure their organization can provide timely, secure, and reliable AI access to mainframe data, enterprise tech buyers need to accelerate refresh cycles to equip mainframes with a new generation of performance and security capabilities.

This IDC InfoBrief summarizes the drivers, benefits, and challenges shaping AI-ready mainframe investment plans and modernization strategies that 510 worldwide mainframe decision-makers are implementing based on IDC’s State of the Mainframe 2025 Survey conducted in April 2025.

Download the report to learn more about the current state of the mainframe business.