ISG to Study Mainframe Service Providers
MWN-AI** Summary
Information Services Group (ISG), a prominent AI-centered technology research and advisory firm, has initiated a comprehensive study to evaluate service providers in the mainframe operation and modernization sphere. With a growing emphasis on AI and cloud-native development, this ISG Provider Lens® report, set to be released in April 2026, will analyze how providers are innovating mainframe modernization through hybrid IT integration, automation, and strategies driven by Generative AI (GenAI).
The forthcoming reports will focus on several key areas, including mainframe consulting, mainframe as a service, and application modernization services. Enterprise clients will leverage these insights to assess existing vendor relationships and explore potential new opportunities. The mainframe sector is presently undergoing significant transformation, as organizations seek to enhance resilience while modernizing their systems, particularly in the context of hybrid IT environments.
Heiko Henkes, managing director at ISG, noted that the onslaught of generative AI has redefined automation and application transformation, prompting vendors to incorporate advanced systems that bolster operational efficiency and adaptability. ISG's research team will analyze over 130 service providers, amplifying insights gained through collaboration with ISG’s global advisors.
The study will categorize providers into four quadrants: 1. **Mainframe Technology Consulting** 2. **Mainframe as a Service** 3. **Application Modernization Services** 4. **Mainframe Application Modernization Software**
ISG's research will also cover various geographical markets, including the U.S., Europe, and the U.S. Public Sector, providing a thorough examination of the available products and services. With extensive data collection methodologies, this initiative promises to deliver invaluable insights for enterprises navigating the complexities of mainframe modernization amid evolving technological landscapes.
MWN-AI** Analysis
The upcoming ISG Provider Lens® report on mainframe operation and modernization services is poised to significantly influence enterprise strategies in a landscape increasingly defined by AI and cloud-native development. As enterprises pivot toward integrating mainframes into hybrid IT environments, understanding the capabilities and innovations of service providers becomes essential.
The mainframe market is undergoing a vital transformation, and enterprises should take this opportunity to reevaluate their vendor relationships and modernization strategies. The four quadrants in the report—Mainframe Technology Consulting, Mainframe as a Service, Application Modernization Services, and Mainframe Application Modernization Software—provide a structured approach for assessing potential partners.
Investors and enterprise buyers should focus on providers leveraging AI and automation to enhance operational efficiency. The effective integration of generative AI (GenAI) and AIOps represents a competitive edge, enabling faster adaptation to business changes and improved application management. Companies that excel in cloud-native development, particularly those which have strong partnerships with hyperscalers, will likely dominate the market, offering robust solutions for legacy application migration.
Moreover, embracing subscription-based models and hybrid infrastructure could provide enterprises with cost efficiencies and enhanced scalability. As organizations look to modernize their legacy systems, prioritizing providers with advanced automation capabilities will be critical to minimize disruption and ensure secure operations.
In summary, the ISG Provider Lens® report serves as a comprehensive resource for evaluating mainframe service providers. Enterprises should remain vigilant about the innovations in the market, particularly those harnessing AI and data-driven methodologies, to fully leverage their mainframe investments in an increasingly cloud-centric world. Careful analysis of provider capabilities will be key to securing a competitive position in this evolving landscape.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
Upcoming ISG Provider Lens ® report will evaluate providers of mainframe operation and modernization services amid rising importance of AI, cloud-native development
Information Services Group ( ISG ) (Nasdaq: III ), a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm, has launched a research study examining how service providers are reshaping mainframe modernization through hybrid IT integration, cloud-native development, automation and GenAI-driven transformation strategies.
The study results will be published in a series of comprehensive ISG Provider Lens ® reports, called Mainframes — Services and Solutions, scheduled to be released in April 2026. The report will cover companies offering mainframe consulting, mainframe as a service, application modernization services and mainframe application modernization software.
Enterprise buyers will be able to use information from the reports to evaluate their current vendor relationships, potential new engagements and available offerings, while ISG advisors use the information to recommend providers to the firm’s buy-side clients.
The mainframe market is experiencing a transformative shift as enterprises balance modernization with resilience. Cloud innovation is leading companies to reevaluate the integration of mainframes in hybrid IT environments, focusing on data access, software licensing and middleware use. As cloud-native development based on microservices and AI-driven practices becomes standard, organizations are revisiting mainframe application management models and seeking modernization strategies.
“Generative AI has dramatically reshaped the mainframe market, redefining automation and application transformation methods,” said Heiko Henkes, managing director at ISG. “Providers are increasingly using GenAI and AIOps to build adaptive systems that improve operational efficiency and quickly respond to business changes.”
ISG has distributed surveys to more than 130 providers of mainframe services and solutions. Working in collaboration with ISG’s global advisors, the research team will produce four quadrants representing the typical mainframe services and solutions enterprises are buying, based on ISG’s experience working with its clients. The four quadrants are:
- Mainframe Technology Consulting, evaluating providers that specialize in helping enterprises maintain and integrate mainframe systems within IT ecosystems. Their services include upgrading systems for secure operations and workload optimization. These providers increasingly use AI, machine learning and AI for operations (AIOps) for automation, self-healing and monitoring.
- Mainframe as a Service, assessing providers that offer subscription-based and traditional outsourcing models. These providers manage processing, storage and infrastructure, focusing on integration and scalability. They are assessed on their ability to deliver comprehensive mainframe solutions as services, including secure, high-availability environments, performance optimization and automation.
- Application Modernization Services, covering providers that specialize in transforming legacy mainframe applications for cloud migration. They partner with hyperscalers to automate modernization through refactoring and GenAI, enhancing security and scalability while using APIs, Agile practices and modern user interfaces to improve user experience and application lifecycle management.
- Mainframe Application Modernization Software, evaluating vendors of specialized tools that automate code refactoring, rewriting and reengineering to ease the migration of mainframe applications to the cloud or x86 platforms. These vendors now use GenAI to validate test results, generate documents, automate testing and carry out other functions.
Geographically focused reports from the study will cover the global mainframe services and solutions market and examine products and services available in the U.S., Europe, U.S. Public Sector and globally. ISG analysts Pedro L. Bicudo Maschio (U.S. and Global), Oliver Nickels (Europe) and Peter Crocker (U.S. Public Sector) will serve as authors of the report.
A list of identified providers and vendors and further details on the study are available in this digital brochure . Companies not listed as mainframe service and solution providers can contact ISG and ask to be included in the study.
All 2025 ISG Provider Lens ® evaluations feature expanded customer experience (CX) data that measures actual enterprise experience with specific provider services and solutions, based on ISG’s continuous CX research. Enterprise customers wishing to share their experience about a specific provider or vendor are encouraged to complete this online survey . Participants will receive a copy of this report in return for their feedback.
About ISG Provider Lens ® Research
The ISG Provider Lens ® Quadrant research series is the only service provider evaluation of its kind to combine empirical, data-driven research and market analysis with the real-world experience and observations of ISG's global advisory team. Enterprises will find a wealth of detailed data and market analysis to help guide their selection of appropriate sourcing partners, while ISG advisors use the reports to validate their own market knowledge and make recommendations to ISG's enterprise clients. The research currently covers providers offering their services globally, across Europe, as well as in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the U.K., France, Benelux, Germany, Switzerland, the Nordics, Australia and Singapore/Malaysia, with additional markets to be added in the future. For more information about ISG Provider Lens research, please visit this webpage .
About ISG
ISG (Nasdaq: III ) is a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm. A trusted partner to more than 900 clients, including 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is a long-time leader in technology and business services that is now at the forefront of leveraging AI to help organizations achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm, founded in 2006, is known for its proprietary market data, in-depth knowledge of provider ecosystems, and the expertise of its 1,600 professionals worldwide working together to help clients maximize the value of their technology investments.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251008864361/en/
Laura Hupprich, ISG
+1 203 517 3132
laura.hupprich@isg-one.com
Julianna Sheridan, Matter Communications for ISG
+1 978-518-4520
isg@matternow.com
FAQ**
How does Information Services Group Inc. III plan to utilize AI technologies in its upcoming ISG Provider Lens report on mainframe operation and modernization services?
What factors will Information Services Group Inc. III consider when evaluating providers in the Mainframe Technology Consulting quadrant of its report?
How will the findings of Information Services Group Inc. III’s study on mainframe services help enterprises assess their vendor relationships and modernization strategies?
In what ways does Information Services Group Inc. III anticipate that GenAI will influence the automation and application transformation methods in the mainframe market by 2026?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Information Services Group Inc. (NASDAQ: III).
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