Mainframe is an Essential Component of Organisations’ Cloud Computing Strategies, New Study Reveals
Survey of over 300 IT Professionals Also Confirms that Mainframe Workforce Sustainability is Still Major Concern
Core News Facts
- Some 79% of organisations believe mainframe is an essential component of their cloud computing strategy, reveals a new independent study “Mainframe―The Ultimate Cloud Platform?” commissioned by CA Technologies.
- 70% of respondents agree that cloud computing will sustain or extend the mainframe environment.
- 44% state that staffing issues (greying workforce, difficulty in hiring new staff) are of concern.
- To download a copy of the report, visit: http://www.ca.com/Files/SupportingPieces/mainframe_2010_report_245067.pdf
PRAGUE, October 7, 2010 – CA Technologies (NASDAQ:CA) today announced the results of a new independent study revealing that 79 percent of IT organisations believe the mainframe is an essential component of their cloud computing strategy. Over 300 IT decision makers in ten countries responded to the CA Technologies commissioned survey, “Mainframe―The Ultimate Cloud Platform?”
The study also concluded that 44 percent of mainframe shops face workforce sustainability issues in keeping mission critical systems staffed.
In addition, 74 percent of respondents believe that the mainframe will have a role in any cloud computing initiative, and 70 percent agreed that cloud computing will sustain or extend the mainframe environment.
“This survey provides indisputable evidence of the mainframe’s agility to perform in new IT models such as cloud computing, and on-going durability as a critical data centre platform for decades to come,” says Dayton Semerjian, general manager, Mainframe, CA Technologies. “Ongoing, practical innovation will be required to ensure that the mainframe can always be an effective and integral part of an evolving IT infrastructure.”
“CA Technologies is addressing these needs through its revolutionary mainframe management strategy, Mainframe 2.0,” added Semerjian. “Our focus is on helping organisations control costs, and increase the productivity of the platform and the workforce that operates it. Simultaneously, we aim to attract and enable the next generation mainframe technologist through the simplification, automation, and modernisation of mainframe management.”
As the mainframe takes centre stage in cloud computing environments, organisations will increasingly rely on mainframe management solutions―such as CA Technologies Mainframe 2.0―to dramatically simplify the management of their public and private clouds, control costs, and increase agility.
Additional Survey Results
- 82 percent of respondents reported that they intend to use the mainframe in the future either as much or more than today.
- Top reasons why the mainframe is considered a valuable organisational asset included reliability (55 percent), its position as an established technology (52 percent), platform cost-effectiveness (48 percent), and IT attitudes toward change (40 percent).
Mainframe Workforce Challenges
Despite the fact organisations are recommitting to the mainframe in ever increasing numbers, it is a well-known fact that the available pool of skilled mainframe professionals is shrinking. The study concluded that 44 percent of IT organisations grappling with staffing issues created by the greying workforce and difficulty in hiring new staff are concerned that these challenges will make the mainframe less viable in the future.
In fact, the survey indicates that the most pressing issues facing European organisations in the next 12 months are an increased demand for training (cited by 54 percent of respondents). This is followed by the need to implement new and easier to use enterprise software (43 percent) and hiring new IT staff (38 percent).
Mainframe Academy
As part of the response to these challenges, CA Technologies is piloting a Mainframe Academy in Europe, beginning a global initiative to help a new generation of employees, including current IT business employees, become effective on the mainframe. The Mainframe Academy is designed to provide an agile, project-based approach to accelerating, obtaining, and mastering core mainframe virtues and programming skills.
The initial Mainframe Academy will commence on November 1, 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden with a full global launch later this year. This practical CA Education innovation extends the company’s leadership in the mainframe market and ensures that the mainframe can always be an effective and integral part of an evolving IT infrastructure.
About Mainframe 2.0
CA Technologies revolutionary Mainframe 2.0 mainframe management strategy helps organisations to maximise platform value by dramatically simplifying its management. It addresses workforce staffing and productivity challenges to help organizations increase agility and decrease costs.
CA Technologies role-based intelligent management workspace, CA Mainframe Chorus specifically tackles the staffing problem head on: enabling greater productivity of the current generation of mainframe professionals in a way that fosters the training of, and knowledge transfer to, the next generation of mainframe IT staff.
About the Study
The survey “Mainframe―The Ultimate Cloud Platform?” was conducted by Vanson Bourne, a specialist technology market research company based in the U.K. Vanson Bourne conducted more than 300 interviews during August 2010 among IT decision makers. The sample comprised respondents in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Benelux, Scandinavia, Russia, Poland, Turkey, and the Czech Republic.
About CA Technologies
CA Technologies (NASDAQ: CA) is an IT management software and solutions company with expertise across all IT environments – from mainframe and distributed, to virtual and cloud. CA Technologies manages and secures IT environments and enables customers to deliver more flexible IT services. CA Technologies innovative products and services provide the insight and control essential for IT organizations to power business agility. The majority of the Global Fortune 500 relies on CA Technologies to manage evolving IT ecosystems. For additional information, visit CA Technologies at www.ca.com.
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