Gartner Research: Too Big to Fail – Why Mainframe Exit Projects Are Likely to Fail in the Age of Generative AI

We feel this report is an essential read for CIOs and infrastructure leaders. Enjoy this copy, on us!

Despite predictions of its demise, the mainframe continues to provide mission-critical support for many enterprises. GenAI has renewed calls for mainframe retirement while enterprises struggle to determine what they should do with their mainframe. This research provides practical insights into what enterprises should consider for their mainframe migration strategies.

“The drive to abandon the mainframe is diminishing. Customers are increasingly recognizing the near-impossibility of a mainframe exit at an acceptable cost and risk, leading them to give up on the long-held hope for a perfect tool to achieve this migration.”

– Gartner, Too Big to Fail: Why Mainframe Exit Projects Are Likely to Fail in the Age of Generative AI, 8 April 2026

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