How to Secure Executive Buy-in For Mainframe-as-a-Service (MFaaS)

Discover a practical framework for building an MFaaS business case that speaks the language of the boardroom—covering cost, risk, and strategic alignment.

Your mainframe is essential, but if your current operating model is no longer sustainable, you may be considering Mainframe-as-a-Service (MFaaS). MFaaS offers a practical path forward from rising costs, hybrid IT complexity, and modernization pressures that put long-term IT strategy at risk. It preserves your systems while transferring infrastructure and operations to a trusted partner.

Across the U.S. and U.K., enterprise IT leaders are increasingly turning to MFaaS to future-proof operations and reduce costs—while maintaining business continuity and compliance.

Boards and CFOs need more than technical merit to get behind a major expenditure. They need a clear, credible business case that connects technology decisions to business outcomes. Executives must balance technology investments against competing priorities and are naturally cautious about risk, governance, and control.

Speak to What Decision-Makers Care About

When developing your MFaaS executive message, focus on the business outcomes that matter most, not technical details. For example:

• Sustained reliability for mission-critical workloads, with a modern operating model that keeps the mainframe efficient and future-ready.
• Predictable costs and lower total cost of ownership (TCO) through an OpEx model.
• Reduced risk tied to talent shortages and aging infrastructure.
• Greater resilience with SLA-backed reliability and disaster recovery for rapid restoration (hours) and minimal data loss (minutes), assuring business continuity.
• Strategic alignment with modernization goals, cloud-first mandates or AI-readiness initiatives.

Structure Your Case for Maximum Audience Impact

Addressing these priorities in a clear, concise framework helps decision-makers see the value quickly while supporting alignment and consensus. Make sure your MFaaS business case includes these six components:

Business Challenge	Proposed Solution	Financial Impact	Expected Outcomes	Consider Risks	Recommendations + Next Steps
Define the problem: high operating costs, talent risk, and limited agility.	Explain MFaaS at a high level and how it optimizes mainframe operations without disruption.	Project cost savings, return on investment expectations, and TCO.	Identify business benefits such as resilience, agility, talent reallocation, or strategic alignment with modernization goals.	Address continuity, governance, and compliance concerns.	State what approval is needed and outline the transition plan.

Make Your Case Ironclad

Strengthen your business case with clear, actionable steps that highlight MFaaS benefits and speak to executive priorities:

Step	Key action and example
Back it up with metrics	Use numbers to show how MFaaS shifts CapEx to OpEx with scalable, usage-based pricing. Example: MFaaS reduces fixed infrastructure costs and aligns spend with actual usage, freeing capital for strategic initiatives.
Expose current risks	Quantify mainframe OpEx and talent gaps. Example: Staffing costs are rising as specialized talent becomes scarce. MFaaS mitigates this risk.
Validate with trends	Reference peer adoption to reinforce credibility. Example: Industry leaders are moving to MFaaS to reduce operational risk and accelerate modernization.
Speak their language	Connect MFaaS benefits to strategic priorities: cost efficiency, agility, and compliance. Example: MFaaS strengthens compliance posture while reducing operational exposure.
Address objections early	Address control, continuity, and compliance concerns upfront. Neutralize concerns about control and continuity by emphasizing governance retention and risk reduction. Example: MFaaS reduces risk while preserving oversight and business continuity.

Frame the Message for Impact

When presenting to executives, how you frame the message matters as much as what you include. Key insights:

• Position cost savings as cost avoidance by focusing on reducing future spending and risk.
• Frame resilience as revenue protection by emphasizing uptime and continuity.
• Describe MFaaS as risk transfer by reinforcing retained governance and reduced exposure.

Don’t Overlook the DIY Question

Executives will want to know if the organization can sustain mainframe operations internally versus adopting MFaaS. Model the reality by assessing:

• Staffing risk: The rising costs of losing critical mainframe talent.
• Operational capacity: The ability to maintain 24/7 availability without escalating overhead.
• Integration capability: The internal expertise to connect mainframe systems with cloud platforms and modern applications.

Key Takeaway

A well-built business case gives you the clarity and confidence to articulate the benefits of MFaaS in a compelling way—cost savings, stronger resilience, and the agility your business needs to stay ahead—so the stakeholders with authority can greenlight its adoption. It helps you build credibility with finance, align stakeholders early, and shift the discussion from “why change” to “how” and “when.”

Ready to turn your business case into action? Get in touch to see how Ensono can help you deliver better outcomes.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

What is Mainframe-as-a-Service (MFaaS)?

MFaaS is a managed service model that shifts mainframe infrastructure and operations to a specialist provider, offering predictable costs, improved resilience, and reduced talent risk.

Why do enterprises need a business case for MFaaS?

A business case helps secure executive approval by framing MFaaS benefits—cost control, risk reduction, and strategic alignment—in boardroom language.

How does MFaaS reduce mainframe costs?

MFaaS converts unpredictable capital expenses into a transparent OpEx model, often lowering total cost of ownership (TCO) while improving operational efficiency.

What risks should be addressed in an MFaaS business case?

Key risks include continuity, control, and compliance. A strong case explains phased transitions, governance retention, and provider certifications.

What are the essential elements of an MFaaS business case?

Include: business challenge, proposed solution, financial impact, expected outcomes, risk considerations, and clear next steps for approval.