Frequently Asked Questions:

How do you migrate off a mainframe managed service provider that’s underperforming?

Migrating away from an underperforming managed service provider requires careful planning, especially when the incumbent controls your documentation and infrastructure. The process typically involves discovery workshops to map your full mainframe estate—workloads, dependencies, licensing, and business criticality—followed by a phased migration architecture. Building contingency plans for potential incumbent obstruction (such as withheld documentation or delays) is critical. In one case, a global automotive manufacturer successfully transitioned mission-critical systems to a new Mainframe-as-a-Service platform with zero disruption despite active resistance from their outgoing provider.

How can enterprises reduce mainframe software licensing costs?

Mainframe software licensing—particularly ISV (Independent Software Vendor) costs—can be one of the largest line items in IT budgets. Organizations can achieve significant savings through software optimization strategies that right-size licensing based on actual usage, consolidate redundant tools, and renegotiate vendor agreements. A global manufacturer reduced their ISV costs by approximately 85% by partnering with a provider that specialized in mainframe software optimization and transitioning to a consumption-based pricing model.

What are the risks of staying with an underperforming IT managed service provider?

Remaining with a poor-performing managed service provider can lead to degraded service quality, lengthy outages, vague or missing root cause analyses, and eroded responsiveness. Over time, what was once a partnership can become an operational liability—especially for mission-critical systems. For organizations running manufacturing plants, dealerships, or financial systems on mainframes, these risks can translate to production downtime, lost revenue, and reputational damage. Recognizing when a provider relationship has become an obstacle is the first step toward regaining control.

What is Mainframe-as-a-Service (MFaaS) and when should companies consider it?

Mainframe-as-a-Service (MFaaS) is a hosted, cloud-like solution that delivers mainframe computing with consumption-based pricing—eliminating rigid CapEx hardware refresh cycles. Companies should consider MFaaS when they need to exit a data center, escape vendor lock-in, modernize without rewriting legacy applications, or gain cost flexibility. MFaaS is particularly valuable for enterprises with mission-critical workloads that can’t afford disruption during transition, such as inventory management, financial systems, or supply chain operations.

How do you ensure zero disruption when migrating mission-critical mainframe workloads?

Achieving zero-disruption migration requires meticulous planning, real-time governance, and contingency strategies. Key steps include mapping all workloads and dependencies upfront, maintaining daily engagement throughout the transition, and having stopgap solutions ready if obstacles arise. Real-time monitoring tools—such as ITSM integration and operational dashboards—provide visibility that enables proactive issue resolution. One automotive manufacturer migrated production and recovery workloads across North American plants and thousands of dealerships on time with no business impact, even while navigating incumbent-created delays.