Mainframe computing is about to be launched into a new era of security and resiliency, at least for users of the IBM Z operating system.
Dubbed IBM z/OS V2.5, this update to IBM Z offers a wealth of advances to bring the mainframe operating system into the future, with a priority placed on high-performing AI functionality. Hybrid cloud improvements also feature prominently in this update: in addition to increasing interoperability of COBOL and Java, IBM Z now boasts improved support for transparent cloud tiering and z/OS Container Extensions, advancements that IBM Z General Manager Ross Mauri describes as essential to modern business innovation.
Perhaps most important for clients utilizing large SMS-managed data sets for decision-making, IBM Z 2.5 has expanded its pervasive encryption capabilities for heightened security in an era of high-profile cybercrime. The operating system has also been equipped to better detect and isolate data anomalies with tools including JES2, Runtime Diagnostics, and Workload Manager.
Broadly speaking, this update represents a significant step forward in what is still positioned as a critical part of the business world. According to a study by the IBM Institute for Business Values, mainframe-based computing is considered essential by nearly three quarters of executives, and the businesses using hybrid cloud-driven mainframe assets is expected to double in by 2024.