For the tenth consecutive year, 90 percent of respondents predict
the mainframe's long-term viability

HOUSTON - October 21, 2015 -In its tenth annual Mainframe Research Report, BMC, the global leader in software solutions for IT, today announced key findings showing that security, availability, superior data server and transactional throughput are the primary drivers for the continued increase in mainframe capacity, which is especially timely as the digital economy increasingly runs on transactions.

This year's report confirmed the mainframe's continued growth is being powered by today's digital 'Always On' world and its demand for secure access to applications and data, at mobile speeds and scale.

Security was the largest factor for continued investment in the mainframe with 56 percent responding that they the see the security strengths of the platform as an advantage. This was followed closely by availability, as 55 percent of respondents leverage the mainframe's availability benefits.

Another notable data point this year is 48 percent of customers are continuing their investment because of the mainframe's centralized data server capability, and 45 percent said their transaction throughput requirements are best suited to the mainframe.

In looking at the top priorities for the year ahead, 65 percent said they will focus on cost optimization and 59 percent on application availability, which underscores IT challenges to balance the delivery of innovation while efficiently operating their industrialized infrastructure.

This year's research findings also indicated that business/IT alignment, Data Privacy, Data Recovery and Application Modernization tied as the number three priority, which are all keys to successful digital transformation.

'Mobile services with their need to be always on, always available to consumers are driving increased interest in mainframe technology due to its ability to speed the delivery of secure data coupled with its high availability,' said Bill Miller, president of ZSolutions Optimization at BMC. 'As the digital enterprise model gains momentum, BMC is enabling these robust capabilities through our BMC Database Solutions with Next Generation Technology for DB2, which easily manages the largest structured and unstructured databases. Additionally, our Mainframe MLC Cost Management solution helps optimize mainframe costs to enable IT to focus on innovation.'

Over the last ten years, mainframes have remained incredibly relevant and resilient with 90 percent of respondents predicting the continued long-term staying power of the platform, and 83 percent continually projecting steady and growing mainframe capacity.

'The IBM z13 can process up to 2.5 billion transactions per day -- that's the equivalent of 100 Cyber Mondays,' said Mark Anzani, vice president z Systems Strategy, Resilience and Ecosystems. 'Facing this boom in data and transaction growth, digital businesses are looking to transform their IT infrastructures to handle the load with maximum security, availability, and performance. BMC's annual report confirms IBM z Systems clients are leveraging the platform as a centerpiece of their digital transformation, and we recognize BMC as a valued business partner.'

'These latest research findings once again demonstrate that mainframe owners have big long-term plans for the platform-and that they require significant assistance in bringing fast and agile DevOps best practices to bear on their mainframe-resident applications,' said Compuware CEO Chris O'Malley. 'BMC and Compuware are working together to meet these ongoing mainframe ownership needs with solutions that empower customers to keep getting maximum business value from their investments in mainframe hardware, mainframe applications, and mainframe data.'

To read the full 2015 Mainframe Research Report, visit http://www.bmc.com/info/mainframe-survey.html

About BMC
BMC is a global leader in software solutions that help IT transform traditional businesses into digital enterprises for the ultimate competitive advantage. Our Digital Enterprise Management set of IT solutions is designed to make digital business fast, seamless, and optimized. From mainframe to mobile to cloud and beyond, we pair high-speed digital innovation with robust IT industrialization-allowing our customers to provide intuitive user experiences with optimized performance, cost, compliance, and productivity. BMC solutions serve more than 15,000 customers worldwide including 82 percent of the Fortune 500.

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Editorial contacts:
Tami Casey
BMC
D: 408.571.7131
M: 650.293.7219
Tami_Casey@bmc.com

Jenn Zimmer
Eastwick Communications
415.820.4175
bmc@eastwick.com

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