Compare the best mainframe upgrade and modernization solutions for 2026. Reduce TCO and secure legacy data with our top vendor reviews. Read the guide.
The best mainframe upgrade and modernization solutions in 2026 include Kyndryl, Micro Focus, and AWS Mainframe Modernization, each offering distinct approaches to migrating legacy IBM z/OS systems to cloud platforms while preserving business logic and ensuring data security.
Organizations seeking to reduce operational costs while maintaining mission-critical uptime should evaluate solutions based on COBOL compatibility, hybrid cloud support, and integration capabilities.
Mainframe modernization is the strategic process of updating legacy mainframe systems (such as IBM z/OS or AS/400) to integrate with modern cloud platforms, APIs, and development methodologies. This transformation allows enterprises to leverage the reliability of legacy infrastructure while adopting the agility of cloud-native environments.
Why is this critical now?
Modernization now extends beyond "ripping and replacing” to optimizing business processes to survive in a digital-first economy.
When evaluating the best mainframe upgrade and modernization solutions, stakeholders must look beyond simple cost metrics. You must assess how a solution handles the complex "aboutness" of your specific infrastructure.
Your solution must handle millions of lines of COBOL without breaking core business logic.
The solution must support your target architecture, whether that is a hybrid cloud setup or a full migration to AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. Multi-cloud support is essential for avoiding vendor lock-in.
Security cannot be an afterthought. Modernization expands your attack surface by exposing legacy data to the public cloud. You must ensure data security controls, such as encryption and tokenization, remain intact during and after migration.
Note: For a deeper dive into securing these environments, read our Mainframe Security Controls Guide.
Evaluate the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), including software licensing, cloud consumption fees, and the cost of specialized talent. Effective modernization projects typically reduce TCO by 30-50% over three years.
Mission-critical applications require zero downtime. The best solutions offer phased migration paths that ensure business continuity throughout the transition.
Below are the top solutions for 2026, categorized by their primary strength.
Kyndryl is the world's largest infrastructure services provider, spun off from IBM.
Micro Focus (now part of OpenText) provides tools to test, build, and deploy mainframe applications on commodity hardware.
LzLabs offers a unique "Software Defined Mainframe" (SDM) that runs legacy applications in a modern containerized environment.
AWS Mainframe Modernization is a managed service that simplifies migrating on-premise mainframe workloads to Amazon Web Services.
Google Cloud Dual Run allows you to run your mainframe and cloud environments in parallel to ensure exact parity before switching over.
Orchestration is the glue that holds a hybrid environment together. When moving data from a mainframe to the cloud, you need tools that manage the workflow efficiently.
The best SaaS solutions for mainframe-to-cloud workload orchestration focus on automating dependencies between legacy batch processes and modern cloud triggers.
These tools ensure that when a job finishes on the mainframe, the subsequent data pipeline in the cloud triggers immediately.
Key entities to look for include API integration, event-driven architecture, and real-time monitoring.
Learn More: Explore the most effective strategies for pipeline security in our guide for mainframe to cloud secure solutions.
SCM (Source Code Management) modernization is the shift from legacy library management systems (like CA Endevor or Changeman) to modern DevOps tools like Git.
SCM mainframe modernization enables:
Integrating mainframe systems into a standard DevOps pipeline reduces the "knowledge silo" between older mainframe developers and new full-stack engineers.
The biggest risk in any modernization project is data exposure. As you open up the mainframe to APIs and cloud analytics, you bypass the traditional perimeter security of the z/OS environment.
DataStealth provides a unique approach to this challenge. Rather than requiring complex code changes on the mainframe or the cloud application, DataStealth sits in the flow of traffic to protect sensitive data in real-time.
For specific details on encryption standards for the coming year, review mainframe encryption 2026 and our complete guide to mainframe security solutions.
The right approach depends on your risk tolerance and business goals. If you need immediate cost savings, rehosting is faster; if you need agility, refactoring to microservices is better, though it takes longer.
Mainframe modernization typically takes 12 to 36 months for enterprise deployments. Timelines vary based on the number of lines of code (LOC), the complexity of dependencies, and the chosen strategy (Big Bang vs. Phased).
The primary risks include business continuity disruptions, data loss during migration, and "scope creep" where project requirements expand uncontrollably. Mitigate these by choosing solutions like DataStealth that secure data without altering code.
Selecting the best mainframe upgrade and modernization solutions requires balancing technical capability with security assurance. As you plan your migration, ensure your data remains protected regardless of where it resides.
Would you like to assess your current mainframe security posture? Discover how DataStealth protects your mainframe data without requiring a single line of code change.
Lindsay Kleuskens is a data security specialist helping enterprises reduce risk and simplify compliance. At DataStealth, she supports large organizations in protecting sensitive data by default, without interrupting user workflows. Her work focuses on PCI DSS scope reduction, preventing client-side attacks, and enabling secure third-party integrations without the security risk. Lindsay regularly shares practical insights on modern data protection challenges and helps organizations navigate evolving compliance standards with confidence.
