Mainframe Modernisation: How Enterprises Can Get the Most from AWS Transform

Summary

Mainframe modernisation is a critical challenge for enterprises seeking to update legacy systems while maintaining operational resilience and regulatory compliance. This report examines how AWS Transform, an AI-powered modernisation platform, addresses the complexities of mainframe, Windows, and VMware transformation. It details the platform’s capabilities in estate assessment, dependency mapping, business logic extraction, and code transformation, supporting the migration of COBOL, batch workloads, middleware, and databases to modern cloud-native environments. The report explores AWS Transform’s integration with a broad partner ecosystem, enabling organisations to orchestrate specialist tools for data replication, replatforming, and workload-specific needs within a governed migration programme. It also highlights the platform’s adoption across financial services and its growing relevance in the Asia Pacific region, with case studies involving major institutions and joint initiatives. Key considerations for mainframe owners are outlined, including the importance of estate assessment, regulatory readiness, disaster recovery planning, and managing institutional change. The report addresses questions such as: What does AWS Transform deliver for legacy modernisation? How can enterprises leverage its AI capabilities for business logic extraction? What are the critical steps to prepare for a successful migration? How should organisations evaluate peer references and partner integrations? What are the implications for CIOs, CFOs, and CROs in planning and executing a modernisation programme? This comprehensive guide is essential for technology leaders, architects, and decision-makers evaluating mainframe modernisation strategies and the role of AI-driven platforms like AWS Transform.