1. Services title Digital Transformation Services | Cognizant
  2. Cloud Solutions title Cloud Migration, Management & Advisory Services | Cognizant
Mainframe Modernization
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AI-first mainframe modernization

Is your legacy mainframe system limiting your business’s future? Modernize faster with less risk—using Cognizant’s AI-first mainframe modernization approach.

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<h3>Why mainframe modernization can’t wait</h3> <p>What’s the real cost of your legacy mainframe?</p> <p>According to a leading industry analyst, 60%–80% of enterprise IT budgets are spent on outdated mainframes—a figure that could climb even higher as licensing fees soar.</p> <p>But the biggest cost of legacy systems isn't operational. Nearly 85% of senior executives say outdated technology limits their ability to unlock AI value, while longer delivery cycles and inaccessible data slow innovation and time-to-market.</p> <p>For IT leaders, the question isn’t whether their organization should modernize, but how to do so faster and with less risk of disruption.</p>
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Overview
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<h3>A mainframe modernization program that funds itself</h3> <p>Modernization shouldn't come at the expense of stability.</p> <p>Rather than choosing between improving the current estate and building a future one, Cognizant’s AI-first mainframe modernization helps companies transform in parallel—optimizing through mainframe as a service (MFaaS), while progressively migrating workloads with our AI-powered modernization factory.</p> <p>Our approach changes how programs are executed and redefines how they're funded. Instead of relying on large upfront investments, organizations can reinvest 30%–50% OpEx savings from MFaaS to finance later-stage initiatives, creating a self-funding path from legacy mainframe to AI-ready enterprise.</p>
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<h3>Value delivered with Cognizant’s AI-first mainframe modernization</h3>

30%–50%

OpEx savings from MFaaS

3–5x

ROI over 3 years

60%

increase in program velocity with AI-powered modernization

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Three modernization tracks, one integrated offering

Optimize MFaaS
Treat your mainframe like a service, not a sunk cost.

Our MFaaS approach converts clients’ existing infrastructure into a consumption-based model, where day-to-day operations, mainframe cost, performance management and ongoing optimization is managed by Cognizant.

Through our partnership with IBM and participation in its Blue Diamond program, an invite-only agreement that provides exclusive access and special pricing for over 3,295 IBM products—our clients can unlock ongoing savings that help fund other deployment roadmaps of the transformation program and drive overall ROI.

Modernize with AI-first factory
Let AI handle the heavy lifting and increase modernization velocity by up to 60%.

Our AI-first modernization factory automates core activities, including dead code detection, program decomposition, code generation and validation, transforming modernization from a manual, resource-intensive effort into a scalable, AI-powered process with human oversight built in.

Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, the modernization factory determines the optimal modernization path for each application—refactor, rearchitect or reimagine—based on its complexity, business value and target architecture. From there, each application progresses through a six-phase, agent-orchestrated, human-led lifecycle that spans intake and requirements through design, generation, validation and data migration.

By modernizing the right applications in the right way and leveraging the market-leading capabilities of Anthropic's Claude models and AWS Bedrock, organizations can reduce technical debt, accelerate innovation and create an application portfolio ready for the next generation of AI.

Run resilient next generation services
The benefits of modernization should continue long after migration is complete.

With our resilient next generation managed services, Cognizant assumes responsibility for day-to-day mainframe operations and continuously optimizes the environment through cloud-powered infrastructure, AI-driven operations and outcome-based service delivery. We ensure that organizations continue to capture value through improved performance, lower costs, greater resilience and ongoing adaptability.

<h3>From isolation to integration: End-to-end mainframe modernization, powered by AI</h3> <p>Cognizant delivers end-to-end mainframe modernization services, spanning infrastructure, consulting, managed services and mainframe-as-a-service to help enterprises break free from legacy system constraints while minimizing the disruption of traditional transformation programs.</p> <p>With 500+ successful engagements and more than 10,000 specialists backed by advanced AI capabilities, tools and partnerships, our team brings unmatched depth to every stage of your modernization journey.</p>
AI & automation-first model-- text-primary

We integrate cutting-edge generative AI capabilities at every stage of the modernization lifecycle, compressing timelines while reducing costs and risk.-- text-primary

Outcome-focused approach-- text-primary

Flexible methodology and deep domain specialization allow us to adapt strategies to meet clients’ unique needs and maximize business value.-- text-primary

Strategic partnerships-- text-primary

Partnerships with Anthropic and Cognition bring best-in-class AI and agentic coding into our modernization workflow—accelerating code understanding, transformation and validation.-- text-primary

Multi-cloud expertise-- text-primary

Our partnerships with hyperscalers, including AWS, Google Cloud and Azure—combined with Cognizant's Skygrade™ platform—ensure optimal cloud placement and effective multi-cloud management at scale.-- text-primary

Self-funding model-- text-primary

Our sequenced modernization approach generates early operational savings through automation, rightsizing and productivity gains, creating a self-funding cycle that reduces upfront investment.-- text-primary

Platform-based accelerators-- text-primary

Our proprietary suite of accelerators work seamlessly together to deliver accelerated, holistic transformation, increasing modernization speed by up to 70%.-- text-primary

Risk-managed transitions-- text-primary

Our Neuro® AI platform provides autonomous operations, root-cause AI and self-healing capabilities that de-risk transition periods and maintain business continuity.-- text-primary

Domain specialization-- text-primary

Deep banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), retail, healthcare and public sector expertise ensures modernization plans reflect business needs and compliance requirements.-- text-primary

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Approach
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<h3>Why plug-and-play isn’t a modernization strategy</h3> <p>AI-powered code conversion is only the starting point for successful application modernization. Organizations must also preserve decades of embedded business logic, resolve hidden dependencies and ensure every change is governed, traceable and aligned with business requirements.</p> <p>To help companies modernize with speed and intelligence, Cognizant combines advanced AI agents with human expertise, end-to-end traceability, deterministic engineering artifacts and built-in governance. Together, these capabilities elevate AI-powered code conversion into a complete modernization strategy that accelerates the transformation program and drives business value.</p>
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<h3>One AI engine. Compounding business outcomes.</h3> <p>Cognizant delivers end-to-end mainframe modernization services, spanning infrastructure, consulting, managed services and mainframe-as-a-service to help enterprises break free from legacy system constraints while minimizing the disruption of traditional transformation programs.</p> <p>With 500+ successful engagements and more than 10,000 specialists backed by advanced AI capabilities, tools and partnerships, our team brings unmatched depth to every stage of your modernization journey.</p>
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<h3>Mainframe heritage meets AI-native transformation</h3> <p>Mainframe modernization requires two capabilities that rarely coexist: deep legacy experience and modern engineering expertise. Cognizant delivers both at scale.</p> <p>With more than 10,000 mainframe specialists, over one million MIPS under active management and more than 300 live engagements, our team manages some of the world's most complex mainframe estates.</p> <p>But what truly differentiates Cognizant is our ability to combine decades of mainframe expertise with AI-native engineering. The same AI-first transformation approach we apply across cloud, applications and engineering is now accelerating legacy modernization, helping clients reduce risk, scale automation and achieve outcomes faster.</p> <h4>Industry and analyst recognition</h4>
Cognizant named as a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Custom Software Development Services

This recognition reflects our strength in AI-native digital engineering to accelerate business value for our clients. We combine deep industry expertise with an ISO-certified responsible AI framework to deliver ethical, scalable and outcome-driven innovation to our global clients.

View the report on Gartner.com

Cognizant named as a Leader in the Everest Group Application Development Services for AI Applications PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2025

This recognition reflects our comprehensive AI-led software engineering and consulting capabilities, strong domain integration and sustained investments in reusable IP and partner ecosystems—all proven through successful client engagements, delivering complex, end-to-end digital transformation programs across industries.

Read the report

2025 GitHub AI Services and Channel Partner of the Year

This recognition celebrates Cognizant's excellence in driving adoption and growth through GitHub Copilot, revolutionizing how businesses create, collaborate and succeed. It recognizes those who not only help position GitHub Copilot but also empower clients to harness the full potential of AI-driven development.

IBM Blue Diamond

Our partnership with IBM and participation in its Blue Diamond program grants clients exclusive competitive pricing and access to over 3,295 IBM products, dramatically lowering transformation and operations costs.

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<h3>Our services and offerings</h3>
<ul> <li>Consulting</li> <li>In-platform modernization</li> <li>Maintenance &amp; enhancements</li> </ul>
<ul> <li>Re-platform/re-engineer</li> <li>Mainframe hosting</li> <li>Infrastructure engineering</li> </ul>
<ul> <li>Testing</li> <li>Industry &amp; platform-based services</li> <li>System engineering &amp; upgrade</li> </ul>
<h4>Mainframe modernization services</h4>
Cognizant mainframe modernization framework
Cognizant’s framework provides a structured, outcome-driven approach to mainframe transformation, guiding enterprises from current-state assessment through cloud-native deployment. Choose from three flexible options—rebuild, refactor or rehost—each sequenced to maximize value, reduce risk and self-fund modernization.
Rebuild

Replace legacy apps with commercial off-the-shelf solutions (COTS), using gen AI to interpret business logic and define requirements.

Refactor

Leverage gen AI to update legacy code and prepare it for cloud-native environments.

Rehost

Stable apps can run on virtual mainframes to replace hardware or coexist; AI maps dependencies and integrations for clean scoping.

Batch optimization
Cognizant's AI-powered batch optimization capability uses intelligent technology to analyze dependencies, identify inefficiencies, re-sequence workloads, refactor code and continuously monitor performance—helping organizations reduce mainframe compute use while maintaining business continuity.
Mainframe optimization-in-place
For stable mainframe applications, our mainframe optimization-in-place capability allows companies to improve performance without replacement. We leverage gen AI, DevSecOps practices and AIOps to enhance code understanding, accelerate development and reduce operating costs—freeing up budget and capacity for higher priorities.
<h4><br> A unified view of Cognizant’s mainframe service offerings:</h4>
  • Mainframe managed services
  • Mainframe hosting services
  • IBM Z modernization
Mainframe managed services
  • Cognizant resources will manage the mainframe infrastructure end-to-end
  • Customer to own mainframe hardware, software licenses, datacenter and DR assets
  • Cognizant remotely and securely connects to customer network
  • Short transition period for support
  • Managed services can be offered in dedicated and shared services model
  • Performance CSI and provides transformation solution
Mainframe hosting services
  • Near-zero CAPEX for customer
  • Cognizant to provide mainframe hardware, software licenses, datacenter, DR and managed services as part of the offering
  • Pure pay-per-use model as customer will only be charged for “MIPS consumed” against the “installed MIPS” in any given month
  • Proven methodology for hassle-free mainframe migration
  • Managed services can be offered in dedicated and shared services model
IBM Z modernization

IBM Z optimization

  • Scalable, cloud-native architectures
  • Real-time analytics
  • Seamless integrations

IBM Z modernization

  • z/OSMF; z/OS Connect, API
  • Data virtualization
  • Zowe; analytics on Z
  • Open-Shift, Linux on Z, Ansible

IBM Z DevOps

  • CI/CD pipeline
  • Smart tools
  • Environment provisioning
  • Test automation
  • Continuous monitoring
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<h3>From innovation to optimization—modernized by AI</h3> <p>An AI‑first approach to innovate boldly, modernize intelligently and optimize continuously—across the full technology lifecycle.</p>

INNOVATE

Flowsource™: Elevating full-stack engineering to new heights

Flowsource is our unified, full-stack modern engineering platform—Al-led to accelerate innovation, reduce risks and boost productivity across your SDLC.

MODERNIZE

Cognizant Skygrade™: Cloud-native modernization platform

Enable scalable cloud transformation, risk mitigation, fast delivery and precise business rule extraction across cloud estates.

OPTIMIZE

Cognizant Neuro® AI: Autonomous operations

Monitors, diagnoses and self-heals with AI to reduce operating costs, fund modernization and de-risk transition.

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<h3>Proven in complex mainframes</h3>
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RETAIL

Re-engineering a cloud-native, AI-enabled OMS

Modernized 5 million lines of legacy code into a microservices-based platform on Google Cloud, enabling $10B+ digital sales processing, new marketplace capabilities and auto-scaling, self-healing operations.

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FINANCIAL SERVICES

Modernizing core banking with AI and cloud-native architecture

Applied Cognizant’s AI-first framework, plus Flowsource and Neuro, to refactor COBOL systems—reducing MIPS costs, accelerating releases and delivering digital-ready banking at scale.

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INSURANCE

Transforming policy systems with AI-driven modernization

Leveraged gen AI and Skygrade to decode millions of lines of undocumented COBOL, dramatically accelerating product launches while reducing compliance risk.

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PUBLIC SECTOR

Modernizing citizen services with phased, zero-disruption transformation

Executed in-place optimization to generate immediate cost savings, followed by a phased migration to hybrid cloud to meet digital accessibility mandates with zero disruption.

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<h3>Featured work</h3>
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REPORT

Mainframe modernization: Rewiring BFSI for tomorrow

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BLOG

AI has changed the economics of mainframe modernization

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PLAYBOOK

Rethinking Mainframe Modernization

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BLOG

AI in mainframe modernization

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BLOG

3 reasons legacy IT may thwart AI success

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Take the first step

Serving customers by looking forward as well as back is a big promise, but the power of today’s new digital capabilities is vast and growing.

Let’s talk about how digital can work for your business.

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