Thu Sep 19 06:01:48 UTC 2024: ## NTT Data Launches Mainframe-Based Hybrid Cloud Service for Indian Financial Institutions

**MUMBAI, INDIA** – Japanese IT giant NTT Data is betting on the resurgence of mainframes by launching a new hybrid cloud service, SimpliZCloud, specifically targeting financial services players in India. The service leverages IBM’s LinuxONE platform, known for its robust performance and security, especially for mission-critical applications like core banking, lending, and risk management.

NTT Data positions SimpliZCloud as a solution for consolidating compute resources and budgets, reducing datacenter footprints, and enhancing sustainability. The company highlights the platform’s superior performance compared to traditional x86 servers, particularly in handling enterprise software licenses and AI/ML workloads.

While mainframes have traditionally been associated with high costs, NTT Data and IBM argue that their inherent security, reliability, and processing power remain crucial, especially in the context of the growing adoption of AI/ML within financial institutions.

This move comes at a time when analysts like Gartner suggest that the mainframe market, despite its perceived age and complexity, is experiencing renewed interest due to its resilience and ability to handle demanding workloads. IDC research further supports this claim, highlighting that organizations are increasingly relying on mainframe applications to drive innovation and customer engagement.

NTT Data CEO Avinash Joshi emphasizes the need for a robust infrastructure to support AI/ML-powered applications, asserting that SimpliZCloud provides a fully managed, as-a-service model with superior performance over traditional x86 architectures.

The new service is currently limited to India’s financial services sector, but given the global reach of both NTT Data and IBM, expansion to other regions seems likely.

This news highlights the evolving landscape of cloud computing, showcasing the continuing relevance of mainframes in the era of digital transformation and the increasing demand for powerful and secure infrastructure for critical business applications.

Read More