Modern software delivery demands velocity, but velocity without security is just risk on fast-forward. In enterprise environments, where the mainframe still powers core business operations, bringing DevOps and security practices to IBM Z is no longer optional—it’s strategic. Traditionally, mainframe development followed waterfall-style models with long release cycles and heavy manual interventions. But today, the same CI/CD principles applied to microservices can and should be applied to COBOL, PL/I, and Java applications on z/OS. The challenge isn’t capability—it’s mindset. IBM Z supports APIs, automation tools, and cloud-native integrations that fit right into a modern toolchain. Teams can now break down silos and unify application lifecycle management across distributed and mainframe environments, ensuring that security and compliance are built into every phase.

Creating a modern CI/CD pipeline for z/OS involves several key components. Git becomes the source of truth for mainframe code, enabling version control, branching, and collaboration. Jenkins or Tekton can orchestrate builds and deployments, using plugins and pipelines tailored to z/OS. IBM Dependency Based Build allows the building of traditional applications in a Git-driven environment. Artifacts can be stored in repositories like Artifactory or Nexus, while testing is automated through frameworks like IBM ZUnit or open-source tools. These tools integrate seamlessly with existing DevOps toolchains. The result is a system where code commits trigger automated builds, tests, scans, and deployments—even for mainframe applications. This boosts agility, reduces human error, and allows real-time feedback loops for developers across all platforms.

Ansible is a game-changer for managing z/OS systems through Infrastructure-as-Code. With IBM’s certified z/OS Ansible collections, you can automate tasks such as provisioning data sets, configuring security profiles, and deploying applications on z/OS. This removes the manual drudgery and standardizes environments across teams. Playbooks define repeatable workflows—like deploying a new CICS region or updating RACF policies—in a human-readable format. These playbooks can be integrated into Jenkins pipelines or triggered from GitOps workflows. The result is declarative, scalable, and auditable mainframe automation. Combined with Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, enterprises can extend control across hybrid environments—from x86 to IBM Z—using a unified language and dashboard. For organizations seeking efficiency and consistency, this is DevOps nirvana.

Security cannot be bolted on—it must be embedded. With IBM Z, enterprises can integrate security into every pipeline phase thanks to tools like IBM Application Discovery and Delivery Intelligence, which scans for code quality and security issues. Secrets management, vulnerability scanning of artifacts, and role-based access are all part of OpenShift’s Kubernetes security stack when paired with IBM Z. RACF continues to be the backbone for securing z/OS resources, and it can be automated via Ansible. Static code analysis, compliance validation, and audit logging can all be automated to ensure policy adherence without slowing delivery. Mainframes have always been secure; DevSecOps simply extends that guarantee into the automation era. Developers get speed, security teams get control, and operations get sleep.

End-to-end DevSecOps on IBM Z is not a compromise—it’s an upgrade. By integrating z/OS into standard DevOps pipelines and leveraging tools like Ansible, Git, Jenkins, and OpenShift, enterprises achieve true continuous delivery across all platforms. This eliminates legacy silos, improves release cadence, and enhances security posture. As regulatory pressure and competition grow, businesses need infrastructure that is fast, secure, and compliant. IBM Z, often regarded as legacy, is now a leading force in this transformation. The adoption of DevSecOps practices on IBM Z is not just about modernizing the platform—it’s about future-proofing the enterprise. In a world where software delivery defines market relevance, having a resilient, secure, and automated pipeline on IBM Z could very well be your enterprise’s greatest competitive advantage.