The IBM Z platform has never been more exciting, with ISVs and developers leveraging the latest emerging technologies to maximize client needs. Each month we meet some of the world's most innovative companies as they share how they're expanding horizons and driving success with IBM Z. The is IBM Z in action right now -- z/Action!
Browse our episodes below, clicking each title to listen. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you don't miss the latest monthly installment.
Future-Proofing Mainframe Skills: Innovating Training
Interskill Learning is the most awarded, widely delivered, and IBM-credentialed mainframe workforce training solution in the industry. It addresses critical mainframe skills gaps and empowers teams with scalable, cost-effective, on-demand access to an extensive, multimodal training resource-all year round. Hear from the exceptional CEO of Interskill Learning- Darren Surch, as he reveals how targeted training can help leaders and developers overcome challenges and drive a new era of mainframe innovation. Whether you are a seasoned tech professional or simply curious, this episode is your roadmap to future-proofing your mainframe workforce!
First Steps: Systemware Trains Next-Generation Mainframe Talent
In this episode, Systemware CEO Frankie Basso shares insights on developing the next generation of mainframe talent. With over four decades of experience in creating content management services for the IBM Z platform, Systemware is dedicated to cultivating a new wave of professionals. Basso emphasizes the critical importance of establishing a skills pipeline and explains how they introduce new recruits to the potential of the mainframe. He also highlights the key skills they prioritize during training. Tune in to learn how Systemware guides recruits in understanding the mainframe's capabilities, what essential skills they focus on first, and how their development progresses – including the one aspect that often surprises new mainframe professionals.
Modernizing Mainframe Interfaces
Virtel Web Suite is a powerful and highly scalable solution designed to extend the life and usability of legacy mainframe business applications—while cutting costs and simplifying infrastructure. According to Sebastian Dewar, CTO of Virtel, “It empowers application developers to create a modern web user interface (UI) experience with a no-code, drag-and-drop tool that requires no prior knowledge of web technologies. This approach not only simplifies the modernization process but also significantly reduces costs and saves valuable time, as seen with many of our customers.” Virtel’s Screen Redesigner takes modernization a step further by focusing on enhancing the user experience without requiring a complete overhaul of the application. It offers a fresh, modern look and feel, providing developers with a seamless and intuitive experience. As Dewar further explains, “Mainframes are the backbone of critical business applications, and they must be seamlessly integrated into the broader IT ecosystem. APIs are the key to achieving this integration to stay relevant in today’s digital landscape.” Tune in to discover how cloud, security, and artificial intelligence are driving the future of mainframe modernization—according to the experts at Virtel.
Altera Keeps Data on the Mainframe
“IBM Z is the only platform we run on,” says Bob Biggs, an engineer with Altera Digital Health. “It’s always up, and it’s always available.” When one of their clients moved to a Web-based platform, it was vital that Altera’s HealthQuest medical-records solution continue to access data from the secure, reliable mainframe. Altera responded with a faster, more-efficient solution utilizing TCIP/IP and CICS that provides near-instantaneous communication between server and mainframe. Listen for a deep technical dive into how Altera implemented this solution for their client – and how Linux containers might soon increase data speeds from milliseconds to nanoseconds.
Controlling Data Sprawl with Mainframe Security Posture Management and ContextualAI
The mainframe data landscape isn’t pretty. “It’s a mess,” admits Jesse Sedler, 1touch’s product VP. “It's sprawled. It's all over the place. You have sensitive data on the mainframe that folks want to unlock and start using. They could be using that data in all sorts of places. A single record could be modified and copied and changed, and a thousand copies could be made.” 1touch is in the business of bringing order to data sprawl, making sure the right people have access to the right data at the right time through contextual visibility. Mainframe Security Posture Management equips organizations with a dashboard that details where critical data resides, and what options are available to control access. Listen to learn how MSPM and ContextualAI can help security experts and RACF administrators maintain a compliance posture that simplifies the audit process – and how up-front data discipline prevents costly rework of AI models.
Speed, Security, and Compliance: Accelerating Efficiency with Faster Data Distribution
Data volumes are always increasing, and that can cause bottlenecks. “Typically, our customers come to us because they run into a wall,” says Alebra Technologies CTO Bill Yeager. “They have a lot of data that they need to move within a certain window. Pretty soon, you’ve run out of time.” Alebra creates more time for mainframe customers. Bypassing traditional TC/IP, its solution enables rapid data access without affecting production. “We offloaded as much as possible from z/OS, so the processor could do the least amount of work to retrieve the data,” Yeager continues. “With our Parallel Data Mover, a customer can access large amounts of data at any time of the day without impacting production work.” Listen to learn how faster data distribution improves security and compliance -- crucial advantages as AI becomes more important for enterprises across every domain, including on-prem systems, hybrid cloud, and off-prem cloud.
Relieving Tool-Sprawl with Service, Orchestration, and Automation Platforms
Tool-sprawl is a major headache. “When you look at the amount of automation tools out there, it's literally hundreds of different ones,” says Stonebranch CTO Peter Baljet. “You can't manage each one individually. Service, Orchestration, and Automation Platforms can do the automation themselves, with everything on that one back plane, so you don't have to watch every tool individually.” Stonebranch brings a quarter-century of workload automation experience to SOAP, helping clients integrate the z/OS platform into the hybrid landscape. Listen to learn how SOAP is empowering business users as citizen automators, and where generative AI might be taking workload automation.
Data-Centric Security: Protecting the Mainframe
“Data-centric security follows two principles,” explains Felix Rosbach, Comforte’s product VP. “Protect the data as early as possible, and then deprotect only when it’s absolutely necessary.” Comforte has been safeguarding mainframe data for more than 20 years. As threats grow, so does the challenge of effective cybersecurity. “Companies want to share data on the mainframe,” Rosbach continues. “They want to use it, they want to analyze it, they want to work with it, which results in a situation where you need to not only consider security on the mainframe itself, but also systems where the data is moving.” Listen as we explore how encryption and tokenization can form an effective perimeter for mainframe data without limiting access -- including the looming impact of AI technology.
Need for Speed: Processing Instant Payments on IBM Z
“Time is ticking once you receive an instant payment,” says Thorsten Völkel, CEO of PPI AG. “You only have ten seconds for the round trip, sending the instant payment to the receiving bank and getting back a notification, and then sending back a notification to your customer.” Speed is about to become very important in the European Union, where instant payments will become mandatory this year. The IBM Z platform is uniquely suited for rapidly processing such transaction volumes. PPI AG is a market leader in payment solutions; their instant-payments engine is helping institutions who depend upon IBM Z to comply with the new EU regulations. Listen for a deep dive into instant payments on IBM Z, from market and regulatory requirements to technical solutions -- including design, infrastructure, cryptography, and AI.
Modernization Without Migration: New Tools for Mainframe Data Access
Data belongs on the mainframe, and new modernization tools are making it easier to give the right people access. “Everyone has an analyst who's not a technical user that needs to get to the data,” explains Greg Weinheimer, product manager with Cloud Software Group’s ibi business unit. “We take care of that piece, and they can just worry about analyzing the data.” Given that 70% of the world’s data resides on mainframes, connectivity is a critical consideration for hybrid environments – and much more. As ibi product marketing manager Hannah Knox says, “Mainframes are vital for the future of our world.” Listen and learn how keeping data on the IBM Z platform improves accuracy, compliance, and security, while promoting skills development and accommodating AI advances.
