Skyward Data

Tired of spending weeks creating COBOL copybooks just to move database data? VirtualZ CTO Vince Re reveals how PropelZ's automatic metadata discovery is eliminating copybook hell for database integration—and why your next DB2-to-Snowflake migration might take minutes instead of months. This episode exposes the secret every mainframe professional knows but won't admit: copybook creation for database integration is a productivity killer that's been holding back data projects for decades. Discover why forward-thinking enterprises are skipping manual metadata management for database-driven integration that "just works." What you'll learn: Why "write a SQL query and run the pipeline" is replacing weeks of copybook engineering How automatic metadata extraction eliminates the #1 PropelZ adoption barrier for database projects Real scenarios: DB2 table migration that went from complex to trivial overnight The truth about why your database integration projects take 80% longer than they should How self-describing databases make COBOL expertise optional (not required) for data movement The controversial claim: If you're still manually creating copybooks for database integration in 2026, you're doing it the hard way. Vince explains why the smartest teams are abandoning traditional approaches for metadata automation that scales from simple migrations to billion-row analytics projects. Perfect for fed-up mainframe developers, integration architects tired of copybook nightmares, and IT leaders questioning why database integration is still so complicated. Warning: This episode will make you reconsider every database copybook you've ever written.

When you need to migrate 200,000+ mainframe datasets to the cloud, individual file transfers don't scale. In this episode of Skyward Data, VirtualZ CTO Vince Re explains how PropelZ Multiplexer transforms massive data migrations from operational nightmares into manageable, automated processes. Learn how inventory-driven migration processing can reduce months-long projects to weeks, with parallel execution that handles hundreds of transfers simultaneously. Discover why enterprises are choosing intelligent queue management over traditional one-at-a-time approaches for virtual tape library migrations, application modernization, and large-scale cloud transitions. Key topics include: Real-world performance: 100-200 parallel transfers processing thousands of datasets per hour Comprehensive status tracking that transforms black-box operations into transparent processes Integration with existing automation infrastructure and help desk systems Beyond migration: compliance archiving, disaster recovery, and data center consolidation Perfect for IT leaders planning large-scale mainframe data projects, operations teams managing enterprise migrations, and anyone dealing with the operational complexity of moving massive amounts of archived data to modern storage platforms. Skyward Data explores the intersection of mainframe systems and modern cloud infrastructure, featuring practical insights from VirtualZ Computing's real-world customer implementations.

VirtualZ CTO Vince Re announces the major 2.0 release of PropelZ, packed with dozens of customer-requested features that transform enterprise mainframe data integration. From 60% performance improvements to seamless binary data handling, this isn't just an update—it's a fundamental leap forward. Discover the breakthrough features driving this release: Custom input/output handlers with variable-length record support and binary data processing Revolutionary Java method integration delivering 60% throughput improvements for billion-row scenarios Enhanced incremental processing with minimal-change algorithms that optimize database updates Enterprise-grade features including Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) for security compliance Simplified configuration management and multi-line parameter support Databricks connectivity and SOCKS proxy support for complex network environments Learn how real customer challenges drove innovation—from a retailers binary data requirements to a financial services customer's billion-row processing needs to a large mainframe outsourcers enterprise connectivity demands. Vince shares the technical details behind each enhancement and explains how PropelZ 2.0 solves the integration problems enterprises face today. Essential listening for mainframe professionals planning data modernization projects, IT architects evaluating integration platforms, and anyone managing large-scale data movement between legacy systems and cloud platforms. Skyward Data brings you inside perspectives on mainframe modernization and enterprise data integration from VirtualZ Computing's technical leadership team.

The mainframe has always been the gold standard for mission-critical data. But what happens when that data needs to move — to the cloud, to analytics platforms, to AI pipelines — from anywhere, not just z/OS? In this episode, VirtualZ Co-Founder and CTO Vince Re joins Co-Founder Dustin Froyum to introduce PropelZ for Linux, the multi-platform extension of VirtualZ's proven data movement engine. If you've been following our journey on Skyward Data, you know PropelZ has already delivered some jaw-dropping results on IBM Z. This episode is about what happens when you take that same engine and run it anywhere Java runs. What we cover: Vince walks through the architecture behind PropelZ for Linux — why the core engine translates so cleanly across platforms, where the differences lie, and why those differences are smaller than you'd expect. He also digs into the security capabilities that enterprise teams care most about: field-level filtering, data masking, SSL/TLS support, and how to sanitize sensitive data before it ever reaches its target. Dustin and Vince also revisit a story that's become something of a cautionary tale in enterprise data circles — a large financial services firm that spent two years and significant resources trying to get a legacy ETL solution working, ultimately abandoning it entirely. Their experience with PropelZ? Up and running the next day. The episode closes with a look at the Multiplexer — PropelZ's parallel processing capability that lets customers move millions of files simultaneously, using full available network bandwidth to dramatically compress migration timelines. Key takeaways: PropelZ runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, IBM i, UNIX, and any Java-enabled environment 150–200% throughput improvement over existing ETL solutions, right out of the box 26,000 rows per second to cloud-based Postgres — multiple terabytes per hour Zero code, fully declarative setup — up and running in minutes to hours If your organization is dealing with data integration complexity, legacy ETL pain, or modernization timelines that keep slipping — this episode is for you. Find PropelZ resources, demos, and pricing at virtualzcomputing.com. Questions? Reach us at [email protected].

What really slows down IBM Z modernization? It’s not the application code. It’s the data. In this episode of Skyward Data, Dusty Froyum (Co-Founder, VirtualZ) and Marc Sokol (Executive Chairman, former SVP at CA Technologies) break down what’s actually happening inside enterprise VSAM → PostgreSQL migrations — and why data execution is often the hardest part to get right. They walk through real-world results, including: 460,000 VSAM records moved to PostgreSQL in 25 seconds 60.9 million records delivered in 18 minutes (~56K/sec sustained) But the conversation goes beyond performance. You’ll hear how modernization efforts often start as “simple migrations” — only to become complex when data dependencies, stale datasets, and heavy ETL or CDC architectures enter the picture. Marc shares firsthand experience from decades in the mainframe world, including why so many migration programs slow down at the data layer — and what changes when execution becomes predictable. Dusty outlines how a no-code, direct-access approach can simplify architecture, reduce operational complexity, and help teams meet tight migration windows without over-engineering the solution. Why data — not code — delays modernization The hidden complexity behind “simple” migrations How to avoid overbuilt ETL and CDC architectures Incremental data movement without disruption What predictable execution looks like at enterprise scale Visit: www.virtualzcomputing.com Or reach out: [email protected]

Podcast Description Enterprise modernization is accelerating — but many initiatives still stall for one simple reason: data access. In this episode of the Skyward Data Podcast, VirtualZ joins Progress Software to explore how organizations are modernizing data access across hybrid environments without disrupting the systems that run their business. Dennis Bennett, Principal Sales Engineer at Progress, joins Vince Re, Co-Founder and CTO of VirtualZ, and Dustin Froyum, Co-Founder of VirtualZ, to discuss how trusted enterprise connectivity and modern data innovation work together to deliver secure, high-performance data integration. The conversation covers how organizations are transforming complex legacy data structures — including mainframe formats like VSAM — into modern, SQL-ready data that can power cloud databases, analytics platforms, and AI initiatives. You’ll learn: • Why data access has become the real modernization bottleneck • How hybrid architectures can support modern analytics without disrupting production systems • The role of high-performance enterprise connectivity in scalable data integration • How legacy data structures can be transformed for modern platforms For architects, data leaders, and modernization teams navigating hybrid IT environments, this discussion provides practical insight into building a more flexible and resilient enterprise data architecture.

Enterprises aren’t struggling to build AI. They’re struggling to reach their own data. In this episode of Skyward Data, Jeanne Glass breaks down the 2026 framework for activating enterprise data across mainframe and cloud — instantly and safely. Learn why modernization is no longer a migration project, why integration isn’t enough, and how forward-thinking CIOs are building AI-ready hybrid data platforms without disruption. Your AI needs data. This episode explains how to deliver it.

In this episode, VirtualZ Computing co-founders Vince Re and Dustin Froyum explore how enterprises can simplify PCI DSS 4.0 compliance with real-time, no-code data access from the mainframe to Splunk. PCI DSS 4.0 raises the bar for continuous evidence collection, monitoring, and audit readiness across all systems—including IBM Z. Vince and Dustin unpack how the PropelZ Splunk Log Connector enables mainframe teams to stream z/OS console messages directly into Splunk and JDBC targets (Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift) without scripting or replication. You’ll also hear Vince Re, original author of CA Top Secret and one of the early pioneers of enterprise cybersecurity, reflect on the origins of mainframe security, the evolution of audit logging, and his experience validating early U.S. encryption standards. Key topics: PCI DSS 4.0: What’s new and why mainframes are now firmly in scope How PropelZ accelerates evidence collection and compliance workflows The shift from manual scripts to governed, real-time data streams Lessons from the early days of cybersecurity and data protection Learn more at virtualzcomputing.com, explore our Customer Briefing Center, and follow Skyward Data wherever you get your podcasts.

What separates CIO visionaries from CIO operators in 2026? In this episode of Skyward Data, Jeanne Glass shares the CIO vision for building an AI-ready enterprise — without risky migrations or operational disruption. As organizations race to adopt AI and modern analytics, the true bottleneck isn’t infrastructure. It’s access to trusted enterprise data. Jeanne unpacks the architectural shift toward real-time data access, hybrid cloud execution, elastic storage modernization, and incremental transformation — revealing how forward-thinking CIOs are turning legacy platforms into engines of innovation. Modernization is no longer a migration project. It’s a data strategy.

In this episode of the VirtualZ Skyward Data Podcast, Jeanne Glass, Founder and CEO of VirtualZ Computing, explores how traditional batch-based ETL is giving way to real-time, cloud-ready, AI-enabled data integration strategies. As enterprises accelerate AI adoption and hybrid cloud modernization, operational data locked inside IBM Z systems has become both the biggest constraint and the greatest opportunity. Jeanne breaks down the major trends reshaping ETL and ELT — including real-time integration, no-code platforms, cloud-based transformation, AI-driven data processing, and data virtualization — along with the practical challenges organizations face around security, governance, cost management, and skills gaps. She also explains how modern approaches, including VirtualZ’s PropelZ platform, simplify mainframe data integration without custom coding, fragile pipelines, or disruptive migration. If you’re responsible for enterprise data strategy, modernization, or AI enablement, this episode outlines what the future of ETL really looks like — and how to unlock IBM Z data safely, incrementally, and at scale.

In 2026, digital transformation is no longer cloud-first — it’s data-first. In this episode of the VirtualZ Skyward Data Podcast, Jeanne Glass, Founder and CEO of VirtualZ Computing, explores what this shift means for systems integrators and outsourcers delivering AI, analytics, hybrid cloud modernization, and storage transformation. Enterprises are investing heavily in AI platforms and modernization initiatives — yet business-critical operational data remains locked inside core systems. Jeanne breaks down why AI readiness is fundamentally a data access challenge, why hybrid is permanent, and why incremental modernization is now mandatory. She also explains how VirtualZ’s AI-ready data access platform — PropelZ™, FlowZ™, Lozen™, and Zaac™ — enables integrators to deliver faster outcomes, scalable execution, reduced risk, and new revenue opportunities without disruptive migrations or fragile pipelines. If you're responsible for modernization strategy, AI enablement, or enterprise transformation delivery, this episode outlines how to unlock operational data safely, incrementally, and immediately — and why speed is now the ultimate competitive advantage.

In this episode of the Skyward Data Podcast, Jeanne Glass, CEO at VirtualZ Computing, explores how enterprise storage strategies are changing in 2026—and what customers actually need now. As cost pressure, AI initiatives, and hybrid environments reshape IT priorities, organizations are moving away from pre-provisioned storage and long migration projects. Instead, they’re adopting on-demand, elastic storage models that deliver instant access, lower costs, and flexibility—without disrupting mission-critical systems. This episode covers the key storage trends defining 2026, including on-demand storage consumption, decoupling storage from access, hybrid cloud architectures, incremental modernization, support for AI and analytics workloads, and the shift from physical tape to cloud-based archival—without application changes. If you’re a CIO, infrastructure leader, storage architect, or modernization team navigating enterprise storage decisions, this episode offers a practical, real-world view of how organizations are modernizing storage on their terms—faster, safer, and with zero disruption.

In this episode of Skyward Data, Jeanne Glass, CEO of VirtualZ, explores how enterprises are rethinking data management and data access in 2026. As data becomes the asset shaping how organizations compete, comply, and innovate, customers are no longer asking for more pipelines or platforms. They’re looking for direct, secure access to trusted data—without disrupting the systems that already run the business. This episode covers the key trends defining modern data strategies, including access over movement, data-first architectures, AI readiness, hybrid and multi-cloud realities, no-code data access, built-in security and governance, incremental modernization, and the decoupling of storage from access. If you’re a CIO, CDO, data leader, or platform architect navigating modernization in regulated or hybrid environments, this episode offers a practical, customer-focused view of what matters now—and how enterprises are moving forward with confidence.

Mainframe modernization in 2026 isn’t about leaving the mainframe — it’s about using it better. In this episode of the Skyward Data Podcast, Jeanne Glass, CEO of VirtualZ, breaks down how enterprises are modernizing their mainframe environments without disruption. Learn why data-first strategies, AI readiness, hybrid and multi-cloud architectures, no-code integration, and instant storage are reshaping modernization efforts across regulated industries. If you’re responsible for enterprise data, analytics, AI, or modernization strategy, this episode offers a clear, practical view of what customers actually need now — and how leading organizations are moving forward safely and incrementally.

In this episode of the Skyward Data podcast, VirtualZ Computing Co-Founder Dustin Froyum sits down with Co-Founder and CTO Vince Re to explore how PropelZ™ runs on Windows to simplify enterprise data integration. The conversation focuses on one of the biggest challenges facing modern data teams: integrating data across mainframe, cloud, Linux, Windows, and legacy platforms without building complex, brittle ETL pipelines. Dustin and Vince break down how PropelZ uses a no-code, configuration-driven approach to move and transform data quickly, securely, and efficiently. You’ll hear a practical overview of PropelZ’s three-stage architecture—input, transformation (including incremental processing), and output—and how it behaves consistently across platforms while adapting to Windows-specific requirements like byte-stream files, record boundaries, and encoding differences. The episode also covers output options including JDBC databases and API-based integrations such as Splunk. In this episode, we discuss: The challenge of unified data integration across platforms How PropelZ eliminates custom ETL and scripting Running PropelZ on Windows vs. z/OS: what’s different and what stays the same Handling binary files, delimiters, record lengths, and code pages Flexible output targets, including databases and observability platforms Whether you’re modernizing legacy data flows, enabling analytics and AI, or simplifying cross-platform integration, this episode provides a clear, technical perspective on how PropelZ helps organizations move data without complexity. Learn more at virtualzcomputing.com or reach out at [email protected].

In this episode of Skyward Data, VirtualZ Co-Founders Dustin Froyum and Vince Re share how PropelZ™ brings no-code, governed data movement to the IBM i (AS/400) platform. They explore how IT teams can easily extract and stream IBM i data to modern analytics, observability, and AI platforms like Snowflake, BigQuery, Azure SQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, and Splunk—without manual ETL or complex scripting. Key topics include: • Simplifying data access and report modernization on IBM i • Handling COBOL copybooks, record mapping, and data transformation • Real-time and batch pipelines for analytics and compliance • Rapid installation—install, configure, go in hours, not months • Pricing and licensing overview ($50K per OS per year, unlimited use) The conversation closes with a look at how PropelZ’s multi-platform runtime extends the same simplicity to IBM Z, Linux, UNIX, Windows, and macOS, giving enterprises a unified, no-code ELT engine across their hybrid environments. Learn more and request a briefing at VirtualZComputing.com/PropelZ #PropelZ #VirtualZComputing #IBMi #AS400 #DataIntegration #HybridCloud #AIData #DataPipeline #SkywardDataPodcast

In this episode of Skyward Data, VirtualZ CEO, Jeanne Glass, breaks down one of the most overlooked — yet essential — capabilities in modern data integration: data exclusion. Learn how VirtualZ Computing’s PropelZ™ gives organizations full control over what data moves, what stays behind, and how sensitive fields can be securely excluded or suppressed — all without coding or complex ETL. Jeanne explains how this no-code approach improves data governance, compliance, and performance by filtering and transforming data directly on the mainframe before it ever leaves the source. From real-world examples to best practices in hybrid cloud environments, this episode reveals how smarter data exclusion helps enterprises achieve faster, safer, and more efficient data movement for AI, analytics, and modernization initiatives. Key Topics: What data exclusion means and why it matters Row- and column-level control in PropelZ™ Governance, masking, and encryption at the source Performance gains through selective data movement Hybrid-cloud use cases across mainframe and distributed platforms Skyward Data explores real stories and strategies behind hybrid data access, AI-ready integration, and modernization — powered by VirtualZ Computing.