VirtualZ™ + AWS: Simplifying Mainframe Integration, AI Enablement, and Storage Modernization

VirtualZ Computing gives AWS customers what they need most: real-time, no-code access to enterprise data — wherever it resides. Whether your data lives on IBM Z, IBM i, Linux, Windows, VSEn, in cloud-native apps, or inside decades-old tape archives, our patented software makes it usable across the AWS ecosystem instantly, securely, and without replication.

With PropelZ™, FlowZ™, Lozen™, and Zaac™, VirtualZ delivers out-of-the-box access to trusted enterprise data for AI, analytics, hybrid cloud, observability, and modernization — without the delays or complexity of traditional tools.

Explore more in our joint AWS blog, our joint on-demand webinar, and our support for AWS Transform — AWS’s program to help enterprises fast-track modernization.

Why It Matters: Unlocking Mainframe Data for the Cloud

Mainframe systems are still the heartbeat of many enterprises — housing the most complete, trusted, and regulated data in the organization. But that data is often siloed and difficult to access from AWS platforms due to outdated tools and brittle processes:

• No real-time access without replication or ETL
• Disconnected data lakes and AWS services
• High costs from legacy CDC, FTP scripts, and mainframe skill dependencies
• Regulatory and security risks when sensitive data is copied or staged

VirtualZ helps eliminate these problems — by delivering live, secure, governed data access from IBM Z and other core platforms into AWS with a suite of no-code, install-in-hours solutions.

PropelZ: No-Code ELT for AI, Analytics, and Observability

PropelZ moves structured enterprise data — not just from IBM Z, but also from IBM i, VSEn, Linux, and Windows environments — into AWS services quickly, reliably, and at scale, with no custom coding, scripting, or fragile CDC.

• Extract and transform data from SMF, VSAM, COBOL, IMS, Db2, flat files, and other enterprise sources across mainframe and distributed systems
• Push directly into Amazon S3, Redshift, Athena, OpenSearch, SageMaker, and other JDBC-compatible targets
• Fully zIIP-eligible on IBM Z, batch or near-real-time, with incremental update support
• Ideal for AI/ML training, log analytics, compliance reporting, and hybrid data lake builds

PropelZ gives your data engineering, security, and platform teams governed, repeatable access to high-value data across mainframe and non-mainframe systems — without needing deep IBM Z skills, without building ETL jobs, and without maintaining one-off integrations per source.

FlowZ: Cloud-to-Mainframe File Integration — No Code Required

FlowZ gives z/OS applications the ability to read and write cloud-based files as if they were standard z/OS datasets — without modifying business logic or writing custom code.

• Makes cloud object storage (e.g., AWS S3) appear as a local file on z/OS
• Supports both read and write operations — ideal for two-way workflows
• Enables AI model scoring, file-based backups, and hybrid DevOps workflows
• Works with both batch and real-time mainframe processes

FlowZ connects your cloud and mainframe file systems natively, removing the need for middleware, FTP scripts, or replication-heavy approaches.

Lozen: Real-Time, Read/Write Access to Data on Z

Lozen enables AWS applications to access and update live IBM Z data — without replication, ETL, or data migration.

• Cloud-native apps can read and write to VSAM, IMS, and Db2 on Z in real time
• Keeps sensitive data at rest on the mainframe while enabling real-time access
• Installs quickly with no code and no infrastructure changes
• Supports phased modernization — apps migrate without having to migrate the data

Use Lozen when your AWS services or microservices need to interact directly with your most critical systems securely and in real time.

Zaac: Mainframe Storage Virtualization Using AWS

Zaac replaces traditional DASD or tape storage with cloud-based or SAN-based virtual storage, enabling you to modernize storage infrastructure — without impacting mainframe apps.

• Connects IBM Z to AWS S3 or local SAN for primary or secondary storage
• Supports real-time access and high availability with duplexing and encryption
• Fully compatible with your current mainframe security and job streams
• Enables cost-effective storage strategies, backup modernization, and tape retirement

Zaac delivers elastic, low-cost, cloud-connected storage for IBM Z — no hardware upgrades or rewrites required.

Built to Support AWS Transform

AWS Transform helps organizations accelerate modernization by funding and supporting initiatives around AI, cloud integration, and app migration. As outlined in a companion blog, VirtualZ aligns directly with this effort:

• Make core-system data instantly AI-ready for tools like SageMaker, Bedrock, and analytics platforms
• Eliminate costly middleware, CDC, or ETL pipelines
• Reduce MIPS usage, simplify compliance, and move storage workloads to cloud
• Launch proof-of-concepts quickly — with no coding and no disruption

Example Use Cases

Conclusion

VirtualZ + AWS delivers a complete, no-code platform for unlocking the value of your enterprise data — across IBM Z, IBM i, VSEn, Linux, Windows, and beyond — for AI, analytics, cloud-native applications, and storage modernization.

You no longer need to choose between real-time access and governance, or between modernization and disruption.

With VirtualZ:

• Your cloud apps access mainframe data instantly
• Your core systems can interact with AWS storage natively
• Your teams move faster with no custom coding required
• Your data pipelines extend across platforms, not just off the mainframe

Unlock the full power of AWS and your most valuable systems of record — securely, seamlessly, and at enterprise scale.

Next Steps

• Schedule a briefing.
• Watch demos.
• Visit our Customer Briefing Center.
• Review all VirtualZ Use Cases, Thought Leadership papers, and Solution Briefs.
• Explore our YouTube channel, podcasts, and blog.
• Still have questions? Contact us.