VirtualZ™ + Microsoft Azure: No-Code Enterprise Data Access for AI, Analytics, and Hybrid Cloud

VirtualZ Computing gives Microsoft Azure customers something every modernization team wants: real-time, no-code access to high-value enterprise data — including IBM Z mainframe data and other core platforms — without replication or rewrite.

Whether your teams rely on Azure Synapse, Azure ML, Azure Blob, Power BI, or custom line-of-business apps running in Azure, VirtualZ makes governed operational data instantly usable in the cloud.

Our patented product suite — PropelZ™, FlowZ™, Lozen™, and Zaac™ — gives Azure customers a secure, compliant path to integrate mainframe and other critical systems into their AI, analytics, storage, and application modernization strategies.

Together, VirtualZ and Microsoft Azure enable modernization without destabilizing the systems that still run the business.

The Challenge: Your Best Data Is Still Hard to Use

Systems like IBM Z and other core transactional platforms still hold the most complete, accurate, and regulated data in the enterprise. But that data is often isolated from Azure’s analytics, AI, and observability tooling because of:

• Slow, batch-based data pipelines
• Fragile FTP or custom ETL integrations
• Costly CDC tools that depend on specific keys and proprietary logs
• Replication-heavy approaches that create security and compliance exposure
• High MIPS consumption and infrastructure overhead just to move data

VirtualZ eliminates that friction — delivering modern, governed data access into Azure with no code, no fragile scripting, and no risky shadow copies.

PropelZ: No-Code Data Movement to Azure Synapse, Power BI, and Azure ML

PropelZ is our no-code data delivery and transformation engine. It’s multi-platform: it runs on IBM Z and also supports other enterprise environments, so you can move governed, structured data from core systems directly into Azure analytics and AI services.

With PropelZ, you can:

• Connect to sources like SMF, VSAM, IMS, Db2, COBOL copybooks, and other enterprise datasets
• Land that data in Azure Synapse, Azure SQL, Power BI, Azure ML, or Azure Blob Storage
• Do it without writing ETL, without building replication pipelines, and without relying on proprietary log readers or key fields
• Support incremental updates, micro-batch, or scheduled loads
• Exclude or mask fields for compliance and security
• Use zIIP-eligible processing on IBM Z for cost-efficient performance where applicable

For teams building AI models in Azure ML, delivering dashboards in Power BI, or feeding observability pipelines into Sentinel or Azure Monitor, PropelZ delivers production-grade data from core systems into Azure in hours instead of months.

FlowZ: Cloud File Access for z/OS Applications

FlowZ creates real-time, bi-directional file access between IBM Z and Azure — without rewriting your applications.

• Presents Azure Blob Storage to z/OS as standard files
• Supports both read and write — so mainframe jobs can consume data from Azure and send data back to Azure
• Maintains native file structures, so you don’t have to refactor JCL or business logic
• Eliminates brittle FTP transfers, staging servers, and manual handling

Common patterns: AI scoring loops (score in Azure ML, return results to Z), evidence packaging for auditors, secure off-platform backup — all without hand-built integration.

Lozen: Real-Time Read/Write Access From Azure Apps to Live Mainframe Data

Lozen gives Azure-hosted applications governed, real-time access to live data that remains on IBM Z.

• Lets applications in Azure App Services, Functions, VMs, or containers read and write mainframe data in place
• Works with Db2, IMS, VSAM, and more
• Requires no replication, ETL, or shadow staging
• Preserves your system of record while enabling phased modernization

This is ideal for teams refactoring or extending mainframe workloads into Azure without moving the data itself.

Zaac: Azure-Backed Virtual Storage for IBM Z

Zaac modernizes mainframe storage by letting IBM Z use Azure Blob Storage — or other SAN targets — as virtual disk or virtual tape.

• Lets IBM Z write directly to Azure for archive, backup, DR, and retrieval
• Avoids expensive on-prem tape refreshes and hardware extensions
• Transparent to JCL, batch, and applications
• Supports encryption, duplexing, retention, audit controls
• Helps you align with mandates like DORA, PCI DSS 4.0, SOX, and GDPR

In other words: Azure becomes a first-class storage layer for IBM Z, without disruption.

Use Cases Across Microsoft Azure

Why VirtualZ + Azure?

• No-Code Deployment: Installs in hours, no custom ETL builds
• Flat-Fee Licensing: Predictable economics, including multi-platform data delivery with PropelZ
• Cloud-Ready: Built for hybrid operations, not just “all or nothing” migration
• AI-First: Streamlines data access for ML training, scoring, and governed insight delivery
• Compliance-Aligned: Supports regulatory readiness for DORA, PCI DSS 4.0, SOX, GDPR, and internal audit

Powering the Azure Partner Ecosystem

VirtualZ works with Azure field teams, managed service providers, and systems integrators to deliver co-sellable, repeatable solutions for highly regulated customers. We’re onboarding VirtualZ capabilities to Azure Marketplace and enabling Azure-aligned partners in financial services, insurance, government, healthcare, telecom, and critical infrastructure.

Ready to Get Started?

Your most trusted operational data still lives on IBM Z and other core systems. VirtualZ brings that data into your Azure strategy — securely, in real time, and with no code.

• 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.