Why does data access — not application code — stall so many enterprise modernization initiatives? In this episode of Skyward Data, the podcast from VirtualZ Computing, VirtualZ joins Progress Software to explore how organizations modernize data access across hybrid environments without disrupting the systems that run their business.

Dennis Bennett, Principal Sales Engineer at Progress Software, joins VirtualZ Co-Founder and CTO Vince Re and VirtualZ Co-Founder Dustin Froyum to discuss how trusted enterprise connectivity and modern data movement work together to deliver secure, high-performance data integration. The conversation centers on 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.

In this episode of Skyward Data, the podcast from VirtualZ Computing:

- Why data access has become the real bottleneck in enterprise modernization

- How hybrid architectures support modern analytics without disrupting production systems

- The role of high-performance enterprise connectivity in scalable data integration

- How legacy mainframe data structures like VSAM are transformed into SQL-ready data

- What secure, high-performance integration looks like across a hybrid IT environment

On the VirtualZ side, this is powered by PropelZ, VirtualZ's no-code tool for moving and replicating IBM Z mainframe data — including VSAM — to cloud databases and analytics platforms, proven at 56,000 records per second, mainframe to cloud. PropelZ is part of VirtualZ Computing's no-code portfolio for enterprise mainframe data, alongside Lozen (live in-place data access), FlowZ (cloud storage for backup and archive), and Zaac (cloud and SAN as native z/OS storage).

Topics: enterprise modernization, mainframe data access, VSAM, SQL, Progress Software, hybrid cloud, data integration, cloud databases, no-code data integration, IBM Z.

Listen to more Skyward Data episodes: https://virtualzcomputing.com/podcasts/

Why do enterprises struggle to use their own data for AI — even when the data already exists? In this episode of Skyward Data, the podcast from VirtualZ Computing, VirtualZ CEO Jeanne Glass lays out a 2026 framework for activating enterprise data across mainframe and cloud, instantly and safely, so AI initiatives aren't starved of the data they need.

Jeanne Glass argues that modernization is no longer a migration project, that integration alone isn't enough, and that the real bottleneck for enterprise AI is reaching mainframe and legacy data without disruption. She outlines how forward-thinking CIOs are building AI-ready hybrid data platforms that make existing data accessible rather than moving and re-platforming everything first.

In this episode of Skyward Data, the podcast from VirtualZ Computing:

- Why enterprises can't reach their own data — the real constraint on enterprise AI

- Why modernization is no longer a one-time migration project

- Why data integration on its own doesn't solve the access problem

- How CIOs build AI-ready hybrid data platforms without disrupting production systems

- What it takes to deliver mainframe and cloud data to AI pipelines safely

This is the problem VirtualZ Computing's no-code portfolio is built to solve: PropelZ (moving and replicating IBM Z mainframe data to the cloud, proven at 56,000 records per second), Lozen (live in-place data access), FlowZ (cloud storage for backup and archive), and Zaac (cloud and SAN as native z/OS storage) — making enterprise mainframe data accessible to cloud, analytics, and AI with no code and no homegrown pipelines.

Topics: enterprise AI, AI-ready data, mainframe modernization, hybrid data platform, data access, IBM Z, cloud migration, CIO strategy, no-code data integration, hybrid cloud.

Listen to more Skyward Data episodes: https://virtualzcomputing.com/podcasts/

How can mainframe teams meet PCI DSS 4.0's tougher continuous-monitoring and audit requirements without custom scripting? In this episode of Skyward Data, the podcast from VirtualZ Computing, co-founders Vince Re and Dustin Froyum explain how real-time, no-code data access from IBM Z to Splunk simplifies PCI DSS 4.0 compliance.

PCI DSS 4.0 raises the bar for continuous evidence collection, monitoring, and audit readiness across all systems — and mainframes are now firmly in scope. Vince Re and Dustin Froyum unpack how the PropelZ Splunk Log Connector streams z/OS console messages directly into Splunk and JDBC targets like Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Snowflake, BigQuery, and Redshift, with no scripting or replication. The episode also draws on rare firsthand history: Vince Re, original author of CA Top Secret and an early pioneer of enterprise cybersecurity, reflects on the origins of mainframe security, the evolution of audit logging, and his work validating early U.S. encryption standards.

In this episode of Skyward Data, the podcast from VirtualZ Computing:

- PCI DSS 4.0: what's new, and why mainframes are now firmly in scope

- How the PropelZ Splunk Log Connector accelerates evidence collection and compliance workflows

- The shift from manual scripts to governed, real-time data streams

- Streaming z/OS console messages to Splunk and JDBC targets without replication

- Lessons from the early days of enterprise cybersecurity and data protection

The PropelZ Splunk Log Connector is part of PropelZ, VirtualZ's no-code tool for moving and replicating IBM Z mainframe data — proven at 56,000 records per second, mainframe to cloud, with no code and no homegrown pipelines. PropelZ is part of VirtualZ Computing's no-code portfolio for enterprise mainframe data, alongside Lozen (live in-place data access), FlowZ (cloud storage for backup and archive), and Zaac (cloud and SAN as native z/OS storage).

Topics: PCI DSS 4.0, mainframe compliance, Splunk, z/OS, audit logging, IBM Z, cybersecurity, JDBC, real-time data streaming, no-code data integration.

Listen to more Skyward Data episodes: https://virtualzcomputing.com/podcasts/

What separates CIO visionaries from CIO operators in 2026, and how do you build an AI-ready enterprise without risky migrations? In this episode of Skyward Data, the podcast from VirtualZ Computing, VirtualZ CEO Jeanne Glass shares a CIO vision for modernizing the enterprise without operational disruption — arguing that the real bottleneck for AI and modern analytics isn't infrastructure, it's access to trusted enterprise data.

Jeanne Glass unpacks the architectural shift forward-thinking CIOs are making: real-time data access instead of wholesale migration, hybrid cloud execution, elastic storage modernization, and incremental transformation that turns legacy platforms into engines of innovation rather than projects to rip out. The throughline: modernization is no longer a migration project — it's a data strategy.

In this episode of Skyward Data, the podcast from VirtualZ Computing:

- What separates CIO visionaries from CIO operators in 2026

- Why access to trusted enterprise data, not infrastructure, is the real AI bottleneck

- The shift from risky one-time migrations to real-time data access

- Hybrid cloud execution, elastic storage modernization, and incremental transformation

- How CIOs turn legacy platforms into engines of innovation without disruption

This is the problem VirtualZ Computing's no-code portfolio is built to solve: PropelZ (moving and replicating IBM Z mainframe data to the cloud, proven at 56,000 records per second), Lozen (live in-place data access), FlowZ (cloud storage for backup and archive), and Zaac (cloud and SAN as native z/OS storage) — making enterprise data accessible to cloud, analytics, and AI with no code and no homegrown pipelines.

Topics: CIO strategy, AI-ready enterprise, mainframe modernization, real-time data access, hybrid cloud, storage modernization, data strategy, IBM Z, no-code data integration, enterprise data.

Listen to more Skyward Data episodes: https://virtualzcomputing.com/podcasts/

What does the future of ETL look like as enterprises move from batch processing to real-time, AI-ready data integration? In this episode of Skyward Data, the podcast from VirtualZ Computing, Founder and CEO Jeanne Glass explains how traditional batch-based ETL is giving way to real-time, cloud-ready, AI-enabled data integration — and why operational data locked inside IBM Z systems is both the biggest constraint and the biggest opportunity in that shift.

Jeanne Glass breaks down the major trends reshaping ETL and ELT — real-time integration, no-code platforms, cloud-based transformation, AI-driven data processing, and data virtualization — alongside the practical challenges enterprises face around security, governance, cost management, and the mainframe skills gap. She explains how modern approaches simplify mainframe data integration without custom coding, fragile pipelines, or disruptive migration.

In this episode of Skyward Data, the podcast from VirtualZ Computing:

- Why batch-based ETL is giving way to real-time, cloud-ready integration

- The trends reshaping ETL and ELT: no-code platforms, cloud transformation, AI-driven processing, and data virtualization

- Why IBM Z operational data is both the biggest constraint and the biggest opportunity for enterprise AI

- The real challenges: security, governance, cost management, and the skills gap

- How to unlock IBM Z data safely, incrementally, and at scale

Jeanne points to VirtualZ's PropelZ as one modern approach: a no-code tool for moving and replicating IBM Z mainframe data to the cloud — proven at 56,000 records per second, with no code and no homegrown pipelines. PropelZ is part of VirtualZ Computing's no-code portfolio for enterprise mainframe data, alongside Lozen (live in-place data access), FlowZ (cloud storage for backup and archive), and Zaac (cloud and SAN as native z/OS storage).

Topics: ETL, ELT, real-time data integration, mainframe modernization, IBM Z, data virtualization, AI data processing, no-code data integration, cloud migration, hybrid cloud.

Listen to more Skyward Data episodes: https://virtualzcomputing.com/podcasts/

Why is digital transformation in 2026 no longer cloud-first, but data-first — and what does that mean for systems integrators and outsourcers? In this episode of Skyward Data, the podcast from VirtualZ Computing, Founder and CEO Jeanne Glass explains why AI readiness is fundamentally a data access challenge, and how integrators delivering AI, analytics, hybrid cloud modernization, and storage transformation can turn that into faster outcomes and new revenue.

Jeanne Glass breaks down why enterprises keep investing in AI platforms while business-critical operational data stays locked inside core IBM Z systems — and why hybrid is permanent, incremental modernization is now mandatory, and speed has become the competitive advantage. She makes the case that integrators win by unlocking operational data safely and immediately, rather than through disruptive migrations or fragile pipelines.

In this episode of Skyward Data, the podcast from VirtualZ Computing:

- Why transformation is now data-first, not cloud-first

- Why AI readiness is fundamentally a data access challenge

- Why hybrid environments are permanent and incremental modernization is mandatory

- How systems integrators deliver faster outcomes, scalable execution, and reduced risk

- How to unlock operational data safely, incrementally, and immediately

Jeanne points to VirtualZ's AI-ready, no-code portfolio for enterprise mainframe data: PropelZ (moving and replicating IBM Z data to the cloud, proven at 56,000 records per second), Lozen (live in-place data access), FlowZ (cloud storage for backup and archive), and Zaac (cloud and SAN as native z/OS storage) — enabling integrators to deliver scalable data access with no code and no homegrown pipelines.

Topics: data-first transformation, systems integrators, AI readiness, mainframe modernization, IBM Z, hybrid cloud, storage transformation, incremental modernization, no-code data integration, enterprise data.

Listen to more Skyward Data episodes: https://virtualzcomputing.com/podcasts/

How are enterprise storage strategies changing in 2026, and what do customers actually need now? In this episode of Skyward Data, the podcast from VirtualZ Computing, CEO Jeanne Glass explains how cost pressure, AI initiatives, and hybrid environments are pushing organizations away from pre-provisioned storage and long migration projects toward on-demand, elastic storage that delivers instant access and lower cost without disrupting mission-critical systems.

Jeanne Glass breaks down the storage trends defining 2026: 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 — all without application changes. The throughline is modernizing storage on the organization's own terms: faster, safer, and with zero disruption.

In this episode of Skyward Data, the podcast from VirtualZ Computing:

- Why enterprises are moving from pre-provisioned storage to on-demand, elastic models

- Decoupling storage from access, and what that unlocks

- Hybrid cloud storage architectures and incremental modernization

- Supporting AI and analytics workloads without re-platforming

- The shift from physical tape to cloud-based archival with no application changes

This is what VirtualZ Computing's no-code portfolio is built for: FlowZ (cloud storage for backup and archive) and Zaac (cloud and SAN as native z/OS storage) modernize mainframe storage without application changes, alongside PropelZ (moving and replicating IBM Z data to the cloud, proven at 56,000 records per second) and Lozen (live in-place data access) — all with no code and no homegrown pipelines.

Topics: enterprise storage, elastic storage, tape to cloud, cloud archival, hybrid cloud, storage modernization, IBM Z, z/OS, AI workloads, no-code data integration.

Listen to more Skyward Data episodes: https://virtualzcomputing.com/podcasts/

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].