CICS User Group | March 2026

Unlocking the Core:

API-Driven Data Access in CICS

Mainframe data is no longer a “black box.” As organizations push for real-time insights and seamless hybrid cloud integration, the ability to access CICS-managed data via modern APIs has become a strategic necessity. This webinar cuts through the complexity of legacy integration, focusing on how to transform CICS into a high-performance data service provider.

We will move beyond basic connectivity to explore the mechanics of API-driven data abstraction. You will learn how to expose VSAM, Db2, and Datacom directly to external applications using standardized RESTful endpoints.

Key areas of focus include:

• Data Transformation: Efficiently mapping “raw” mainframe data structures to consumable JSON payloads.
• Access Patterns: Choosing between Direct Data Access and Programmatic Access (wrapping existing business logic).
• Performance at Scale: Managing the overhead of JSON parsing and ensuring thread-safe execution in a high-volume environment.

What You Will Learn

• How to eliminate middleware bottlenecks by hosting APIs directly within CICS.
• The difference between top-down (API-first) and bottom-up (data-first) development workflows.