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Hybrid by Design: The Next-Gen Mainframe Quiz
If you’ve been in the mainframe ecosystem for any time at all, you’ll know that the mainframe has long been associated with stability and staying power. But today’s conversation increasingly centers on the evolution of the next-gen mainframe, and how it fits into...
An Undocumented CICS Fix That Boosts Throughput and Cuts CPU
IBM has an undocumented fix to the CICS WEB interface that can optimize throughput and response time while also saving CPU. This article explains how to make it work for you. In the course of my current project, I had the pleasure of working with Ole Olsen at JN Data...
IMS Managed ACBs After Six Months: Adapting to the New Normal
When IBM made IMS Managed ACBs mandatory with the release of IMS 15.6 in June 2025, it marked the end of a long transition period and the beginning of a new operational reality for IMS customers. At a recent Planet Mainframe Virtual IMS User Group, Anshul Agrawal,...
Mainframe Miscellaneous Trivia!
As the year draws to a close (whether your days are growing shorter and darker or longer and brighter), December tends to invite a little reflection. Over the past year, Planet Mainframe Trivia has dished out a veritable smorgasbord of topics, from the early days of...
Redefining Legacy Modernization Around Customer Outcomes | On-Demand Webinar
Modernizing legacy systems remains one of the hardest challenges in enterprise IT. Costs rise, skills shrink, and technical debt piles up—leaving many organizations stalled long before they achieve meaningful progress. In this on-demand webinar, AveriSource experts...
All I Want for Christmas is an IBM Db2 Analytics Accelerator
It’s always the right time to talk about my absolute favorite mainframe technology, the IBM Db2 Analytics Accelerator (we users like to call it IDAA). As you finalize your wish list for your CFO or Santa, don’t forget this!What’s Not in a Name If you’ve ever heard me...
Leadership in the mainframe community: Lessons from Industry Trailblazers
Careers in enterprise technology are rarely linear, and mainframe careers are no exception. At the GS UK Conference, a panel of industry leaders came together to share personal reflections on leadership, career growth, and what it takes to build a meaningful,...
Enterprise IT Trends: Reflections on a Year of Adjustment (and a Look Ahead)
As I reflect on yet another year of tectonic adjustment across the technology sector, I see little evidence that things are about to calm down. If anything, the forces reshaping enterprise IT feel more entrenched, more demanding, and more consequential than ever....
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Who’s in charge? Controlling network traffic to enhance cyber security and compliance
With cyber security and cyber resiliency top priorities for organizations, is enough focus given to the wider network, asks Tony Amies of Vertali How can you confirm that your network access control settings are correct and are working as intended? How can you...
A CISO Profile
For those who have grown up with the internet, it’s probably hard to imagine a time when cyberattacks did not loom as an existential threat to organizations. But the role of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) is a fairly recent invention, coming into...
Mainframe Cybersecurity: What Every Leader Needs to Know
In this short video, Ravi Patil, Director, Product Management & Strategy, explains Mainframe cybersecurity in simple terms and recommends an effective approach for protecting your company. Learn More Here
Enhancing Data Security and Recovery with IBM Z Cyber Vault
In August, Tracy Dean, Product Manager, IMS Tools and z/VM Tools, presented an insightful session on "What does IBM z Cyber Vault mean for an IMS environment?" In her presentation, she explored the significance of IBM Z Cyber Vault in safeguarding data integrity and...
The CISO’s Dilemma: Challenges in the Cyber Regulatory Environment
The digital age has ushered in an era of unparalleled technological advancements, facilitating the rapid growth of global commerce, communication, and data sharing. While the ubiquity of digital interconnections has brought immense benefits, it also presents new...
Make the Switch Now: Why Broadcom’s MFA is a Mainframe Must-Have
Written by: Jose Arias, CISSP, ITILMainframe Security Specialist Imagine the surprise when, as an occasional gym visitor, you return to your fitness center one day, eager to resume your workouts, only to find that the familiar wristband is no longer the key to access....
Mainframe security—Early Warning needed to beat back hackers
The stages in a mainframe breach are familiar to most mainframers these days. Firstly, the bad actors need to gain access to the mainframe. That is as simple as going to the web and buying a user id and password combo for as little as $120. But even worse if the...
The Evolution of Cybersecurity. From Cascade to Quantum
Cybersecurity is a journey. The last three decades show that hackers and security teams have continually competed with each other, adapting to a changing environment. Both have learned from each other, but cybersecurity has—perhaps inevitably—always had to catch up to...
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Upcoming Events
Events
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Virtual IMS User Group | April 14, 2026
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European Mainframe Technical Exchange – Prague – April 21-23
Prague, Czech Republic Prague, Czech RepublicRegistration is open for the 2026 European Broadcom Mainframe Technical Exchange! This year’s event will take place in Prague, Czech Republic, from April 21 - 23. Register today to reserve […]
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Virtual CICS User Group | May 12, 2026
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Virtual Db2 User Group | May 19, 2026
Zoom - Virtual Meeting
❓Python Programming Trivia
We often describe Python as a “modern” language, but its story spans decades of technological change, cultural shifts, and unexpected platforms. What began as a small side project in the Netherlands evolved into one of the most widely used programming languages in the...
Rocket Software and K2view Partnership, 2025 Gartner Peer Insights Customers’ Choice, and more
IBM Introduces New Software to Address Growing Digital Sovereignty Imperative Rocket Software and K2view Partner to Accelerate Mainframe Modernization with Governed, AI-Ready Test Data for Testing, Analytics, and AI BMC is recognized as a 2025 Gartner® Peer Insights™...
❓Mainframe Professional Skills Trivia
Our last trivia quiz explored the legacy of mainframe pioneers, and this week we’re going to continue looking into the lineage of skills in mainframe professional practice, examining how early design and operational decisions shaped the way mainframe expertise is...
❓ Workforce and Training Trivia
Happy 2026—and welcome to a whole new year of Planet Mainframe Trivia! As our January theme focuses on Workforce and Training, this quiz looks at mainframe pioneers and the early decisions that shaped how mainframe skills are learned and passed on. Mainframe expertise...
Newest Virtel Release, SHARE Orlando Tickets, and more
VIRTEL announces release of Virtel 4.63: a major new version to better connect, secure, and simplify access to any mainframe application SHARE Orlando Early Bird Tickets Available Hitachi Vantara's Virtual Storage Platform One Wins CRN 2025 Products of the Year Award...
❓What 2025 Taught Us About Mainframes: A Trivia Quiz
As the year closes, and the year-end reflections roll in, we’re taking a closer look at key findings from the latest BMC, Kyndryl, and Planet Mainframe Arcati surveys. The results point to a platform that is evolving in response to cost pressures, skills gaps,...