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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Planet Mainframe
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260714T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260714T130000
DTSTAMP:20260625T021846
CREATED:20260508T205431Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260605T170401Z
UID:10000120-1784028600-1784034000@planetmainframe.com
SUMMARY:Virtual IMS User Group: Modernizing IMS Backup and Recovery – The Strategic Shift to Cloud Storage
DESCRIPTION:📅 July 14\, 2026\n🕦 11:30 AM ET \nAs enterprise data volumes continue to grow and cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated\, organizations are rethinking how IMS backup and recovery environments are designed\, secured\, and maintained. \nIn this session\, Sujata Mane of BMC Software explores the architectural and operational shift from traditional tape-based backup strategies toward modern software-defined cloud storage approaches for IMS environments. \nAttendees will gain insight into how organizations are integrating native z/OS technologies with public and private cloud object storage while maintaining compatibility with existing DBRC processes and JCL workflows. The session will also examine how Cloud Data Sets (CDS) and zIIP specialty engines can help reduce CPU overhead\, improve recovery performance\, and support evolving cyber resiliency requirements. \nTopics include: \n\nIntegrating Cloud Data Sets with existing IMS recovery workflows\nReducing mainframe CPU utilization through zIIP offloading\nImproving recovery readiness and Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs)\nImplementing immutable WORM policies and logical air-gapping strategies\nModernizing backup and recovery operations without disrupting established IMS processes\n\nDesigned for IMS systems programmers\, architects\, infrastructure teams\, and operations professionals\, this presentation offers a practical look at how cloud-enabled recovery strategies are reshaping enterprise resilience and long-term data protection planning. \nSpeaker\nSujata Mane\nBMC Software \nSujata Mane is a Senior QA Engineer at BMC Software with more than 11 years of mainframe experience across development and support roles. She has delivered technical solutions for organizations in the banking\, insurance\, and manufacturing industries\, including State Farm\, MetLife\, HSBC\, and Northern Trust. Her expertise includes COBOL\, JCL\, DB2\, and VSAM\, with recent specialization in modern enterprise backup and recovery technologies. \nRegister Here!
URL:https://planetmainframe.com/event/virtual-ims-user-group-modernizing-ims-backup-and-recovery-the-strategic-shift-to-cloud-storage/
LOCATION:Zoom – Virtual Meeting
CATEGORIES:Virtual IMS
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://planetmainframe.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMS-Jul-14-2026.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260721T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260721T133000
DTSTAMP:20260625T021846
CREATED:20250910T151657Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260605T204941Z
UID:10000088-1784633400-1784640600@planetmainframe.com
SUMMARY:Virtual Db2 User Group | Mastering Access Path Management in Db2 for z/OS – Simplify\, Optimize\, Succeed
DESCRIPTION:This session explores strategies for simplifying and optimizing access path management in Db2 for z/OS environments. Attendees will gain insight into techniques for improving query performance\, reducing operational complexity\, and supporting more efficient database administration practices. The discussion will focus on practical approaches to tuning and optimization that help organizations improve performance\, reduce technical debt\, and maximize the value of their Db2 infrastructure investments. \nSpeaker: Denis Tronin
URL:https://planetmainframe.com/event/mastering-access-path-management-in-db2-for-z-os/
LOCATION:Zoom – Virtual Meeting
CATEGORIES:Virtual Db2,Virtual User Groups
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://planetmainframe.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Db2-July-21-2026.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260901T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260901T133000
DTSTAMP:20260625T021846
CREATED:20250910T152932Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260605T200239Z
UID:10000096-1788262200-1788269400@planetmainframe.com
SUMMARY:Virtual IMS User Group | All about SMP-E (System Modification Program-Extended)— It's SiMPlified!!!
DESCRIPTION:All about SMP/E (System Modification Program/Extended)\n— It’s SiMPlified!!!\nSMP/E (System Modification Program/Extended) is the foundation of software maintenance and update management within the z/OS ecosystem. This session provides a practical introduction to core SMP/E concepts and terminology\, helping attendees better understand how controlled software maintenance is managed on the mainframe. Topics will include PTFs\, APARs\, SYSMODs\, USERMODs\, CSI structure\, and the overall PTF lifecycle. \nAttendees will also gain an overview of the standard SMP/E workflow\, including RECEIVE\, APPLY\, and ACCEPT processing\, along with a discussion of SMP/E zone architecture (GLOBAL\, TARGET\, and DISTRIBUTION zones). The session will touch on dependency management concepts such as REQ\, CO-REQ\, and PRE-REQ relationships\, as well as migration considerations following testing. Designed as an accessible introduction\, this session aims to simplify SMP/E concepts while reinforcing their importance to maintaining stable and reliable z/OS environments. \nSpeaker: Pratik Ghatpande\, Senior Software Engineer at BMC Software\nSenior Software Engineer as Mainframe Quality Assurance Engineer/Developer having over 9 years of working experience in Mainframe Technology. Under this technology\, have gained proficiency in various aspects like COBOL\, JCL\, CICS\, VSAM\, IBM IMS\, IBM DB2\, Mainframe Automation using REXX/CLIST. I am really passionate about the Mainframe technology as I strongly believe that it forms the base of all the major finance & banking industry and are heavily reliant on it. Just like a tree is as strong as its roots are\, similarly in B&F roots are strong owing to Mainframe technology!!! I have had the opportunity to work for different banking giant customers\, thus enriching my experience. I am also an enthusiast of the latest AI technologies like GenAI\, Prompt Engineering\, ML\, NLP amongst many. With the mainframe modernization all around us now\, combined with the AI capabilities I believe it will be the next big thing in near future! Basically\, the best of both the worlds – Mainframe & AI!!!\n \nRegister Here!
URL:https://planetmainframe.com/event/all-about-smp-e/
LOCATION:Zoom – Virtual Meeting
CATEGORIES:Virtual IMS,Virtual User Groups
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://planetmainframe.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMS-Sept-1-2026.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260922T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260922T120000
DTSTAMP:20260625T021846
CREATED:20260429T163702Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T213957Z
UID:10000118-1790074800-1790078400@planetmainframe.com
SUMMARY:Accelerating Mainframe Efficiency: Development and Testing Webinar
DESCRIPTION:Unlock the power of instantly available mainframe resources to revolutionize mainframe delivery. The third session in the PopUp Persona Webinar series reveals how application developers\, software engineers\, and QA teams can conquer bottlenecks in z/OS environments\, using cutting-edge tools for rapid prototyping\, seamless testing\, and accelerated DevOps pipelines. Discover practical modernization strategies\, explore real-world success stories\, and get exclusive insights from leading industry experts. Round off with a live Q&A—your chance to quiz the PopUp team and guest speakers\, and supercharge your development workflows and drive serious business results with modern mainframe technology. \nThe PopUp Mainframe Persona Webinar Series is a three-part program exploring how different roles across the mainframe ecosystem approach their work. \nEach session focuses on a specific group—SysProgs and DBAs\, training teams\, and development and testing professionals—highlighting the real-world challenges they face\, from environment access and configuration consistency to scalability and collaboration. \nThrough a mix of discussion\, demonstration\, and Q&A\, the series offers practical perspectives from both practitioners and industry experts\, with a focus on how teams are working in modern z/OS environments. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBy registering for and participating in this session\, you agree to share your contact information with the sponsor\, PopUp Mainframe. The sponsor agrees to use your information in accordance with applicable data protection and privacy laws\, including CAN-SPAM and GDPR\, and to provide an option to opt out of future communications.
URL:https://planetmainframe.com/event/popup-mainframe-persona-webinar-series-3/
LOCATION:Zoom – Virtual Meeting
CATEGORIES:Partner Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://planetmainframe.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/4.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20261006T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20261006T133000
DTSTAMP:20260625T021846
CREATED:20250910T153030Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260605T202731Z
UID:10000097-1791286200-1791293400@planetmainframe.com
SUMMARY:Virtual IMS User Group | Data Gravity and IBM Z: Bringing Processing to the Data
DESCRIPTION:As data volumes grow\, they naturally attract applications\, services\, and processing toward them—a concept commonly referred to as data gravity. In hybrid cloud environments\, understanding data gravity has become increasingly important when making architectural decisions around IBM Z workloads and enterprise data strategy. This session explores how data mass\, latency requirements\, application coupling\, and access patterns influence where workloads should run. Attendees will examine the tradeoffs between moving data to processing environments versus bringing processing closer to the data itself. \nThe discussion will focus on modern IBM Z environments and hybrid cloud architectures\, highlighting strategies that minimize unnecessary data movement while supporting analytics\, APIs\, AI workloads\, and operational efficiency. The session will provide practical insight into how organizations can respect data gravity principles while continuing to modernize and innovate around mission-critical IBM Z systems. \nSpeaker Profiles: \nVishal Gupta\, Senior Solution Architect with the IBM Z Ecosystem\nVishal Gupta is a Senior Solution Architect with the IBM Z Ecosystem at the India Systems Development Lab (ISDL)\, IBM. He works with Global System Integrators and clients to build solutions across Hybrid Cloud data integration patterns\, including real-time Z data access\, mainframe data virtualization\, synchronization\, and application integration. With over 18 years of IT experience in IBM Z\, his expertise spans application programming and solution architecting. He is also a seasoned speaker at IBM technical events and industry conferences\, including IDUG and GSE. \nCüneyt Göksu\, Executive IT Specialist for IBM® Z\nCüneyt Göksu is an Executive IT Specialist for IBM® Z solutions in the context of Data and AI in IBM Germany Development Lab as a member of Center of Excellence team. He holds MBA\, Bachelor’s degree and PhD in Computer Science. He has been working with Db2 for z/OS and IBM Z Platform for over 30 years. Cuneyt focuses on Db2 for z/OS and the eco system around that\, helping a diverse set of customers with proof-of-concepts\, deployments\, architectures\, health checks and migrations. Before joining IBM\, he was a member of IBM Db2 Gold Consultant Team\, named IBM Champion and was an instructor for IBM Education Programs. He is a Senior Certified Executive IT Specialist\, actively attends certification board reviews and holds the role of Db2 for z/OS Liaison@IDUG BOD\, NA\, EMEA \nRegister Here!
URL:https://planetmainframe.com/event/data-gravity-and-ibmz/
LOCATION:Zoom – Virtual Meeting
CATEGORIES:Virtual IMS,Virtual User Groups
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://planetmainframe.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/IMS-Oct-6-2026-new.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20261008T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20261008T133000
DTSTAMP:20260625T021846
CREATED:20250910T150655Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260610T195656Z
UID:10000081-1791459000-1791466200@planetmainframe.com
SUMMARY:Virtual CICS User Group | Latest Update on Security in CICS TS 6.3: The Journey to Zero Trust
DESCRIPTION:CICS has been advocating zero trust principles and introducing security-focused enhancements since CICS TS 6.1. This session will explore the latest security capabilities available in CICS TS 6.3 and how they support organizations on their journey toward stronger zero trust security models. Attendees will gain insight into modern CICS security practices\, the evolving threat landscape\, and the features designed to help secure business-critical CICS environments while balancing operational and infrastructure requirements. \nSpeaker: Mark Pocock\, IBM\nMark has almost 30 years experience in CICS TS development and support at IBM. Mark is currently the CICS security technical lead. \nRegister Here!
URL:https://planetmainframe.com/event/security-in-cics-ts-6_3/
LOCATION:Zoom – Virtual Meeting
CATEGORIES:Virtual CICS,Virtual User Groups
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://planetmainframe.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CICS-Oct-8-2026.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20261020T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20261020T133000
DTSTAMP:20260625T021846
CREATED:20250910T151755Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260605T205527Z
UID:10000089-1792495800-1792503000@planetmainframe.com
SUMMARY:Virtual Db2 User Group | Safeguarding Your Data: A Comprehensive Guide to DB2 for z/OS Security Exit Routines
DESCRIPTION:This session explores DB2 for z/OS Security Exit Routines and their role in strengthening enterprise data protection and access control strategies. Attendees will gain insight into how security exit routines can be used to enhance auditing\, authorization\, and security governance within DB2 for z/OS environments. The session will examine practical considerations for implementing and managing security exits as part of broader cybersecurity and compliance initiatives on the mainframe. \nSpeaker: Emil Kotrc \nRegister Here!
URL:https://planetmainframe.com/event/safeguarding-your-data/
LOCATION:Zoom – Virtual Meeting
CATEGORIES:Virtual Db2,Virtual User Groups
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://planetmainframe.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Db2-Oct-20-2026.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20261022T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20261022T133000
DTSTAMP:20260625T021846
CREATED:20250910T150753Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260611T203604Z
UID:10000082-1792668600-1792675800@planetmainframe.com
SUMMARY:Virtual CICS User Group | CICS Security Discovery
DESCRIPTION:Many CICS environments continue to rely heavily on transaction-level security\, often resulting in users retaining access privileges that are no longer appropriate for their current roles. This session will provide an end-to-end overview of the CICS Security Discovery workflow and demonstrate how the tooling can help organizations better understand and modernize security configurations within production CICS regions. Attendees will learn how Security Discovery analyzes existing security definitions and production usage patterns to identify user roles\, application access\, command usage\, and resource permissions. The session will also include a live demonstration of the Security Discovery Explorer Editor and show how organizations can generate actionable to-do lists to support security modernization and zero trust initiatives. \nSpeaker: John Taylor\, IBMJohn Taylor is a CICS TS developer based at the Hursley labs in the UK. \nRegister Here!
URL:https://planetmainframe.com/event/cics-security-discovery/
LOCATION:Zoom – Virtual Meeting
CATEGORIES:Virtual CICS,Virtual User Groups
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://planetmainframe.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CICS-Oct-22-2026.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20261117T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20261117T133000
DTSTAMP:20260625T021846
CREATED:20250910T151912Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250911T133827Z
UID:10000090-1794915000-1794922200@planetmainframe.com
SUMMARY:Virtual Db2 User Group | November 17\, 2026
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://planetmainframe.com/event/virtual-db2-user-group-november-17-2026/
LOCATION:Zoom – Virtual Meeting
CATEGORIES:Virtual Db2,Virtual User Groups
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20261215T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20261215T133000
DTSTAMP:20260625T021846
CREATED:20250910T153141Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250911T133806Z
UID:10000098-1797334200-1797341400@planetmainframe.com
SUMMARY:Virtual IMS User Group | December 15\, 2026
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://planetmainframe.com/event/virtual-ims-user-group-december-15-2026/
LOCATION:Zoom – Virtual Meeting
CATEGORIES:Virtual IMS,Virtual User Groups
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