Agenda

GSE European Mainframe Modernization 2024

12 March 2024

08:00 - 09:00

Registration

09:00 - 09:15

GSE Opening

Peter Groth

President, GSE

Dr. Michael Weiß

Region Manager Germany, GSE

All day 1 Speakers

09:15 - 09:45

Elevator Pitches of day 1

All day 1 Speakers

While VS Code has become the tool of choice for developers on other platforms, mainframe developers have been shut out… until now. Powered by the free and open Code4z extension pack, VS Code is finally a real opportunity for mainframe application developers. Join this session to see real-world examples of VS Code-based workflows and productivity boosters, including how to navigate large, complex apps with ease. Learn why even career mainframe developers who have never used a tool other than 3270 are now calling VS Code a game changer.

09:45 - 10:10

Vendor Presentation: VS Code Powered by Code4z: A Real Game Changer

Kate Tumanova

Product Manager, Broadcom Mainframe Software

10:10 - 10:30

Coffee Break & Networking

The world is going faster and faster and we need to deliver software almost continuously. Within this speech we will talk about how we can help a mainframe developer to concentrate on programming and not on infrastructure in order to fasten the development process.

10:30 - 10:55

User Experience Slot: How Self Services can help to enhance the Developer Experience for Mainframe Development

Alexander L. Pawlik

Leader Delivery Process and Monitoring, HUK-COBURG

When considering how to Take Advantage of your Legacy Applications, the technical, financial and resource constraints are a deciding factor. What justification, approaches and added value are possible and appropriate for defining and securing the required budgets?

10:55 - 11:20

Vendor Presentation: Legacy IT and the Dark Art of Aircraft Maintenance

Donald Fitzgerald

Managing Director, EasiRun

Speaker 1 - 3 & moderator

11:20 – 12:00

Open Panel

Speaker 1 – 3 & moderator

12:00 - 13:00

Lunch & Connect

We at UBS Mainframe are transforming our mindsets to enable software delivery in an agile world. It is our goal to achieve this with DevOps tools, distributed versioning control systems and modern Integrated Development Environments. This is the key to not only find our next Generation of zTalents, but to keep them for the long run.

13:00 - 13:25

User Experience Slot: Zurich Mainframe - Quo vadis?

Roland Scholz

Mainframe Specialist, Zurich Insurance Group

With the ever-evolving landscape of IT infrastructure, it's crucial to leverage the robustness of mainframes while capitalizing on the agility of modern cloud technologies. But how do you break down the barriers that hinder collaboration and change between these platforms? Join us to learn strategies you can utilize to take your IT business into the next generation:

Understand and securely access mainframe data and utilizing it where needed to optimize costs, drive competitive advantage, and customer experience
What is needed to adopt DevOps principles and truly host applications where they best fit
Embracing technologies and frameworks like OTel, Containers, AI, REST APIs, and open-source tools to get the most value out of your IT

13:25 - 13:50

Vendor Presentation: Destruction of the island! How the mainframe will thrive in the years to come in the new world order of Hybrid Cloud.

With the ever-evolving landscape of IT infrastructure, it’s crucial to leverage the robustness of mainframes while capitalizing on the agility of modern cloud technologies. But how do you break down the barriers that hinder collaboration and change between these platforms? Join us to learn strategies you can utilize to take your IT business into the next generation:

Understand and securely access mainframe data and utilizing it where needed to optimize costs, drive competitive advantage, and customer experience
What is needed to adopt DevOps principles and truly host applications where they best fit
Embracing technologies and frameworks like OTel, Containers, AI, REST APIs, and open-source tools to get the most value out of your IT

Tim Willging

VP Engineering and Fellow, Rocket Software

The mainframe is still one of the most important components in large IT installations. At the same time, for many C-Level Managers it is a black box that costs a lot of money. Transparency in consumption and cost allocation is more relevant than ever. Mainframe modernization brings new life to the mainframe ecosystem. There has been a lot of focus on how to make the developer experience (Devx) better, introducing automation and AI into operations (AIOps) and bringing the mainframe to the cloud. In this session, we will talk about one of the more overlooked areas of mainframe modernization - Capacity Management. In addition to ensuring capacity can match consumption, cost allocation has been shown to have a positive impact on resource consumption, providing transparency into who is using resources at an operational, strategic and tactical level.

13:50 - 14:15

Vendor Presentation: Are you listening to your mainframe?

The mainframe is still one of the most important components in large IT installations. At the same time, for many C-Level Managers it is a black box that costs a lot of money.

Transparency in consumption and cost allocation is more relevant than ever.

Mainframe modernization brings new life to the mainframe ecosystem. There has been a lot of focus on how to make the developer experience (Devx) better, introducing automation and AI into operations (AIOps) and bringing the mainframe to the cloud.

In this session, we will talk about one of the more overlooked areas of mainframe modernization – Capacity Management. In addition to ensuring capacity can match consumption, cost allocation has been shown to have a positive impact on resource consumption, providing transparency into who is using resources at an operational, strategic and tactical level.

Ingrid Martin

Regional Sales Manager DACH, SMT DATA

Speaker 4 - 6 & moderator

14:15 - 15:00

Open Panel

Speaker 4 – 6 & moderator

15:00 - 15:30

Coffee Break & Networking

At first glance, mainframe and cloud computing seem to be rivals in the competition for the leading future IT architecture. But having a closer look, a lot of collaboration potential becomes visible. The R&D strategies of Beta Systems aim to strengthen the integration of z/OS mainframe systems into hybrid-cloud scenarios. The presentation addresses the use of new mainframe opportunities like zCX or AI execution in the context of enterprise wide solutions as well as upcoming compliance impacts on your enterprise IT.

15:30 - 15:55

Vendor Presentation: #touchthemainframe - New Opportunities for the mainframe today and tomorrow

At first glance, mainframe and cloud computing seem to be rivals in the competition for the leading future IT architecture. But having a closer look, a lot of collaboration potential becomes visible.

The R&D strategies of Beta Systems aim to strengthen the integration of z/OS mainframe systems into hybrid-cloud scenarios. The presentation addresses the use of new mainframe opportunities like zCX or AI execution in the context of enterprise wide solutions as well as upcoming compliance impacts on your enterprise IT.

Niels von der Hude

Director Development & Product Strategy DCI, Beta Systems DCI Software AG

Many IT specialists are not aware of the capabilities of a mainframe, and may not even know what it is. This attitude is similar to the 'muggles' in Harry Potter. Join me on a journey of petabytes, transactions, and MIPS, and let me show you how modern wiZards can develop using both traditional and modern tools to become the David Copperfield of the mainframe.

15:55-16:20

User Experience Slot: Mainframe for Muggles, how to be a modern wiZard

Many IT specialists are not aware of the capabilities of a mainframe, and may not even know what it is. This attitude is similar to the ‚muggles‘ in Harry Potter.
Join me on a journey of petabytes, transactions, and MIPS, and let me show you how modern wiZards can develop using both traditional and modern tools to become the David Copperfield of the mainframe.

Armin Kramer

Software Engineer, DATEV eG

The speaker will present the objectives when managing compliance. Topics include:

Data Privacy & Compliance
Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Definitions and Examples PII Violations Footprints & Forensics Privacy Laws The biggest data breaches
Main Principles of GDPR
Data Retention and Protection
DeePeo Software Solution

16:20 - 16:45

Vendor Presentation: Managing Compliance in the World of Converging Data Security and Privacy Policy

The speaker will present the objectives when managing compliance. Topics include:

Data Privacy & Compliance
Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
Definitions and Examples
PII Violations
Footprints & Forensics
Privacy Laws
The biggest data breaches
Main Principles of GDPR
Data Retention and Protection
DeePeo Software Solution

Colin Oakhill

Management Consultant, InSoft Infotel Software GmbH

16:45 - 17:00

Short Break

The mainframe is not an island. Many of today's organizations are deploying hybrid IT infrastructures that incorporate mainframes as an integral part of this hybrid technology landscape. Mainframe data is the 'blood' of your organization and should therefore also be a part of a hybrid IT infrastructure. To achieve this, mainframe data management needs to follow more modern paths, including the use of object storage in the cloud for - backups - analytical evaluations - and combating ransomware and other threats, as well as complying with regulations such as DORA.

17:00 - 17:25

Vendor Presentation: Over the Clouds... Mainframe Data in the Cloud and Cyber Resiliency for DORA

The mainframe is not an island. Many of today’s organizations are deploying hybrid IT infrastructures that incorporate mainframes as an integral part of this hybrid technology landscape.

Mainframe data is the ‚blood‘ of your organization and should therefore also be a part of a hybrid IT infrastructure.

To achieve this, mainframe data management needs to follow more modern paths, including the use of object storage in the cloud for

– backups

– analytical evaluations

– and combating ransomware and other threats, as well as complying with regulations such as DORA.

Peter Plevka

Field Manager Z Systems Solutions, BMC Software

David Lea

Senior Product Manager, BMC Software

Critical factors for successful infrastructure architectures in companies today are:

Automation due to a shortage of skilled workers
Security / resilience against cyber threats
Scalability and flexibility for existing and new workloads
Openness for AI integration

Cancom shows how the convergence of platform technologies can bring the mainframe back to the center of modern infrastructure concepts.

17:25 - 17:50

Vendor Presentation: Platform Convergence – A Game Changer for Innovative IT Infrastructure Concepts of the Future

Critical factors for successful infrastructure architectures in companies today are:

Automation due to a shortage of skilled workers
Security / resilience against cyber threats
Scalability and flexibility for existing and new workloads
Openness for AI integration

Cancom shows how the convergence of platform technologies can bring the mainframe back to the center of modern infrastructure concepts.

Oliver Parpart

Director Business Development IBM and Red Hat, CANCOM GmbH

Speaker 7 - 11 & moderator

17:50 - 18:45

Open Panel

Speaker 7 – 11 & moderator

18:45

End of Day 01

19:30 - 22:30

Dine & Connect (outside event)

13 March 2024

09:00 - 09:05

GSE Opening

Dr. Michael Weiß

Region Manager Germany, GSE

All day 2 Speakers

09:05 - 09:35

Elevator Pitches of day 2

All day 2 Speakers

You’re welcome to join an insightful journey through Marsh’s project to revitalize its core mainframe applications. The scope of our project was twofold: The revamping of the user interface, including the implementation of SSO (Single Sign On), but also the ability to connect to other core applications via the APIsation of some key components. An important KPI was the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) of the project, as well as the phased approach to implementation. We’ll talk about the project approach, the challenges that were solved and other situations that arose. We’ll discuss the choice of Virtel, an innovative software that revolutionizes our mainframe user experience. Prepare to see your mainframe through a new lens - a window to efficiency and user engagement.

09:35 - 10:00

User Experience Slot: How Marsh revitalized its core mainframe applications

An important KPI was the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) of the project, as well as the phased approach to implementation. We’ll talk about the project approach, the challenges that were solved and other situations that arose. We’ll discuss the choice of Virtel, an innovative software that revolutionizes our mainframe user experience.

Prepare to see your mainframe through a new lens – a window to efficiency and user engagement.

Olivier Vandromme

IT Director, Marsh

3270 screens display outdated and complex user interfaces. Why do many organizations still have a lot of them ? The reason could be the complexity, cost and risk associated with modernization projects. Virtel Screen Redesigner is a game changer that allows mainframe programmers to create a modern web interface without any coding. Discover how with our demo !

10:00 - 10:25

Vendor Presentation: Virtel Screen Redesigner, how to transform green screens into web pages without coding?

Sebastian Dewar

Technical Director, Virtel

10:25 - 10:50

Coffee Break & Networking

Discover how to unlock mainframe data using AWS Mainframe Modernization with Precisely. AWS Mainframe Modernization Precisely Data Replication replicates complex mainframe data to AWS for advanced analytics, machine learning, and seamless data migration with zero downtime. Precisely Data Replication is a critical component in mainframe migration projects (replatforming, refactoring and rewriting) and enables modernization initiatives to begin with a phased approach while keeping data in sync.

10:50 - 11:15

Vendor Presentation: Unblock mainframe data with AWS Mainframe Modernization Service and Precisely Connect

Precisely Data Replication is a critical component in mainframe migration projects (replatforming, refactoring and rewriting) and enables modernization initiatives to begin with a phased approach while keeping data in sync.

Charles Struijve

Senior Sales Engineer, Precisely

Speaker 12 - 14 & moderator

11:15 - 12:00

Open Panel

Speaker 12 – 14 & moderator

12:00 - 13:00

Lunch & Connect

13:00 - 13:25

User Experience Slot

Luca Beetz

Student, University FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg

21CS (formerly 21^st Century Software) is one of the largest IBM Z software developers. Modernizing our software portfolio is key to our mission and critical to make z/OS more accessible to the next generation of mainframe professionals. During this session 21CS will share our journey of mainframe modernization and talk about lessons learned in regards to writing mainframe software with modern tools, developing products leveraging the z/OSMF and Zowe ecosystems, and UI/UX design.

13:25 - 13:50

Vendor Presentation: Mainframe Modernization Lessons

Dylan Fawkes

Software Engineer, 21CS

In a world dominated by emerging technologies, the mainframe often finds itself as the misunderstood outsider, unable to integrate other IT ecosystems. At Zetaly, we think it's time to transform this narrative and present the mainframe as a valuable player in the modern IT landscape. Our presentation explores the metaphorical journey of the mainframe, from isolation to integration with observability.

Join us through the three crucial steps of observability: collect, enrich, and expose. Discover how we empower organizations to collect relevant data efficiently, free up storage, and process information outside the mainframe. The mainframe, once isolated, becomes an integral part of the larger IT infrastructure.

13:50 - 14:15

Vendor Presentation: The Observable Mainframe is the New Cool Kid: A Journey from Isolation to Integration

In a world dominated by emerging technologies, the mainframe often finds itself as the misunderstood outsider, unable to integrate other IT ecosystems. At Zetaly, we think it’s time to transform this narrative and present the mainframe as a valuable player in the modern IT landscape. Our presentation explores the metaphorical journey of the mainframe, from isolation to integration with observability.

Sami Chidiac

European Sales Manager, Zetaly

Speaker 15 - 17 & moderator

14:15 - 15:00

Open Panel

Speaker 15 – 17 & moderator

15:00 - 15:45

Coffee Break & Networking

Based on the experience gathered in over 40 mainframe modernization projects, ITM developed Njema, an integrated system, which addresses the complete range from code analysis to fully automated transformation, covering IBM- and 3rd-party-products, DB and DC systems, 3GL and 4GL languages, JCL and various schedulers, z/OS and VSE. It solves maintenance problems of historically grown mainframe applications and ensures a low-risk and smooth transition to new environments. Njema even transforms Assembler to well-readable, functionally identical Cobol - fully automatic! We will briefly explain how all this is accomplished - individual issues may be discussed offline.

15:45 - 16:10

Vendor Presentation: Do first things first: consolidate and modernize your IT application systems!

Based on the experience gathered in over 40 mainframe modernization projects, ITM developed Njema, an integrated system, which addresses the complete range from code analysis to fully automated transformation, covering IBM- and 3rd-party-products, DB and DC systems, 3GL and 4GL languages, JCL and various schedulers, z/OS and VSE.
It solves maintenance problems of historically grown mainframe applications and ensures a low-risk and smooth transition to new environments. Njema even transforms Assembler to well-readable, functionally identical Cobol – fully automatic!
We will briefly explain how all this is accomplished – individual issues may be discussed offline.

Ernst Fabel

Managing Director, IT Modernisation Services GmbH

The Fujitsu "House of Modernization" (近代化の家) was designed to support all aspects of our customers' modernization requirements. The path to a successful digitalization is above all also a challenging change process in the company, which Fujitsu supports with its holistic approach for modernizations. This enables us to finally guiding our customers into their new digitalization business.

16:10 - 16:35

Vendor Presentation: House of Modernization - A holistic approach far beyond the technology

The Fujitsu „House of Modernization“ (近代化の家) was designed to support all aspects of our customers‘ modernization requirements. The path to a successful digitalization is above all also a challenging change process in the company, which Fujitsu supports with its holistic approach for modernizations. This enables us to finally guiding our customers into their new digitalization business.

Jan Menne

Lead Consultant, Fujitsu

16:35 - 17:00

User Experience Slot

Speaker 18 - 20 & moderator

17:00 - 17:45

Open Panel

Speaker 18 – 20 & moderator

17:45 - 18:00

Summary & Closing

Peter Groth

President, GSE

Dr. Michael Weiß

Region Manager Germany, GSE

GSE Conference 2025

Agenda

GSE European Mainframe Modernization 2024

12 March 2024

13 March 2024