Unlocking the value of legacy systems through mainframe data modernization doesn't have to be difficult or expensive. IIS’s Katana converts mainframe datasets to common data formats in seconds using standard tools with no need for mainframe skills.
This article explores how you can use IIS Katana to expedite data migrations, enable seamless integration of mainframe application data with native cloud data services, and process old data with modern analytic tools to gain new insights.
Reduce the Cost of Sharing Data Between Mainframe and the Cloud with Data Modernization
Mainframe data is proprietary. It is encoded differently, structured differently, and not even stored as a file but rather a dataset.
As a result, transforming legacy mainframe datasets into file formats that modern cloud applications can use, a.k.a. mainframe data modernization has been a difficult and expensive process.
Still, organizations maintain treasure troves of archived data that can be mined for new use cases, insights, and training models – but only if using open platforms and modern analytic AI/ML tools.
Most enterprises continue to use mainframe technology for transaction processing because, well, that’s the way it’s always been. Each company’s systems are optimized to handle their proprietary datasets.
Plus, the historical investment/sunk costs into existing mainframe infrastructure, coupled with the expenses of undergoing a digital transformation and the sheer volume of decades of legacy data put cloud migration out of reach for many organizations.
So, mainframes continue to play an integral part in enterprise computing. Yet, the technology is beyond legacy – it’s approaching end-of-life. The hardware is outdated and the talent to run a mainframe environment is becoming increasingly scarce and more expensive as the people with the skills to build and maintain them leave the workforce.
And everyone concurs that the cost to process transactional data on a mainframe is significantly higher than in the cloud.
A mainframe data modernization is needed to expedite the transformation and movement of siloed data off the mainframe where it can be leveraged by modern storage and analytics tools in the cloud.
Ideally, that solution would convert mainframe datasets to most any common data format in seconds. It would use standard tools and thus not require special mainframe skills, and it would not consume any MIPS (millions of instructions per second).
That solution is IIS Katana.
Mainframe Data Modernization with Katana: Any Cloud, Any File Format
IIS Katana transforms mainframe datasets into common data formats in seconds using standard tools without need for mainframe programming skills.
It enables the quick and seamless integration of mainframe application data with cloud data services such as analytics, AI/ML, and GenAI.
The Katana approach differs from other mainframe data conversion tools in that all the heavy lifting is done on the cloud side. Users transfer all data in its raw format from the mainframe to the cloud.
Any type of data manipulation – conversion, updating, reformatting, processing – is performed in the cloud where compute resources are cheap, skills are abundant, and modern tools already exist.
The Benefits of Data Modernization with IIS Katana
- Platform agnostic. Easily integrate data with any storage target or cloud. IIS Katana readies data for AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, IBM, Oracle, an on-prem server or a private cloud.
- Cost efficient. Katana does not impact mainframe performance or consume any MIPS; all data manipulation and transformation is performed in the cloud.
- Speed. Execute a simple command specifying input file, copybook, and requested output format, and Katana converts the data into the requested file format in seconds.
- Scalable. Katana’s highly customizable and scalable Apache Spark-based architecture grows with your business over time. Quickly add compute resources with just a few clicks to meet demand.
- Versatile. Katana is a universal solution; it supports any type of mainframe data for conversion (fixed, variable, COBOL, etc.), and can transform the data into most any modern file format including CSV, Json, Parquet, and more – all managed through a familiar Linux server.
- Simple. No mainframe skills are required to run Katana. There is no special talent to acquire and keep on staff; common cloud engineering skills are all that’s needed.
Interested in Mainframe Data Modernization?
With IIS Katana, mainframe data modernization becomes a seamless process, allowing you to apply modern analytics to legacy data quickly and affordably.
Get in touch with us to schedule a virtual demonstration and learn how to bring your mainframe data into the 21st century with IIS Katana.
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