LzLabs

LzLabs Software Defined Mainframe

Cloud

LzLabs and T-Systems Team Up to Drive Mainframe Transformation

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Teaming Agreement in DACH region supports enterprises in mainframe transformation and modernization journey with the LzLabs Software Defined Mainframe®

Zurich, 28 May 2020 –  LzLabs today announced an Agreement with T-Systems, one of the world-leading cross-manufacturer digital service providers, with the objective of offering customers a unique path to mainframe rehosting and transformation.

This new collaboration enables T-Systems to extend its current portfolio of mainframe services and options and to offer the LzLabs Software Defined Mainframe®(LzSDM). Working together, the two companies are already working on a number of client projects and initiatives designed to offer existing mainframe users the ability to “move and improve” legacy mainframe applications.

The relationship will form part of T-Systems’ European trademarked zFuture Program. This includes a range of services and knowledge both companies offer to help clients transform their mainframe applications.T-Systems as integrator orchestrates all activities in each customer’s application, including those running on LzSDM, and thus fully supports the customer’s journey to digitization and the Cloud.

Once migrated to LzSDM, mainframe workloads benefit from the unparalleled flexibility, reliability, and availability of cloud platforms, and customers gain the agility benefits of managing these applications using modern DevOps orchestration tools.

Enterprises also benefit from LzSDM’s unique ability to allow mainframe and rehosted applications on Open Systems to co-exist and interoperate, reducing disruption and risk. In addition, incremental application modernization opportunities and integrated compilation options within LzSDM enable acceleration of application maintenance as well as re-write initiatives.

At T-Systems everything comes from one source: from secure operation of existing systems and conventional IT and telecommunication services to transformation into the cloud, including international networks. As part of the agreement, T-Systems will provide systems integration services and ongoing support for qualification and assessment, through to discovery, transformation and, ultimately, taking customers into production on LzSDM, operating LzSDM within their different cloud offerings as an independent Cloud provider.

As organizations seek to integrate legacy applications with modern enterprise computing practices based on Linux and in the cloud, T-Systems and LzLabs customers now have the option to migrate applications, without recompilation or data reformatting, to LzSDM in modern and cloud-based environments.

“Enterprises across the world are under pressure to become cloud-enabled at their core, and through collaborations like this we are leading the charge to support and empower these customers” said Mark Cresswell, CEO, LzLabs. “Welcoming T-Systems into our growing ecosystem is an important milestone for the growth of LzSDM adoption across Europe and beyond”.

“We want to enable more choices for our customers when it comes to the transformation of their mainframe applications” said Andreas Greis, Senior Vice President Digital Solutions T-Systems.“In doing so we are driving the business of our customers forward – whether via replatform, rehost or refactor projects, in line with the Gartner Legacy Modernization Model. The appropriate way depends on the individual customer situation. This collaboration provides our customers with a powerful cloud-native rehosting solution to push efficiencies and agility within their mainframe portfolio”.

LzLabs signs agreement with Capgemini’s Business Unit Spain to drive mainframe application modernization for clients

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Systems integration agreement supports the customer journey from mainframe to open systems and the cloud

Zurich, 19 March 2020 – LzLabs today announced that it has signed an agreement with Capgemini’s Business Unit Spain, part of the Capgemini Group, a global leader in consulting, consulting services and digital transformation, to support its customers in their implementation of LzLabs Software Defined Mainframe® (LzSDM®).

As part of the agreement, Capgemini’s Business Unit Spain will provide technical systems integration services on joint projects with LzLabs to support customers throughout their mainframe migration journey to the cloud. Their services will support qualification and assessment, through to discovery and, ultimately, taking customers into production on LzSDM.

Many of the world’s largest enterprises have struggled to incorporate legacy mainframe applications and data into their “cloud-first” initiatives. One aim of this agreement is to help customers become cloud-enabled at their core. Using LzSDM, customers now have the option to migrate applications, without recompilation or data reformatting, to architectures such as the Capgemini Cloud Platform.

Once migrated to LzSDM, customers gain the agility benefits of managing their legacy mainframe applications using modern DevOps orchestration tools. Enterprises also benefit from LzSDM’s unique ability to allow mainframe and rehosted applications on Open Systems to co-exist and interoperate. In addition, incremental application modernization opportunities and integrated compilation options within LzSDM enable tangible acceleration of application maintenance as well as re-write initiatives.

LzLabs and Capgemini have a number of joint LzSDM engagements currently in progress. As the latest LzLabs global strategic partner, Capgemini joins a growing number of global systems integrators in collaborating with LzLabs to deliver open innovation for organizations reliant on applications currently residing on mainframes.

“We are excited to partner with global leaders in systems integration such as Capgemini, who are truly aligned in supporting our mission to help customers become cloud-enabled at their core.” Said Mark Cresswell, CEO, LzLabs. “We already have a number of joint projects in progress and are delighted to be able to offer customers the unparalleled level of expertise that Capgemini is renowned for”, he continued.

“This partnership will be very useful for our clients, who demand the best solutions to be able to move to into a new agile world. Lzlabs and Capgemini have a great opportunity to offer the best solution in efficiency and agility in a world moving to the cloud”, said Jesús Garrán, COO of the Spain Business Unit, Capgemini.

LzLabs forms Alliance with KPMG to smooth UK organizations’ mainframe journey to the cloud

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LzLabs partners with KPMG to advise senior business and IT leaders on legacy IT transformation

Zurich, 2 October 2019 – LzLabs today announced it has signed an Alliance Agreement with KPMG UK, the professional services firm, to offer Advisory, Risk, Deal consultancy and other services to UK customers seeking to modernize legacy IT. The Alliance will enable KPMG and LzLabs to help businesses better understand, plan and deliver such projects, specifically positioning KPMG’s advisory capabilities and LzLabs Software Defined Mainframe® (SDM) as an integral path to mainframe modernization.

As organizations seek to integrate legacy applications with modern enterprise computing practices based on Linux and in the cloud, global advisory firms have an opportunity to guide and advise senior IT leaders in the development of appropriate technology strategies leading to business and technology simplification, cost and risk reduction whilst accelerating their digital transformations.

KPMG will advise on target architecture and transformation program design, full business case justification, sourcing, service and cloud integration strategies, risk analysis and due diligence with a focus on client value and return on investment.

Mark Cresswell, CEO of LzLabs, said: “This Alliance has emerged in response to the increasing demand, we have both seen, from organizations looking to modernize their core systems.”

Phil Crozier, Partner at KPMG UK, said: “The combination of LzLabs technology and KPMG’s advisory proposition allows us to unlock clients from legacy mainframe applications and data and accelerate their approach to digital transformation.”

 

Why is the mainframe holding organizations back from modernization? The results of the LzLabs and Microsoft Mainframe Modernization Survey are in…

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15 October 2018

Mark Cresswell, CEO, LzLabs

In conjunction with Microsoft we recently commissioned Vanson Bourne, a well-respected survey organization, to talk to 500 senior IT executives across almost that many companies using mainframe technology. In respect of statistical significance, this survey base is well in excess of 10% of the worldwide user base of high-end mainframe computers.

The survey reveals significant concerns around mainframe skills, barriers to modernization of core applications and the associated business risk this lack of agility creates.

Barriers to innovation

When a company’s core applications run Intel architectures, using the Linux operating system, the door is open to a world of Open-Source innovation. The effort across a range of open source projects, aimed at altering the fundamental trajectory of modern application development, is quite remarkable. This energy and innovation is almost entirely absent on mainframes.

So, it’s easy to understand why 96% of global IT leaders say Open-Source is strategic to future development and 71% say the mainframe is holding them back from innovation.

A looming skills crisis

Over 80% were concerned about lack of skills within their mainframe organization, and a staggering 56% said they had no succession plan for mainframe skills. The looming lack of mainframe-skilled IT professionals represents a major risk to many traditional business. These mainframe systems are often mission critical – almost all financial transactions touch a mainframe at some point in their journey. Without the skills in place to support them, these fundamental areas of the business could be in serious jeopardy in the near future.

A significant risk to business

77% of respondents believe they should have already started their mainframe modernization process to avoid being at risk.

This risk has two dimensions. Firstly, running core applications on a platform with a dwindling supply of skilled support personnel; when things go wrong, who are you going to call?

Secondly, borne on the web companies, with none of this mainframe baggage, can simply out-innovate their competitors. And a in a rapidly digitalizing world, this matters.

The tipping point

It is clear the individuals in the survey are aware of the broader implications of keeping legacy applications on a mainframe.

Yet for many, procrastination has set in. They are stuck between a rock and a hard place; they know they have to move, but the skills and technology required to make the move has been sadly lacking.

But the day of reckoning is coming. As pretty soon the skills shortage is going to bite hard, and the inability to innovate on these core applications will cost these companies real revenue.

 

 

LzLabs Partners with Microsoft Azure to Liberate Customer Mainframe Applications for Cloud Deployment

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Enables Seamless Shift from Mainframe to Cloud Platforms

By LzLabs GmbH, Zürich, Switzerland

Zurich, 14 March 2016 – LzLabs and Microsoft Azure today announced that they will partner to provide cloud delivery for the LzLabs Software Defined Mainframe®; a technology solution that will enable customers to move their legacy mainframe applications and data seamlessly to Linux- based cloud platforms.

Microsoft Azure will be the preferred cloud provider for LzLabs’ customers requiring cloud hosting of their Software Defined Mainframe and cloud delivery of their migrated mainframe applications. Microsoft will assist with the migration and support of mainframe customers transitioning to the Microsoft Azure Cloud.

Microsoft and LzLabs will also partner for joint marketing initiatives including seminars and customer events, commencing with co-branding at the LzLabs CeBIT 2016 stand (Hall 6, Swiss Pavilion, Stand D30).

“The mainframe is the last bastion of proprietary computing and the prospect that customers can be freed through the Software Defined Mainframe is a cause of celebration,” says Dr. Bernd Kiupel, Business Group Lead Cloud & Enterprise Microsoft Switzerland. “We are delighted that LzLabs has selected Microsoft Azure as its cloud partner and points to the scalability, flexibility and security that we deliver. We will be working closely with LzLabs in the migration of the mainframe customers to the bright future of cloud.”

LzLabs’ solution solves the legacy mainframe application problem where over 3000 of the world’s largest companies have no escape from expensive and outdated application architectures, which still power 70% of the world’s commercial transactions.

“Microsoft is hugely respected in the datacentres of the world’s largest companies and was the natural cloud partner of choice for us,” explains Thilo Rockmann, Chairman of LzLabs. “Customers can have complete confidence that in migrating their applications to the LzLabs Software Defined MainframeTM they will experience a seamless service with the reassurance that Microsoft Azure delivers the most reliable, available and secure cloud service.”

At CeBIT 2016, LzLabs is exhibiting in the Swiss Pavilion
(Hall 6, Stand D30, Center Row – Booth #201)

About the Software Defined Mainframe

LzLabs Software Defined Mainframe® enables both Linux and Cloud infrastructure to process thousands of transactions per second, while maintaining enterprise requirements for reliability, scalability, serviceability and security. This software solution includes a faithful re-creation of the primary online, batch and database environments, which enables unrivaled compatibility and exceptional performance, to dramatically reduce IT costs.

About Legacy Applications

With over 70 percent of commercial transactions occurring on mainframe-based systems, organisations have become dependent on legacy applications stuck behind outdated application programming interfaces (APIs). Historically, these organizations have been forced to abandon compatibility with the mainframe in order to move legacy applications and data to Linux or the cloud. Abandoning compatibility makes migration very difficult as critical data will need to be converted and complex applications must be rewritten or recompiled and tested in a new environment. LzLabs Software Defined Mainframe protects customers’ investment in their business processes by eliminating recompilations of COBOL and PL/I programs, data conversion and complex testing.

LzLabs has developed a managed software container that provides enterprises with a viable way to migrate applications from mainframes onto Linux computers or private, public and hybrid cloud environments. When legacy application programs are placed into the container, the customers’ programs are enhanced to run on modern computers and decades-old APIs are exchanged for newer, more contemporary ones.

LzLabs’ software solution allows the executable form of legacy customer mainframe programs to operate without changes and without compromise to performance in a contemporary and cost- effective computing environment, and enables mainframe data to be written and read in its native formats. This new environment works without forcing recompilations of COBOL or PL/1 application programs or making complex changes to the enterprise business environment.