The Dawn of a New Era: IBM z17 Arrives, and PKWARE is Ready from Day One!

The mainframe landscape is evolving at an electrifying pace, and the arrival of the IBM z17 marks a significant leap forward. This new powerhouse isn’t just about raw processing power; it’s a fusion of cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities, fortified security measures, and a commitment to operational efficiency. For organizations relying on the unmatched reliability and scalability of the mainframe, the z17 promises to be a game-changer.

The z17 is packed with innovations designed to tackle the demands of the modern digital era:

• AI Revolution with Telum II and Spyre: At its heart, the z17 features the IBM Telum II processor with a second-generation on-chip AI accelerator, delivering a remarkable 50% increase in AI inference throughput compared to its predecessor. This allows for real-time AI processing directly on the mainframe for tasks like fraud detection and transaction analysis. Looking ahead, the IBM Spyre Accelerator, a new PCIe card expected later in 2025, will further amplify AI capabilities, especially for generative AI workloads, all while keeping sensitive data securely on the platform.
• Smarter Software with watsonx Integration: IBM is doubling down on AI across its software stack. IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z leverages generative AI to accelerate application modernization. IBM watsonx Assistant for Z, integrated with Z Operations Unite, brings AI-powered incident detection and resolution. Furthermore, upcoming features like AI-assisted test automation promise to streamline development and testing processes.
• Fortified Security in the AI Age: The z17 embeds security deeply, utilizing AI for proactive threat detection and anomaly identification. It also aims for AI-based data classification to enhance data protection. The introduction of IBM Vault for identity-based secrets management and the integration of quantum-safe cryptography future-proof data against emerging threats. Complementing this is IBM Threat Detection for z/OS, an AI-driven solution designed to identify malicious activities.
• Boosting Operational Efficiency: The z17 ecosystem includes tools like IBM Z Operations Unite, which centralizes operational data and uses AI for automation, significantly reducing alert investigation times. IBM Z IntelliMagic Vision for z/OS now provides deeper insights into the z17’s performance, including the new Spyre accelerator. Tools like the COBOL Upgrade Advisor for z/OS simplify the adoption of the latest mainframe technologies. Moreover, the z17 is designed with improved energy efficiency.
• Seamless Hybrid Cloud Integration: Recognizing the reality of modern IT landscapes, the z17 is built for seamless integration into hybrid cloud environments, ensuring workload portability and consistent security and resilience. The upcoming z/OS 3.2 is anticipated to further enhance support for hybrid cloud data environments.

For over three decades, PKWARE has been a trusted innovator in the mainframe software space. We understand the critical role the mainframe plays in enterprise operations, and we’re committed to providing cutting-edge data compression, encryption, and protection solutions for z/OS. That’s why we’re proud to announce Day One Support for both IBM z/OS 3.2 and the powerful new IBM z17 mainframe across our entire product portfolio!

This immediate compatibility ensures that our customers can seamlessly transition to the new z17 environment without any disruption to their critical data management and security processes. Our flagship solutions – PKZIP for z/OS, PK Encrypt for Z, and the newly launched PK Protect for z/OS – are fully optimized to leverage the advanced capabilities.

The IBM z17 represents a significant step into the future of mainframe computing, and PKWARE is proud to be right there with you from the start. Our Day One Support underscores our commitment to the mainframe platform and our dedication to providing our customers with the most advanced and compatible data management and security solutions.