Archive Mainframe Data Securely
Keep Reports and Ensure Compliance with AvenDATA
From IBM z/OS and BS2000 through to bespoke in-house mainframe applications, we archive mainframe data from legacy systems of every generation and industry — from production control to financial accounting.
The Challenge
Historical mainframe data still matters — but reaching it is becoming harder every year.
As part of IT migrations, data centre consolidations or the phase-out of outdated infrastructures, companies regularly face a critical task.
Mainframe systems, often large-scale applications that have grown over decades with complex data structures, still contain relevant information for tax, legal or business purposes.
However, operating these systems is expensive: the hardware is ageing, licences are expiring and in-house expertise is disappearing.
Access to critical data becomes difficult or impossible, even though that data must remain available, analysable and audit-compliant.
This is exactly where AvenDATA comes in with its archiving solution for legacy mainframe systems.
Proven archiving solution
with more than 17 years of project experience
The archiving of mainframe systems has been continuously researched, developed and practically refined by AvenDATA for more than 17 years through dozens of decommissioning projects.
Based on our proven approach, we have been able to reliably and transparently answer all professional questions, audit enquiries and legal requests over the years.
The software used for this purpose, ViewBox, has established itself as a dependable research platform — equally at home in day-to-day audit work and in company-wide rollouts.
It is now used by more than 50 per cent of DAX companies, clear proof of its stability, flexibility and practical suitability at the highest level.
From Europe to Asia to North America and beyond, ViewBox is already in use worldwide.
Your mainframe reports live on as analysable reports
in ViewBox
We not only transfer all data from your mainframe system. We also ensure that you can continue to understand and use this data permanently in our ViewBox software.
This includes:
- Reproduction of relevant reports and business evaluations
- Implementation of individual customer-specific reports, including self-developed programs and lists
- Archiving of all relevant documents required for the traceability of reports, such as invoices, orders or postings
Even before the project begins, we work with you to define which reports and evaluations will be required in the future, whether for tax purposes, business analyses or legal requirements. In doing so, you benefit from our many years of experience gained from numerous mainframe decommissioning projects across a wide range of industries and business areas.
In ViewBox you can keep searching, analysing and evaluating these reports years after the mainframe has been decommissioned — completely independently of the original system.
Whether for audits, internal reviews or legal enquiries, you always have access to clearly structured and filterable reports without the need for mainframe licences or original systems.
Fast project execution
and significant economic benefits (measurable ROI)
even for large mainframe systems
The decommissioning of a mainframe system usually takes between one and six months, depending on system complexity and data volume. With our clearly structured and standardised approach, we can archive even very large systems efficiently and securely.
We have already successfully transferred systems with several terabytes of data into our archiving solution, including reports, individual programs and complete documentation.
Thanks to our established project methodology, our customers benefit from significant savings after only a short time. This applies in particular to licence costs for mainframe software, databases and operating systems, as well as to maintenance, infrastructure and internal resources.
In the vast majority of our projects, the return on investment is achieved in less than one year due to measurable savings in licences, infrastructure and internal effort.
Mainframe
System analysis
The first step in any mainframe system decommissioning project is a detailed analysis of your existing system. This analysis forms the basis for accurately estimating the project duration and costs involved in archiving your mainframe legacy system.
We assess both technical and business aspects, including:
- Access options to the mainframe system
- Type, structure and size of the database, for example IMS, DB2 or VSAM
- Scope and relevance of the available reports and applications
- Individual characteristics such as self-developed programs or interfaces
The results are summarised for you in a binding fixed-price offer, providing maximum planning and decision-making certainty.
Mainframe
Project archiving
After the system analysis has been completed, the actual project begins. It is structured, efficient and based on clearly defined milestones.
As part of a joint kick-off meeting, we clarify all organisational and technical conditions with your team. From this point onward, we take over the majority of the tasks for you:
- Setting up system access
- Exporting and transferring the relevant data
- Reproducing important reports and individual evaluations
- Documenting all steps to ensure audit compliance
Our experienced project managers accompany you throughout the entire process and ensure smooth execution with minimal resource requirements on your side.
At the end of the project, we run structured test and acceptance phases with you to ensure that all data has been archived completely, correctly and in a fully traceable way.
Mainframe
Archiving result
After the project is completed, all relevant tables, documents and reports from your mainframe system are transferred into our specially developed software solution ViewBox.
ViewBox is a web-based research system that provides you and authorised parties with fast, secure and traceable access to the archived information, even years after the system has been decommissioned.
A particular added value is that we reconstruct all important standard and individual reports, ensuring that business, tax or legal evaluations remain possible without the need for mainframe access.
Once ViewBox has been successfully implemented and accepted, the original system can be completely decommissioned.
At the end of the project, you receive comprehensive project documentation and procedural documentation that transparently presents every step, with particular focus on:
- The method of data transfer
- The structure of the archived content
- The test and acceptance phases carried out
In addition, we document every single step of the archiving process in our Jira ticket system in an audit-proof way, from the data export to the final acceptance and, if required, the later deletion of the source system. This ensures that third parties or auditors can always clearly understand how the archiving was carried out.
Software and research system ViewBox –
making archived mainframe data intelligently usable
With ViewBox, AvenDATA offers a powerful reading and research system that has been developed specifically for accessing data from decommissioned legacy systems.
Through an intuitive web interface, ViewBox enables fast searching, structured analysis and targeted provision of archived information without any need to access the original mainframe system.
ViewBox ensures that your data:
- Remains understandable and usable even years after decommissioning
- Is always available in an audit-proof way
- Is structured and ready for internal and external audit processes
One standout feature is automated data deletion. Based on defined retention periods, legacy data can be automatically and traceably deleted once legal or internal company requirements have expired.
The application is based on a certified cloud infrastructure and undergoes regular security and functionality tests. It can also be operated in an on-premises environment, depending on your individual compliance or IT requirements.
Ready for the
Next Step?
In a one-hour expert session, we will review your mainframe system together — whether it runs on COBOL, PL/I, Assembler, JCL or bespoke in-house developments.
We will show you live how to decommission your system efficiently while keeping the data available for long-term analysis. This includes:
- Alignment on data structure, data transfer and reporting
- A live demo of our ViewBox solution
- An explanation of how we replicate reports and individual evaluations
- A reliable assessment of effort, timeline and price
Transparency from the very beginning.
Our project proposals are based on clearly defined fixed prices with no renegotiations. Quality, reliability and a fair price-performance ratio are at the centre of what we deliver.
Book your free personal expert consultation now.
Quick Answers to Your Questions
Personal, no-obligation advice on mainframe archiving.
Personal, no-obligation advice on mainframe archiving.
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