COBOL: Modernization Without the Myths

COBOL remains a cornerstone of global business operations. It powers 70% of the world’s business transaction processing across various industries, including banking, insurance, travel, retail, and government. 

However, running COBOL that has not been modernized, combined with outdated engineering tools and practices, can slow innovation, increase operational risk, and expose systems to today’s security threats. Organizations with COBOL at their core can no longer afford to operate on outdated applications and systems, or take unnecessary and expensive risks with application rewrite projects. 

For many people, COBOL's reputation is clouded by persistent myths and misunderstandings. Even those familiar with the language may judge it based on how it looked and operated over 30 years ago.

Listen to the recording to learn about:

• How COBOL has stood the test of time and continues to deliver value.
• The biggest challenges enterprises face with COBOL today.
• Best practices and tools for successful modernization.
• How AI is reshaping modernization strategies.
   

Webinar recordings

Why COBOL still matters and Rocket’s commitment

Discover why COBOL remains foundational to global commerce and how Rocket is investing to keep it current. Phil Buckellew explains COBOL’s enduring value, Rocket’s strategic vision, and how industry-standard tools, Agile/DevOps, and GenAI can boost the delivery of new business value. Watch to understand how COBOL stays relevant today and hear about the future of Rocket^® COBOL.

Moderator: Lisa Martin, Tech TV Presenter, Tech Expert for iHeartRadio
Speaker: Phil Buckellew, President of Infrastructure Modernization Business Unit, Rocket Software
 

Modernization approach, challenges, and Rocket^® Visual COBOL^® latest release 

A practical, non-disruptive path to modernization. Scot Nielsen shows why COBOL apps are core IP, how to tailor modernization to your goals, and why rewrites are often counterproductive. Dive into the latest release features, including Cloud ARM support and GenAI-driven context for faster development and troubleshooting. See the real-world outcomes: faster engineering, API enablement, and running COBOL on today’s platforms.

Moderator: Lisa Martin, Tech TV Presenter, Tech Expert for iHeartRadio
Speaker:  Scot Nielsen, Vice President of Product Management, Rocket Software

Pragmatic modernization and risk management

A grounded view on avoiding hype and rewriting traps. Steven Dickens argues that legacy challenges come from people, processes, and tooling, not COBOL itself. He emphasizes platform choice, continuous hygiene, and DevOps integration. Learn how to prioritize work using non-functional requirements like cost, availability, security, and ESG to keep COBOL current without chasing language fads.

Moderator: Lisa Martin, Tech TV Presenter, Tech Expert for iHeartRadio
Speaker: Steven Dickens, CEO and Principal Analyst, HyperFRAME Research