VirtualZ Computing Recognized on 2025 CRN® Storage 100 List

Selected for Zaac™, the company’s breakthrough innovation in software-defined storage for instant mainframe storage

VirtualZ Computing, a leading provider of modern data access solutions for hybrid cloud environments, announced that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has included VirtualZ on its prestigious annual Storage 100 list in the software-defined storage category.

The CRN Storage 100 spotlights storage vendors advancing innovation, delivering cutting-edge technology and supporting high-impact strategic partnerships. Selected by the CRN editorial team, each company on the list was chosen for its dedication to bringing best-in-class storage offerings to the channel.

The Storage 100 list serves as a valuable resource for solution providers looking to optimize their portfolios with critical storage technology in areas such as software-defined storage, data protection, management and resilience, and storage hardware components.

“We’re pleased to highlight the companies on the Storage 100 list for their commitment to working hand in hand with the channel to deliver transformational storage solutions,” said Jennifer Follett, VP, U.S. content and executive editor, CRN, at The Channel Company. “These technology vendors consistently prioritize meaningful storage innovation and evolving partner strategies that advance success for all parts of the channel ecosystem.”

VirtualZ Computing was selected for its breakthrough innovation in software-defined storage, specifically its patented solution, Zaac™ for instant mainframe storage, which enables IBM Z environments to seamlessly access and dynamically scale cloud-based storage — spinning it up or down on demand — as if it were a native direct access storage device (DASD). This advanced capability allows enterprises to significantly reduce storage costs, eliminate reliance on physical DASD and legacy tape, and extend mainframe performance and resilience into hybrid cloud environments without disruption.

“Perhaps most challenging to conventional thinking is the company’s Zaac solution, which allows mainframe applications to use cloud storage as if it were native DASD,” said Dale Vile, Co-founder, Freeform Dynamics. “This brings the kind of flexible storage options that distributed systems have enjoyed for years to the mainframe world, but without compromising on the platform’s renowned security and reliability characteristics.”

Additionally, VirtualZ’s tape to cloud migration solution, built on the PropelZ™ platform, provides a no-code, automated path to modern, scalable storage. VirtualZ’s ability to deliver secure, cost-effective, and future-ready storage solutions for mission-critical systems is driving measurable outcomes for organizations accelerating their modernization journeys.

"PropelZ is a very straightforward install,” said Jerry Edgington, solutions and innovation consultant at Mainline Information Systems. “You create the ZFS, upload it, un-tar it, and it's ready to go.”

“We’re honored to be named to CRN’s 2025 Storage 100,” said Jeanne Glass, founder and CEO of VirtualZ. “Zaac is redefining storage in IBM Z environments—delivering cloud flexibility with mainframe-grade integrity. This recognition reinforces the value our innovation brings to enterprises modernizing for hybrid cloud.”

Coverage of the CRN Storage 100 list can be found at www.crn.com/storage100.

About VirtualZ Computing

VirtualZ Computing™ empowers organizations to innovate and thrive in hybrid cloud environments by delivering easy, consistent, and secure access to their most valuable resource: their data. Running applications across a mixture of mainframe, cloud, and distributed environments proposes many hurdles that introduce added costs, time, data inaccuracies, and security risks. VirtualZ enables organizations to access from any platform, anywhere, and to leverage that data to power better applications and experiences.

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company (TCC) is the global leader in channel growth for the world’s top technology brands. We accelerate success across strategic channels for tech vendors, solution providers, and end users with premier media brands, integrated marketing and event services, strategic consulting, and exclusive market and audience insights. TCC is a portfolio company of investment funds managed by EagleTree Capital, a New York City-based private equity firm. For more information, visit thechannelco.com.

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© 2025 The Channel Company, Inc. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, Inc. All rights reserved.

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CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has included VirtualZ on its prestigious annual Storage 100 list in the software-defined storage category.