University of California, Santa Barbara, Selects ATERAS to Transform the Legacy Software AG Mainframe-Based Student Information System to Microsoft .NET Framework

DALLAS, Feb. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ATERAS announced today that it has been selected by the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), to perform conversion and modernization services for over 20 of UCSB's legacy mainframe-applications including its mission-critical Student Information System from SAG Natural/ADABAS to Microsoft C#/SQL Server. The applications include 1,350,000 ADABAS records, 1,250,000 lines of Natural code, and support over 85,000 users, including students, applicants, and employees.

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The UCSB RFP process invited 22 vendors to participate. Of these participants only ATERAS and one other vendor met the comprehensive set of requirements to continue to the Proof of Concept (POC) stage of the selection process.  Following a thorough analysis of the POC process, ATERAS was chosen based on the best overall score and the completeness of their solution.  The measured evaluation criteria included legacy modernization expertise, technology relevant experience, ratio of automated solution to manual effort, ability to meet strong architectural requirements, ability and track record to deliver timely and a cost effective solution, credible references, vendor flexibility to adapt to scope change, technical support, and Proof of Concept performance results.

ATERAS will leverage the power of its patent pending transformation tool suite, and proven delivery methodology. This combination will enable the execution of a quality, efficient, flexible, and timely project, as required by UCSB. Improving the look and feel of the current green screen user interface is a requirement along with maintaining existing logic and functionality of the Natural programs. The resulting web applications are truly native, taking full advantage of the Microsoft software stack (Windows, SQL Server, Visual Studio, Team Foundation Server, etc).  The .NET Framework solution exploits the features of ASP.NET, ADO.NET, C# and object-oriented design.

The inclusion of NeoBatch from ATERAS' strategic partner, Alchemy Solutions, will provide an environment for managing and executing jobs under the Windows .NET Framework. The result is a high performance platform that satisfies the requirements of UCSB.

The UCSB mainframe-based systems being modernized, used primarily by the Office of Admissions and the Registrar's Office, are the core back-end to many front end, web-based applications (Microsoft .Net Framework) used by UCSB students, staff, faculty, parents, community members, alumni, applicants, etc.  The transformation will consolidate all core student information related systems into one standardized Microsoft .NET framework, eliminating all costs associated with the mainframe, improving computing efficiencies, and enabling lower cost, higher quality, and easier maintainability of UCSB IT systems.

About ATERAS

ATERAS, a market leader in the legacy modernization niche, has supported global enterprises for 27 years, offering state-of-the art services that exploit automation for transforming legacy applications and databases into modern, sustainable technologies.  Core competencies include transformations from ADSO, COBOL, Natural, VSAM, IDMS, IMS, ADABAS to C#, Java, COBOL, DB2, SQL Server, and Oracle.  In conjunction with the company's patent-pending automated technologies, ATERAS' Application Portfolio Management (APM) solutions and Application code understanding range from Assessments of existing IT environments, enterprise field expansion, COBOL and Natural workbenches to automated documentation tools. Information at www.ateras.com

About University of California Santa Barbara

An integral part of the ten-campus University of California system, UC Santa Barbara is an internationally recognized leader in teaching and research, and is distinguished by its interdisciplinary programs and a commitment to innovation. With an enrollment of 22,000 and a 1,166-member faculty, UCSB is one of only 63 research-intensive institutions elected to membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities. The faculty includes five Nobel Laureates, winners of the Millennium Technology Prize and Fields Medal, dozens of Guggenheim and Fulbright fellows, and scores of elected members or fellows of elite national and international academies and associations. The campus is also home to 12 national centers and institutes, eight of them sponsored by the National Science Foundation. U.S. News and World Report's guide, "America's Best Colleges," ranks UCSB number 9 among all public universities in the nation.

SOURCE ATERAS