Mainframe Security Solutions: Protecting z/OS Data

Organizations running on IBM z/OS face obstacles in identifying where sensitive data is. Further, there are challenges in understanding how the enterprise is using it when it moves beyond the mainframe. This lack of visibility can trigger compliance risk, but you can implement comprehensive mainframe security solutions to resolve this.

What happens when mainframe data leaves z/OS? If you can’t answer that question, you have security and compliance gaps.

You can streamline this process with application and critical data element discovery. With these capabilities, you’ll meet regulatory mandates and avoid fines for noncompliance.

Enhancing visibility across your z/OS data helps you dig through data that’s been accumulating for decades. Automated discovery provides a streamlined and consistent way to be aware of sensitive data’s current environment.

Also, look for a system that supports SBOM (software bill of materials) creation. You’ll save time during audits and receive crucial insights into sensitive data elements.

Data leaks are another risk factor with z/OS data. The key is to add automated encryption to proactively prevent exposure when data moves in and out of the mainframe.

Development and test environments and AI models also introduce exposure risk. It’s critical to de-identify production data to enable safe use in lower environments and to secure sensitive data before it enters AI models. This facilitates consistent governance and allows you to gain more value from your data while minimizing risk.

The road to mainframe modernization and migration can have many detours. It’s a considerable project with many dependencies and considerations.

Integrating with the cloud rather than moving off the z/OS entirely has become a favored approach. Before you do this, you’ll need mainframe security solutions that:

• Scan and harvest mainframe metadata, which averts any potential exposure during cloud migrations.
• Map legacy data to compliant cloud storage structures.With these features, you can ensure protection of your data, simplify auditing, and strengthen your long-term governance.

When evaluating different options for security solutions for the mainframe, be sure to prioritize these things.

Precise Application Datasets Discovery

z/OS data sets are often unstructured, binary data streams that lack field headers. Accurate discovery is a challenge, but a solution that leverages application data definitions and copybooks to locate sensitive information allows for precise discovery.

With this approach, you can eliminate manual mapping and always be audit-ready.

Persistent Encryption

When data is on the mainframe, IBM Pervasive Encryption secures it, but what happens when the data inevitably needs to be distributed? When data leaves the environment, z/OS security is no longer intact. Transfer protocols do encrypt data in motion. However, when data reaches its destination, it’s not protected. This approach to data security across platforms is fragmented and introduces risk into your enterprise.

To reduce the possibility of exposure, persistent encryption remains with the data no matter where it goes.

Mainframe data compliance can be difficult without the proper technology and approach. Fines can be staggering, which is why organizations must be vigilant.

A large U.S. financial company was facing a PCI DSS 4.0 compliance deadline. To prevent penalties, they deployed our mainframe data security solution to scan 504 million VSAM records. This uncovered 422 million credit card numbers and 450 million Social Security numbers, 88% of which were vulnerable and at risk.

By using a solution designed for mainframe data, they were able to identify sensitive information and secure it. Their ability to maintain compliance helped them avoid an estimated $150 million in potential fines.

Regulatory agencies are considering or will be implementing changes to data security requirements. Be aware of these upcoming new rules:

• HIPAA: The Data Security and Privacy rules changes could be final by May 2026. They include new provisions for mandatory encryption at rest and in transit, along with cybersecurity practices.
• FISMA: A comprehensive review becomes mandatory in September 2026, requiring adherence to the NIST framework (800-171, 800-53), risk-based classification, and Zero Trust architecture implementation.

These rules will apply to mainframe data.

Regulatory agencies are considering or will be implementing changes to data security requirements. Be aware of these upcoming new rules:

• HIPAA: The Data Security and Privacy rules changes could be final by May 2026. They include new provisions for mandatory encryption at rest and in transit, along with cybersecurity practices.
• FISMA: A comprehensive review becomes mandatory in September 2026, requiring adherence to the NIST framework (800-171, 800-53), risk-based classification, and Zero Trust architecture implementation.

These rules will apply to mainframe data.

The mainframe ecosystem can be complex and full of hidden risk. To protect your enterprise on all fronts, PK Protect has a special application just for the mainframe.

Explore all its functionality and benefits and request your demo today.