Securing the Digital Core: Mainframe Security Best Practices

In today’s digital economy, mainframes continue to power mission-critical operations for financial institutions, healthcare providers, government agencies, and Fortune 500 enterprises. Yet, despite their reputation for unmatched reliability and performance, mainframes are not immune to modern cyber threats. With rising regulatory pressure, increased attack sophistication, and the growing need for secure data exchange, October’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the perfect time to revisit mainframe security best practices.

1. Prioritize Encryption Everywhere

Next to people, data is the most valuable asset an organization has, and protecting it is non-negotiable. Whether data is at rest in DB2, IMS, or VSAM files, or in transit across internal and external networks, encryption is a frontline defense. Regulations like PCI DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR mandate strong encryption to safeguard sensitive data and prevent costly breaches.

2. Strengthen Identity and Access Controls

The mainframe is often the hub of sensitive information. Implementing robust identity and access management (IAM) frameworks helps limit exposure. Best practices include multi-factor authentication, role-based access controls, and regular access reviews to detect privilege creep.

3. Monitor and Audit Continuously

Real-time monitoring of logs, network activity, and user behavior is essential to detect threats before they escalate. Mainframe SIEM integration ensures visibility across the enterprise, helping security teams correlate events and quickly respond to anomalies.

4. Patch, Update, and Harden Configurations

Even the most resilient platforms can be compromised if systems are not regularly patched. Applying vendor fixes, auditing configurations, and removing unused services are simple but effective ways to reduce risk.

5. Educate Teams on Security Culture

Technology alone cannot stop cybercrime. Regular training ensures employees and administrators remain vigilant against phishing, social engineering, and insider threats.

Why It Matters

The cost of a mainframe breach goes beyond financial penalties; it erodes customer trust and disrupts operations. Compliance frameworks exist to protect both businesses and their clients, and proactive security measures demonstrate leadership and responsibility.

The SDS Advantage

At Software Diversified Services (SDS), we’ve been helping organizations secure their mainframes for over four decades. Our solutions, including E-Business Server for encryption (EBS), VitalSigns SIEM Agent (VSA) for real-time monitoring, and other proven tools, are built to safeguard sensitive data and ensure compliance.

Designed to deliver industry-standard, high-performance encryption, SDS’s EBS  ensures your organization meets compliance requirements while maintaining operational efficiency.

VSA brings the mainframe into the center of your enterprise security infrastructure to filter out the noise and uncover critical events in real time. VSA fills a significant gap in your security infrastructure by delivering z/OS event records to your SIEM solution in real time.

This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, take time to strengthen your defenses. Visit sdsusa.com to explore how our solutions can help you protect your mainframe environment today and prepare for tomorrow’s threats.