IBM Unveils New Mainframe for Encrypted Hybrid Clouds

ARMONK, N.Y. - 16 Feb 2016: IBM (NYSE: IBM) today unveiled a new mainframe, bringing the security of data encryption without slowing down system performance to mid-sized organizations.

The new system, IBM z13s, is enabled and optimized for hybrid cloud environments and can help secure critical information and transactions better than before. IBM also announced new security partnerships and highly integrated innovations for the mainframe:

Security embedded into hardware The new z13s has advanced cryptography features built into the hardware that allow it to encrypt and decrypt data twice as fast as previous generations, protecting information without compromising performance.

Intelligent security capabilities IBM is integrating mainframe technology with IBM Security software solutions to create a more secure foundation for a hybrid cloud infrastructure. IBM also is offering a new Cyber Security Analytics service to z Systems customers that can help identify malicious activity by learning user behavior over time.

Expanded partner ecosystem IBM is working with leaders in the cyber security industry through the Ready for IBM Security Intelligence partner program to help deliver enterprise-wide solutions and offerings tailored to specific client needs. The new partners for z Systems are BlackRidge Technology, Forcepoint (a joint venture of Raytheon and Vista Equity Partners) and RSM Partners.

As digital business becomes the standard and transactions increase, the need for increased security has become paramount. The typical enterprise can face an average of 81 million security incidents annually.iii The incidents and threats are escalating and evolving as companies increase interactions to their network through mobile devices and cloud networks, with industry analyst IDC forecasting 80 percent enterprise hybrid cloud adoption by 2017.iv Cyber criminals nowadays are manipulating data, rather than stealing it, compromising its accuracy and reliability.v The z13s provides access to APIs and microservices in a hybrid cloud setting while keeping data integrity intact.

Fast and secure transaction processing is core to the IBM mainframe, helping clients grow their digital business in a hybrid cloud environment, said Tom Rosamilia, senior vice president, IBM Systems. With the new IBM z13s, clients no longer have to choose between security and performance. This speed of secure transactions, coupled with new analytics technology helping to detect malicious activity and integrated IBM Security offerings, will help mid-sized clients grow their organization with peace of mind.

Mainframe portfolio deepens security capabilities

IBM's z13s, the new entry point to the z Systems portfolio for enterprises of all sizes, is packed with security innovations.

z Systems can encrypt sensitive data without compromising transactional throughput and response time, eliminating what has traditionally been a barrier for IT departments in implementing encryption. The z13s includes an updated cryptographic and tamper-resistant hardware-accelerated cryptographic coprocessor cards with faster processors and more memory, providing encryption at twice the speed as previous mid-range systems. This means clients can process twice as many high-volume, cryptographically-protected transactions as before without compromising performance. This equates to processing twice as many online or mobile device purchases in the same time helping to lower the cost per transaction.

z Systems clients can take advantage of the z Systems Cyber Security Analytics offering, which delivers an advanced level of threat monitoring based on behavior analytics. The solution, being developed by IBM Research, learns user behaviors and is then able to detect anomalous patterns on the platform, alerting administrators to potential malicious activity. Along with IBM Security QRadar security software, which can correlate data from more than 500 sources to help organizations determine if security-related events are simply anomalies or potential threats, z Systems now delivers breakthrough intelligent security solutions that offer end-to-end protection based on advanced analytics. z Systems Cyber Security Analytics service will be available as a no-charge, beta offering for z13 and z13s customers.

IBM Multi-factor Authentication for z/OS (MFA) is now available on z/OS. The solution adds another layer of security by requiring privileged users to enter a second form of identification, such as a PIN or randomly generated token, to gain access to the system. This is the first time MFA has been tightly integrated in the operating system, rather than through an add-on software solution. This level of integration is expected to deliver more streamlined configuration and better stability and performance.

Enhanced security for the hybrid cloud

Hybrid cloud infrastructure offers advantages in flexibility but can also present new vulnerabilities. With more than half of all attackers coming from the inside, organizations must automate monitoring, removing human error or meddling.vi To address this, IBM is integrating the mainframe with IBM Security solutions that address privileged identity management, sensitive data protection and integrated security intelligence. When paired with z Systems, these solutions can allow clients to establish end-to-end security in their hybrid cloud environment.

IBM Security Identity Governance and Intelligence can help prevent inadvertent or malicious internal data loss by governing and auditing access based on known policies while granting access to those who have been cleared as need-to-know users. IBM Security Guardium uses analytics to help ensure data integrity by providing intelligent data monitoring, which tracks which users are accessing what specific data, helping quickly identify threat sources in the ev

LINK:	http://www-03.ibm.com/press/uk/en/pressrelease/49074.wss...
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