IBM zSecure Access

Strengthen access management, enforce policy and reduce risk on IBM® z/OS®

 

 
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Overview

Modernize access and reduce risk on IBM Z

IBM zSecure Access helps organizations modernize access governance on IBM Z® by unifying RACF administration, policy enforcement and access validation in a single solution. It enables security teams to reduce access risk, streamline administration and gain clear visibility into user access across the environment.

Aligned with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF), IBM zSecure Access supports the Protect (PR) function by helping organizations strengthen access controls as part of a layered IBM Z security strategy.

Features

Key capabilities

Manage user, group and resource access through streamlined administrative workflows. Delegate responsibilities while maintaining control over privileged access and administrative actions.

Central hub connecting multiple users and systems through a single access management point, illustrating centralized access control

Validate RACF administrative commands against defined policies before execution. Block unauthorized changes, enforce compliance requirements and notify teams of significant activity.

Illustration of policy-based command validation showing a user interacting with a management dashboard while commands and workflows pass through validation controls

Analyze access usage to identify unused or excessive privileges. Test proposed changes against a copy of the RACF database to reduce risk before deployment to production.

Illustration of access assessment and validation showing a user reviewing a structured access workflow on a large digital interface

Track changes to RACF profiles with detailed audit information, including who made the changes and when they occurred. Use structured logging and notifications to support oversight and investigation.

Illustration of administrative activity visibility showing multiple dashboard layers displaying operational metrics, monitoring data and system information

Access RACF data through a native Python interface and receive structured results for integration with dashboards, reporting tools and security workflows.

 

Diagram showing connected nodes and application components linked through a central workflow, representing a native Python interface

Extend RACF authorization into CICS application environments. Support separation of duties and enable authorized teams to perform security functions without broad administrative access.

 

Diagram showing a core security structure linked to several application components, representing RACF-based application control

Use cases

Gain greater control over access management

Prevent non-compliant access changes

Validate RACF administrative commands against defined security policies before execution. Intercept unauthorized or non-compliant changes and enforce policy at the point of action.
Strengthen access governance

Assess access usage to identify unused, outdated or excessive entitlements. Evaluate proposed changes against a copy of the RACF database before implementing them in production.
Simplify RACF administration

Streamline administration across users, groups and system resources through centralized workflows. Delegate specific responsibilities while maintaining control over privileged access.
Extend security team productivity

Provide accessible tools and interfaces for working with RACF information and completing routine access management tasks. Enable teams to perform authorized functions without requiring unrestricted administrative privileges.
Next steps

Schedule a meeting with an IBM expert to learn more about IBM zSecure Access.