To minimize administrative effort, use a single profile to protect multiple resources whenever you can. One way to do this is to define a generic profile, using a generic character in the profile name. Another way is to use a resource grouping class. This topic discusses a third way, which is to use a RACF® variable in the profile name.

Use a RACF variable in a profile name to define one general resource profile to protect many resources with dissimilar names when no resource grouping class is available. RACF variables can be used for general resource profiles only. You cannot use them in data set profile names. A profile that contains a RACF variable in its name is considered a generic profile.