Mainframe Security Investment is a Smart Move

Jill, the CIO of a logistics company, walked into her office one calm Monday morning, ready to tackle her week. But her inbox told a different story. An urgent email from her security team flagged a vulnerability in their mainframe system. Jill’s stomach turned as she realized they might have missed something in their year-end budget review.

Mainframes often go unnoticed until something goes wrong. Jill and her team hadn’t given their mainframe the attention it needed during budget planning. Now they were dealing with the fallout of that oversight.

Jill’s situation is an all-too-common reminder of what can happen when you neglect your mainframe during budget planning. Mainframes may be out of sight, but they should never be out of mind, especially when it comes to security. To avoid finding yourself in this situation, here's how to ensure your systems are safe.

Start with a Reality Check

Before setting your budget, assess your current security.

• Run a Security Audit: Identify vulnerabilities in your system. If internal resources are stretched, bring in external experts for a thorough assessment.
• Reflect on Incidents: What security challenges did you face last year? Any breaches or near-misses? Use these events as lessons to pinpoint gaps.
• Compliance Review: Confirm that you’re meeting regulatory standards like GDPR or PCI DSS. They’re not just legal obligations, they are designed to protect sensitive data.
• Benchmarking: Compare your security posture with industry peers. Are you ahead or do you need to catch up?

Understanding where you stand ensures you spend wisely on meaningful improvements. But now that you’ve done the work, what’s next?

Invest Where It Counts

Mainframe security requires a layered approach. First, focus resources on the areas that matter most.

• Encryption: Protect your data, both at rest and in transit, using strong encryption.
• Access Controls: Implement tools like multi-factor authentication (MFA) and privileged access management (PAM) to secure access points.
• Patching and Updates: Update software regularly to prevent exploitations of known vulnerabilities, making this a high-priority investment.
• Backup Systems: Create secure, isolated backups to help your business recover quickly from ransomware or other disruptions.
• Advanced Threat Detection: Investigate and implement AI solutions (where applicable) to identify and neutralize threats before they cause major damage.

Prioritize People

Even the latest tools can’t compensate for untrained employees. Cybersecurity starts with your team.

• Employee Training: Educate staff on recognizing phishing attempts and other common schemes. Everyone from top executives to junior employees should know the basics.
• Mainframe-Specific Expertise: Equip your IT team with the skills to manage and secure mainframe environments. Mainframes require unique expertise to stay secure. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help from an external partner like CPT if needed.
• Practice Response: Simulate attacks or incidents to assess readiness and refine your security protocols. Practice builds confidence for real-life scenarios.

Plan for the Unexpected

No system is foolproof. Preparing for worst-case scenarios can determine how quickly you bounce back.

Regularly evaluate your incident response plan (IRP) to ensure it is functional and up to date. Set aside emergency funds to cover unexpected needs like forensic analysis or legal fees. After every incident, review what worked, what didn’t, and what needs improvement. Continuous learning makes for stronger defenses in the long run.

Watch Emerging Trends

Cybersecurity evolves fast. Preparing for future risks keeps your business a step ahead.

• Zero Trust Architecture: Adopt a model where no access is given without verification, offering an added layer of security.
• DevSecOps: Integrate security directly into your development cycles to stay proactive against threats.
• Enhanced Cloud Visibility Tools: Watch for advancements in tools offering deeper insights and monitoring across hybrid systems, helping to quickly identify and address vulnerabilities.

Foresight in these areas ensures your investments keep paying off, even as technology changes.

Back to Jill

Jill’s team quickly resolved the flagged vulnerability, but it was definitely a wake-up call. After revisiting their budget, the CIO made sure to incorporate comprehensive testing, updated incident response plans, and training for her staff.

Your organization doesn’t need to wait for a near-miss to act. With a clear plan and smart investments, your mainframe can keep operations humming for years to come, protecting your data, and ensuring business continuity.

Don’t be like Jill. If your business is in the same boat, it’s time to think security. But most importantly: Act now because delaying only deepens your IT risk.