In 1976, IBM set the standard for security products when RACF was introduced!
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| IBM Resource Access Control Facility | 12.3% |
| IBM Security zSecure | 16.3% |
| ACF2 | 11.8% |
| Other | 59.599999999999994% |
From the beginning, the RACF Development Team has proudly brought you RACF, the premier product for securing your most valuable corporate data. Working closely with your operating system's existing features, IBM's award-winning Resource Access Control Facility (RACF) licensed program provides improved security for an installation's data. RACF protects your vital system resources and controls what users can do on the operating system.
You decide which resources you want to protect and which users need access to them. RACF provides the functions that let you:
Resource Access Control Facility offers the following features:
Access Control: RACF allows administrators to define access controls for various system resources, including datasets, programs, transactions, and system commands. It enables granular control over who can access specific resources and what actions they can perform.
User Authentication: The solution supports multiple authentication methods, such as passwords, digital certificates, smart cards, and biometrics. It ensures that only authorized users with valid credentials can access the system.
Authorization: Users are provided with fine-grained authorization capabilities, allowing administrators to assign and manage permissions for individual users or groups. It enables the definition of resource-level and data-level access controls based on user roles and responsibilities.
Auditing and Logging: RACF generates detailed audit logs that capture security events, including successful and failed access attempts, resource modifications, and policy violations. These logs are essential for compliance auditing, security analysis, and incident investigation.
Secure Password Management: The product includes features for enforcing password policies, such as minimum length, complexity requirements, and password expiration. It supports password encryption and hashing to protect sensitive credentials.
Encryption and Data Protection: The solution provides encryption capabilities to protect sensitive data stored on mainframe systems. It supports encryption algorithms and cryptographic protocols for safeguarding data confidentiality and integrity.
Integration with External Authentication Systems: Users can integrate it with external authentication systems, such as Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) or Active Directory, allowing them to leverage existing directories for authentication purposes.
Resource Monitoring and Control: It enables real-time monitoring and control of resource accesses, as well as providing alerts and notifications for suspicious activities, allowing administrators to respond promptly to potential security threats.
Compliance and Regulatory Support: RACF helps organizations meet regulatory compliance requirements by providing the necessary controls, audit trails, and reporting capabilities. It supports compliance frameworks such as Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Administration and Management: The solution offers a comprehensive set of administration and management tools for configuring, maintaining, and monitoring the security environment. It provides utilities for managing user accounts, defining security policies, and performing system-wide security administration tasks.
Some of the benefits that IBM RACF can offer its users are:
Enhanced security
Access control management
Authorization and authentication capabilities
Centralized control over resource access
Fine-grained access control policies
Audit trail and monitoring features
Compliance with regulatory requirements
Protection against unauthorized access
Segregation of duties
Efficient resource allocation and utilization
IBM Resource Access Control Facility was previously known as IBM RACF.
| Author info | Rating | Review Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Senior systems engineer at Unum | 4.5 | I find RACF an excellent, highly secure mainframe solution, especially for role-based security, with great stability. I'd appreciate easier integration with distributor platforms. |
| IT Security Analyst Senior at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees | 4.5 | I have used this solution for years and find its role-based access, stability, and scalability excellent. Setup was straightforward, and support is exceptional. While security logging could improve, I highly recommend it, especially over CA Top Secret. |
| Mainframe Security Specialist, RACF and zSecure Technician, CA-TSS Specialist, Security Team Leader | 3.0 | I value RACF's seamless z/OS integration and reliable access management, organizing our permissions well. My main improvement wish is for more flexible reports for quicker information access, despite a challenging conversion during initial setup. |
