ACF2 vs Oracle Database Vault comparison

CA ACF2™ for z/OS provides innovative, comprehensive security for your business transaction environments—including Linux, UNIX and z/OS on System z—helping you realize the reliability, scalability and cost-effectiveness of the mainframe. CA ACF2 provides an Advanced Authentication Mainframe feature, system entry validation, resource control, auditability, accountability, and administrative control. In conjunction with distributed security solutions from CA Technologies, CA ACF2 provides mobile-to-mainframe enterprise class security and compliance management.

ACF2 Features

ACF2 offers some of the following features:

• Authentication: ACF2 is used for authenticating users and granting them access to profiles and various resources on the mainframe.

• Access Control: The solution provides resource control, allowing administrators to control who can access specific mainframe resources.

• Logging and Monitoring: Organizations can easily track and monitor activities on the mainframe. This feature enables the creation of audit trails for follow-up and helps with security analysis.

• Metrics and Reporting: ACF2 allows the configuration of tools to produce different types of metrics and reports. These can then be used by senior management for making informed security decisions.

• Comprehensive Security: The solution provides comprehensive security for mainframe environments, ensuring the protection of valuable data assets. It offers advanced authentication, system entry validation, and administrative control.

• Streamlined Administration: It simplifies the administration of mainframe security by providing streamlined management capabilities. ACF2 also enables administrators to monitor and adjust security policies and accommodate various organizational structures.

• Scalability: ACF2 offers reliable and scalable security, allowing businesses to expand their mainframe environments while maintaining a high level of protection.

• Compliance Management: Organizations can meet compliance requirements by providing auditability, accountability, and comprehensive security controls.

• Integration: ACF2 can integrate with distributed security solutions from CA Technologies, providing enterprise-class security and compliance management for mobile-to-mainframe environments.

• Flexibility: ACF2 allows flexibility in adapting security policies to accommodate different organizational structures and requirements.

ACF2 Benefits

Some of the benefits that ACF2 provides are:

• Enhanced security and resilience

• Streamlined administration

• Reliable and scalable security

• Comprehensive audit capabilities

• Cost-effectiveness

• Integration with other security solutions

• Simplified identity and access management

• Compliance management

• Efficient monitoring and reporting

Reviews from Real Users

According to an IT Examiner at a financial services firm with 10,000+ employees, "ACF2 is extremely beneficial for the mainframe environment, and it is at the forefront for security and resilience."

Oracle Database Vault enhances security through firewall integration and encryption of data in transit. Known for its performance and user-friendliness, organizations across various industries, such as maritime, utilize it for robust database management and safeguarding sensitive information.

Oracle Database Vault is designed to secure databases with advanced encryption and auditing capabilities. It facilitates organizations in implementing relevant policies for tables and schemas, ensuring protection of critical data assets. While the software excels in security, its initial setup is complex and expensive. Organizations use it for encryption of data and backups with assurance of data integrity, while its operational ease encourages regular monitoring of access to tables and user activities. However, enhancements in interface, documentation, and marketing strategy are needed to improve its usability and visibility in the security software market. Interaction with Oracle MetaLink for technical support is often inefficient, indicating a need for improvement.

• Advanced Encryption: Protects data during transit and backups.
• Firewall Integration: Enhances security with firewall capabilities.
• Policy Implementation: Allows creation of customized policies for tables and schemas.
• Fine-Grained Auditing: Facilitates detailed monitoring of user activities.

• Enhanced Security: Provides comprehensive data protection strategies.
• Performance: Offers high performance and ease of use in database environments.
• Data Integrity: Ensures secured backups and data consistency.
• Monitoring Capabilities: Supports continuous access monitoring and auditing.

Companies across numerous sectors, such as maritime, integrate Oracle Database Vault into their database security initiatives. It is extensively used alongside Oracle Cluster, Database Guard, and GoldenGate to implement strong encryption and auditing practices, ensuring the protection and integrity of data as it moves through networks and various database environments.