{"id":4529,"date":"2026-02-02T10:24:52","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T09:24:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enthec.com\/?p=4529"},"modified":"2026-02-02T10:26:53","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T09:26:53","slug":"the-importance-of-maintaining-security-on-mainframes-and-its-impact-on-the-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enthec.com\/en\/the-importance-of-maintaining-security-on-mainframes-and-its-impact-on-the-business\/","title":{"rendered":"The importance of maintaining security on mainframes and its impact on the business"},"content":{"rendered":"
Mainframes have been at the heart of many large organizations: banks, insurance companies, public administrations, energy companies, and large retailers continue to rely on them to process critical operations, manage huge volumes of data, and ensure business continuity.<\/span><\/p>\n However, this historical reliability has, in some cases, led to a false sense of security.<\/span><\/p>\n Today, talking about<\/span> mainframe security<\/b> is no longer a technical matter reserved for specialized departments. It is a <\/span>strategic concern<\/b> that directly affects the reputation, operations, and economic viability of any company that depends on these systems.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Although technology discourse often revolves around the cloud, artificial intelligence, and microservices, the reality is that mainframes still process a significant share of global transactions. Many organizations have modernized their environments by connecting the mainframe to APIs, web applications, and external services. <\/span><\/p>\n This new hybrid scenario has clear advantages, but also<\/span> expands the attack surface. <\/b>. The mainframe is no longer isolated in an internal “bubble”: it now communicates with multiple systems, users, and vendors. And every connection is a potential entry point. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n One of the most common mistakes is thinking that the mainframe is secure \u201cby default.\u201d It is true that its architecture is robust, but <\/span>security does not depend solely on technology<\/b>; it also depends on how it is configured, managed, and monitored over time.<\/span><\/p>\n In many corporate environments, worrying patterns continue to repeat themselves, such as<\/span> excessive privileges granted to some users,<\/b> inherited access from employees who changed positions or left the company, or outdated configurations that have not been updated to current standards.<\/span><\/p>\n These factors create a breeding ground for<\/span> security flaws in mainframe environments<\/b>, especially when the system is integrated with more modern open platforms.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n When an incident affects a peripheral system, the damage is usually limited. But when the problem is on the mainframe, <\/span>the consequences multiply<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n The following may occur:<\/b><\/p>\n These flaws not only facilitate unauthorized access but also<\/span> complicate regulatory compliance<\/b> (GDPR,<\/span> ISO 27001<\/span><\/a>, PCI DSS, among others).<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n For years,<\/span> mainframe security testing has been treated as a one-off event:<\/b> annual audits, sporadic reviews, or reactive analyses after an incident. This approach is no longer sufficient. Current reality demands an evolution from ad hoc review to<\/span> continuous assessment. <\/b>. Environments change, users rotate, permissions are modified, and integrations expand. Without constant visibility, it’s impossible to know the true level of exposure. <\/span><\/p>\n Modern security testing should allow:<\/span><\/p>\n This is where new approaches like<\/span> Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) come in.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\nThe current role of the mainframe in the modern enterprise<\/b><\/h2>\n
Mainframe security: a risk that is often underestimated<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\nThe real impact of a breach in a mainframe<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Mainframe security testing: an essential practice<\/b><\/h2>\n
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CTEM applied to the mainframe: a necessary evolution<\/b><\/h2>\n