IBM's mid-range z13s mainframe offers twice-as-fast encryption

Slew of security enhancements bundled in with IBM z13s upgrade

IBM has updated its z13 mid-range mainframe with a new, more powerful microprocessor, faster input-output, the ability to address up to 10TB of memory - and capable of encrypting and decrypting data at twice the speed as its previous model without compromising transactional throughput.

The z13s has updated built-in cryptographic co-processor cards, adding faster processors and more memory, to enable it to process twice as many transactions, claims IBM.

Indeed, IBM was keen to assert the new z13s' security credentials. In addition to the improved cryptography and transactional performance, IBM is also using the platform to hawk its z Systems Cyber Security Analytics. This, it claims, learns user behaviour and is then able to detect anomalous patterns on the platform, alerting administrators to potential malicious activity. The z Systems Cyber Security Analytics service will be available for no extra charge as a beta offering for z13 and z13s customers.

IBM Multi-factor Authentication for z/OS has also been released on z/OS, the z Series mainframe operating system. It will add another layer of security by requiring privileged users to enter a second form of identification, such as a PIN or randomly generated token, to gain access to the system.

Surprisingly, perhaps, IBM claims that this is the first time multi-factor authentication has been integrated in the operating system, rather than through add-on software. This level of integration ought to deliver more streamlined configuration and better stability and performance, claims IBM.

"This speed of secure transactions, coupled with new analytics technology helping to detect malicious activity and integrated IBM Security offerings, will help mid-sized clients grow their organisation with peace of mind," said Tom Rosamilia, senior vice president at IBM Systems.

Users of the system can be tracked with IBM Security Guardium, which provides real-time "intelligent data monitoring", tracking which users are accessing what data so that potential threat sources can be identified in the event of a security breach.