2024 Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an ideal time for enterprises to revisit their IT security strategies. Staying ahead of the latest cybersecurity threats is crucial, and proactive measures can ensure company data remains protected. Data is the new gold, and safeguarding it is essential for business success.

The Power of Mainframes in Cybersecurity

Mainframes are renowned for their ability to process and secure high-volume transactions and data, making them indispensable for companies managing mission-critical workloads. Consider these statistics:

• 57% of enterprises with a mainframe use it to run more than half of their business-critical applications (Forrester).
• 72% of customer-facing applications are highly dependent on mainframe processing (Forrester).
• A Broadcom survey reveals that 91% of businesses are expanding their mainframe footprint, viewing it as a long-term, strategic platform for growth.

Despite their robust security, mainframes are not immune to threats.

The Rising Threats to Mainframe Security

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are increasingly becoming targets for cyber attackers. When companies integrate mainframe data with websites and mobile apps, sensitive information becomes vulnerable to hacks and data breaches.

• Ransomware attacks have surged by 93%, with global losses exceeding $20 billion (Cybersecurity Ventures, 2024). While immutable backups are a good defensive tactic, they alone aren’t sufficient.
• The average cost of a data breach has reached $4.45 million, a 15% increase since 2022 (IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report, 2024).
• It takes an average of 212 days to detect and contain a breach (Ponemon Institute, 2024).

34% of breaches involve internal actors, highlighting the need for strong employee training and access control (IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index, 2024). Annual incident response tabletop exercises are recommended to test and update incident response plans, ensuring companies are prepared for potential attacks.

Ethical Considerations in AI and Machine Learning

As AI and machine learning continue to evolve, implementing ethical best practices and governance is crucial to prevent bad actors from exploiting these technologies to steal sensitive data.

Why Mainframe Cybersecurity Is Critical for Enterprises

In today’s dynamic threat landscape, the financial impact of a data breach can be devastating. Strategic cybersecurity measures for complex mainframe systems are essential. IT leaders invest significant time in modernizing, optimizing, and securing mainframe environments to maintain stability and protect data.

Key solutions for mainframe cybersecurity include enhanced access controls, immutable backups, encryption, and ransomware protection, according to Broadcom.

Introducing FNTS Mainframe Business Cyber Resiliency

At FNTS, we offer a comprehensive solution: FNTS Mainframe Business Cyber Resiliency, designed to protect and secure mainframe data through an end-to-end data protection strategy. This approach focuses on anticipating, withstanding, adapting, and recovering from cyber threats.

Features of FNTS Mainframe Business Cyber Resiliency

• Isolated Environment: Perform data validation, forensic analysis, and create offline backups across mainframe systems and subsystems securely.
• Advanced Threat Detection: Identify and alert against cyber threats and suspicious activities.
• Rapid Recovery: Minimize the impact of disruptions, reducing recovery time from days to minutes with point-in-time copies of data that are resistant to modification or deletion.
• Automated Backup and Recovery: Ensure business continuity with compliant, cost-efficient processes.
• Robust Cybersecurity Measures: Guarantee encrypted, air-gapped backups and enhanced audit assurance.
• 24/7 Support: Receive technical and operational coverage round-the-clock, eliminating the need for an on-site team.

FNTS utilizes IBM Z Cyber Vault, IBM Z Batch Resiliency, IBM zSecure Alert, and IBM zSecure Audit to offer enterprises a resilient cybersecurity framework.

Real-World Impact: FNTS Mainframe Business Cyber Resiliency Success

One of our financial services clients secured their mainframe infrastructure with FNTS Mainframe Business Cyber Resiliency, achieving the following results:

• Enhanced Security: Integrated security features minimized the risk of data breaches.
• Regulatory Compliance: The company met financial regulations efficiently, reducing risks of penalties.
• Improved Availability: High availability and disaster recovery capabilities ensured continuous operations during incidents.
• Operational Efficiency: Scalable mainframe performance accommodated increased transaction volumes without sacrificing speed.
• Customer Trust: Robust data protection measures enhanced customer loyalty and confidence.

Navigating the Digital Future with FNTS

Cyber regulations and risk mitigation strategies have become increasingly complex. Partnering with a trusted expert like FNTS and implementing our Mainframe Business Cyber Resiliency strategy ensures your organization is prepared for the future.

Take Action This Cybersecurity Awareness Month

For a more secure future, download our free Cybersecurity Checklist and strengthen your IT security strategy. Contact FNTS or visit out website for more information on Mainframe Business Cyber Resiliency.