Using the IBM Health Checker for z/OS to Improve Compliance and Security Integrity

The IBM Health Checker for z/OS offers a substantial number of z/OS System and RACF Checks that can be used within its framework to constantly monitor for and report on conditions that would result in diminished overall system integrity at the Logical Partition (LPAR) level. This presentation will provide an operational overview of the IBM Health Checker for z/OS and call out processes from the currently available Inventory of Checks that can be used to maintain high levels of automated vigilance over:

• The RACF Environment;
• The State of RACF Policies;
• The APF Dataset Authorization Process;
• The Protection Afforded Critical System Datasets.

Actual check examples will be given that detail check content, expressed severity and recommended courses of corrective action. Suggestions will be given as to how specific checks can be used to:

• Reduce compliance cost
• Improve operational effectiveness
• Heighten cooperative operational vigilance

Education value: Information Security and Compliance Officers, Security Administrators, System and Operational staff will learn how to efficiently and continuously monitor platform-wide z/OS and RACF integrity and in doing so gain increased focus on LPAR specific risk conditions that can impact system integrity and availability.

Tracks: Network Security, Network Security Management, Security Administration, Security and Audit and z/OS Systems Programming