Security, a watchword of the 21st century, has been strong in mainframe shops for at least the past twenty-five years. Products such as RACF have served as bulwarks of that security. The centralizing aspect of the mainframe has also helped provide a secure environment for an organization’s data.

Yet, we all know that no matter how strong the security, it can be broken by someone with sufficient motivation, talent, time and expertise. Fortunately, one needed an inordinate amount of time, talent and expertise to penetrate the twentieth century mainframe, sitting alone in its isolated, air conditioned, locked quarters, served by operators around the clock, understanding a language all its own.

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