Compare ACF2 vs. IBM Crypto Analytics Tool (CAT)

Robust and scalable security solutions paired with simplified administration for your mainframe are essential. In today's business landscape, success hinges on having a dependable, comprehensive, and efficient security framework. Organizations require unhindered access to their mainframe databases while alleviating any security anxieties. Trust from consumers is given only to those businesses that prioritize the protection of personal information. ACF2 offers extensive security measures for your critical information resources, empowering your business to harness the mainframe's inherent reliability, scalability, and cost efficiency. With ACF2 for z/OS, multi-factor advanced authentication is supported, and ACF2 for Db2 for z/OS allows for the externalization of security for IBM Db2 without necessitating an exit. This solution includes ready-to-use identity and access management features, comprehensive logging, and thorough audit reporting. Ultimately, ACF2 ensures total cybersecurity for your essential information assets, allowing your business to maximize the benefits of the mainframe's capabilities while minimizing risk. Ensuring robust security is not just a technical necessity; it has become a strategic imperative for lasting success.

The Crypto Analytics Tool (CAT) gathers vital security information and assists in creating a detailed inventory of cryptographic assets. Its graphical client simplifies the analysis of security data, providing an enterprise-wide perspective on all z/OS cryptographic consuming LPARs through a single monitoring interface. With a thorough overview of the system's cryptographic security, CAT enables continuous monitoring to ensure that keys and cryptographic functions are properly configured and secure, thereby adhering to established best practices. This tool facilitates the enforcement of policies and compliance requirements, empowering administrators to identify weaknesses and gaps, thus prioritizing necessary enhancements. It offers an extensive assessment of the cryptographic security landscape, including HSM, ICSF, and RACF components. By pinpointing insecure keys and algorithms, CAT aids in maintaining robust security protocols. Furthermore, it allows for the comparison of the current cryptographic state with previous snapshots, which is essential for error detection, problem resolution, and validation of change control processes, ultimately promoting a more secure cryptographic environment. In this way, CAT not only enhances security but also boosts operational efficiency across the organization.