TECH_217: Reflections on 54 Years of Mainframe Security

Project and Program: Security

Tags: Proceedings, SHARE Orlando 2026, 2026

This session provides an opportunity to reflect on the evolution of mainframe security over the past 54 years. From its early days of just dataset password protection, entered by the User at his TSO terminal or the Computer Operator, entered from the Console, to the development of foundational tools like ACF2, RACF and Top Secret, this presentation will explore the milestones, challenges, and lessons that have shaped the industry. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how mainframe security practices have matured, including the shift from basic password protections to more robust systems of user identification, resource control, and centralized security management.

Back to Proceedings File Library