PowerTech readies the 2012 "State of IBM i Security" study.
Since 2004, when we published the first edition of PowerTech's popular security study, we've seen many exciting enhancements in the operating system we now call IBM i. Unfortunately, when it comes to changes in the configuration of the server's security controls, the story is much darker.
How Does the Story Start?
Each year, PowerTech audits hundreds of servers, using our Compliance Assessment tool. Clients have the option of sharing their statistical information—minus any application or identifying data—for inclusion in our annual study. Although the statistics are collected from different servers each year, making year-to-year comparisons difficult, the volume of assessments and the variety of server sizes demonstrate a legitimate insight into how customers approach IBM i security.
So What's the Scary Part?
While there are more statistics than we can cover in a short article, here's a sneak peek at some interesting highlights from the six areas of the 2012 study, which included:
- 122 servers
- 992 users per server (average)
- 493 libraries per server (average)
Powerful Users—Most IBM i environments suffer from the exposure of overly powerful users. The study shows an average of 58 users with *ALLOBJ special authority (which provides full access to every object, including other user profiles), and 199 users with *JOBCTL (which allows the system to be brought to a restricted state).
Password Management and User Security—A staggering 60 users, on average, had default passwords; and more than half of those were enabled and ready for use—we can only speculate by whom!
Data Access—Unlike most operating systems, where no authority means no access, IBM i provides a default level of authority called *PUBLIC. We found that 81% of libraries defer the decision on public authority for new objects to the QCRTAUT system value. Unfortunately, in 90% of cases, that system value is configured to provide every user with the ability to read, change, and even delete data.
Network Access Control and Auditing—Many organizations still rely on legacy user restrictions such as menus, application security, and command-line restrictions. However, modern interfaces such as FTP and ODBC provide direct access to the database. IBM i allows users to designate exit programs to supplement native object security, but 66% of servers remain wholly unprotected by even a single exit program. And a third of those with exit programs cover only one exit point out of the 27 possible.
Auditing—Despite the fact that IBM i contains a comprehensive auditing facility, almost a quarter of the servers surveyed are not using it. This means zero visibility to critical system events like unauthorized access attempts, data files being saved or deleted, and changes to system values. Of the 74% of systems that are collecting audit data, many do not audit all of the recommended events, and only a small percentage had a recognizable audit reporting tool installed.
System Security—While IBM's migration to a default of security level 40 has increased the compliance to this minimum recommended level, almost a third of systems are running at lower levels, exposing servers to several well-known vulnerabilities.
The scariest part for most experts is that, in the nine years since the first edition of the study was published, many statistics haven't shown any significant signs of improvement. Despite the overwhelming evidence of weak configuration, and the fact that some of the most critical enterprise data is found on these servers, we continue to conclude that companies are not giving the necessary attention to IBM i security.
Does the Story Have a Happy Ending?
Although the study shows ongoing challenges in the deployment and configuration of security controls, none of these issues represents vulnerabilities in the operating system. In fact, IBM i is one of the most securable operating systems available. But users must realize that the server doesn't ship from the factory in a secured configuration and that simply booting it up won't make it secure.
It's up to you to ensure that your server meets applicable regulatory or legislative standards, or simply best practices. Use your awareness to start a project to review and remediate your security vulnerabilities…before you become a statistic.
Next Steps
My suggested action items include these:
- Download the complete 2012 "State of IBM i Security" study at www.powertech.com.
- Request a Compliance Assessment to determine how your configuration measures up.
- Increase your knowledge of IBM i security. PowerTech has a number of white papers and articles available on our Web site.
You also can participate in a discussion on security, including the 2012 study findings, at Help/Systems' Solutions Summit scheduled for September 18–20 in Minneapolis.
More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.
TRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now! Request Now.
Forms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.
Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:
Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.
IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn:
LATEST COMMENTS
MC Press Online