CA has announced a new foray into mainframe tape encryption. Brightstor Tape Encryption encrypts and decrypts any z/OS application data on its way to and from tape, without recourse to JCL changes.

The software giant says its new software offers a more complete approach than existing encryption tools from the likes of NetApp and IBM, with fully integrated key management. CA product director for z/OS John Hill added: “We encrypt dynamically at the I/O level, IBM doesn't.”

He said Brightstor Tape Encryption also has wider compliance with security standards.

The launch is aimed at capitalising on new regulations being brought in in the US to protect data. Twenty-three states now require firms and public bodies to tell people when their data gets exposed, and much sensitive information remains on aging mainframe computers.

Industry watchers agree the mainframe is here for the forseeable, so security has to be improved.

CA's marketeers hope to sell Brightstor Tape Encryption to all of the 75 per cent of the tape management market they control. It's hoped buyers will see a cost benefit - the product is software, so doesn't require any hardware investment. CA will also offer decryption software to its customers' partners for free.

Prices for the software start at $60,000. ®

Related stories

IBM revamps mainframe OS (17 August 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/08/17/ibm_mainframe_upgrade/
CA profits crash (15 August 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/15/ca_q1_2007/
CA finally names a finance chief (28 July 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/28/ca_new_cfo/
CA snaffles records manager (14 June 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/06/14/ca_buys_mdy/
Poll: reliability key to storage end users, vendors coming up short (19 May 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/05/19/storage_poll/
IBM makes superdense magnetic Lazarus (16 May 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/05/16/ibm_magnetic_breakthrough/
Open source gang forms to battle IBM, BMC and CA (9 May 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/05/09/omc_open_manage/
IBM boffins develop new, stronger name for x86 servers (21 April 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/04/21/systemx_ibm/
IBM pushes mainframe goodness downstream (19 April 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/04/19/ibm_z890_refresh/
IBM bakes security into chips (10 April 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/04/10/secure_blue/
IBM puts cash bounty on Exchange server converts (31 March 2006)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2006/03/31/exchange_notes_migraiton/
CA swallows Wily (6 January 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/06/ca_wily_acquisition/
IBM ships next-gen mainframe (19 September 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/19/ibm_mainframe/