What are the best practices for managing digital certificates and SSL/TLS on z/OS?

Digital certificates and SSL/TLS are essential for securing communications and transactions on z/OS, the operating system for IBM mainframes. However, managing them effectively can be challenging, especially as the number and complexity of applications and services increase. In this article, you will learn some of the best practices for managing digital certificates and SSL/TLS on z/OS, such as:

1 Use a centralized repository

One of the first steps to manage digital certificates and SSL/TLS on z/OS is to use a centralized repository, such as the RACF database or the Integrated Cryptographic Service Facility (ICSF). This allows you to store, distribute, and renew certificates and keys in a consistent and secure manner. It also simplifies the administration and auditing of your certificate infrastructure and reduces the risk of errors and conflicts.

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Udit Sharma

Technical Lead | Data Scientist - ML , NLP, Tableau , SQL | Developer - Mainframe, Informatica ETL, Python | 1X AWSÂ® | 5X LOMAÂ® (ALMI Associate)| LinkedIn Top Voice|
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Centralization breeds efficiency and consistency. Establish a centralized repository for your digital certificates, creating a single source of truth. Simplify certificate retrieval, updates, and distribution across your z/OS landscape, ensuring seamless operations.

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Deepak Kumar Shrivastava

Information Security| Mainframe Modernization | PAHM | ITIL | Azure | ISC2 CC
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Implementing a centralized certificate management system that tracks all digital certificates used on your z/OS environment. This system provides visibility into certificate expiration dates, key usage, and other relevant information.

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2 Automate certificate lifecycle management

Another best practice is to automate the certificate lifecycle management, such as issuing, renewing, revoking, and monitoring certificates and keys. This can be done by using tools such as the z/OS Certificate Management Program (CMP) or the z/OS Certificate Management Tool (CMT). These tools can help you to streamline the processes and workflows for managing certificates and keys, as well as to integrate with external certificate authorities (CAs) and validation services.

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Edward Jaffe

Chief Technology Officer at Phoenix Software International
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What is the "z/OS Certificate Management Program (CMP)?" Are you referring to the use of z/OS PKI services from a client that uses the certificate management protocol (CMP)? Or is this something else?

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Deepak Kumar Shrivastava

Information Security| Mainframe Modernization | PAHM | ITIL | Azure | ISC2 CC
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Automating certificate lifecycle management on z/OS can significantly streamline operations, enhance security, and ensure compliance with certificate policies.

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3 Configure SSL/TLS policies and protocols

A third best practice is to configure SSL/TLS policies and protocols according to your security and performance requirements. This includes choosing the appropriate cipher suites, encryption algorithms, key lengths, and protocol versions for your applications and services. You can use tools such as the z/OS SSL/TLS Configuration Assistant (CA) or the z/OS SSL/TLS Configuration Generator (CG) to create and apply SSL/TLS policies and profiles for your z/OS systems and subsystems.

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Deepak Kumar Shrivastava

Information Security| Mainframe Modernization | PAHM | ITIL | Azure | ISC2 CC
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Configuring SSL/TLS policies and protocols on z/OS is crucial for ensuring secure communications and protecting sensitive data.

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4 Monitor and audit certificate and SSL/TLS activity

A fourth best practice is to monitor and audit the certificate and SSL/TLS activity on your z/OS systems and subsystems. This can help you to detect and resolve any issues, such as expired or revoked certificates, invalid or weak encryption, or unauthorized or malicious access. You can use tools such as the z/OS System SSL (SYSSSL) or the z/OS Communications Server IP Security Audit (IPSAUDIT) to collect and analyze certificate and SSL/TLS data and events.

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Deepak Kumar Shrivastava

Information Security| Mainframe Modernization | PAHM | ITIL | Azure | ISC2 CC
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Monitoring and auditing certificate and SSL/TLS activity on z/OS is crucial for maintaining security, detecting anomalies, and ensuring compliance with policies and regulations.

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5 Educate and train your staff

A fifth best practice is to educate and train your staff on the importance and best practices of managing digital certificates and SSL/TLS on z/OS. This can help you to raise awareness and compliance among your administrators, developers, and users, as well as to foster a culture of security and trust. You can use resources such as the IBM Knowledge Center, the IBM Redbooks, or the IBM Z Security Portal to learn more about digital certificates and SSL/TLS on z/OS.

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Emma SkovgÃ¥rd
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Interskill has a complete course on managing certificates on the mainframe, it covers everything from how certificates work to how you manage them.

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Deepak Kumar Shrivastava

Information Security| Mainframe Modernization | PAHM | ITIL | Azure | ISC2 CC
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Educating and training staff on the importance and best practices of managing digital certificates and SSL/TLS on z/OS is indeed critical. It can be done through training programs, awareness campaigns, hands-on workshops or by encouraging staffs to go for certifications.

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6 Review and update your practices regularly

A sixth best practice is to review and update your practices regularly, as the technology and standards for digital certificates and SSL/TLS evolve and change. This can help you to keep up with the latest trends and best practices, as well as to address any gaps or risks in your certificate and SSL/TLS infrastructure. You can use tools such as the z/OS SSL/TLS Health Checker (HC) or the z/OS SSL/TLS Migration Tool (MT) to assess and improve your certificate and SSL/TLS configuration and performance.

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7 Hereâ€™s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that donâ€™t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Directory

What are the best practices for managing digital certificates and SSL/TLS on z/OS?

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1 Use a centralized repository

2 Automate certificate lifecycle management

3 Configure SSL/TLS policies and protocols

4 Monitor and audit certificate and SSL/TLS activity

5 Educate and train your staff

6 Review and update your practices regularly

7 Hereâ€™s what else to consider

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