Meet SAMM! Vanguard’s Software Application Monitoring & Malware Detection

Transform Your Mainframe Security with Vanguard SAMM

In today’s complex and unpredictable digital landscape, the mainframe remains the backbone of critical operations. Yet, with escalating cyber threats, sophisticated attack vectors, and an ever-tightening web of regulatory demands, merely “managing” your z/OS environment is no longer enough. You need to master it. You need a solution that doesn’t just react to threats but proactively prevents them, ensuring unshakeable compliance and operational integrity. That solution is Vanguard SAMM.

Why Traditional Security Falls Short

Every day, your z/OS environment faces the threat of potential vulnerabilities. From the subtle, almost imperceptible changes that could indicate an insider threat, to sophisticated malware attempting to embed itself deep within your system, and the constant pressure to meet rigorous audit requirements, the challenges are growing.

Traditionally, organizations have relied on manual checks, periodic audits, and disparate tools, creating fragmented visibility and leaving critical gaps in their defense. This reactive approach is no longer sustainable. The cost of a breach, both financial and reputational, is astronomical. The penalties for non-compliance are severe. What you need is an intelligent, automated guardian that works tirelessly to protect your most valuable assets.

Vanguard SAMM: Your Proactive Guardian for z/OS Excellence

Vanguard SAMM (Software Application Monitoring and Malware Detection) is not just a tool; it’s your indispensable partner designed to safeguard your z/OS environment with unparalleled confidence. We understand the unique intricacies and critical importance of mainframe systems, and SAMM is engineered to deliver a level of protection and insight that redefines mainframe security. For technical details on how SAMM achieves this, view the SAMM Technical Overview for an inside look at its detection architecture and automation capabilities.

Real-Time Threat Detection

At the core of SAMM’s power is its ability to provide continuous, real-time insights into potential threats. Imagine having constant surveillance watching over your system. SAMM achieves this by:

• Continuously Monitoring System Software: Every piece of software, every configuration file, every system utility is under SAMM’s watchful eye. Any unauthorized modification, unexpected change, or deviation from your baseline is immediately flagged. This is crucial for detecting sophisticated attacks that attempt to subtly alter system components.
• 24/7 File Integrity Monitoring: File integrity is the key to a secure z/OS environment. SAMM provides round-the-clock monitoring of critical files, ensuring that no unauthorized changes, deletions, or additions go unnoticed. Whether it’s a malicious insider attempting to alter a key system file at 3 AM or a subtle malware injection, SAMM connects these clues, predicts intrusions, and alerts you instantly. This level of granular visibility is impossible with manual processes and is fundamental to preventing data tampering and system compromise.
• Malware Detection and Remediation: The threat of malware on the mainframe is real and evolving. SAMM is designed to detect and identify malicious code, protecting your system from infection and ensuring the integrity of your operational processes and data.

This constant, vigilant monitoring transforms your security posture from reactive to proactive, allowing you to identify and neutralize threats before they can cause damage.

Comprehensive Operational Intelligence: Beyond Security

Vanguard SAMM goes beyond security alerts. It offers a comprehensive view of your entire z/OS infrastructure, providing critical operational intelligence that enhances both security and efficiency:

• Tracks System and Application Performance Across LPARs and Libraries: Understand the impact of changes, identify performance bottlenecks, and ensure optimal resource utilization. SAMM gives you the visibility to connect security incidents with performance anomalies, helping you diagnose issues faster and more accurately.
• Validates PTFs Applied Across Systems – Even Without SMP/E on All Systems: Managing Program Temporary Fixes (PTFs) across a complex z/OS landscape can be a nightmare. SAMM streamlines this process by validating that PTFs are consistently and correctly applied across all your systems. Crucially, it provides this capability without requiring SMP/E datasets on every system, drastically simplifying your maintenance and ensuring uniformity.
• Ensures that System Changes Match SMP/E: Drift between your actual system configurations and your documented SMP/E records is a common source of vulnerabilities and audit findings. SAMM automatically verifies that all system changes precisely match your SMP/E records, eliminating discrepancies and ensuring your systems are configured exactly as intended.
• Enumerates PTFs by Product: Gain clear insight into your patch status. SAMM categorizes and enumerates PTFs by product, giving you a crystal-clear overview of your software baselines and helping you identify missing patches or inconsistencies quickly.
• Alerts on Inconsistencies Between SMP/E and System Datasets: Proactive alerting on these inconsistencies empowers your team to address potential issues immediately, preventing configuration drift from becoming a security or compliance liability.

This holistic visibility ensures that you not only know what is happening but why, empowering your teams with the data needed for informed decision-making and rapid response.

Peace of Mind in a Regulatory Maze

Navigating the web of industry regulations is a monumental task. The cost of non-compliance, ranging from hefty fines to severe reputational damage, makes adherence to standards non-negotiable. Vanguard SAMM ensures compliance with industry standards like PCI DSS 4.0, DORA, SOX, and GLBA, providing you with the peace of mind that comes from knowing your organization is protected.

• Automated Compliance Audits: SAMM streamlines and automates the audit process, reducing the burden on your team, minimizing human error, and ensuring that your reports are accurate and readily available.
• Proactive Vulnerability Assessments: In addition to continuous monitoring, SAMM produces and automates step-by-step vulnerability assessments, ensuring you are always prepared to meet the rigors of any type of compliance audit on the IBM i Series platform. This proactive approach helps you identify and mitigate risks before auditors ever knock on your door.

With SAMM, compliance becomes an integrated, ongoing process, not a last-minute scramble. SAMM stands as an indispensable solution for robust z/OS security, delivering continuous, real-time threat insights through constant monitoring of system software, file integrity, and malware. It provides a comprehensive view of your infrastructure by tracking performance across LPARs and libraries, while simultaneously guaranteeing compliance with critical industry standards like PCI DSS 4.0, DORA, SOX, and GLBA, thereby fortifying your organization against breaches.

Experience SAMM in Action

• Visit the Vanguard SAMM Product Page to discover key features, use cases, and deployment options.
• Download the Vanguard SAMM for z/OS White Paper to learn how SAMM simplifies compliance and strengthens mainframe resilience.
• Review the SAMM Technical Overview for in-depth technical specifications and performance insights.

Ready to see it in action?
Contact bizdev@go2vanguard.com or call 702-794-0014 today to schedule a personalized demo or consultation — and experience firsthand how SAMM transforms mainframe security from reactive defense to proactive protection.

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