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TRIVIA – Cybersecurity Month

Oct 13, 2025

cyber security, Trivia

Cybersecurity Month Trivia

Sonja Soderlund

Sonja Soderlund is an Oregon-based B2B freelance writer. Whether writing about mainframe computers, educational technology, or sustainable retail, she strives to bring clarity to complex issues. Connect with her or LinkedIn.

For many of us, October is about falling leaves, shorter days, and cooler weather. It also happens to be Cybersecurity month, the time when we dial in on the never-ending (and ever-evolving) task of securing the mainframe. Mainframes have a reputation for being fortress-like, with layers of hardware and software protections built into the foundation. But even the toughest systems aren’t immune to today’s cyber threats.

As hybrid cloud, APIs, and new workloads expand the attack surface, the challenges of protecting these platforms have only grown. Whether it’s multi-factor authentication, data encryption, or zero trust principles, staying sharp on mainframe security is part of the job.

So, how well do you know your RACF from your SMF, or your encryption modules from your monitoring tools? Take this quiz and put your mainframe cybersecurity knowledge to the test.

1. Which security model is often recommended for protecting mainframe workloads?

 
 
 
 

2. What is RACF in the context of IBM mainframes?

 
 
 
 

3. Which type of attack is particularly concerning for mainframe systems integrated with the cloud?

 
 
 
 

4. Which IBM product is commonly used for mainframe security monitoring and threat detection?

 
 
 
 

5. How can privileged access misuse be mitigated in mainframe environments?

 
 
 
 

6. What is the role of SMF (System Management Facility) in mainframe security?

 
 
 
 

7. Which emerging technology is being used to enhance mainframe security analytics?

 
 
 
 

8. In z/OS, what facility is used to control cryptographic functions, including hardware accelerators and cryptographic keys?

 
 
 
 

9. What RACF feature allows an installation to define additional checks beyond the standard security rules, such as custom validations?

 
 
 
 

10.  Which z/OS component generates security and audit records that can later be analyzed in SIEM tools like QRadar?

 
 
 
 

11. In mainframe environments, why is ESM (External Security Manager) granularity critical?

 
 
 
 

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