Mainframes have long been known for their unmatched reliability and security—but even the most trusted systems can hide surprises beneath the surface. As technology evolves, so do the tactics of those trying to exploit it. Penetration testing (pen testing), or “ethical hacking,” has become an essential way to uncover weaknesses that traditional audits might miss.
Planet Mainframe recently published an article by Mark Wilson (Technical Director at Vertali and Chief Editor and Producer of Cheryl Watson’s Tuning Letter) on the subject, in which he states that “the goal [of pen testing] “is not disruption but discovery: to identify cracks in a system before someone else does.”
Think you know your stuff when it comes to pen testing? Take our quiz to test your knowledge of vulnerabilities, testing techniques, and defense strategies that keep the world’s most critical systems safe.
Editor’s note from Penney Berryman — A Gold Star goes out to those who called out the error in the previous round of Trivia!
I disagree with 7. Limited and/or incorrect admin access is a prime reason for persistence of mainframe security weakness. There are limited numbers of QUALIFIED admins in the mainframe space.