Cybercriminals collaborate. Shouldn’t mainframe security professionals do the same?
At SHARE 2026, I had the opportunity to sit down with Linda McGrath, Sales Director at Vertali, and Andrew Penlington, Channel Partner Development Manager, to discuss Mainframe Shield, a growing mainframe security community bringing professionals together to share expertise, address cybersecurity challenges, and strengthen protection across the industry.
Founded just over a year ago, Mainframe Shield is a free, vendor-agnostic, not-for-profit community with more than 100 members. Its mission is straightforward: create a space where mainframe professionals can learn from one another without sales pitches or competing vendor agendas.
During our conversation, Linda and Andrew explained why this collaboration matters more than ever. Mainframes support some of the world’s most critical systems, but their reputation for reliability can sometimes lead organizations to overlook security risks. From excessive privileged access and exposed integration points to ransomware and emerging AI-related threats, protecting the mainframe requires ongoing attention.
One of the most interesting aspects of Mainframe Shield is its commitment to candid conversation. Operating under Chatham House Rule, the community allows members to discuss real-world challenges, compare approaches, and learn from their peers without attributing sensitive discussions to individual organizations.
Linda shared an example of two major banks that discovered they had taken very different approaches to network segmentation. Rather than debating whose approach was better, they continued the conversation privately to exchange ideas and learn from one another. That’s precisely the kind of collaboration Mainframe Shield was created to encourage.
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Watch our conversation to hear Linda and Andrew discuss the challenges facing mainframe security teams, the value of peer collaboration, and how Mainframe Shield is helping organizations strengthen their security practices.
Join the Mainframe Shield Community
If you work in mainframe security, governance, resilience, or IT leadership, Mainframe Shield wants you at the table.
Membership is free and open to professionals across industries, organization sizes, and geographic regions. Members benefit from quarterly community discussions across global time zones, a monthly newsletter, and opportunities to connect directly with peers facing similar challenges.
Take the next step: Join Mainframe Shield today.
Visit Vertali or email mainframeshield@vertali.com to learn more and get involved.
Better mainframe security starts with sharing what we know.
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