As part of its far-reaching Mainframe 2.0 initiative, CA unveiled the first in a planned series of turnkey management software-and-services solutions that will enable customers to better govern, manage, and secure their mainframe environments, despite budget and staffing constraints, the company announced.
Dubbed "out-tasking," CA's new offering combines software as a service, (SaaS) like software delivery with bundled management services in a single subscription-based package. This innovative approach helps deliver rapid ROI by enabling customers to quickly and cost-effectively address key mainframe management challenges as well as manage service level agreements, compliance, and performance.
As mainframe workloads continue to grow and become an even more compelling platform because of its reliability, scalability, security, price and performance, and energy-efficiency, many IT organizations are experiencing shortfalls in mainframe staffing and skills or extremely heavy workloads. Budget constraints may also prevent them from hiring highly experienced mainframe professionals and deploying advanced mainframe management solutions. As a result, some key management processes are not completed or are carried out sub-optimally.
Because the software is effectively leased, not purchased, out-tasking offers can be funded from operating budgets rather than from restricted IT capital budgets.
Business Alliance with Acxiom Corp.
Out-Tasking solutions will initially be delivered in conjunction with CA service provider, Acxiom Corp., a leading provider of IT services including remote infrastructure management and mainframe hosting.
"CA has developed a very broad and rich set of technology solutions that are ideal for providing enterprise IT organizations with remote mainframe management services and consultative support," said Marty Sunde, senior vice president, information technology services, Acxiom Corp. "By leveraging those solutions in conjunction with our own extensive mainframe expertise, Acxiom will help CA customers optimize their often limited mainframe IT resources."
Maximize Value from Mainframes
By leveraging both CA's leading mainframe management software solutions and CA's business alliances with leading IT service providers like Acxiom, out-tasking will uniquely enable customers to overcome resource shortfalls and workloads and help optimize business value from their mainframes.
CA is introducing out-tasking as part of its Mainframe 2.0 initiative, which supports the evolving strategic role of the mainframe as IT organizations face the retirement of their most experienced mainframe professionals. Key mainframe challenges to be addressed by out-tasking will include: compliance requirements, capacity planning, charge-back reporting, database management, service level management, change management, and system diagnostics.
"As our customers experience the graying of their mainframe workforces, they're looking for outside help," said Chris O'Malley, executive vice president and general manager of CA's Mainframe Business Unit. "CA's new out-tasking solutions deliver this help by bundling superior mainframe management technology and skilled mainframe experts in highly economical, function-specific programs."
CA Compliance Out-Tasking for Mainframe Security
The first out-tasking solution CA is making generally available is CA Compliance Out-Tasking for Mainframe Security. This solution features:
• A Mainframe Access Control service, based on CA Cleanup, which provides routine maintenance of security definitions. This service includes hands-on assistance in the identification and removal of obsolete, unused and rogue user IDs and access rights.
• A Mainframe System Integrity service, based on CA Auditor for z/OS, which identifies vulnerabilities and opportunities for improvement of z/OS security policies. This service includes hands-on assistance in identification and interpretation of potential security issues associated with the status and/or changes in status of the z/OS operating system, programs, files, and libraries.
Delivered remotely, CA's compliance out-tasking for mainframe security includes: software subscription, customized software implementation, baseline assessment, 24x7 monitoring, on-demand reporting, periodic performance reviews, knowledge transfer, and expert advice on relevant mainframe management best practices.
About CA
CA is the world's leading independent IT management software company. With CA's Enterprise IT Management (EITM) vision and expertise, organizations can more effectively govern, manage and secure IT to optimize business performance and sustain competitive advantage. For more information, visit www.ca.com.
About Acxiom Corp.
The global leader in interactive marketing services, Acxiom connects clients with their customers through deep consumer insight, powering effective and profitable marketing initiatives and business decisions. Our consultative approach spans multiple industries and incorporates decades of experience in consumer data and analytics, information technology, data integration and consulting solutions for effective marketing across digital, Internet, email, mobile and direct mail.
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