IBM's new Z14 mainframe brings end-to-end encryption to all your data

In the wake of 'global epidemic of data breaches,' IBM has announced that its latest IBM Z14 mainframe computer is capable of encrypting all of the data in an enterprise associated with any application, cloud service or database all the time. More importantly, the new platform can also "self-destruct" encryption keys the moment there's any tampering, and quickly encrypts the programming interfaces that tie apps and services together.

According to IBM, conventional systems based on x86 processors only encrypt "limited slices" of information, while the new Z has enough power (18 times more, in fact) to lock everything down as a matter of course. The company notes that of the more than nine billion data records lost or stolen since 2013, only four percent were encrypted, making the vast majority of such data vulnerable to organized cybercrime rings, state actors and employees misusing access to sensitive information. And hence the new mainframe.

“The pervasive encryption that is built into — and is designed to extend beyond — the new IBM Z really makes this the first system with an all-encompassing solution to the security threats and breaches we’ve been witnessing in the past 24 months,” said Peter Rutten, analyst at IDC’s Servers and Compute Platforms Group, in a statement.

The system is designed to deal with huge data breaches, and it automates compliance for the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation. IBM Z capability can be extended beyond the mainframe to other devices, such as storage systems and servers in the cloud. In addition, the company said the IBM Secure Service Container protects against “Snowden-style” insider threats from contractors and privileged users.

However, it isn't as hunky-dory as it appears. IBM, no doubt plays an important role in online commerce with its transaction engine handling 87 percent of credit card payments but for any real benefit, many other companies would likely have to upgrade too. Also, IBM's solution doesn't stop hackers from taking data -- it just prevents them from reading it. Hackers may still attempt attacks and find a way to decrypt content once they have it.