Datacom support for security passphrases or long passwords

Products

• Datacom
• Datacom/AD
• Datacom/DB

Issue/Introduction

As many companies work toward a more secure environment for their applications and infrastructure tools, expanding password capabilities from the traditional 8-character limitation to longer passwords or the use of passphrases is being considered.

In order to provide enhanced security, can passphrases be used in Datacom products?

Environment

Component : Datacom/DB

Component : Datacom/AD 

Resolution

Datacom/DB serves as the database repository used by applications such as DB Server, DDOL, DQ, and SQL to access, modify, and delete rows. While DB Server supports passphrase usage, user authentication and access privileges for all applications are managed through external security mechanisms like RACF, ACF2, and Top Secret.

In other words, the concept of passwords or passphrases does not apply directly to the Datacom/DB engine itself.

Datacom Server delivered PASSPHRASE support.  See the announcement in the release notes: Password Phrase Support for Datacom Server (LU14394, LU14395, LU14582, LU14583) .