Jurisdiction - Authority Area
In the context of IBM z/OS, "Jurisdiction" or "Authority Area" refers to the precisely defined scope of control, responsibility, or access rights assigned to a specific user, group, or security entity over a set of mainframe resources, data, or system functions. It delineates the boundaries within which an entity is authorized to perform actions, manage access, or administer components, enforced by the system's security mechanisms.
Key Characteristics
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- Granularity: Authority areas can be defined at various levels, from broad system-wide control (e.g., a master security administrator) to very specific access to a single dataset,
CICStransaction,DB2table, orIMSdatabase. - Security Manager Dependent: Typically enforced and managed by the z/OS Security Server (e.g.,
RACF,ACF2,Top Secret), which maps user IDs and groups to resources and their authorized actions (e.g.,READ,UPDATE,CONTROL,ALTER). - Hierarchical Structure: Often reflects the organizational structure, allowing for delegated administration where a higher authority can grant specific, limited "jurisdictions" to lower-level administrators or application owners.
- Resource-Specific: Applies to distinct types of mainframe resources, including
datasets,volumes,CICS transactions,DB2 tablespaces,IMS databases,system commands,programs, andstarted tasks. - Policy-Driven: Defined by security policies and rules that dictate who has what level of access or control within a given authority area, ensuring compliance and operational integrity.
- Granularity: Authority areas can be defined at various levels, from broad system-wide control (e.g., a master security administrator) to very specific access to a single dataset,
Use Cases
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- Delegated Security Administration: A central
RACFadministrator might delegate the management of user IDs and resource profiles for a specific department (e.g., allDEPTFIN.*user profiles orFIN.APPL.*datasets) to a departmental security administrator, defining their specific "jurisdiction". - Application Data Ownership: An application development team might be granted exclusive "jurisdiction" over their application's
DB2tables,IMSdatabases, and associatedVSAMor sequentialdatasets, meaning only they can define, alter, or grant access to these resources. - System Operator Scope: A z/OS operator might have "jurisdiction" to issue commands only for a specific
LPARor a subset ofstarted tasks(e.g.,DISPLAY,START,STOPcommands forCICSregions), preventing unauthorized actions on critical system components. - Compliance and Auditing: Defining clear authority areas helps in auditing access and changes to sensitive resources, ensuring that actions are performed only by authorized personnel within their defined scope, which is crucial for regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR, PCI DSS).
- Delegated Security Administration: A central
Related Concepts
Jurisdiction is fundamentally tied to z/OS security (RACF, SAF), which provides the mechanisms to define, enforce, and audit these authority areas. It relies heavily on user IDs, groups, and resource profiles to establish the boundaries of control. It also intersects with data governance and compliance, as the jurisdiction over data often dictates which regulations apply and who is responsible for its security and integrity. Furthermore, it's a core concept in system administration and operations, enabling the secure and controlled delegation of responsibilities across various teams and roles.
- Principle of Least Privilege: Grant users and groups the absolute minimum authority necessary to perform their job functions within their defined jurisdiction, minimizing potential exposure.
- Clear Segregation of Duties: Define distinct authority areas
The term "Just" as provided ("Exactly or recently") is a common English word and does not have a specific, technical meaning or usage within the IBM mainframe, z/OS, COBOL, JCL, or related enterprise computing context.
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The term "Justice - Fairness" does not have a specific technical meaning or application within the context of IBM mainframe systems, z/OS, COBOL, JCL, CICS, DB2, IMS, or related enterprise computing technologies. This glossary is strictly focused on technical terms relevant to the mainframe ecosystem.