Last updated on 04 December 2025
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IBM Form #: SG24-8511-01
Authors: Bill White, Dino Amarini, Diego Bessone, Tom Bish, Nathan Brice, Richard Cairns, Giovanni Cerquone, Nick Clayton, Michael Frankenberg, Nathan Gurley, Maryellen Kliethermes, David Matoe, Kevin Miner, Nadim Shehab, Karen Smolar, John Thompson, Paolo Vitali and Joseph Welsh II
Abstract
Cyberattacks and data corruption threats are escalating, making cyber resiliency a critical component of an enterprise IT strategy. While traditional disaster recovery focuses on physical failures, cyber resiliency addresses logical corruption caused by ransomware, malware, or insider threats. This IBM® Redbooks® publication introduces the IBM Z® Cyber Vault solution—a comprehensive approach to safeguarding IBM Z environments through immutable backups, isolated recovery systems, and automated validation processes.
The IBM Z Cyber Vault solution combines three core domains:
- Storage, leveraging IBM DS8000® Safeguarded Copy for point-in-time, tamper-proof backups
- Automation, using GDPS® Logical Corruption Protection Manager and Copy Services Manager to orchestrate capture, validation, and recovery
- Environment, an air-gapped IBM Z system for forensic analysis and surgical or catastrophic recovery.
The solution supports proactive data validation, forensic investigation, and recovery strategies that minimize downtime and data loss, while integrating with advanced tools such as IBM Z Backup Resiliency (IZBR) and IBM Threat Detection for z/OS (TDz).
This publication provides practical guidance for planning, designing, and deploying the IBM Z Cyber Vault solution, including architecture decisions, storage sizing, automation scripts, and validation frameworks. It also explores advanced capabilities such as offline backups, offensive security testing, and Db2 roll-forward recovery.
Intended for IT managers, architects, system programmers, and security professionals, this publication equips organizations to strengthen cyber resiliency and ensure business continuity in the face of evolving threats.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Business resiliency: Proactive analysis and expedited recovery
Chapter 2. Planning and designing the IBM Z Cyber Vault solution
Chapter 3. IBM Z Cyber Vault capabilities
Chapter 4. Deploying the IBM Z Cyber Vault environment
Chapter 5. IBM Z Cyber Vault: Building upon the foundations
Appendix A. Monitoring the IBM Z Cyber Vault environment
Special Notices
The material included in this document is in DRAFT form and is provided 'as is' without warranty of any kind. IBM is not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of the material, and may update the document at any time. The final, published document may not include any, or all, of the material included herein. Client assumes all risks associated with Client's use of this document.