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Secure AIX with Google Authenticator
Ready, Set, Auth
IBM AIX is a robust enterprise-grade operating system used in mission-critical environments where security is paramount, like banking, healthcare, and government. Security breaches on AIX systems are relatively rare compared with other operating systems such as Windows or Linux, primarily because of AIX's smaller attack surface, niche use in enterprise environments, and robust security architecture. However, breaches do occur, and their rarity doesn't mean AIX is immune. Implementing two-factor authentication (2FA) or multifactor authentication (MFA) is a critical step in safeguarding AIX systems by helping to ensure that they remain secure against evolving threats and maintain compliance with regulatory demands.
AIX administrators have a few options to consider when it comes to MFA. One option is the IBM PowerSC product [1], which is a security tool that adds, among other things, MFA to IBM Power servers, requiring users to provide multiple forms of verification (like a password and a token) to access systems securely. It helps protect against unauthorized access and ensures compliance with security standards. Because it's included as part of the AIX Enterprise Edition bundle, if you have an active AIX Enterprise Edition license with software maintenance (SWMA), you might already be entitled to use PowerSC without additional licensing.
Another option is MFA with RSA SecurID [2]. This third-party solution typically comes with a price tag, requiring licenses for the RSA authentication manager software, user tokens, and potentially additional hardware or cloud services, depending on the deployment. Other options are available from other security software vendors that could be considered as well, such as Gemalto SafeNet Authentication Service.
However, other solutions come with less cost and complexity that might be suitable for many
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