11-22, 16:05–17:05 (Europe/Vienna), Main Room
Discover the critical role of mainframe computing in today's digital landscape. This talk delves into the enduring relevance of mainframes, exploring how they underpin many of the world's most essential systems. We will address a series of emerging challenges that, if left unchecked, could converge into a perfect storm, threatening the stability and security of these vital infrastructures. The session culminates with a live demonstration, showcasing a real-time hack of a mainframe, to highlight vulnerabilities and the importance of robust security measures.
For over 60 years, mainframes have been the backbone of mission-critical systems, yet they face significant challenges today. A growing skill gap is emerging as experienced system programmers retire, compounded by the high barrier to entry and domain-specific knowledge required. New talent is scarce due to limited and expensive learning resources, and knowledge sharing is often restricted.
Security testing is critical concern. There is a lack of objective-based penetration testing a knowledge deficit among security professionals adequately assess the vulnerabilities, leaving these essential systems exposed to potential threats.
This talk will address these issues, emphasizing the need for bridging the skill gap, promoting knowledge sharing, and enhancing security measures. The session will conclude with a live hacking demonstration, showcasing real-time vulnerabilities and underscoring the importance of robust security practices. Join us to explore the future of mainframe computing and its indispensable role in our digital infrastructure.
Main Track (approx. 200 people)
Jonathan is a penetration tester at NVISO GmbH driven by curiousity who spends a lot of time digging into systems most people forgot still exist. From mainframes to IBM i, Jonathan looks for creative ways attackers can move through complex environments — and how to stop them. When not breaking things for fun (and work), he's often building out his growing homelab of classic enterprise gear to test attacks the safe way.