IBM Security Guardium S-TAP for Db2

The architecture of IBM Security Guardium S-TAP for Db2 on z/OS comprises several key components. The S-TAP agent is installed on the Db2 server and monitors database activity. It captures SQL statements, user actions, and data access events.

The agent uses a combination of network sniffing and agent-based monitoring to capture database traffic. The captured data is then sent to the Guardium collector. The Guardium collector receives data from the S-TAP agents and processes it.

It analyzes the data, generates reports, and triggers alerts based on predefined policies. The collector can be a dedicated Guardium appliance or integrated with the Guardium Central Manager. The Guardium Central Manager provides a centralized management interface for configuring S-TAP agents, defining monitoring policies, and viewing reports.

It also manages user access and permissions. Communication between the S-TAP agent and the Guardium collector uses TCP/IP, secured with TLS/SSL encryption. The S-TAP agent uses configuration files to define monitoring parameters, such as the Db2 instance to monitor and the types of events to capture.

The Guardium Central Manager stores configuration data and audit logs in a database. The database can be a relational database such as Db2 or a NoSQL database. The S-TAP agent supports various authentication methods, including Kerberos and user ID/password.

The access control model is role-based, allowing administrators to define roles and assign permissions. Compared to other solutions, S-TAP offers robust integration with the Guardium ecosystem, providing a comprehensive security solution. The detailed audit trails and centralized management capabilities are key differentiators.