Mainframes Aren't Dead—They're Running Kubernetes and Attesting Confidential Containers

This talk delves into the resurgence of mainframes, highlighting their role in running Kubernetes and serving as attestation authorities for confidential containers. The speaker explores the motivations for utilizing Kubernetes on mainframes, discussing aspects such as container orchestration, networking, and practical use cases. In addition, the presentation examines the use of an IBM mainframe for attesting kata-based confidential containers, integrating remote attestation into cloud-native infrastructure with technology that dates back before TCP/IP. The session underscores the significant implications of mainframe architecture in enforcing modern security measures within microservices and enclave signature verification. Josephine Pfeiffer, a consultant with expertise in developer productivity and infrastructure, leads the discussion.