On 23 September 2025, IBM announced Host Access Client Package (HACP) 16.0, a new release that strengthens security, simplifies user management, and enhances the productivity of end-users working with host applications. As enterprises continue to modernize their mainframe and midrange environments, host access software plays a critical role in enabling secure, efficient, and intuitive access to business-critical applications.
With planned availability on 25 September 2025, IBM Host Access Client Package 16.0 delivers enhancements across all three key components - IBM Personal Communications (PCOMM) 16.0, IBM Host On-Demand (HOD) 16.0, and IBM HEX Client (formerly HACP EE) 16.0. Together, they provide a comprehensive solution for secure, standards-based, and user-friendly access to host applications across platforms.
Official announcement letter: IBM Host Access Client Package 16.0
Key Highlights of IBM Host Access Client Package 16.0
Enhanced Security to protect sensitive data
Protecting business-critical and personal information remains a top priority. IBM HACP 16.0 strengthens security by:
- Obfuscating sensitive information such as card numbers or other regulated data directly on-screen using custom regulatory expressions.
- Supporting modern cryptographic ciphers that meet FIPS 140-3 standards, ensuring compliance with government and industry regulations.
- Expanding single sign-on (SSO) capabilities with modern authentication standards:
- HEX Client 16.0: OpenID Connect and Keycloak integration for secure and seamless user authentication across web, mobile, and JavaScript clients.
- PCOMM 16.0: OneDrive integration via SSO.
These enhancements reduce the risk of data leakage, improve compliance, and align host access solutions with the latest enterprise security architectures.
Simplified User Profiles Management with modern authentication
Enterprises can streamline user access management with enhanced LDAP support, including ApacheDS, OpenLDAP, and Microsoft Active Directory (AD). This simplifies authentication and authorization across host environments, reducing administrative overhead while improving compliance posture.
For IBM Host On-Demand users, configuration data, including user profiles and session definitions, can now be created and stored directly on these LDAP servers, offering flexible and centralized user management.
Improved User Experience for productivity gains
IBM HACP 16.0 introduces multiple features designed to boost end-user productivity and streamline host interactions:
- Macro Visual Editor (HEX Client): A new editor enables easier customization of macros, making them more intuitive and user-friendly.
- Green screen walkthroughs (HEX Client): Users can record new features and green screen actions as step-by-step guides for end users, enhancing training and automation.
- AI-powered type-ahead input suggestions (HEX Client): Leveraging a deep learning long short-term memory (LSTM) model, this feature provides real-time input suggestions in green screen applications, helping users complete tasks faster and more accurately.
- Modern UI support (HOD): Includes light/dark theme support on Apple devices, widescreen optimizations for bidirectional (BIDI) sessions, and redesigned administrative pages for a consistent, modern experience.
- Enhanced PCOMM usability: Keyboard shortcuts for common actions (cut, copy, paste, select) and drag-and-drop import of configuration files (.ws, .kmp, .com) simplify daily workflows.
By modernizing the user experience, IBM HACP 16.0 helps enterprises reduce training time, accelerate adoption, and empower end-users to be more productive.
Component Highlights
IBM Personal Communications (PCOMM) 16.0
- Secure display of obfuscated data based on regulatory expressions.
- Microsoft OneDrive integration with SSO.
- Unicode support for Traditional Chinese codepage.
- Drag-and-drop import for configuration files (.ws, .kmp, .com).
- Keyboard shortcuts for faster navigation.
IBM Host On-Demand (HOD) 16.0
- FIPS 140-3 compliant cryptography and secure connections to configuration and LDAP servers.
- Optimized widescreen display for bidirectional sessions.
- Light/dark theme support on Apple devices.
- LDAP support for ApacheDS, OpenLDAP, and Microsoft Active Directory.
- HEX Client links integrated into default and administrative pages, with redesigned pages for modern UX.
IBM HEX Client 16.0
- Obfuscation of sensitive data on-screen.
- OpenID Connect-based SSO with Keycloak integration.
- AI-powered type-ahead suggestions for green screen applications.
- Macro Visual Editor for easier macro customization.
- Step-by-step walkthrough recording for new features and green screen actions.
Why Upgrade to IBM Host Access Client Package 16.0?
- Stronger protection against data breaches and compliance risks.
- Streamlined identity management across modern authentication providers.
- Modernized user experience that blends AI-powered productivity with intuitive tools like visual macro editing.
- Future-ready architecture that supports evolving enterprise security and UX standards.
Not upgrading means continuing with older security models, manual identity management, and less productive host access workflows — increasing operational risk and costs.
How to Get Started
IBM Host Access Client Package 16.0 will be available on 25 September 2025. For ordering information and regional availability, contact your IBM representative or IBM Business Partner.
Official announcement letter: IBM Host Access Client Package 16.0