We're excited to announce the launch of the CData Arc Q3 2026 release (v26.3), delivering powerful new capabilities built around security, operational visibility, and configuration control. This release brings application-level encryption at rest, a built in MCP server for AI-powered diagnostics, local Git version control, and a guided database migration utility alongside improvements to scripting, connectivity, and file transfer.
Here's what's new in this release:
🔐 Encryption at Rest
- Arc can now encrypt all message data at rest using AES-256-GCM, helping organizations meet PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, and SOX compliance requirements without any changes to existing workflows.
- Four configurable modes give teams full control over the transition, from a compatibility mode for gradual rollout to a strict mode for environments that must reject plaintext files entirely.
🤖 AI Diagnostics via Built-In MCP Server
- Arc now ships with a built-in MCP server, letting AI clients like Claude Desktop, GitHub Copilot CLI, and OpenAI Codex connect directly to a running Arc instance and answer diagnostic questions in natural language without touching the Arc UI.
- The server exposes 14 read only tools covering workspaces, connectors, messages, logs, certificates, and system health, enabled by default and respecting all existing access controls.
📝 Version Control Enhancements
- Teams can now enable a Local repository option that creates a standalone Git repo directly on the Arc server; no remote Git server required; with full commit history and branching available from day one.
- Configuration diffs on connector and workspace settings now display in a structured, form based layout showing old and new values side by side, replacing raw unified-diff text.
🗄️ Database Migration Utility
- Arc now includes a built-in migration utility under Settings > Advanced that moves all application data from the embedded database to SQL Server, MySQL, or PostgreSQL with no external tools, no data loss, and crash recovery built in.
🔌 New Connectors, Scripting, and Connectivity
- A new Python connector runs Python natively in flows, a new AES connector handles encryption and decryption directly in Arc, and ArcScript gains a _state item for persistent key/value storage across executions.
- Database connectors now include a visual JOIN designer for multi-table queries without SQL, the API Profile catalog is now accessible in Arc's Connections interface, and NetSuite custom schemas can be managed directly from the connection settings UI.
- RBAC is extended to both Connections and Flow APIs, AI-assisted mapping now handles more complex field relationships, and a new service account type supports token and OAuth-only authentication for automated systems.
⚙️ Platform and File Transfer Improvements
- Log Pattern Analysis groups similar log entries on the Activity page; connector-level service status indicators now appear directly on server-type connector pages; and the Admin API gains a moveConnector action and two new resources exposing workspace flow topology.
- SFTP and FTP connectors support date macros in remote paths; Email Receive gains a configurable archive folder; SFTP Server adds a Finalize on Disconnect setting and configurable Home Directory; and the Connector Backoff UI now surfaces a clear status indicator when a connector enters backoff mode.
⬆️ Ready to upgrade?
If your Arc install is deployed on-premises, visit our website to download the latest version.
If you are deployed on Arc Cloud, please use our support ticketing system to request an upgrade.
📖 For a deeper dive into these new features, visit our documentation or contact our support team. Let us know if you have any questions or need assistance upgrading.
Read the release blog here.
