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December 16, 2016

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Issue Highlights

December 16, 2016 | Volume 13 Issue 49

• LEAD ARTICLE: TechTip: Just a Bit About Git

• FEATURED ARTICLE: Carol’s IBM i Security Wish List

• NEWS HIGHLIGHT: Spanish Business Partners Host IBM i Modernization Meeting

• ON-DEMAND WEBCAST: 7 Habits of Highly Secure Organizations

• EVENT: Coming in 2017: i Can Do Anything at NEUGC

Feature Article - Security

The Lesser of Two Evils: Choosing the Better IBM i Security Configuration

Carol describes scenarios where the configuration options aren’t optimal, but a choice must be made.

Written by Carol Woodbury

By the time you read this, the election in the United States will be over. Many in the States view this election as having to choose between the lesser of two evils. While I’m not going to discuss the way I voted, I thought I might discuss some similar situationswhere I’ve been presented with two IBM i configurations to choose from, and neither is optimal.

T.L. Ashford

Barcode400 Version 4.0 is the best software yet for designing and printing bar code labels from the IBM i.

Features include:

  • Easy Design with a Graphical Interface using IBM i Files.
  • IBM i Power - Barcode400 resides on the IBM i. Label formats are stored on the IBM i.
  • Many Ways to print - Print stand-alone from your desktop, or completely automate label printing by integrating into your application software. No Programming Required! The Power is in your hands.
  • Print to hundreds of thermal transfer printers and HP and compatible printers.
  • Output your labels as PDF documents.
  • Customer Support - Easily accessible and committed to making your experience with us as productive as possible.

Learn about new Features here, or watch a quick video on 4.0 features here. Download a 30-day trial here!

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MC Press Bookstore

Can’t wait? The wait is over…It’s finally here! The latest update to the classic IBM i security reference is now available. Fully secure your IBM i applications and data with help from security guru Carol Woodbury. Written in a clear, jargon-free style, you’ll learn why it’s vital to develop a security policy and how to implement and maintain such a system. You’ll also get expert advice for tackling today’s security threats. This new release is updated for the latest version of the IBM i operating system. Get your copy today!

Just $35 during the MC Press Year-End Inventory Blowout!

Feature Article - TechTip

TechTip: Store and Parse JSON Data Natively with DB2 for i

Learn how the latest DB2 for i features can reduce development time when interacting with the popular JSON data format.

Written by Michael Sansoterra

In my prior tip about using JSON with DB2 for i, I articulated a method of accessing JSON with SQL by use of Java external user-defined functions (UDFs) that convert JSON to XML and XML to JSON. Starting in IBM i 7.1 TR10 (Database Group PTF Level 34) and IBM i 7.2 TR2 (Database Group PTF Level 5), IBM has added native JSON support to the DB2 for i database engine. Keep in mind that, at this first release, the JSON support is still considered a "technology preview," so be sure to test any JSON implementations carefully before using them in production. Also, based on available documentation, some of these features and JSON functions are not yet advertised by IBM for the IBM i and may be subject to change.

MC Webcast Center

Choose one or more of these downloads in our MC Webcast Center

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JUST ADDED

IBM i Resources Retiring?

Let’s face it: IBM i experts and RPG programmers are retiring from the workforce. These folks have been managing all areas of your business—often manually and behind the scenes—for decades, everything from IT operations to data and documents to cybersecurity.

Are you prepared to handle their departure?

During this 30-mintue recorded webinar, our panel of IBM i experts—Chuck Losinski, Robin Tatam, Richard Schoen, and Tom Huntington—will outline strategies that allow your company to cope with IBM i skills depletion by adopting these strategies that allow you to get the job done without deep expertise on the OS:

  • Automate IBM i processes
  • Use managed services to help fill the gaps
  • Secure the system against data loss and viruses

IBM i skills depletion is a top concern for IBM i shops around the world. The strategies you discover in this webinar will help you ensure that your system of record—your IBM i—continues to deliver a powerful business advantage, even as staff retires.

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JUST ADDED

Find Out Why You Should Keep Data on IBM i

It’s simple. IBM i is the most reliable, securable, and powerful platform to house your critical business data.

IBM i was built for business and has added features and functionality over the years to keep up with modern business needs. You can trust it to run your business, access your data in real-time, and keep your data secure. Plus, IBM i can scale to your business and handle all of your critical data. Can your other platforms do that?

We didn’t think so.

Watch this 30-minute webinar to learn why you should keep your data on IBM i, including:

  • IBM i is reliable
  • IBM i offers fast and secure real-time data access
  • IBM i helps your business prepare for tomorrow

Plus, we demonstrate how Sequel Data Access helps you modernize IBM i data access and meet your business needs.

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Implementing Multiple Layers of Defense

Your IBM i holds a massive amount of data. In most organizations, that data constitutes a mission-critical and high-value asset.

How do you adequately protect the data residing on your IBM i, given its value to your organization? IBM has provided us with many options for protecting our data, but it’s now always clear how to select and implement the best options for your circumstances.

This recorded webinar describes IBM i’s different data security options, along with implementation recommendations and tips for getting started. Carol Woodbury, one of the world’s top IBM i security experts, also provides considerations to help you determine how many layers of security are right for your organization.

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7 Habits of Highly Secure Organizations

Everyone knows that cybersecurity is important, but getting started on the road to data protection and compliance can be confusing and intimidating. Understanding common vulnerabilities helps you focus your attention and resources on the areas that need the most help.

We all want “best-practice” security, but what are top organizations doing to achieve and maintain it?

Watch this webinar to learn the details about how to develop the seven habits that are part of daily life for secure organizations. You’ll learn how to:

  • Break the Ostrich Syndrome
  • Develop a Security Policy
  • Assess Current Standing
  • Perform Security Event Logging and Review
  • Use “Best of Breed” Technologies
  • Monitor for Ongoing Compliance
  • Plan for the Future

This on-demand webinar examines what each of these habits means to IBM i, and helps you make sure that you don’t become the next security statistic.

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Don't miss the full collection of On-Demand Assets available in the MC Webcast Center

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Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: