User Profile Options

The DSPUSRPRF command does more than just display user profile attributes. You can display the members (if the profile is a group), the objects to which the profile's been given a private authority, commands to which it's been given a private authority, and more. I especially like the command authority option when I'm helping a client remove programmers from the QPGMR group profile. I run DSPUSRPRF QPGMR *CMDAUT and show the client all of the commands their programmers are currently authorized to run. This accomplishes two things: It confirms that programmers have too much authority when they are members of QPGMR, and it lists the commands the programmers' new group needs authority to.

Copy Audit Journal Entry (CPYAUDJRNE)

This is, undoubtedly, my favorite V5R4 enhancement. This command creates a copy of the model outfile for the specific audit journal entry type I'm interested in (for example, a copy of QASYAFJ5, which maps out the authority failure audit journal entry.) Then it runs the Display Journal (DSPJRN) command and sends the results to an outfile. CPYAUDJRNE is my favorite command because it takes two steps (making a copy of the model outfile and running DSPJRN) and only makes me do one step. It also simplifies the complexities of DSPJRN by providing only the parameters pertinent to displaying audit journal entries. The output of this command is an outfile containing the specified type of audit journal entries, which I can then query or merge with another file.

Policy Minder Gifts

SkyView's Policy Minder product, like i5/OS, has plenty of gifts as well. Here are just a few of them:

Send Compliance Information to a File

When I first start to use Policy Minder at a client, to get the best "picture" of their application security schemes, I define library authority templates for each application and run a compliance check. Then I use the Output Compliance Information (OUTCPL) command to send the compliance information to a stream file. (I can also send it to an outfile and query the results.) I often send all information—both compliant and non-compliant—so that I can see the whole security scheme of the application.

Finding Dynamic SQL

Run the ANZSQLINF command to find programs containing dynamic SQL. This is especially helpful if you are re-working an application security scheme and you want users' authority to access application files to come from adopted authority. When a program contains dynamic SQL, the program's Dynamic user profile parameter must be specified. The report generated from ANZSQLINF lists the programs containing dynamic SQL and their current settings for the User profile, Use adopted authority, and Dynamic user profile program attributes.

Find the Template

Forget which templates a particular object is in or concerned that you have forgotten to include an object in a template? Simply run the Display Library Authority Policy (DSPLIBAPOL), Display Directory Authority Policy (DSPDIRAPOL) or the Display User Profile Policy (DSPUSRPOL) command with the name of the object in question, and the template(s) will be listed.

Run FixIt in Test Mode

If you don't quite feel comfortable about running the FixIt function, you can run it in test mode. Simply run the FIXIT command, specifying TEST(*YES). All objects that would have been changed are logged in the Policy Minder Message Log (option 20 from the Main Menu) preceded with ">>>" as an indication that the function was run in test mode.

Christmas Greetings

We recognize that each culture celebrates different holidays now and throughout the year and we wish everyone holiday greetings. We, at SkyView Partners, would like to extend to you the joys and blessings we receive at this time of year as we celebrate Christmas and the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Carol Woodbury is IBM i Security SME and Senior Advisor to Kisco Systems, a firm focused on providing IBM i security solutions. Carol has over 30 years’ experience with IBM i security, starting her career as Security Team Leader and Chief Engineering Manager for iSeries Security at IBM in Rochester, MN. Since leaving IBM, she has co-founded two companies: SkyView Partners and DXR Security. Her practical experience and her intimate knowledge of the system combine for a unique viewpoint and experience level that cannot be matched.

Carol is known worldwide as an author and award-winning speaker on security technology, specializing in IBM i security topics. She has written seven books on IBM i security, including her two current books, IBM i Security Administration and Compliance, 3^rd Edition and Mastering IBM i Security, A Modern, Step-by-Step Approach. Carol has been named an IBM Champion since 2018 and holds her CISSP and CRISC security certifications.

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MC Press books written by Carol Woodbury available now on the MC Press Bookstore.

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