29
Fri, Nov
0 New Articles
  1. You are here:  
  2. Home
  3. Security
  4. IBM i (OS/400, i5/OS)
  5. IBM i Technology Refreshes and Other Things I’m Thankful for in 2020

IBM i Technology Refreshes and Other Things I’m Thankful for in 2020

IBM i (OS/400, i5/OS)
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

Everyone will be thankful when we can say goodbye to 2020! And everyone can list the awful events that have occurred this year. But not everything about 2020 was bad. In this article, Carol finds the good in 2020.

One of the people I follow on Instagram started to post the things she was thankful for. They were simple things: her dog, a beautiful sunset, money to buy groceries. These posts awoke me to the fact that I needed to start paying better attention to the things around me, specifically the things/situations/people I needed to be thankful for. This article is only a partial list of the things that I’m thankful for. I’m hoping that it will inspire you to also be thankful as we bid good riddance to 2020.

Let’s start with the two Technology Refreshes (TRs) that IBM released this year. Amid COVID restrictions, IBM managed to release two feature-packed TRs for V7R4 and V7R3. Both TRs provided 30+ new or enhanced IBM i Services. These services are either functions that perform a specific task or SQL views that provide insight into the system via SQL and are easily written to using languages such as Python. Why are these so important? They make our jobs easier! Whether you’re an administrator or programmer or work in security or compliance, it’s easier to get the information that you need by using modern interfaces. This is not only important for the reputation of the system itself (being easily accessible and modern/up-to-date), but also who doesn’t want to simplify one’s job and processes?

One new IBM i Service I’m thankful for is QSYS2.Server_Share_Info, which came with the TR released in November. This IBM i Service allows us to get information about file shares without having to manually look at the File Shares page in Navigator for i or writing to the List Server Information (QZLSLSTI) API. File shares provide direct access to the system through a drive mapped to using a share. Eliminating unnecessary shares and reducing read/write shares to read-only are part of the important fight against malware (including ransomware) infecting your IBM i. The server_file_share service allows us to know which file shares are in use and by whom so, for example, shares to root (/) can be remapped to a more appropriate subdirectory or unused file shares can be removed.

Another new IBM i Service that I’m thankful for is QSYS2.IFS_Object_Privileges, which allows you to easily gather information about the authorities in a particular subdirectory. Yes, you could use the Print Private Authority (PRTPVTAUT) command to get similar information, but the only option for this command is to output to a spooled file. Display Authority (DSPAUT) is another command available, but its only options are spooled file or display. Retrieving the information from this view allows for much more flexibility in how you process the information.

I’m thankful for Scott Forstie and his team at IBM for continuing to provide new and creative services. I’m also thankful for all of the publicly available SQL examples he provides via his GitHub Gist.

Another IBMer I’m thankful for is Alison Butterill, IBM i Offerings Manager. Alison works tirelessly to represent IBM i to customers around the world—virtually, of course, this year, but in “normal” times logs thousands of air miles presenting the Gospel of IBM i. But more importantly for all of us, she represents and fights for IBM i within the walls of IBM itself, quite the job but one she does exceedingly well. Alison celebrated 40 years at IBM in November. Please join me in congratulating her and thanking her for leading the IBM i charge!

An exciting event that occurred in 2020 and one for which I’m incredibly thankful is the formation of DXR Security, which I launched with my long-time business partner John Vanderwall. It’s great to be back in business with John and forging our own path once again, an opportunity I don’t take for granted.

Finally, the third edition of my book was released right as COVID hit. And as such, it was delayed a bit, but I’m really happy with this version, especially the addition of the chapter devoted to Authority Collection and a new chapter specifically for auditors. I’m thankful for the opportunity to get this information out. I’m also thankful for Victoria Mack, editor of these articles and this edition of my book. She makes sense of my sloppy words, and her edits make me a far better writer than I could ever be on my own.

So enough of what I’m thankful for from a work perspective. 2020 has reminded me over and over that work isn’t everything. So, here are just a few of the non-work-related things for which I’m thankful:

  • My oldest niece, Kelsey, an ICU nurse. Not only does she treat COVID patients, she’s suffered through the illness herself. To all our healthcare workers, thank you! And if you do it for no other reason, wear a mask for our healthcare workers. They’re exhausted! #wearamask
  • My three great nieces who live in Seattle. Their laughter and hugs are the joy of my life.
  • My neighbors. Because I’m not traveling, I’ve actually gotten to meet my neighbors!
  • My good health and ability to exercise. Exercise has definitely been a key to my mental health throughout this time.
  • The fact that I enjoy cooking. Because haven’t we all eaten more of our own food than we ever thought possible?!
  • My faith in Jesus, which has given me hope during the darkest times of 2020.

Summary

I don’t want to dismiss the fact that 2020 has been tragic for many, many individuals. My sincere condolences for the loss of life due to COVID, other illnesses, and racial violence. And my heart goes out to those who have lost their jobs and are struggling to put food on the table and to those who have lost their home due to fires or some act of nature. For the rest of us, my hope with this article is that we can end 2020 on a positive note, realizing that not everything about 2020 has been bad. I encourage you to start your list; you may be surprised by how long it actually is.

Carol Woodbury

 

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, 3rd 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.

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

IBM i Security Administration and Compliance: Third Edition
Don't miss the newest edition by the industry’s #1 IBM i security expert.
List Price $71.95

Now On Sale

Mastering IBM i Security Mastering IBM i Security
Get the must-have guide by the industry’s #1 security authority.
List Price $49.95

Now On Sale

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

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: