March 18, 2020
March 18, 2020 | Volume 12 Issue 43
- LEAD ARTICLE: The Effects of COVID-19 on the IBM i Ecosystem
- FEATURED ARTICLE: The Truth, the Whole Truth,…and AI Systems
- FEATURED ARTICLE: 2020 IBM i Marketplace Survey Results
- NEWS HIGHLIGHT: IBM Survey: Only 38% of State and Local Government Employees Trained on Ransomware Prevention
- WEBCAST: IBM i in 2019: It’s Not Just AS/400
- FEATURED VIDEO: Design an Invoice in 10 Minutes
- EVENT: Think Digital Event Experience, The best of IBM, wherever you are May 5–7, 2020

The Effects of COVID-19 on the IBM i Ecosystem
With supply chain uncertainty, it makes sense to not delay your 2020 purchase of POWER9 and storage.
By Steve Pitcher
The new COVID-19 virus is making its way around the globe. In response, governments are issuing travel embargoes, companies are ordering staff to work from home if possible, and people are stocking up on groceries, fuel, and water.
Seiden Group Offers Free Application Profiling Tool for PHP on IBM i

The Truth, the Whole Truth,…and AI Systems
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to remove bias from human decision-making. Now try to imagine what our legal systems might look like if augmented with powerful AI capabilities.
By Mark Simmonds
If our legal processes and justice systems were infused with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, the outcome of some trials might be very different from those that were absent of AI. Some may argue AI might produce more balanced and consistent verdicts by identifying and attempting to remove human prejudice and bias. But that’s just one perspective on AI in the justice system. Consider how the existence of fully autonomous self-aware AI “beings” as part of our society might change our legal systems around the world.
What to Do When Your AS/400 Talent Retires
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:
- Why IBM i skills depletion is a top concern
- How leading organizations are coping
- Where automation will make the biggest impact
Enjoy!
Download your copy today!
2019 State of IBM i Modernization
The annual Profound Logic ‘State of IBM i Modernization Survey” takes a look at the trends and attitudes that shape the IBM i modernization market. We reached out to the IBM i community, and the response was outstanding: close to 800 people, nearly 300 more than last year, took the survey. This enthusiasm resulted in very interesting findings for how businesses plan to use and modernize the platform in the coming year.
As you read through each section of the survey, you will see our summary of the results and suggestions for the future. We hope the survey will help your business better understand what is possible for your IBM i platform in the coming year.
Node Webinar Series Pt. 1: The World of Node.js on IBM i
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.
Part 1 will teach you what Node.js is, why it's a great option for IBM i shops, and how to take advantage of the ecosystem surrounding Node.
In addition to background information, our Director of Product Development Scott Klement will demonstrate applications that take advantage of the Node Package Manager (npm).
watch now!
What Most IBM i Shops Get Wrong About the IFS
Can 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 month 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:
- How phishing attacks are becoming more sophisticated
- Three little-known ways malicious programs can reach your IFS
- Why the IFS is IBM i’s “Typhoid Mary”
You’ll also learn why some of the most common malware solutions still leave IBM i systems vulnerable—and what you can do to protect your organization.
Easiest Way to Save Money? Stop Printing IBM i Reports
The 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.
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- Browser interface to make notes
- Custom retention capabilities
- Seamless product integration
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2020 IBM i Marketplace Survey Results
This year marks the sixth edition of the popular IBM i Marketplace Survey Results. Each year, HelpSystems sets out to gather data about how businesses use the IBM i platform and the IT initiatives it supports. Year over year, the survey has begun to reveal long-term trends that give insight into the future of this trusted technology.
By HelpSystems
Past surveys have sparked many thoughtful conversations about IBM i, and we’re thrilled to be part of such an engaged community. We thank those who shared the 2019 results while at IT conferences, briefings, and team meetings.
2019 brought the launch of IBM i 7.4 and many new breakthroughs for IBM i in the cloud. We can’t wait to see how these technologies support growth for IBM i users in 2020.
Editor's note: The 2020 IBM i Marketplace Survey Results is a free download from the MC White Paper Center.