June 17, 2020
June 17, 2020 | Volume 12 Issue 46
- LEAD ARTICLE: New IBM i Technology Refreshes…Sort Of
- FEATURED ARTICLE: Commercial Software Can Help You Get Started with AI Now
- FEATURED WEBINAR: IBM i Cloud Migration Considerations
- NEWS HIGHLIGHT: IBM: Security in the Cloud Remains Challenged by Complexity and Shadow IT
- WEBCAST: 10 Practical IBM i Security Tips for Surviving Covid-19 and Working From Home
- FEATURED VIDEO: Design an Invoice in 10 Minutes
- EVENT: MITEC 2020 iSight

New IBM i Technology Refreshes…Sort Of
Confusion aside, the functionality of IBM i 7.4 TR 2 and 7.3 TR 8 is here.
By Steve Pitcher
Since IBM i 7.1, IBM has released a new Technology Refresh each spring and fall. The TRs coincided with both a cumulative PTF package and the announcement outlining it as such. Furthermore, they coincided with the spring and fall conferences as it would make good sense for IBM to be out communicating with many customers at events.
Seiden Group Announces Free Access to CommunityPlus+ PHP for IBM i

Commercial Software Can Help You Get Started with AI Now
If AI software sounds like something that could help your enterprise, a good way to start is to perform analysis on a single business function and expand from there. Solutions exist that can handle a small analysis project and be useful if commitment to AI expands later.
By John Ghrist
In some ways, artificial intelligence (AI) still seems like a science-fiction concept, but it's not. AI packages exist today that can help enterprises do a better job of spotting problems, analyzing business conditions to figure out better strategies going forward, and automating predictive processes to provide better outcomes than simply relying on, for example, some CEO's "gut instinct." It may be helpful to those thinking about dipping a toe into this new technology to take a brief look at some of the major AI software packages already available.
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.
Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:
- Automated report distribution
- View online without delay
- Browser interface to make notes
- Custom retention capabilities
- Seamless product integration
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IBM i Cloud Migration Considerations
Top reasons to look at performance before you leap to the cloud
By HelpSystems
Editor's note: This article introduces the May 2020 Webinar: IBM i Cloud Migration Considerations, which is On-Demand and available to download and view from the MC Webcast Center.
Imagine your boss says it’s time to migrate to the cloud. He’s excited about being the first on the block, plus it would look good to eliminate the capital expenditure (capex) of your on-prem data center. So, what’s it going to take?