November 21, 2018
November 21, 2018 | Volume 12 Issue 27
- LEAD ARTICLE: Updating Your Modernization Mindset
- FEATURED ARTICLE: Tim Rowe Explains What Watson Means for the IBM i
- NEWS HIGHLIGHT: HelpSystems Acquires MVP Systems Software to Bolster Enterprise Workload Automation Portfolio
- WHITE PAPER: IBM i Security: Event Logging & Active Monitoring
- FEATURED VIDEO: Design an Invoice in 10 Minutes
- EVENT: The RPG IV Programming Boot Camp is Back for 2018!!

Updating Your Modernization Mindset
IBM i modernization is tactical. We need to change that.
By Steve Pitcher
Strategy versus tactics. That old argument.
I was at COMMON Sweden’s annual conference last week presenting sessions on IBM i administration and modernization. It was very fitting to get a text from my 11-year-old son asking if I would grade his school essay about the video game Fortnite. In his paper, he argued that Fortnite allowed players to work together in teams and strategize how best to win the game. Just so you’re aware, Fortnite is a game in which players parachute into a game zone and fight until only one person or team is left standing.

Tim Rowe Explains What Watson Means for the IBM i
In previous articles, we’ve gone through the APIs that make up Watson, but we haven’t ever heard from IBM itself. To remedy that, here’s an interview with Tim Rowe, IBM Watson guru.
By Dave Shirey
Officially, Tim Rowe’s title is Business Architect, Application Development and Systems Management for IBM i. If length of title means anything, Tim may be the most important person in the world. But given his normally low-key approach, he might not be quick to acknowledge that.
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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