October 13, 2017
October 13, 2017 | Volume 14 Issue 16
• LEAD ARTICLE: Alpha Anywhere: Keeping the Front and Back Ends Coordinated
• FEATURED ARTICLE: TechTip: Watson APIs - Speech to Text
• FEATURED ARTICLE: Could IBM i Have Been Part of the Equifax Breach?
• FEATURED ARTICLE: Overcoming Common IBM i Mobile Development Challenges
• NEWS HIGHLIGHT: Profound Logic Announces Membership in Node.js Foundation
• WHITE PAPER: 5 New and Unique Ways to Use the IBM i Audit Journal
• MC VIDEO SHOWCASE: Design an Invoice in 10 Minutes
• EVENT: RPG & DB2 Summit
• MC PRESS MAGAZINE: The Internet of Things: You’re Already a Part of It

Alpha Anywhere: Keeping the Front and Back Ends Coordinated
Coordinating actions between the front-end of an app running on a mobile device and the back-end server or cloud that supports it can be tricky. Alpha Software's Alpha Anywhere mobile development and deployment platform builds all that in.
Written by John Ghrist
Some of the complexity of building mobile applications is because the task doesn't just involve building the functional application itself. There are also numerous supporting features to take into account, such as offline operation and data synchronization, resolving write conflicts to server databases, generating reports, security, and other factors.
Remain Software Milestone 2021
bp joins the IBM Quantum Network to advance use of quantum computing in energy

TechTip: Watson APIs - Speech to Text
Ever wanted to have your spoken words automatically translated into written format? Well, there’s a Watson API for that, as we shall now see.
By David Shirey
Maybe you did a webinar. Or you recorded a presentation that you did at a conference. And now, you’re thinking how nice it would be to have a written version of what you said that could be submitted to the Library of Congress for eternal preservation.
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
Rerun another report? Never again. Try the Robot Report Management Solution FREE for 30 days.
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Could IBM i Have Been Part of the Equifax Breach?
The Wall Street Journal stated that, as part of the Equifax breach, database queries were performed “that provided access to documents and sensitive information stored in databases in an Equifax legacy environment.” Many organizations have dubbed their IBM i as “legacy.”
By Carol Woodbury
We don’t yet know the details of the Equifax breach. But just for fun, let’s assume for the moment that their legacy system was indeed an IBM i. What could Equifax have done to protect themselves?

Overcoming Common IBM i Mobile Development Challenges
"We'd love to deliver mobile applications to our business...but we're not a mobile development shop!"
Written by Profound Logic Software
Editor's note: This article introduces the white paper "Overcoming Common IBM i Mobile Development Challenges" available free at the MC White Paper Center.
It's no secret that more and more companies are embracing mobile to create a more engaged, knowledgeable, and agile workforce. But mobile application development gives many companies pause. How much will it cost? Do we have the in-house talent to handle development, or will we outsource? Is BYOD the right fit for our company?