September 15, 2017
September 15, 2017 | Volume 14 Issue 15
• LEAD ARTICLE: TechTip: Watson APIs - Visual Recognition
• FEATURED ARTICLE: Usablenet's U-Experience Platform Aims to Maximize Mobile, Web, and Native App Performance
• FEATURED ARTICLE: Implementing Compensating Controls When IBM i Security Best Practices Aren’t Possible
• NEWS HIGHLIGHT: ID Grup and ASNA help customers with outdated IBM i platforms
• FEATURED NEWS: iTech Solutions' Special Offer for Hurricanes Harvey and Irma Survivors
• WHITE PAPER: IBM i Security: Event Logging & Active Monitoring
• MC VIDEO SHOWCASE: NGS-IQ: Serious Fun for IBM i Users - Highlights Version
• EVENT: COMMON Fall Conference & Expo
• MC PRESS MAGAZINE: A Small Intro to Big Data, Part 2: Introducing the Hadoop Framework

TechTip: Watson APIs - Visual Recognition
This month, we’re going to start our magical journey through the wonderland of each individual Watson API. And we’ll begin with Visual Recognition.
By David Shirey
The starting point for our expedition into the world of the assorted Watson APIs will be the Visual Recognition feature that Watson provides: the ability to have Watson match up and identify an image that you have provided to it.
Remain Software Milestone 2021
bp joins the IBM Quantum Network to advance use of quantum computing in energy

Usablenet's U-Experience Platform Aims to Maximize Mobile, Web, and Native App Performance
Most mobile device users expect web pages to load as fast as they do on desktops and don't like when interfaces and apps perform sluggishly on their devices. Prioritizing mobile web page and app performance counters this problem.
By John Ghrist
There's significant support, particularly in the IBM i world, for the philosophy that the best way to move into the mobile arena is simply to provide mobile devices access to a single base of code for all websites. So entire desktop files are downloaded to the mobile-device browser, which suppresses unnecessary elements, and the output is tailored to the device's screen dimensions. This is called Responsive Design, and one concern with this approach is that most of the heavy lifting is done client-side on the device itself. This is less of an issue for desktop and laptop devices than smartphones because the former tend to have more computational resources 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:
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- View online without delay
- Browser interface to make notes
- Custom retention capabilities
- Seamless product integration
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Implementing Compensating Controls When IBM i Security Best Practices Aren’t Possible
What can organizations do when using “best practices” settings cause something to break? This article discusses your options.
By Carol Woodbury
Of course, implementing what is recommended as a “best practice” is what you should strive to do. However, I’ve found that there are instances when implementing a best practice setting in its most literal sense will cause issues. What should you do? Ignore that aspect of security and move on? No. You’ll want to find an alternative solution that meets the spirit of the best practice recommendation but fulfills it differently. In the security and audit world, that’s called a “compensating control.” Let’s look at some examples.

iTech Solutions' Special Offer for Hurricanes Harvey & Irma Survivors
If you live in the area impacted by Hurricane Harvey or Irma, we hope you and your loved ones are safe. We also wanted to let you know that iTech Solutions is here for you during this time.
If you need technical support, to ask questions during a save or restore, need help on bringing your system back up after the floods subside, LAN Console connection issues, or have a hardware failure that you need help to debug, please give us a call. We will help at no charge. We can even work with you to perform a restore while you tend to other things like your house and family. We can help you with any IBM i System Admin function you need help with.