04
Fri, Oct
2 New Articles

Express Client Security Comes in Threes

IBM i (OS/400, i5/OS)
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

Pythagoras considered three the perfect number because it embraces the concept of beginning, middle, and end. Similarly, the world is threefold (earth, sea, and air), and the Kingdom of Nature contains three elements (animal, vegetable, and mineral). And now, the new Client Access Express for Windows (Express client) offers three ways to control security: installation security, connectivity security, and Windows system policy security. Although somewhat inelegant, these security enhancements will pleasantly surprise shops moving to Express client.

Installation Security

While the Windows 95/NT client offers customized installation, Express client goes much further. Both clients allow Operations Navigator (OpsNav) installation by function. Express client, however, contains custom installation options that allow you to bypass installation of such “dangerous” components as these:

• Incoming remote command and the directory update features
• Microsoft Excel add-in support, ODBC support, and OLE DB support in the Data Transfer function

• The Visual Basic wizards in the Client Access toolkit With the Windows 95/NT client, these features were either installed automatically or installed as part of a larger group. You couldn’t bypass installation. Many users are now comfortable with extracting data using these common techniques, so you can shore up security simply by not giving them the tools.

Connectivity Security

In Express client, connection sign-on information is defined through OpsNav; in the Windows 95/NT client, it is defined through your NS/Router or AS/400 Connections entry. In both Express client and the Windows 95/NT client, you define sign-on information for each individual AS/400 connection, but you can tell your Express client applications to use one of three sign-on options when making an AS/400 connection:

• Use the user’s Windows login name and password every time the user wants to sign on to that AS/400.

• Use a default AS/400 user ID that you specify in a field on the Express client system connection properties screen.

• Have the Express client prompt you for an AS/400 user ID and password every time you start an Express client program.

By providing three sign-on options (there’s that number, again), Express client allows you to tailor your security scheme to your network. For PCs that have a Windows NT server and an AS/400, you can maintain identical user IDs and passwords so your users can use their Windows desktop login password to reach the AS/400. For PCs that do the majority of processing on a Windows NT server (AS/400 access being limited to a few generic user IDs), you can specify a default AS/400 user ID that must be used for any Express client program. Finally, for PCs that have multiple users who need to run different Express client applications under different AS/400 profiles, you can require Express client to prompt you for an AS/400 user ID and password every time it opens up a program.

To set Express client connection properties, right-click on your AS/400 connection icon in OpsNav, select Properties from the pop-up menu, and select the Connections tab.

Windows System Policy Security

The V3R2M0 Windows 95/NT client introduced Microsoft system policy template support, but policy support really blossoms with Express client. Microsoft’s system policy technology allows you to restrict access to Windows or application program features. With policy files, you can restrict specific program features by individual Windows users, computer name, or membership in a Novell NetWare or Windows NT server group. Furthermore, you can store policy restrictions in a centralized policy file that can be downloaded to any Windows desktop so that Express client restrictions follow users around the network wherever they log in.

With Express client, IBM has dramatically increased the number of Client Access features you can lock down. The new Express client policy templates include these restrictions:

• Configuration restrictions to restrict incoming remote commands, password caching, and service pack checking.

• Communication restrictions to specify forced AS/400 connection properties.
• Installation restrictions to prevent specific users from installing certain Express client components.

• Runtime restrictions to prevent data transfer to and from your AS/400, restrict OLE and ODBC usage, prevent PC5250 configuration, and limit the number of PC5250 sessions a user can start.

System policy support allows you to restrict Express client usage across your network enabling you to configure Express client program access from a central location. For more, see “Express Client’s Souped-up System Policy Templates,” AS/400 Network Expert Web Edition, May/, www.midrangecomputing.com/ane/99/05).

What Three Wise Men Might Say

Lost in the V4R4 announcement, this triad of Express client security enhancements has gone relatively unpublicized. In addition to stabilizing your Windows desktop, Express client can also stabilize aspects of your AS/400 security. So consider that if you need other reasons to start experimenting with Express client.

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 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. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan 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 months 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:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe 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:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic 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.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra 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: