Talsco Weekly: 2 Major IBM i Security Developments You Need to Know

Welcome to another edition of Talsco Weekly

IBM i Briefs: 🔭 IBM i’s Long-Term Vision Takes Shape. 📊 Tech Giants Dominate S&P 500 Rankings in 2024. 🔐 First Look: IBM i OS 7.6 Security Features Unveiled.
AI Updates: 🔒 Burp Suite enhances security testing with AI integration.
Development: 💻 VS Code Meets IBM i Development on PUB400. 👨‍💻 Streamline RPG Development with Advanced Extraction Tools.
Database: 💾 DB2’s Evolution Impacts IBM i Future.
Hiring: 👥 IBM i Talent Market Faces Complex Dynamics.
Security: 🔒 IBM i Security Evolution Takes Center Stage. 🔐 IBM i 7.6 brings native MFA security enhancement.

IBM i Brief

🔭 IBM i’s Long-Term Vision Takes Shape IBM’s latest release marks a strategic shift to a 3-year major release cadence, extending support through 2044. IBM i 7.6’s launch represents the 27th release since OS/400’s inception. Power processors evolution focuses on cost-effective mature tech, with Power13’s lifecycle aligned through 2041. The roadmap showcases IBM’s commitment to platform longevity. 📊 Tech Giants Dominate S&P 500 Rankings in 2024

The latest market data shows a dramatic shift in S&P 500 leadership, with technology companies now controlling the top spots. Apple leads at 7% market share, followed by Nvidia (6.4%) and Microsoft (6.4%). This marks a significant change from the 1990s when traditional sectors like oil, consumer goods, and manufacturing dominated the rankings.

What about IBM? It’s S&P 500 rank has slipped over decades.

Once the S&P 500’s top company in 1990 with a 2.9% share, IBM has been eclipsed by tech giants like Apple and Nvidia by 2024, falling out of the top 10 entirely. From leading in 1990 to sixth in 2010 (1.6%), its decline reflects the rise of innovative tech firms dominating today’s market cap, with Apple now at 7.0%.

🔐 First Look: IBM i OS 7.6 Security Features Unveiled

A upcoming webinar features IBM’s Steve Will and Kisco’s Carol Woodbury discussing their updated white paper on IBM i security.

Building on last year’s collaboration, they’ll explore IBM’s commitment to platform security and highlight IBM i 7.6’s latest security features.

IBM i OS 7.6 is public news, so we’re pleased to say this webinar will include a first lookat it’s new security features.

The session emphasizes the dual responsibility between IBM’s secure platform delivery and customer adoption of security features.

If you’re an IT manager, director, or anyone involved in making decisions for the IBM i platform, understanding its future direction is paramount.

One thing that amazes me as I talk to clients and candidates alike is the stark contrast:

While many thoroughly understand the platform, others haven’t kept pace with its evolution.

This is your chance to stay up to date.

AI

🔒 Burp Suite enhances security testing with AI integration

This video comes from outside the IBM i ecosystem, but the discussion around AI + Security and pen testing is certainly relavant for the IBM i community. The IBM i and it’s ability to integrate virtually any technology makes it also open to a variety of security challenges.

Overview:

PortSwigger’s flagship security tool, Burp Suite, is introducing AI-powered features to revolutionize penetration testing. The update includes an AI-assisted Explore Issue function and Shadow Repeater capability, with privacy-focused implementation. Founder Daf Stuttard and Research Director James Kettle emphasize user privacy protection and controlled AI workflows in their approach to security testing enhancement.

🤖 Data Quality Crucial for AI Success

Garbage in, garbage out.

New analysis from Deloitte emphasizes that AI and generative AI demand higher data quality standards.

Organizations face challenges with incomplete or erroneous data feeding into AI systems. The report highlights the need for robust data architecture that addresses diversity, bias, and probabilistic systems, while maintaining human oversight to ensure data consistency and reliability.

Key takeaway:

The long-standing emphasis on data quality and integrity aligns with AI requirements, highlighting Whether modernizing applications, performing data migrations, or implementing AI solutions, maintaining high-quality, accurate data remains critical for success on the IBM i platform.

Development

💻 VS Code Meets IBM i Development on PUB400

Tutorial on how to connect PUB400 to VS Code

A comprehensive guide showcases how developers can leverage VS Code for IBM i development using PUB400’s free public server.

The integration bridges traditional IBM i capabilities with modern development tools, offering enhanced productivity through VS Code’s extensions and features.

This setup aims to modernize the development workflow while maintaining IBM i’s robust functionality. 🎥

Note: If you are having trouble connecting VS Code to PUB400, you might be using the wrong port number. What port should you be using? Find out more in this article.

👨‍💻 Streamline RPG Development with Advanced Extraction Tools Here is a quick and comprehensive guide that details the modern approach to extracting RPG files from AS/400 systems. The guide covers both IFS and database-stored files, leveraging SSH connectivity and VS Code integration. With step-by-step instructions for file location and extraction, developers can now efficiently manage RPG codebases while maintaining system security protocols.

Database

💾 DB2’s Evolution Impacts IBM i Future DB2 Mirror for i saw significant enhancements in the latest release, improving geographic redundancy and reducing switchover times to under 30 seconds. This database resilience upgrade strengthens IBM i’s position as a mission-critical platform. The update includes improved monitoring tools and simplified configuration options, demonstrating IBM’s commitment to database modernization.

Hiring

👥 IBM i Talent Market Faces Complex Dynamics

The search for IBM i professionals requires balancing technical expertise with business needs. Companies must navigate challenges like skill requirements, market availability, and succession planning.

With an aging workforce and evolving technology landscape, organizations need strategic approaches to attract and retain talent. The focus extends beyond technical capabilities to include cultural fit and long-term development potential.

Security

Two major security developments are reshaping IBM i’s security landscape: The transition away from QSECURITY level 20 demonstrates IBM’s commitment to stronger security defaults, while the introduction of native MFA in IBM i 7.6 simplifies authentication implementation. Both changes reflect the platform’s evolution toward more robust, user-friendly security measures. 🔒 IBM i Security Evolution Takes Center Stage

Security level 20 phase-out in IBM i 7.5 marks a significant shift in platform security requirements. Carol Woodbury outlines strategies for transitioning from QSECURITY level 20 to 40, highlighting challenges of moving from an open security model to a more controlled environment.

The guide emphasizes analyzing user class settings, adjusting profile authorities, and implementing appropriate data access controls.

🔐 IBM i 7.6 brings native MFA security enhancement The latest OS release introduces built-in multi-factor authentication, eliminating the need for additional software or network connectivity. Using time-based one-time passwords (TOTP) through authenticator apps like Authy, this feature offers flexible configuration options for different user profiles. IBM’s security architect highlights its simplicity, with users able to implement MFA in just 20 minutes.

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