Resources

Blog

A Virus on i?

Do you all remember Malcom Haines’ presentation comparing the viruses on Windows and on IBM i? The first slide, for Microsoft, was an entire page filled, at a 4-point font, with different viruses. Then Malcom switched to the IBM i slide, which was blank. This would always result in an outburst in laughter among us IBM i evangelists.
Blog

The DDoS Deception You Need to Know About

A denial-of-service attack is any attempt to interrupt or inflict downtime upon IT systems, but a basic DoS threat is smaller in scale than its DDoS counterpart. With the former, the influx of traffic may come from a single source, while in a DDoS attack, traffic comes from numerous sources – making it more difficult to deal with.
Blog

PCI Compliance is Only the Beginning of Security

The recent string of breaches at prominent retailers such as Target and Neiman Marcus demonstrated that too many organizations still falsely equate PCI compliance with comprehensive security. Fully compliant organizations are being hit with attacks that compromise payment card data on a regular basis.
Blog

How “Smash and Grab” Compromises IBM i

During an audit a few years ago, I revealed to the client’s security team that corporate payroll information on every employee, including the CEO, was being archived in an output queue (called PAYROLL) for weeks at a time. Due to poor configuration, this information was accessible to every employee.
Blog

Your Biggest Challenge to IBM i User Onboarding

As companies bounce back from recession and place a stronger emphasis on digitally-driven innovations, IT departments are finally receiving the funds they need to hire qualified, new colleagues who can lighten the workload. However, the first order of business will be getting these recent hires up to speed.
Blog

Your Biggest Threat Since Edward Snowden

When Edward Snowden leaked the details of the National Security Agency’s PRISM program to the media, it resulted in a large public outcry and lot of unwanted attention. This doesn’t mean that system administrators should treat all of their contractors as the next Snowden, but it highlights the importance of ensuring that contractors, as well as employees, are sufficiently monitored and aware of...
Case Study

Hershey Entertainment Quickly Encrypts Credit Card Data with Powertech Encryption for IBM i

Hershey Entertainment & Resorts is a privately held company located in the tourist center of Hershey, Pennsylvania, and has entertainment, resort and commercial divisions. Earlier this year, Hershey learned that because the entertainment and resort operations accept credit cards for payment, they needed the information stored by their box office ticketing and reservations applications to be...
Case Study

Field-level Encryption Helps Retail Chain Achieve PCI Compliance

Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores, a retail travel stop chain with over 210 locations in 34 U.S. states, processes approximately 200,000 credit card transactions on a daily basis. Needing to meet PCI standards, Love’s found in Powertech Encryption for IBM i a product to encrypt credit card numbers in a way that would satisfy PCI compliance auditors. “We need to be able to access credit card...
Blog

What Can IBM i Offer IT's Young Guns?

IT personnel naturally have their fingers on the pulse of today's innovations and one eye fixed on the future. As a result, each rising generation of systems administrators and application developers seems convinced that they know better than their forefathers and can remedy all kinds of issues with new tools and tricks. Unfortunately, this appetite for innovation can cause overzealous...
Blog

What's the Difference Between a Profile Swap and Adopted Authority?

Many organizations have the requirement to reduce the number of profiles to which special authorities—especially *ALLOBJ specially authority —have been assigned. In many cases, the excess capabilities can simply be removed because they aren't required for the person to perform their job functions. *SAVSYS special authority is a good example. Unless the person is performing system saves—i.e., is in...
Blog

Three Reasons You Need an Updated Security Policy

If you still think creating and maintaining a security policy isn’t necessary, you could be setting up your organization for an unpleasant surprise. Check out the top three reasons businesses need an up-to-date security policy.