IBM

While 64 per cent of mainframers are aware that multi-factor authentication (MFA) is now available to control access to mainframe applications, only 20 per cent acknowledge their organization is already using it or plans to do so, according to a new survey. Concerns about disrupting applications, lack of mainframe and security skills and resistance from end users are some of the issues holding back adoption. 

The findings come from a new poll of 81 mainframe users conducted by Macro 4, a division of UNICOM® Global, at the annual GSE UK Conference in November 2018.

PETERBOROUGH, NH – October 16, 2018 – 63 per cent of IBM i users in a new survey reveal their organizations are keeping legacy IT applications alive – either on IBM i or other platforms – because the historical data those systems hold remains useful. This is despite many survey respondents agreeing that running these obsolete systems poses a risk to digital transformation, data privacy and security.

The survey of 46 IBM i users, conducted by SoftLanding® Systems, a division of UNICOM® Global, was completed by attendees at two recent IBM i conferences, International i-Power 2018 and PowerUP18. 

Peterborough, NH, August 9, 2018 – Half of IBM i users questioned in a recent poll are confident[1] that their organizations are totally compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which came into effect on May 25th. However, over a quarter (26 per cent) admit they are not confident with the level of GDPR compliance, while 7 per cent remain unsure and 17 per cent stated they were not affected by the GDPR.

Many organizations have yet to start the process of migrating their data and applications away from the Lotus Notes platform, and while there are many reasons as to why this is so, probably the two key ones are a truly compelling event that forces the issue and a lack of expertise. This is according to Jon Pyke, CEO, CIMtrek Ltd.

“That compelling event is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which becomes UK law on 25th May 2018. It is compelling because organizations are expected to create a single view of a customer – leaving data in old Notes databases is likely to render users non-compliant,” stated Jon.

MISSION HILLS, CA – September 28, 2017 – UNICOM Global, Inc has today announced that its mainframe solutions will support the new IBM z/OS V2.3 operating system when it is released on September 29th, 2017.

"In the latest release of z/OS, IBM’s key focus is on supporting enterprises as they embrace digital transformation,” said Larry Lawler, Chief Technology Officer at UNICOM Global. “The operating system is designed to meet the demanding performance, availability and scalability requirements of digital initiatives, with specific innovations around enhanced security and data protection as well as cloud service delivery.

PETERBOROUGH, NH – July 27, 2017 – The new web interface for SUPERMON for iSeries, the IBM i performance management solution from SoftLanding® Systems, a division of UNICOM® Global, provides an easy, convenient way for companies to keep a watchful eye over the performance of their entire network of IBM i systems.

The SUPERMON for iSeries web interface displays real-time metrics for multiple IBM i systems in an interactive performance dashboard, as Jim Fisher, SoftLanding Operations Manager, explains:

PETERBOROUGH, NH – June 27, 2017 – 91 per cent of IBM i users questioned in a new poll said offering a greater choice of ways in which customers could interact with their companies – such as web and mobile self-service – would help improve customer engagement, and over half (54 per cent) said they are planning to introduce new customer engagement channels within the next three years. The research reveals, however, that initiatives such as this are being tested by cost considerations and IBM i skills shortages, as well as worries about making changes to core business systems.

Over half say web and mobile access to more applications would help them maximize use of their mainframe systems

61% of IBM i user organizations have implemented digital initiatives, but half of them say the shortage of IBM i skills is a barrier

PETERBOROUGH, NH – July 07, 2016 – 61% of IBM i users revealed in a new poll that their organization had rolled out some type of digital transformation initiative on the platform, typically adding web interfaces to IBM i applications or switching from paper to digital presentment of documents. However, the growing shortage of IBM i skills came out as one of the biggest barriers to transformation projects on the IBM i.

Provides a fast, cost-effective way to transform content from IBM i applications for web, mobile and email

PETERBOROUGH, NH – September 7, 2015 - SoftLanding® Systems, the IBM i software division of UNICOM® Global, today announced the launch of an enterprise content management solution that quickly transforms existing system output from IBM i business applications to work with digital channels such as the web, mobile and email.