The mainframe is at the core of technology strategy in many industries, but critics often question whether it is still relevant.
Posted April 23, 2018
Is your enterprise ready for the upcoming European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)? If you're not sure, you're not alone. A recent survey of mainframe users found that only 25 percent of IBM mainframe customers are confident that their security system is GDPR compliant
Posted April 09, 2018
You know that's not part of the log-on screen on any production mainframe system. The corporate lawyers made sure a long time ago that nothing could be construed as inviting unauthorized people to log on to the system of record for the world's most important corporate data and processing.
Posted March 19, 2018
Security is always a hot topic in mainframe, and that's definitely the case at SHARE Sacramento, taking place March 11-16. Beyond a keynote on securing the mainframe by experts Phil Young and Chad Rikansrud, there are more than a dozen technical sessions that touch on security in some way.
Posted March 05, 2018
How can the mainframe world attract and retain millennial talent? That, and the mainframe skills gap, are two of the most important issues facing mainframers today
Posted February 20, 2018
There are a very few hereditary mainframers out there. You know: people whose parents, grandparents or other progenitors worked on the IBM mainframe, either directly for IBM or one of the other members of our ecosystem in a mainframe role and passed the mantle on to them. But there are quite a few more of us who have found that we belong "in the family" due to the compatibility of our background with the concepts, culture and technology of the mainframe, and have found ourselves warmly welcomed when we were recognized as "one of us" after demonstrating a natural fit with the platform.
Posted February 05, 2018
Mainframe technicians are all-too familiar with the growing threats to data housed on the mainframe, but are fighting against a strong public perception to the contrary. Without a greater focus on education and transparency, the world's largest organizations will be vulnerable to significant data breaches and the mainframe community will be unable to train the next generation of employees to prevent them.
Posted January 22, 2018
An enterprise decides it needs to implement DevOps principles in its IT organization. A z/OS developer asks, "Why change? Everything works just fine now."
Posted January 08, 2018
Implementing enterprise encryption can be a daunting and complex process. Organizations often struggle with questions such as: What data should be encrypted? Where should encryption occur? In a recent SHARE event presentation, IBM Cryptographic Software Developer Eysha Shirrine Powers discussed various encryption techniques available and the pros and cons of each.
Posted December 18, 2017
Any effective data security system needs to be built as an integrated and intelligent security immune system, according to Julie Bergh, World Wide Lead Z Security Champion for IBM. According to Julie, security once mainly consisted of perimeter controls such as firewalls and web gateways.
Posted December 04, 2017
It's not easy to hack the mainframe, but it is possible. Naturally, it's easier for company insiders, who already have privileged access to key mainframe information, to wreak havoc.
Posted November 20, 2017
When new regulations are implemented, it's challenging to figure out where you stand and what you need to stay compliant. From an IT perspective, it's important for companies to show regulators how you protect corporate data, and that might mean demonstrating strong data encryption standards.
Posted November 06, 2017
At SHARE Providence this August, more than 60 students from 16 colleges and universities from around the country participated in Student Career Day and competed in the Master the Mainframe Hackathon. With fun challenges to experience the power of z Systems in Application Development, competitors earned points towards prizes and had the opportunity to connect with IBM and Rocket Software experts.
Posted October 23, 2017
Recent data breaches at major corporations have CEOs across the board on heightened alert. Now more than ever, it's essential that security becomes a main priority. At SHARE Providence 2017, Brian Marshall spoke about mainframe user authentication, including multi-factor authentication (MFA), IRSXT00 for CICS, TSO PREPROMPT, and APAR OA43999.
Posted October 09, 2017
Technology and analytics are being used to improve processes in all areas of business. Software development is no exception, and the leading driver of this revolution is DevOps.
Posted September 25, 2017
On August 6-11, more than 1,200 enterprise IT professionals gathered in Providence for six days of 500+ unique technical education sessions and plenty of networking with colleagues at festive events. What made SHARE Providence extra special; however, was the excitement around IBM's recent unveiling of the new Z mainframe and, attendees were treated to a special message from IBM Chairman, President and CEO Ginni Rometty.
Posted September 11, 2017
In the words of a longtime SHARE member, "as I look back throughout all my years being involved with SHARE I can point to numerous occasions when working side-by-side with peers resulted in very positive outcomes." To him, collaboration is the one thing that remains irreplaceable as the industry, our roles and tools that we use continue to change.
Posted August 28, 2017
At SHARE Providence, August 6-11, students from around the country gathered at Student Career Day to participate in a competitive Hackathon and attended educational sessions, met with technology partners and connected with industry professionals.
Posted August 14, 2017
IBM Z is finally here, and at SHARE Providence, you will be among the first to learn more about the newly announced IBM Z mainframe and its Pervasive Encryption capabilities. With four special sessions focused on z/OS 2.3 and IBM z14, as well as IBM Hardware Management Console (HMC) 2.14.0, SHARE Providence will feature some of the very first education on IBM's exciting new developments.
Posted July 31, 2017
On top of more than 500 technical sessions to be excited about at SHARE Providence, this summer's featured presenters are no exception. Monday's keynote will begin with a special message from IBM chairman, president and CEO, Ginni Rometty, followed by secret IBM mainframe experts (attend Monday's keynote for the reveal!) who will explore the future of IBM Z and how continuous innovation in hardware and software technology delivers differentiated value.
Posted July 17, 2017
Security and regulatory compliance impact every professional within your IT organization. How are various roles specifically impacted by security, and what areas should you be most concerned about? At SHARE® Providence, August 6-11, expert panelists will offer their perspectives in a series of TED-style Talks.
Posted July 06, 2017
There's an age-old adage that young IT professionals feel the mainframe is outdated, or that they would rather work on newer platforms. To one millennial, that's a myth. Luisa Martinez, an IBM mainframe professional, says that most young IT professionals don't have an opinion about the mainframe because they likely don't know much about it.
Posted June 19, 2017
Now more than ever, IT environments need to be incredibly fast, all while remaining reliable. DevOps has emerged as a critical component of IT by providing quick responses to business needs, and z/OS plays an important role in that model.
Posted June 05, 2017
Have you ever wondered about the open source code that powers IBM Blockchain, or wanted to increase your understanding and skills of z/OS integrity? SHARE Academy is your chance to take a deep dive into these two topics with a full day of interactive, hands-on educational sessions.
Posted June 05, 2017
SHARE is excited to announce Student Career Day, taking place at SHARE Providence on August 6-11. This action-packed day will feature the Master the Mainframe Hackathon, where participants can collaborate with other students and connect with IBM and Rocket Software experts, while competing in fun challenges designed to enhance their knowledge of z Systems in Application Development.
Posted May 22, 2017
During SHARE® San Jose, March 6-11, 2017, Reg Harbeck, chief strategist with Mainframe Analytics Ltd. and SHARE Editorial Advisory Committee member, sat down with Phil Young, co-founder of zedsec 390, to explore critical security topics, tips and tactics to help create a more secure mainframe environment.
Posted May 08, 2017
As IT leaders look to transform mainframe culture, developing open and uniform industry standards have become increasingly necessary, especially for z/OS software products.
Posted April 24, 2017
Organizations that rely on the mainframe often face a myriad of challenges when recruiting top talent. While some candidates follow the traditional pathway to a mainframe career with four-year degree programs, internships and on-the-job training, many find their way into the industry through a non-traditional path.
Posted April 10, 2017
If you were unable to attend SHARE San Jose, or just want to relive all the world-class education from the week, purchase SHARE Live! to access more than 25 hours of hand-picked video recordings of technical sessions including Tuesday's keynote,
Posted March 27, 2017
Congratulations to Holden O'Neal, the winner of the HackZone challenge at this year's SHARE® San Jose. Attendees were able to dive into z Systems in Application Development in this hands-on challenge that tested their enterprise computing skills.
Posted March 27, 2017
With SHARE San Jose behind us, we are looking forward to Providence this summer. At the Rhode Island Convention Center, SHARE Providence will feature new educational classes on IBM Blockchain and Security in addition to sessions that cover DevOps,
Posted March 13, 2017
SHARE San Jose may be over, but you can relive all the highlights from the SHARE event on the SHAREnews Daily blog. Revisit the most talked-about technical sessions and find out what you missed.
Posted March 13, 2017
At SHARE San Jose, kick off your Tuesday morning by participating in an interactive TED-style talk about "The Mainframe in the Digital Age: Not Just for Legacy Workloads." Featuring Peter Rutten of IDC (sponsored by IBM Corporation and CA Technologies), Jonathan Adams of BMC Software, Hayden Lindsey of IBM Corporation, Ashok Reddy of CA Technologies, and Keith Sisson of Compuware, you will not want to miss a collaborative keynote on a topic that is more relevant than ever. Then, hear more tech talks at the Tech Talk Corner in the SHARE Technology Exchange Expo for educational content from exclusive event partners.
Posted February 27, 2017
You know the value of a career in mainframes, given the increasing potential for growth in the industry. So, why aren't more young professionals finding their way to a career there? Discover how the industry can recruit more young talent and find out ways that IBM is training and introducing new hires to the world of mainframes. (You can learn even more during the technical session, "From Fossils to Jurassic Park," at SHARE San Jose.)
Posted February 27, 2017
The mainframe and DevOps: they go together like peanut butter and jelly. When your organization feels the pressure to produce more seamless and innovative mobile experiences,
Posted February 13, 2017
SHARE San Jose 2017 is just around the corner. Are you prepared to plan your week from a selection of over 500+ sessions?
Posted January 30, 2017
Why do mainframes get overlooked when it comes to penetration testing? To Phil Young and Chad Rikansrud, the co-founders of zedsec 390, the lack of necessary skills and little support available in the current threat landscape are just parts of the answer.
Posted January 30, 2017
Get excited for SHARE San Jose 2017, March 5-10, by exploring the hundreds of technical sessions covering topics such as DB2 12 for z/OS and the latest and greatest DFSMS updates. Not convinced? There's more where that came from!
Posted January 16, 2017
The mainframe has been around for approximately six decades. For years, ironically, people both within and outside of our industry have held the mainframe's age against it, as if it were evidence of the mainframe perhaps not functioning as well it used to or not being as necessary as it used to be.
Posted January 03, 2017
The online agenda for SHARE San Jose, March 5-10, is now available on SHARE.org. If you're still deciding whether to make the trek to Silicon Valley — let the technical session lineup make your decision for you!
Posted January 03, 2017
Following the recent announcement that North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T) has landed a $7.5 million contract with the U.S. Dept. of Labor to help increase the numbers of underrepresented minorities and women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, SHARE caught up with Rocket Software's Daniel Martin (Director for Industry Influence, SHARE Board) to discuss the impact this will have on SHARE and the future of the enterprise IT and the mainframe.
Posted December 12, 2016
This is the can't-miss enterprise IT event of the winter: SHARE San Jose is your one-stop shop to learn from the brightest leaders, access top education and network with professionals from across the industry.
Posted November 28, 2016
Hear the stories of women who are shaping the future face of technology in SHARE's latest video. Carving a path for the next generation, each featured professional explains why she chose enterprise IT and her keys to career success.
Posted November 28, 2016
IBM's partnership with the 2016 U.S. Open Tennis Championship is a clear example of the vital role the mainframe plays in modern technology. To power the app, IBM used high-processing cloud technologies supported by a physical hardware environment.
Posted November 14, 2016
SHARE's prestigious EXECUforum event, designed for enterprise IT leaders, is poised to deliver the same exceptional networking and thought-leading discussions that have made it a success year after year.
Posted October 31, 2016
Enterprise IT professionals have reason to celebrate — SHARE Academy is offering two unique specialties (made popular at recent events!) this spring during SHARE San Jose 2017.
Posted October 17, 2016
Join GT Software's Don Spoerke for this upcoming SHARE webcast and hear relevant examples of how GT Software customers have built applications on top of mainframe systems without additional coding.
Posted October 17, 2016
There is no shortage of available metrics to provide detailed insight into system performance. The problem is sorting through them all and recognizing what is most important. Utilization, for example, comes in many forms.
Posted October 03, 2016
Submissions to speak at SHARE's winter event in San Jose close THIS Thursday, Oct. 6. Do not miss your chance to share your insights, expertise and new ideas with peers by presenting as a speaker.
Posted October 03, 2016
Do not miss your chance to learn from Director of Enterprise Architecture Mark Irose as he explains how his team at Electric Insurance Co. uses web services to link legacy applications in CICS and Datacom with contemporary web and mobile apps.
Posted September 19, 2016