"As a 'veteran programmer' who started with System 38s in Milan, I’ve witnessed the evolution of cybersecurity firsthand. Today, the IBM i architecture stands out with its unique approach: object orientation.
This isn't just a technical detail; it fundamentally changes how operating systems handle protection. Instead of treating everything as an indistinct file, IBM i defines specific authorized operations for each object type, enforcing a strict set of rules based on the object’s nature.
Think about it: on other systems, a file could potentially be a dangerous script in disguise. However, on IBM i, you can't directly call a file. Instead, you interact with objects only through operating system-approved interfaces. This simple difference makes it incredibly difficult, for instance, to execute a Trojan horse disguised as a file.
Recently, our team conducted security assessments on client systems, and the IBM i's object orientation was crucial. Thanks to this approach, we were able to pinpoint potentially harmful programs inserted into the operating system libraries, allowing us to intervene promptly to protect our clients.
And it doesn’t stop there: we have developed a security dashboard that offers a holistic view of corporate protection, drawing from over 1,000 static and dynamic data points. This tool helps clients monitor, analyze, and improve their security posture, customizing options and making the classification and analysis of results easier.
IBM i doesn't make creating malicious software impossible, but it certainly puts up significant obstacles to traditional attacks and greatly simplifies the identification of potential threats.
In a world where cybersecurity is a top priority, the object orientation of IBM i proves to be a fundamental weapon."