IBM Systems Magazine, Power Systems - April 2018 - 8
TRENDS The NEW Currency Realizing maximum value from corporate data starts with collaboration B usinesses that rely upon the IBM Power Systems* platform running IBM i don't need to be told that their corporate data is important. Certainly, they know that this information can yield valuable business benefits, and after hearing about numerous hacks and breaches of large organizations over the years, they obviously recognize the critical need to secure client data. Neil Tardy is a Rochester, Minnesotabased freelance writer who has been covering IBM business technology for 20 years. However, data is even more valuable than you think-at least this is the view of Mike Cain, a database consultant with IBM Lab Services. Yes, data is important and must be protected, but that level of understanding isn't sufficient. And because most IBM i clients fail to recognize the true value of their data, they ultimately fail to realize the maximum value of this data. 8 // APRIL 2018 ibmsystemsmag.com The Parallels Between Data and Money Cain describes data as "the new currency." While you may think that sounds like a splashy marketing phrase, rest assured, he's thought this through. "Data really is like money," he continues. "Data is an asset, which means it must be stored correctly, it must be protected adequately and it must be put to work effectively." When speaking to individual clients or groups of people, Cain expounds on this idea through an extended line of questioning. He starts with something simple: Where do you keep your money? The answers that follow, Cain adds, are universal. "I'll ask, 'Is all your money in your pocket?' and they start