Paperclip, Inc. (OTCMKTS:PCPJ) announced today that its SAFE® searchable encryption solution now provides data masking. SAFE is the only data security platform that ensures continuous encryption across every data state, including in search.

“SAFE ensures data always remains encrypted, even during the query function, and with this added feature we also mask sensitive data presented to end user applications,” said Chad Walter, CRO of Paperclip SAFE. “While data masking has become expensive, SAFE clients get full data encryption—including searchable encryption—plus data masking for the average cost of data masking solution. It also reduced complexity by giving users two critical security functions—data masking and full encryption—in one complete solution.”

Data masking, also referred to as de-identification or anonymization, is the process of modifying sensitive data in such a way that it is of no or little value to unauthorized intruders while still being usable by software or authorized personnel. The addition of data masking to SAFE was driven by user feedback and changing compliance requirements.

Data masking is required by many compliance frameworks such as GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA and ISO 27002:2022 (Control 8.11) and is recognized by Gartner as a growing category within data security technology. The data masking market has grown from a little over half a billion dollars in 2022 to what is expected to reach over one billion dollars by 2028, as per the April 20, 2023 press release from Market Research Guru.

Data security concerns often impedes data collaboration within highly regulated industries. Paperclip SAFE already ensures that sensitive and private data is always encrypted and secure making it more useful in supporting business operations without risk of exposure. The addition of data masking goes beyond encryption, providing another layer of security and makes data more useful and secure all the way out to the end user.

In IDC’s recent spotlight paper, “Rethinking Effective Security by Protecting Data in Use”, Analyst Jennifer Glenn states “Many organizations have been actively implementing data loss prevention (DLP), data access governance (DAG), and data monitoring to detect, classify, and protect sensitive content as it moves through the organization. Encryption, key management, and certificates have been used even longer to help facilitate secure connections and obscure data to maintain the integrity of valuable assets.

"All together, these tools have offered a measure of protection against data breaches and unintentional data exposure,” she added. “However, they are typically only used to secure data at rest (information stored in a database or application) or data in transit (content that is sent in an email or moved to another location). Many of these technologies do not protect data in use, and they do not typically encrypt searchable data.”

That’s where SAFE fills the searchable encryption gap, by encrypting data throughout its lifecycle while working at the speed of business to support business growth and operations.

While searchable encryption has not yet been identified as a compliance requirement as demonstrated by CISA’s (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) recent Zero Trust Maturity Model update, governing bodies are beginning to identify the requirement to encrypt data not just at rest and in motion, but also in-use. Related to compliance requirements, Paperclip SAFE supports data minimization, data access, data segmentation, zero trust architecture, and now, data masking.

“We designed Paperclip SAFE to protect the data we house on behalf of our clients, so we all could trust the security of that data,” said Mike Bridges, President and COO of Paperclip Inc. “Because of this we had to think beyond compliance and focus on security without sacrificing usability. It was never about a series of compliance check boxes.

“The questions we had to answer were 1) Is the data always secure? 2) Is it accessible without sacrificing security? 3) Will SAFE stop data theft and data ransom? Will it disrupt the way we or our clients do operate?” he added. “The answer had to be three yeses and a no, respectively. We continue to build upon those four foundational principles, data masking is just the most recent enhancement.”

IBM, today announced watsonx Code Assistant for Z, a new generative AI-assisted product that will help enable faster translation of COBOL to Java on IBM Z and enhances developer productivity on the platform. This product will be generally available in Q4 2023, and is being designed to help accelerate COBOL application modernization. Watsonx Code Assistant for Z will preview during TechXchange, IBM's premier technical learning event in Las Vegas, Sept 11-13.

Watsonx Code Assistant for Z is a new addition to the watsonx Code Assistant product family, along with IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Red Hat Ansible Lightspeed, scheduled for release later this year. These solutions will be powered by IBM's watsonx.ai code model, which will have knowledge of 115 coding languages¹ having learned from 1.5 trillion tokens.² At 20 billion parameters, it is on target to become one of the largest generative AI foundation models for code automation.³ The watsonx Code Assistant product portfolio will extend over time to address other programming languages, to improve time to value for modernization and address growing skills challenges for developers.

Watsonx Code Assistant for Z is being designed to assist businesses in leveraging generative AI and automated tooling to accelerate their mainframe application modernization – all with the goal of preserving the performance, security and resiliency capabilities of IBM Z.

The COBOL data processing language supports many vital business and operational processes at organizations globally. At scale, using watsonx Code Assistant for Z in comparison to other approaches could make it easier for developers to selectively and incrementally transform COBOL business services into well architected high-quality Java code – with estimated billions of lines of COBOL code as potential candidates for targeted modernization over time. Generative AI can help developers to more quickly assess, update, validate and test the right code, allowing them to more efficiently modernize large applications and focus on higher impact tasks.

IBM is designing these capabilities to provide tooling for each step of the modernization journey. The solution is expected to include IBM's Application Discovery and Delivery Intelligence (ADDI) inventory and analysis tool. Following ADDI, key steps on the journey include refactoring business services in COBOL, transforming COBOL code to Java code with an optimized design, and validating the resulting outcome, including using automated testing capabilities. Potential benefits for clients include:

• Accelerating code development and increasing developer productivity throughout the application modernization lifecycle
• Managing total cost, complexity, and risk of application modernization initiatives, including translation and optimization of code in-place on IBM Z
• Expanding access to a broader pool of IT skills and accelerating developer onboarding
• Achieving high quality, easy to maintain code through model customization and the application of best practices

"Our collaboration with IBM is an important element in our drive to leverage generative AI interfaces to challenge legacy approaches with material productivity gains, and reinvent our Capital Markets solutions," said Roger Burkhardt, CTO, Capital Markets and AI, Broadridge Financial. "We have had excellent client response to our generative AI investments and we are intrigued by the opportunity to further our efforts by leveraging IBM watsonx Code Assistant for Z to address a broader range of platforms."

AI-assisted mainframe application modernization is an imperative

According to new research from the IBM Institute for Business Value, organizations are 12x more likely to leverage existing mainframe assets rather than rebuild their application estates from scratch in the next two years. At the same time, however, the study shows that the number one challenge for those same organizations is a lack of resources and skills.

"By bringing generative AI capabilities through watsonx to new use cases, we plan to drive real progress for our clients," said Kareem Yusuf, PhD, Senior Vice President, Product Management and Growth, IBM Software. "IBM is engineering watsonx Code Assistant for Z to take a targeted and optimized approach. It's built to rapidly and accurately convert code optimized for IBM Z, accelerate time to market and broaden the skills pool. This can help enhance applications and add new capabilities while preserving the performance, resiliency, and security inherent in IBM Z."

There are many application modernization approaches available today. Some options include rewriting all application code in Java, or migrating everything to public cloud, which may sacrifice capabilities that are core to the IBM Z value proposition while failing to deliver on expected cost reduction. Tools that convert COBOL applications to Java syntax can produce code that is hard to maintain and can be unrecognizable to a Java developer. Generative AI is promising, but current AI-assisted partial re-write technology lacks COBOL support and doesn't optimize the resulting Java code for the given task.

The resulting Java code from watsonx Code Assistant for Z will be object-oriented. IBM is designing this solution to be optimized to interoperate with the rest of the COBOL application, with CICS, IMS, DB2, and other z/OS runtimes. Java on Z is designed to be performance-optimized versus a compared x86 platform.⁴

Building on a foundation of governance and innovation

According to a 2023 Gartner^® report (For Gartner Subscribers only), "by 2028, the combination of humans and AI assistants working in tandem could reduce the time to complete coding tasks by 30%." The report further states that "the use of AI code generation tools is not replacing the quality assurance (QA) processes and security controls that are needed by developers for robust and secure product development, as well as for mitigation of inherited risks from using generative methods for code."⁵

Protecting sensitive data and customer intellectual property are critical when it comes to implementing generative AI. IBM for decades has followed core principles, grounded in commitments to Trust and Transparency. With this principle-based approach, the watsonx platform aims to enable enterprises to leverage their own trusted data and IP to build tailored AI solutions that are scalable across operations.

Additionally, IBM Consulting brings deep domain expertise in IBM Z application modernization with a focus on guiding clients that leverage the platform across key industries such as banking, insurance, healthcare and government. These dedicated consultants can help clients identify the right application areas to modernize in order to optimize the potential benefits of watsonx Code Assistant for Z.  

For more information about AI-assisted mainframe application modernization, and to get started with IBM's optimized, targeted approach, please visit our website here and join us at TechXchange. Register today for our watsonx Code Assistant for Z webinar on Sept. 21 at 11 am ET here and learn how IBM is bringing Gen AI to mainframe application modernization. You can also schedule a live demo with our team here.

IBM's plans, directions, and intentions may change or be withdrawn at any time at IBM's discretion without notice. Information about potential future products and improvements is provided to give a general idea of IBM's goals and objectives and should not be used in making a purchase decision. IBM is not obligated to provide any material, code, or functionality based on this information.

⁵ Gartner, Emerging Tech: Generative AI Code Assistants Are Becoming Essential to Developer Experience, By Radu Miclaus, Arun Chandrasekaran, Ray Valdes, Mark Driver, Eric Goodness, Published 11 May 2023

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

Softchoice, a software-focused IT solutions provider in Canada and North America, has announced the addition of Cloud Cost Optimization, powered by VMware Aria Cost, to its managed services portfolio. Part of VMware Cross-Cloud managed services, Cloud Cost Optimization helps customers realize cloud value faster with FinOps, an operational model that brings accountability and clarity to the variable spend model of the cloud.

VMware Cross-Cloud managed services is a set of prescriptive offerings for public, private, sovereign and hybrid clouds, cloud-native app delivery, designed to optimize cloud costs and help customers manage multi-cloud operational governance, all built on a common VMware foundation. The services enable customers to rely on expert, specialized managed services partners to drive cost efficiency and interoperability between clouds, data centers, and applications.

As a longstanding and reputable VMware partner, Softchoice offers customers faster time-to-value, flexibility to scale up or down as required, along with lower total cost of ownership (TCO) and greater security, each of which enables organizations to invest in cloud growth while reducing complexity and risk at every step.

“Modern apps are fueling the next wave of enterprise innovation and driving multi-cloud adoption. Yet, implementing multi-cloud can be complex and costly if not handled properly, with some 76% of multi-cloud organizations report needing to improve control over their cloud costs¹,” said Abhay Kumar, VP for Hyperscalers and Technology Partners, VMware. “With their new Cloud Cost Optimization service, Softchoice can help our mutual customers in their aims to simplify financial management, streamline operations, and improve cross-organizational collaboration across their multi-cloud environment.”

Delivered as a managed subscription-based service, Softchoice’s Cloud Cost Optimization is designed to help customers maximize the value of every dollar spent in the cloud by adopting FinOps. In line with VMware’s aim to bring clarity to cloud chaos through a cloud-smart approach, Softchoice’s service helps organizations maximize the value from their multi-cloud estates and applications.

Chris Swadish, Hybrid Cloud Business Leader at Softchoice, said, “We are excited to offer our customers this Cross-Cloud managed service and support VMware’s vision of helping customers across the world become cloud-smart in their multi-cloud environments. As cloud adoption and innovation becomes a necessity, organizations need a better handle on their costs and risks. Cloud Cost Optimization helps customers both begin and correct their cloud journeys through a systematic, insight-led process designed to offer results at scale. Our work with The FinOps Foundation, technical proficiency, team of experts, and close partnership with VMware means that we can offer customers a more accelerated path to cloud efficiency, while aiming to reduce risk and helping them focus on innovation and growth across all cloud environments.”

Softchoice has earned the VMware Managed Services Specialization to attain the VMware Cross-Cloud Managed Service Provider badge and the company’s Cloud Cost Optimization service is a VMware Validated Service Offering (VSO). This provides public confirmation that partner solutions are functionally and architecturally complete. Additionally, Softchoice recently completed the VMware Managed Services Advanced Specialization Audit, showcasing how the company is able to support customers with advanced transformation requirements.

“Our proven track record of helping customers manage cloud spend combined with our technical expertise and certifications means we offer a comprehensive service capable of helping customers maximize the value of their cloud investments at any stage of their transformation journey,” Chris added.

Data security leader announces generative AI capabilities to further bolster organizations’ cyber resilience

Rubrik, the Zero Trust Data Security™ Company, today announced new generative AI capabilities for VMware customers through Rubrik AI-Powered Cyber Recovery. Leveraging generative AI and large language models (LLMs), this new solution is designed to help administrators navigate difficult tradeoffs in the aftermath of cyberattacks to help minimize data loss and reduce downtime. The solution will enable backup administrators to leverage recommended task lists and guided workflows to ensure efficient data recovery and maintain cyber resilience.

Cyberattacks pose one of the most significant threats to organizations’ virtual machines. Maintaining cyber resilience in the face of cyberattacks requires the ability to quickly and safely recover critical data, like virtual machines. With legacy backup tools, recovery from cyberattacks often entails manual and time-consuming processes that demand highly-skilled IT professionals. Despite these onerous processes, organizations still face incomplete restoration and data loss when restoring data from an early backup. Even still, according to a recent Rubrik Zero Labs State of Data Security report only 16% of all external organizations recovered all of their data even after paying a ransomware demand.

“Cyberattacks can be highly unpredictable, and the complexity and sophistication of these threats make it challenging — if not impossible — for organizations to recover data quickly, safely, and with minimal data loss,” said Anneka Gupta, Chief Product Officer of Rubrik. “We understand that every minute counts when faced with a cyberattack, and Rubrik AI-Powered Cyber Recovery helps organizations take advantage of every second, empowering them to get their business-critical systems and data back up and running. As we continue our mission to secure the world’s data, generative AI will be a key that helps customers unlock true cyber resilience more effectively.”

Rubrik AI-Powered Cyber Recovery aims to minimize data loss and reduce downtime by utilizing guided workflows and comprehensive task lists powered by generative AI, making it easier for IT professionals to navigate through the complexities of cyber recovery in the face of a cyber incident.

Rubrik AI-Powered Cyber Recovery will be designed to empower organizations to:

• Enhance Recovery Point Objective (RPO) With Cleanest, Most Recent Data: Get step-by-step guidance to recover unaffected files from the most recent snapshot and affected files from the snapshot prior to suspicious threat detection — all layered on top of a clean virtual machine built from a gold master template.
• Eliminate Malware Reinfection Risks With Safer Virtual Machine Recovery: Identify vSphere templates to reconstruct clean and safe virtual machines and avoid introducing undetected vulnerabilities within the operating system.

Minimize Application Downtown With AI-Enabled Task Lists: Get clear recommendations on which snapshot or files to select for a clean and successful recovery through Rubrik’s data threat analytics integrated with Azure OpenAI.

This announcement follows Rubrik’s recent joint collaboration with Microsoft, announcing the integration of Rubrik Security Cloud with Microsoft Sentinel and Azure OpenAI Service to accelerate cyber recovery through the use of generative AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP). Rubrik is committed to innovating new and practical ways to use AI to transform cyber recovery so organizations can reduce the time required to investigate and respond to cyberattacks, ultimately providing an overall boost in cyber resilience.

Walsworth Yearbooks to integrate Picsart's photo-editing software into Yearbook 360 – Online Design platform for seamless editing experience.

Walsworth Yearbooks announced Thursday, Aug. 10 that they have teamed with Picsart to successfully integrate new photo-editing capabilities into Yearbook 360 – Online Design, bringing a whole new level of creativity and convenience to the yearbook creation process.

Yearbook staffs nationwide can now enjoy access to Picsart's advanced features directly within Walsworth's online design platform, saving valuable time and streamlining the design workflow.

The Picsart editor has been made exceptionally easy to use within Yearbook 360 – Online Design, granting schools the ability to:

• Remove photo backgrounds instantly
• Edit opacity and blend modes
• Make adjustments to lighting and color settings
• Apply unique effects for added artistic flair

"We are incredibly excited to bring this innovative technology to our schools," said Jeff Bell, Executive Vice President of Sales at Walsworth. "Picsart's advanced capabilities will save yearbook staffs across the country valuable time when editing photos and revolutionize the yearbook creation process in our powerful Yearbook 360 – Online Design platform."

Existing customers should contact their local Walsworth Yearbooks Sales Representative to learn more about the features of this integration. For more information about Walsworth Yearbooks or Yearbook 360 – Online Design, please contact Kristin Mateski, Vice President of Marketing and Communications, via email at kristin.mateski@walsworth.com or phone at 913.871.2072.

iManage AI Solutions deliver new platform capabilities to enable customers to improve productivity and mitigate risk

iManage, the company dedicated to Making Knowledge Work^TM, today introduced iManage AI, a powerful new AI engine built natively into its knowledge work cloud platform. iManage AI builds on iManage’s deep experience in artificial intelligence technologies to enable customers to improve end user productivity, drive additional value from knowledge assets, and protect data against security risks.

The core of the new iManage AI solution is a document classification and enrichment engine that dramatically improves knowledge search and content workflows on the iManage platform. iManage AI builds on models trained on tens of thousands of legal-specific documents to automatically analyze documents and extract key data points, such as Jurisdiction, Parties, or Dates, then save that information with the document. As a result, users are able to pinpoint very specific pieces of information and apply them to their work processes to be more productive and efficient.

An Trotter, Senior Director of Operations within the Office of General Counsel at Hearst, commented, “For a long time, our attorneys have reported difficulties with search, primarily to retrieve language that fit a particular use case, and also to find specific documents. So, we have used iManage AI to apply metadata values consistently to assist with retrieval and search. iManage AI has automated the process whereby documents in iManage Work are analyzed by the AI engine, which makes an accurate prediction on the type that each document is, applies metadata and pushes them back into the document management system so that they are searchable.”

iManage has focused their development effort on building powerful tools for curating the content that the AI engine can see, so that responses are relevant, accurate, and built on the best work product available at the organization. The AI engine is trained on high quality and purpose-built legal content to deliver the level of accuracy and reliability required for legal professionals. The solution also includes robust governance tools to specifically control the engine’s access to content, so that the risk of breaching client confidentiality is mitigated. Additionally, the AI engine only analyzes documents located in the customer’s own data resource, ensuring complete confidentiality and compliance with ethical and regulatory obligations.

“We believe that AI has tremendous potential to improve the efficiency and productivity of knowledge workers, making the work more satisfying by removing the tasks that humans find mundane and enabling them to focus on higher-value activities that are more interesting to them,” said Neil Araujo, CEO, iManage. “As stewards of our customers’ data, we firmly believe that knowledge curation and quality data sets are critical to the effective and ethical us of AI. Achieving business benefits requires the right partner, one with strong experience with AI technologies, deep understanding of the risks involved, and expertise on how to resolve them. iManage has been working with this technology for leading global customers for several years to fine tune its effectiveness across multiple applications, and we are excited to introduce these capabilities to the broader market.”

iManage is actively working with customers as part of the company’s Early Access Program to validate the results they see with generative AI, and to ensure the approach includes the right security and governance protections.