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IBM to use independent business units for growth plan
Users criticize IBM securitypackage IBM’s RACF comes sixth out of seven access control packages assessed by users in Xephon’s latest survey Access Control Packages: Comparative Analysis. The only package that
saved RACF from taking seventh place is a IO-year old product that is no longer being actively marketed. Six months ago a separate Xephon survey devoted exclusively to RACF reached more favourable conclusions about the package. However, the new survey shows that IBM’s best is still not good enough when compared with software from independent suppliers. Users were asked to evaluate their packages in 12 categories, listed below alongside the position out of seven occupied by RACF: l l
Ease of installation Facilities offered
5 4
Disruption caused Performance overhead Documentation Value for money Ease of administration Degree of security Reliability Vendor support Training Overall satisfaction
6 5 5 6 6 4 3 3 6 6
RACF’s rating was below average in all respects except reliability and vendor support. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of RACF users rate it ‘satisfactory’ or better, and not one of them would definitely not recommend the package to others. (Xephon Technology Transfer Ltd, Western House, 3 London Rd, Newbu y 0 RG13 IJL, UK)
Costof data protectionheavy The Data Protection Act is going to cost some &250M to put into effect over the next five years, according to a UK software house specializing in human resource packages. Despite much lower figures being quoted by the UK Government such as &13M for local authorities Arcast (UK) Limited believes that taking all the wide-ranging implications of the Act into account, a figure of &250M spread over five years is go-’ ing to be much nearer the truth. The provisions of the Act mean that any company or organization holding personal information on a computer database - including bureaux - will have to register detailed descriptions of that data. how it is to be used.
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where it has been obtained, and who it will be communicated to. This will mean a vast administration task, even before any requests to inspect such data are dealt with. On top of this, the day-to-day clerical and general manpower costs of keeping within the terms of the Act will be equally great. These will include providing all the necessary computer time and equipment for individuals to have access to their data when required, and employing data processing staff to deal with enquiries and complaints on such information both from individuals and the Data Protection Registrar. (Arcast (UK) Ltd, Saxon House, Friary St, Derby 0 DE1 INL, UK)
IBMto use independent business units for growth plan IBM plans to use its independent business units (IBUs) in its quest to become a $lOOB outfit by 1990, according to a report published by IDC. The report notes that an annual growth rate of 15% will be necessary for the company to reach $lOOB from its current $40B, and IBUs should play a key role in accomplishing that goal. IBUs are ‘businesses within businesses’ and IBM has 17 of them, according to the report. They include IBM Instruments, SRA, Inc. and IBM Information Services. As independent ventures with their own budgets, IBUs are free to change and develop as market demands and opportunities shift. IBM plans to use other measures as well. In 1983 the company enhanced its competitive position by offering price cuts and substantial volume discounts. It also gained by targeting its personal computer line to the nonbusiness world and by introducing new medium-systems line models. IBM has also begun taking steps to phase out its direct-leasing business, says the report. The company budgeted $40M for advertising in 1984 and it has made its way into several colleges, including Harvard, where freshmen will be required to use personal computers, and MIT, where IBM is cosponsoring the $70M ‘Project Athena’ experiment. (International Data Corporation, Five Speen Street, Framingham, MA, cl USA )
data processing
saved RACF from taking seventh place is a IO-year old product that is no longer being actively marketed. Six months ago a separate Xephon survey devoted exclusively to RACF reached more favourable conclusions about the package. However, the new survey shows that IBM’s best is still not good enough when compared with software from independent suppliers. Users were asked to evaluate their packages in 12 categories, listed below alongside the position out of seven occupied by RACF: l l
Ease of installation Facilities offered
5 4
Disruption caused Performance overhead Documentation Value for money Ease of administration Degree of security Reliability Vendor support Training Overall satisfaction
6 5 5 6 6 4 3 3 6 6
RACF’s rating was below average in all respects except reliability and vendor support. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of RACF users rate it ‘satisfactory’ or better, and not one of them would definitely not recommend the package to others. (Xephon Technology Transfer Ltd, Western House, 3 London Rd, Newbu y 0 RG13 IJL, UK)
Costof data protectionheavy The Data Protection Act is going to cost some &250M to put into effect over the next five years, according to a UK software house specializing in human resource packages. Despite much lower figures being quoted by the UK Government such as &13M for local authorities Arcast (UK) Limited believes that taking all the wide-ranging implications of the Act into account, a figure of &250M spread over five years is go-’ ing to be much nearer the truth. The provisions of the Act mean that any company or organization holding personal information on a computer database - including bureaux - will have to register detailed descriptions of that data. how it is to be used.
44
where it has been obtained, and who it will be communicated to. This will mean a vast administration task, even before any requests to inspect such data are dealt with. On top of this, the day-to-day clerical and general manpower costs of keeping within the terms of the Act will be equally great. These will include providing all the necessary computer time and equipment for individuals to have access to their data when required, and employing data processing staff to deal with enquiries and complaints on such information both from individuals and the Data Protection Registrar. (Arcast (UK) Ltd, Saxon House, Friary St, Derby 0 DE1 INL, UK)
IBMto use independent business units for growth plan IBM plans to use its independent business units (IBUs) in its quest to become a $lOOB outfit by 1990, according to a report published by IDC. The report notes that an annual growth rate of 15% will be necessary for the company to reach $lOOB from its current $40B, and IBUs should play a key role in accomplishing that goal. IBUs are ‘businesses within businesses’ and IBM has 17 of them, according to the report. They include IBM Instruments, SRA, Inc. and IBM Information Services. As independent ventures with their own budgets, IBUs are free to change and develop as market demands and opportunities shift. IBM plans to use other measures as well. In 1983 the company enhanced its competitive position by offering price cuts and substantial volume discounts. It also gained by targeting its personal computer line to the nonbusiness world and by introducing new medium-systems line models. IBM has also begun taking steps to phase out its direct-leasing business, says the report. The company budgeted $40M for advertising in 1984 and it has made its way into several colleges, including Harvard, where freshmen will be required to use personal computers, and MIT, where IBM is cosponsoring the $70M ‘Project Athena’ experiment. (International Data Corporation, Five Speen Street, Framingham, MA, cl USA )
data processing