Combining Db2 and Cloud Object Storage

Db2 and Cloud Storage
happily combined

Since a while, Db2 has built-in support to directly access Cloud Object Storage (COS) like Amazon S3 and IBM COS (Softlayer / IBM Bluemix IaaS). It allows to perform backups (and restores :) as well as data load operations to and from the cloud. Phil Nelson wrote an excellent overview and introduction on the IDUG blog with his examples focussed on S3. Thus, in the following I am going to mostly cover Db2 using the IBM Cloud Object Storage and fill in some additional details.

Secure Your Db2 Data Base - Using Trusted Contexts

Db2 Security - Trusted Context

You have that new app, maybe even in the cloud, with that user needing read and write access to the database? Don't want to open the floodgates for that favorite users? Ok, here is a way to secure your Db2 data and still provide that access. Even if that sounds impossible, trust me. And, I am going to put that "trust me" in context. Read on.

Introduction to Cloud App Security - Part 1

Security for Cloud Apps

Providing a secure app or application is a fundamental requirement. This is especially true in a cloud environment. In my post about “Securing Workloads on the IBM Cloud” I discussed the various layers that realize secure cloud computing. Today, I want to focus solely on apps that are built for deployment in the IBM Cloud. What makes up a secure app? What cloud services help establishing app security? Let’s take a look together.

Note that this is part 1 of 2. Part 2 is linked at the bottom.

Introduction to Cloud App Security - Part 2

(This is a continuation from part 1 of this introduction to Cloud App Security.)
Providing a secure app or application is a fundamental requirement. This is especially true in a cloud environment. In my post about “Securing Workloads on the IBM Cloud” I discussed the various layers that realize secure cloud computing. Today, I want to focus solely on apps that are built for deployment in the IBM Cloud. What makes up a secure app? What cloud services help establishing app security? Let’s take a look together.

App Security Services

To focus on the application logic, the functionality and business side, developers can delegate or “outsource” some of security tasks. Here is a non-exhaustive list of services that the IBM Cloud with the Bluemix platform provides. I am going to use the list of security topics from above:

Db2 Quiz: Oh what files!?

Today, it is time for another Db2-related quiz. Take a look at the screenshot below. What do you see, what is it?

Db2 Quiz

Need a hint? The quiz is related to my upcoming presentations at the IDUG and DB2 Aktuell conferences.

Db2 Catalog - A Guided Tour

The title of this blog entry is how I have named a new presentation I am currently preparing. It hope that this tour will provide fun and many useful insights into understanding the Db2 catalog and make better use of it.

New data for the Db2 Catalog?!

What is an empty database? How did the entries for system tables make it into the system tables? What are packed descriptors? How can I simulate small or big data sets? Is it possible to call the catalog "data dictionary" and access it in the Oracle style? How does the Db2 Catalog relate to SQL performance and data security?