Microsoft warns of SSL/TLS vulnerabilities
First of all, this isn't just another Microsoft security flaw. Microsoft has filed this with ICASI as a general security vulnerability affecting multiple implementations of TLS and SSL. Moreover, Microsoft has noted it affects every currently supported version of Microsoft operating systems from Windows 2000 to Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2.
Google Voice to storm the enterprise in 2010
Google is planning on releasing an enterprise verison of Google Voice in 2010, said Google Enterprise President Dave Girouard in an interview earlier this week in eWeek. Voice will be bundled with Google Apps. Read more
Installing PerformancePoint 2010 Dashboard Designer
PerformancePoint Dashboard Designer is the design tool you will use to build key performance indicators (KPIs), indicators, scorecards, reports, filters, data sources, and dashboards. It also enables you to deploy your finished dashboards to SharePoint.
Dashboard Designer is a .NET Framework ClickOnce application that requires the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1. It also has a few other optional components that enable additional functionality that users should be able to install on their own, including the following: Read more
Microsoft to shut off free versions of Windows 7 soon
On March 1, users of the free, release candidate versions of Windows 7 will experience bi-hourly shut downs, Microsoft says. These shut downs will continue until June 1. On June 1, the RC version has officially expired. Microsoft will replace the wallpaper with a background that says the copy of Windows is not genuine.
After June 1,those who haven't upgraded to a purchased copy of Windows 7, which typically requires a clean install, will experience the following issues: Read more
Google lowers, but doesn't drop, Nexus One early termination fees
Google today has said it will charge users a mere $150, rather than $350, if they quickly terminate their T-Mobile contract after buying phone at a reduced price with a T-Mobile contract. It is also giving a break to existing T-Mobile customers who buy the phone with a carrier contract, then change their plans. This is a nice happy ending to the story I reported a couple of weeks ago. Read more
Cisco, Juniper take rivalry to mobility, Barcelona
Cisco and Juniper are taking their router rivalry to Spain next week as they unveil new and acquired products for wireless operators at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. This market will be hotly contested by the two router leaders, and others, as the percentage of IP data traffic from mobile devices explodes. Read more
Microsoft fixes 26 security holes, warns on unpatched multi-vendor SSL vulnerability
As expected, today's Patch Tuesday is a doozie. Microsoft released 13 bulletins to fix 26 vulnerabilities in Windows and Microsoft Office. This includes the first Hyper-V-specific patch. But wait, there's more. Microsoft also issued a security advisory (977377) over a publicly-known vulnerability in the Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocols. Read more
Will Tablets Kill E-Readers?
So I've gotten a bunch of calls lately asking exactly that, no doubt spurred by the Apple iPad announcement. But I think this whole issue is much more complex than first meets the eye, begging a couple of far more interesting additional questions. But, still, it's fair to ask - will tablets kill e-readers? Read more
People May Be the Weakest Link in the Server Virtualization Chain
I participated in a webinar on virtualization last week, along with Extreme Networks and Microsoft. During the session, 113 audience members were asked two polling questions. Here are the questions and the results:
1. In your opinion, which of the following factors is holding your organization back from using server virtualization more prominently throughout the enterprise?
1. Lack of virtualization skills/knowledge within IT (42%) Read more
2. Security / regulatory concerns (10%)
3 Organizational complexity – separate groups mange different elements (32%)
The New ROUTE exam: More Difficult than the Old BSCI?
If you've watched this blog in the last few days, you will have already seen that the CCNP cert appears to have fewer topics than the old CCNP. In fact, the ROUTE exam itself even looks a little narrower at first glance - quite a trick if you consider that it's moved from a 5 day BSCI course to a 5 day ROUTE course plus 7.5 hours of e-learning. Today I'll look specifically at the new ROUTE exam, to consider how the topic breadth and depth have changed, and whether that translates into a more difficult exam. Read more
61 CCIEs dropped out of Cisco's highly coveted cert program over the last 30 days
According to Dual CCIE #18532 R&S/Security - George Morton:
"Over the last 30 days we have seen CCIEs drop their highly coveted certifications at a much greater rate than net new CCIEs.
"61 CCIEs dropped out of Cisco's prestigious certification program during the month of January 2010 alone.
"For further clarification, let's do the math together: Read more
Cisco, others take heed: Cloud not taking hold... yet
The majority of enterprises surveyed recently by Infonetics Research have no firm plans to use cloud-based data center services. As a data center investment driver, cloud gets trumped by security, virtualization and an increasing number of gigabit ports. Read more
US National Climate Service to monitor world of climate change
After almost a year or so of wrangling, the US government today said it wants to set up a National Climate Service that is designed to meet the burgeoning demand for climate information. Read more
Scoping a CSP SAS-70 Audit
I’m starting to wonder if a secure cloud is like pornography—it’s very hard to define but you’ll know it when you see it. To this end, I was discussing cloud security with an executive from Telx last week. We were talking about how cloud service providers (CSP) often use their SAS-70 audited colocation facilities. This got me thinking about the SAS-70 label and how it might tell you a lot about the colocation facility security and potentially very little about the security of the CSP. Read more
MC Hammer time at Wharton Business Technology Conference
Why Your Computer Sucks
Today is not only the day after the Super Bowl, it’s also National Clean Out Your Computer Day – the day was created by the Institute for Business Technology as a way to remind PC users about all of the clutter on their systems.
Regardless of the day’s motive, it’s pretty clear that computer users are just as much packrats as they are in their homes. According to the Consumer Electronics Association, the average American adult has more than 1,800 digital files. Instead of cleaning up our systems, Americans are likely to just go out and buy a new system, rather than fix or maintain the one they have. Vendor iolo technologies, maker of the System Mechanic PC tune-up software, says the average computer’s lifespan is about 30 months. Read more
He’s a font of knowledge about Apple fonts, circa 1985
One of the benefits of doing my annual "25 Geekiest 25th Anniversaries" list is the e-mail these trips down memory lane generate. For example, reader Jeff Little was taken by the inclusion this year of the first laser printer for the Mac, Apple LaserWriter. Read more
Policies Vs. Freedom: Which Should be Paramount?
We’re deep into our next round of research, which means we get the opportunity to talk to hundreds of IT leaders, one-on-one, to discuss their latest challenges, plans, and opportunities, among many other things.
In recent conversations with IT leaders from large, multi-national organizations, one issue that has emerged and is quite inconsistent is this: To what extent, if at all, should corporate standards stifle what employees can do with technology? Read more
Gartenberg: the 'killer app' for mobility isn't an app at all
Don't hold your breath waiting for the "killer app" for mobility. Because there isn't one, according to tech pundit Michael Gartenberg.
Instead, what's critical is particularity: the specific requirements and interests of a particular user at a particular time in a particular place. The one-word summary is: context.
[HT to prolific tweeter Todd Smith (@Cisco_Mobile)] Read more
Brief announcement: 10 winners in the free CCIE R/S Written Cert Guide book giveaway
We did a book giveaway in January for 10 copies of the CCIE Routing and Switching Exam Certification Guide (4th Edition). This post lists the winners. I hope to get to the post office today to mail them out. I'll get the next CCNP series post out in a day or so. Read more
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