Security experts urge a 'say yes' mindset
Being an IT security specialist requires a close understanding of business goals, a dose of salesmanship and a willingness
to say yes to projects even if it means dealing with new risks, top network security professionals told attendees at las
Standards would lock up data on disk, tape
Proposed standards for protecting data on disk or tape are gathering steam within the IEEE and could be supported in products
as soon as next year, according to proponents.
When speed rules
The latest crop of online games-dubbed MMORPGs, for Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games - are pushing top-tier
carriers to meet even higher requirements for bandwidth and speedy response times. The carriers able to meet these demands
are winning lucrative Web hosting and managed services contracts from online gaming companies.
SSL VPNs dissected
Since we tested this class of products nearly two years ago, vendors have packed them with application support, security options
and end-user presentation glitter. The upshot is that comparing SSL VPN devices side by side uncovers more differences than
similarities.
Top outsourcing deals focus on business processes, 'multisourcing'
An examination of the biggest deals shows more companies lately are inking business process outsourcing deals, in which they
turn over responsibility for a functional area such as human resources or logistics to a vendor. The rise in BPO deals is
offset by a decline in traditional IT-centric outsourcing services.
VoIP cures agency's telecom ills
New VoIP net lowers costs, simplifies management and improves customer service Visiting Nurse Association of Boston
NTT launches IPv6 firewall service
NTT continues its role as a pioneer of IPv6 technology in the United States with its recent announcement of the first managed
firewall service for the long-anticipated upgrade to the Internet's main communications protocol.
State CIO envisions shared IT services for departments
Minnesota is grappling with an issue familiar to many states: the challenge of yielding greater performance from decentralized,
autonomous IT groups scattered throughout government agencies and departments.
Fireman's Fund rescues remote users
Insurance company finds low-bandwidth gateway perfect for pumping data into field
Start-up focuses on standards-based grids in data centers
Univa, a start-up formed to bring the standards-based Globus grid software to corporate data centers, plans to release its
first product into beta this week, with general availability expected in the first quarter of next year.
Microsoft gains government approval
Five Microsoft products last week earned security-evaluation approval granted under the software-testing program called Common
Criteria, making it easier for Microsoft to sell them to government customers.
Is BellSouth next for Whitacre, AT&T?
Many in the telecom industry expect the new AT&T - the carrier formed from the merger of the old AT&T and SBC - to continue
to acquire companies and assets. One target that is named frequently is BellSouth, a prospect that inevitably would raise
regulatory and antitrust concerns.
App acceleration is food for thought
Invite to dinner six executives from the top application acceleration vendors and the discussion starts flying fast. Speeding
things up is what these guys do for a living.
News briefs: SETI@Home shuts down
Also: Software 'pirate' pleads guilty to charges; SANS Institute moves toward master's degree accreditation; fourth edition
of COBIT ready for circulation; Google, Microsoft, Sun team to fund Internet lab at UC Berkeley; Visto files lawsuit against
Microsoft
Savvis launches security service
Service provider Savvis this week plans to announce a managed service that offers a variety of security features without requiring
hardware or software at a customer's location.
In brief: 3Par announces 500GB drives for storage array
Also: VMware releases VMware Player
Powering up a new breed of batteries
No matter how portable gadgets become, there's a time when they all must come back to earth: recharging time.
In brief: Lockdown annouces new network access control gear software
Also: NimSoft launches tool for monitoring Cisco-based IP telephony networks; NFR Security announces intrusion-prevention
system
Aventail aims to secure IP conferencing
Aventail last week announced an appliance that works in conjunction with its SSL VPN gear to create secure IP conferencing
that includes voice, video and instant messaging.
Microsoft cuts price, still lags in CRM
When Microsoft recently began shipping its Dynamics CRM 3.0 update, it tweaked the software's licensing structure to encourage
more partners to offer the system as a hosted subscription service.
In brief: Business Objects, MySQL strengthen partnership
Business Objects and MySQL have strengthened their partnership by collaborating on bundling MySQL's open source database software
and Business Objects' XI business-intelligence software.
In brief: Comcast selects Cisco, Nortel for network buildout
Comcast has selected routers from Cisco and optical transport gear from Nortel for a nationwide backbone buildout.
