Top Database Threat? Legit Users & Sloppy Company Policies! | bMighty.com 11/04/2009
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A report from Dark Reading, Protecting Your Database From Careless End-Users pins the data vulnerability tag on a handful of common problems and weaknesses:
User Ignorance: Employees who have access to company data may not have had security training; yet when employees are trained in basic IT security practices, serious security breaches decline.
Poor Password Management: Another familiar tune, password policies so strict that users write their passwords on a Post-It and post it on the back of their monitor (or, in tighter security environments, on the bottom of their keyboard) where it’s easily found; or policies so lame that passwords are easily cracked or even guessed. Password policy is balancing act,and many if not most companies are off-balance.
Rampant Account sharing: Data access accounts and log-ins get shared, sometimes widely and sometimes wildly, with everyone in the company, it seems, knowing how to access the sensitive stuff.
Unrestricted Access: The only people who require access to sensitive data are the ones who work with the sensitive data. And that tends to be a far smaller number of people than the number who can access the confidential files.
Excessive Data Portability: The amount of storage employees carry for personal, much less business purposes, has become staggering. High capacity thumb drives, iPods, phones, you name it and it has the potential to become a vehicle for transporting sensitive data out of the supposedly protected environment. Yet database activity monitoring and access controls and other security tools remain sparsely implemented.
UPDATE: Here’s a nice little eWeek checklist, 10 Essential Things Companies Should Teach Employees About Security.
Clash of the clouds | The Economist 11/02/2009
Posted by thaadsma in Linux, broadband, ibm, infrastructure, managed services, microsoft, security, web, web services.add a comment
Cloud computing generates a lot of heated discussion, and through all the technical arguments, issues of security and trust, and battles over control, one topic keeps getting overlooked: cost.
Reducing business cost is what’s really driving us toward cloud computing.
We will all eventually adopt cloud computing, simply because the current model of scaling servers up and down is very expensive. IT departments try to buy as many servers as they think they’ll need for computing power during estimated peak capacity. But we don’t need that capacity most of the time– so lots of servers sit idle.
Cloud computing can reduce costs, becauses it provides more capacity during the peak times, so we simply pay for it on-demand. When the peaks are over and less capacity is needed, the cost then goes down. From a business perspective, this allows a company to move much of its infrastructure costs from being a capital expenditure (CAPEX) to an operating expenditure (OPEX).
The Economist published an excellent overview of how industry giants are reacting to this massive trend:
Clash of the Titans
“The rise of cloud computing is not just shifting Microsoft’s centre of gravity. It is changing the nature of competition within the computer industry. Technological developments have hitherto pushed computing power away from central hubs: first from mainframes to minicomputers, and then to PCs. Now a combination of ever cheaper and more powerful processors, and ever faster and more ubiquitous networks, is pushing power back to the centre in some respects, and even further away in others. The cloud’s data centres are, in effect, outsize public mainframes. At the same time, the PC is being pushed aside by a host of smaller, often wireless devices, such as smart-phones, netbooks (small laptops) and, perhaps soon, tablets (touch-screen computers the size of books).
Although Windows still runs 90% of PCs, the fading importance of the PC means that Microsoft is no longer an all-powerful monopolist. Others are also building big clouds, including Google, a giant of the internet, and Apple, renowned as a maker of hardware, with a market capitalisation that now exceeds those of both Google and IBM, its original arch-rival (see chart above).
Granted, there are hundreds if not thousands of firms offering cloud services—web-based applications living in data centres, such as music sites or social networks. But Microsoft, Google and Apple play in a different league. Each has its own global network of data centres. They intend to offer not just one or two services, but whole suites of them, with services including e-mail, address books, storage, collaboration tools and business applications. They are also vying to dominate the periphery, either by developing software for smart-phones and other small devices or by making such devices themselves.”
Read the whole thing, of course… Cloud computing: Clash of the clouds | The Economist.
Andy Kaiser gives two thumbs up to new Motorola Droid | Digital Bits 10/31/2009
Posted by thaadsma in broadband, design, mobile web, multimedia, social web, user interfaces, web, web services.add a comment
Andy Kaiser and I and a few more of us at i3 Business Solutions have been patiently waiting for the first smartphone based on the Google “Android” platform to hit the streets, and compete head-on with Apple’s excellent iPhone.
Andy likes the iPhone. Andy really likes the new Droid from Motorola.
Read his excellent review written at his Digital Bits technology column. Here’s an excerpt:
“The Droid is an excellent phone. Google, Motorola and Verizon really knocked this one out of the park. I don’t even like baseball, and I’m using a baseball euphemism. That’s how impressed I am.
As of this writing, you can visit “DroidDoes”, Verizon’s promotional site for the Droid. The site starts you off with a few blurbs about all the things the Droid does that the iPhone can’t do or doesn’t have like having a removable battery, physical keyboard, multitasking, and open app store, etc. To my knowledge, this is the first cellphone that has had the guts to directly criticize the mighty Apple iPhone.
It can criticize Apple all it wants. The Droid holds its own. Easily.”
Find out why Andy likes this phone so much, as he fully describes its features and capabilities at his website AndyBrain.com.
Social Media: Rolling with the changes | Lunch & Learn at i3 Business Solutions 10/28/2009
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Thanks to the great group who attended our Lunch & Learn session today. (And it was a beautiful fall day to get out of the office wasn’t it?)
i3’s Mike Ritsema introduced the session with the theme that ”Things are changing” and that we all need to change and starting using this stuff to thrive and compete.
Mike introduced the main presenter Bill Chamberlin, Principal Consultant – Social Insights Practice and HorizonWatching Community Leader at IBM. As of 2009, Bill is part of IBM’s Social Media Insights practice. This new practice for extracting business insights and value from social media marketing and online communities. Bill covered a point of view on how IBM approaches the social media ‘communities space’, which tools and platforms that are of business use, and what strategic decisions have to be made to use social media tools for customer support, marketing & promotions, and product development.
Brian Dokter of Thinkbox Creative then pulled all these concepts together by demonstrating how ThinkBox has linked (or ‘federated’) all their firms’ social media tools so they can make one update and feed the update out throughout their website, blog, Blog, Facebook page, and more.
Setting it all up correctly is critical. Doing this takes time, experience and expertise, so we look forward to working with our customers and ThinkBox Creative to assist people interested in pursuing this in business.
Once again, thanks to all presenters and attendees.
Are you ready to get busy with it?
LinkedIn seems to be a clear winner for businesses interested in networking and marketing themselves online– without spending a lot of time and money. For those of you ready to jump in, I found this great introduction on how to set up a compnay profile: HOW TO: Build Your Company’s Profile on LinkedIn.
I Repeat: The Answer to our Healthcare Problems are in Innovation, Entrepreneurs & Technology 10/22/2009
Posted by mritsema in government, healthcare, web.Tags: Business, Capitalism, entrepreneurial, Productivity, Technology
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I am forever consistent & unabashedly a free market capitalist with conservative principles bordering on libertarian ideals. Most know that I posit that technology (my own & company’s specialty) ‘holds the answer to all our problems.’
Bold statement or prediction: the answer to our healthcare problem in America won’t come from the government – but will come from both technology and India, China, Mexico, Costa Rica & cheap overseas delivery.
There’s no doubt that healthcare in America needs repair. The availability of insurance to protect against personal financial ruin must be repaired. Spiraling costs to patients … and physicians must be remedied. Access to treatment must be improved.
Question: is the government option or fix the answer? Again, I submit that technology and innovation are the answer.
The Wall Street Journal October 20th, 2009 edition provides yet another innovative option. High definition video can connect physician specialists around the world to any location with high speed internet – instantly. Diagnostic results skyrocket! Read about the innovation at:
Doctor, Can You See Me Now?
More Hospitals Are Using Video to Connect Patients With Specialists Far Away, Speeding Treatment
And, by the way, I just read an online review about Logitech’s new PC or Laptop webcam that delivers high definition 720p 2-megapixel (8 megapixel photos) for $79.99. That’s a whole lot of image for not a lot of money!
Add to that the opportunity to acquire quality surgery by highly trained specialists for around 10% of the cost of US based healthcare systems and things get really interesting. Granted, regulation, quality of service and legal recourse are not the same in a foreign country. Read about off shore surgery at:
Read about Medical tourism options at:
Low Cost Hip Replacement While on Vacation
American Insurance Plan May Cover Cost of Major Surgery Outside US
So, much like the challenge to the American automotive industry came from overseas and the answer was in technological innovation delivering better quality cars, improvements to the American healthcare industry will come from both technological innovation and worldwide competition.
Find the right doctor with these online resources | Webware | CNET 10/20/2009
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Every fall millions of us employees are subject to new health plans from employers. That often means finding a new doctor.
This CNET post has a review of some great resources available online to gather information and make the right decision:
“As the health care debate rages on, we’re still left wondering which doctor is best for what we need. Asking friends is a good way to find out about personal experiences, but one person’s opinion might not be enough to go on. For those instances, you need some help from a Web site or two.
I’ve compiled a helpful list of services that will help you research doctors, and with any luck, pick a good one. Let’s take a look: Find the right doctor with these online resources ”
via Find the right doctor with these online resources | Webware – CNET.
Work Smarter – Not Harder 09/27/2009
Posted by mritsema in web.Tags: Capitalism, Leadership, Management, Productivity
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A friend in my peer group recommended the book:
Getting Things DONE – The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
As I start reading it, I ran into this article in the Wall Street Journal – Personal Journal | Work & Family section:
If You Need to Work Better, Maybe Try Working Less by Sue Shellenbarger
Bottom line:
- Focus on priorities
- Get ahead of deadlines through schedule management
- Remove the meaningless clutter
- Figure out how to relax & ’shut it off.’
I’m attempting to apply these new skills to improve my productivity and work – life balance.
Consider checking out these resources and their potential personal impact in this “always on” world.
Productively,
Michael Ritsema i3 Business Solutions, LLCBing Pops With Visual Search | TechCrunch 09/15/2009
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Played with Bing yet? I was skeptical at first, but I’m fast becoming a fan of Binging things visually, instead of Googling things– and wading through a milion text links:
“There are more than 100 visual galleries ranging from movies, books, and cars to products, animals, and sports teams. The sorting categories change each time.
“So for movies, you can filter by release date, title, or rating. Cars can be sorted visually by make, price or mileage. When you resort, the images fly around the screen to find their new positions. The visual search acts as a showcase for Microsoft’s Silverlight technology, which makes the animations and visual rendering possible.
“The whole concept,” says Mehdi, “is that the world of search will change. There will be a more graphic way people will search, and it will pivot how people search.””
via Bing Pops With Visual Search. TechCrunch
40 Years of Internet. Let’s have a recap… 09/09/2009
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Whoa. The Interwebs are reaching middle age!
“What better time to recap on the last 40 years and provide a brief history of how a technology that has changed our lives, came to be. Before you begin reading however, if you’d like a more visual representation, you may want to sit back and watch this wonderful video that will take you through the decades to today.”
Reshaping Cisco: The world according to Chambers | The Economist 09/08/2009
Posted by thaadsma in Linux, broadband, infrastructure, managed services, microsoft, mobile web, virtualization, web, web services.add a comment
In case you missed this article on Cisco before you headed out for your Labor Day weekend, There’s a wealth of information on where Cisco’s been and where John Chambers intends to take them. Of particular interest is their foucs on virtualization:
“In the case of servers, souped-up computers that dish up data, the market shift Cisco intends to ride is virtualisation. In essence this means that the servers in a data centre are turned into a pool of computing power to be tapped into as needed rather than being used individually. Virtualisation creates a lot of complexity, to which Cisco has found an answer, says Robert Lloyd, who heads the group that has developed what Cisco calls the “unified computing system”. Its parts—servers, storage disks, memory—are held together and managed by a powerful switch running Nx-OS, one of Cisco’s operating systems.”
As a Cisco Select Partner here at i3 Business Solutions, we see their products as essential to “making things really work.” As more and more of our business systems– and personal networks of devices– get interwoven and integrated, I can only think that Cisco ultimately will be in the middle of it, making them all work together.
via Reshaping Cisco: The world according to Chambers | The Economist.
Mike Ritsema speaks out against tax burden on Michigan businesses | NewsChannel 3 09/03/2009
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Mike Ritsema, one of the partners here at i3 Business Solutions, was recently interviewed by the local media regarding the tax situation in Michigan. Click here for the video:
Click here for the full story at NewsChannel 3
Here are some additional comments Mike made:
“”It seems to me, they understand if we give tax credits and abatement, it creates jobs and business, but they want to raise taxes on employers in the State of Michigan, and they don’t correlate the two, it costs jobs,” said Ritsema.
Ritsema owns i3 Business Solutions in Grand Rapids. He was a leader in fighting against the failed service tax in 2008. Many said that tax would have arbitrarily raised taxes on many businesses, everything from landscapers to consultants.
“I think it’s the nature of government to choose winners and losers and as they looked at the State of Michigan, they said manufacturing’s hurting, we’re going to help manufacturing, we’re going to move taxes over to other businesses and industries,” said Ritsema.
Ritsema says he was surprised to hear about a new effort announced on Wednesday to try to revive a form of the service tax, essentially a tax on luxury and nonessential services.”
Have we now entered the post-OS era? | Tech Sanity Check | TechRepublic.com 05/31/2009
Posted by thaadsma in SaaS, development, web, web services.add a comment
Jason Hiner makes many astute observations in his “Sanity Check” blog at Tech Republic. Some of his best are wrapped into this excellent April post about how we are beyond the ‘OS wars” that the PC technology world gets so fixated on. And I agree with him 100% when he goes on to say that the Web browser is the standard interface for software applications. Here at i3 Business Solutions, our team is focused on web applications that integratre the best of classic IT systems with the new ecosystem opening oup on the web: Read Jason’s entire post for more perspective:
“It’s possible that a combination of voice and touch could revolutionize the user interface (and thus the OS), or that another major innovation could make it faster and simpler for humans to work with computers, but for now the keyboard and mouse are as efficient as it gets. And, as a result, the computer OS has stagnated.
And, of course, the other thing that’s going on is that the Web browser is finally usurping the OS as the universal platform that was envisioned back in the mid-1990s. Please note that I’m not talking about cloud computing or software-as-a-service (SaaS). While applications and services delivered over the Internet are certainly part of the ascendency of the Web browser, they still have not reached critical mass in the business world and the trend is bigger than that.
What we’re seeing is that many businesses are using the Web browser as the front-end application to access private, back-end systems, from databases to CRM to ERP to payroll to corporate portals. And, why not? Since most users are very familiar and comfortable with Web navigation and Web forms, these corporate systems can tap into that experience to provide applications that have an easier learning curve than Windows-based business apps with their unique menus and interfaces.”
via Sanity check: Have we now entered the post-OS era? | Tech Sanity Check | TechRepublic.com.
If the Red Wings breach their own IT security, does your business? 05/24/2009
Posted by mritsema in web.add a comment
Detroit Red Wings Playoff Box View
Have a look what appeared a recent Anaheim Mighty Ducks vs. Detroit Red Wings game.
Did you see it?
The Detroit Red Wings wireless access password was broadcasted across Canada on a recent hockey broadcast.
Look on the wall behind the gentleman in the press box. That is the Red Wings wireless access code. Does this resemble your business? Do you have your wireless access code posted in your kitchen, on the bulletin board or in a public folder on your Microsoft Exchange Server?
The Detroit Red Wings have broken best practice number one when it comes to IT security, never post your password for anyone to see it. Why do they have the network locked down?
How insecure is your business’ wireless network?
Wireless networks are critically important in business today, it is a core requirement for many of the clients that Bulletproof InfoTech serves in Calgary and Red Deer. When your business invests in a secure wireless infrastructure to support your staff it will ensure your team can move about the office easily, promoting collaboration and sharing of ideas. Many businesses still do not see the importance of locking down their wireless networks and simply trust basic security measures out of the business by many lower grade wireless access points and routers.
What is the risk to your business when you copy the example made by the Detroit Red Wings?
Theft of critical business data happens daily across the globe, many times the business and it’s management have no idea that a breach occured. Theft of business data, improper use of your business internet and social engineering can occur many hundreds of feet away from your office. Even across the street from one office tower to the next. What risk is your business at?
What can your business do to ensure the integrity of your computer information is maintained? Stuart Crawford, at Bulletproof Networks recommends these basic practices to ensure that your business is secured and the risk to your network is kept at a minimum.
- Invest in a commercial grade wireless access point – There are many firewalls and routers for sale in office supply & big box stores throughout America. Many of these solutions are fine for your home, however, rarely offer security needed by business. Many of these lower cost solutions can be easily hacked by sophisticated hackers and even those who scour the city looking for open and available Wi-Fi. Wireless solutions found in Cisco or SonicWALL (Bulletproof recommended) offer business a complete and secure wireless solution leveraging multiple layers of security, protecting your assets.
- Lock down your wireless – Even today there are still many businesses with open and hackable wireless networks. Many of these are often found but not limited to older pieces of equipment prior to WPA and WEP being enabled when you purchase your wireless router. You must ensure a complex wireless access code is enabled using a combination of upper case letters, symbols and letters. After you have secured your wireless, don’t pull a Detroit Red Wing move and post it for everyone to see. What use is securing your network when you post it on a wall or even email it to your employees?
- Trust the Professionals – Profession I.T. Services firms will ensure that your wireless access point is secure, Wi-Fi zones are isolated and trusted users can access resources on the network while those who are just visiting only have the access they are entitled to.
There are many focus areas when securing your wireless networks, protecting your business from anonymous surfers plus those that are guests on your network, only requiring limited access to resources on your computer network. i3 Business Solutions, much like Bulletproof InfoTech, ensures our own network is secure by layering access security zones and only giving wireless access to those who need it. Your network needs this security to ensure that your business data is kept secure at all times, your team productive and your Internet bandwidth available.
A special report: Medicine goes digital | The Economist 05/07/2009
Posted by thaadsma in development, healthcare, security, web.add a comment
Well worth reading is this ‘Big Picture’ series of articles from the Economist. An excerpt:
“If these obstacles can be overcome, then the biggest winner will be the patient. In the past medicine has taken a paternalistic stance, with the all-knowing physician dispensing wisdom from on high, but that is becoming increasingly untenable. Digitisation promises to connect doctors not only to everything they need to know about their patients but also to other doctors who have treated similar disorders.
The coming convergence of biology and engineering will be led by information technologies, which in medicine means the digitisation of medical records and the establishment of an intelligent network for sharing those records. That essential reform will enable many other big technological changes to be introduced.”
Read it all
via A special report on health care and technology: Medicine goes digital | The Economist.
Microsoft 2019 scenario: everything I want except the flying car | The Industry Standard 03/04/2009
Posted by thaadsma in design, healthcare, microsoft, mobile web, user interfaces, web, web services.add a comment
Now this is more like it!
The five punchy two-minute video excerpt says a lot about where we are going:
“The super-slim and easy-to-use handheld gadgets and wall-sized transparent displays handled by the video’s shoppers, students and office workers make Tom Cruise’s setup in Minority Report seem obsolete. More important than whizzy interfaces, the videos promise much more extensive collaboration, instant information retrieval, and multimedia communication.”
via Microsoft’s 2019 scenario has everything but Windows | The Industry Standard.
NOTE: The original five-minute version (much higher quality) can be viewed at Microsoft Office Labs.
