leaders need

CIO looking for network skills

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:59:56 -0400

CIOs have a lot of things on their minds, and recruiting talented staff members is near the top of the list. Finding expertise in specialized areas ranging from security to VoIP is a critical piece of the overall technology management job. According to a new Robert Half Technology study, fourteen percent of CIOs say they're looking to hire new staff in the fourth quarter--and networking skills are at the top of their list of needs.

For more on CIO hiring plans:
- read the job skills report at eWeek

Sybase says future is mobile

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 06:59:56 -0400

It might be going a bit too far to suggest that Sybase is remaking itself as a wireless software or services company, but it's undeniable that wireless applications and technology are key to the company's vision for the future. Sybase has been busy pointing out the progress made in its UnWired Enterprise initiatives--progress that includes new architectural components for developing and supporting mobile applications, and a partnership with HTC for building devices based on the platform. Sybase says that their future is open, flexible, and standards-based--and that the future will be mobile.

For more on Sybase's future:
- read the technology analysis at eWeek.com
- and follow that with the CEO interview, also at eWeek.com

How to achieve "secure mobility"

Sun, 10 Sep 2006 20:01:38 -0400

It's hard to believe, but a recent survey says that just 5 percent of today's enterprise workers are mobile warriors. Given the availability of mobile technologies and the increasing demand for information in real-time, that statistic will surely climb--and fast. That's why experts are advising organizations to get a secure mobility strategy in place before device management, networking issues, and security headaches start hitting home. The key element, according to one expert, is understanding all of the new information and functions that are landing in the network stack. Traditionally, wireless local area network advancements have been made at the first three layers, along with wireless Ethernet connectivity. As Dominic Orr, CEO of Aruba, explains, IT leaders need targeted, user-oriented identification, content and location data to build secure mobile infrastructures. Mapping out such a strategy requires asking a few basic questions at the outset: who needs wireless link access, what's their job in our enterprise, what type of device is required and what applications are needed. That's exactly why his company is focused on providing functionality and enhanced features for the next layers in WLAN controllers and thin access points. Article

Auditing, risk assessment a mandate

Sun, 14 May 2006 20:01:38 -0400

If you've spent more than a few years toiling in the IT environment, you probably remember the days of 'hubs' and how excited everyone was to plug them into corporate networks. You also probably remember the horrible experience related to the security risks involved in making such a move. The same is true with today's wireless networks, which is why experts are pushing IT leaders to implement and establish strong audit processes and procedures. Risks come from several different segments of the network system and wireless LANs are much more insecure than internal network environments.

The continual quest to get users access everywhere and anywhere creates a substantial security element. Tech leaders need to assess this security threat and then formulate approaches to stop intruders and protect the information being shared. One of the easiest and most common strategies is using the hidden service set identifier, but that isn't foolproof since it also relies on the user's knowledge and responsibility. That's why auditing has become such a valuable tool. As enterprise use a variety of security tools to keep intruders out, the wireless review must become part of the annual IT risk assessment effort. It's the only way potential wireless problems can be treated, like the traditional network issues of authentication, access control, availability and encryption. Article

How to mesh wired with wireless

Sun, 27 Nov 2005 19:01:37 -0500

It sounds like it should be easy enough; after all, you've had that wired network in place for years, and you've been deploying wireless devices on the WLAN recently. But as experts explain, melding the wired and wireless to unify networking, reduce costs, increase security and gain overall efficiency isn't going to be quick and easy. The reason? For starters, vendors are key to making it happen and interoperability hasn't been a focus for most. There is a promising standard on the horizon--Internet Protocol for Multimedia Subsystems (IMS)--which some view as a bridge for true convergence. What IT leaders need to do now is get a good look at what the vendors are planning to do, the capabilities they're aiming to provide and determine what price point makes the job feasible and viable for the business.

For more on combining wired and wireless:
- read this article at Networking Pipeline

How to decide if VoIP is good for your enterprise

Sun, 13 Nov 2005 19:01:37 -0500

Every new technology brings promise and its own share of headaches, security issues and return-on-investment considerations. That couldn't be truer with VoIP. While there's been a great deal of hype, many still aren't sure if this is the time to push VoIP into their company. That means examining the benefits and the downside by determining exactly what level of service your firm requires and if there's any room for a dip in that service level. After all, VoIP isn't quite perfected yet. Then it's time to figure out how much bandwidth is needed, what's already in the pipe and what the cost of the additional requirements might be. Those are just some of the issues IT leaders need to examine during the VoIP decision-making process.

For more on VoIP:
- read this article at Networking Pipeline

PLUS: What Microsoft and Cisco are doing to push VoIP ahead. Article

How to determine good access point location

Sun, 23 Oct 2005 20:01:37 -0400

Wireless technology is all about access wherever a user is and that comes right down to good access points (APs) that provide high levels of service quality. To achieve that goal, today's IT leaders need to ensure that the wireless local area network (WLAN) on the drawing board will provide a strong, robust architecture right out of the box. That requires a good in-depth review of AP requirements and location that mirrors a cellular telephone network in which APs collaborate and help avoid the dreaded interference issues plaguing many a wireless deployment today.

For more on a good WLAN approach:
- read this article at Newsfactor.com