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Product Review: The New CloudPlug 2.0
I recently had a chance to play with the new version of the CloudPlug 200 from CTERA. I reviewed the first edition back in October 2009. The latest edition is a marked improvement on an already good product. I’ll discuss the product and my experience with it, as well as a few suggestions for CTERA on what to do for the next version of the product.read more
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Financial Businesses Concerned About Cloud
In a recent LogLogic survey, 60% of respondents expressed some reservations about moving to cloud computing technology. 34% of respondents said that cloud was not strategic for their companies, while another 26% said that they were concerned about the risks relating to the technology, and that security was the number one concern.
Respondents cited security, control and transparency as the main drawbacks to cloud computing. According to one IT security manager interviewed, security requirements are “crucial” to adoption and use of cloud computing. “A significant pitfall to cloud computing is the lack of control. It creates a massive security risk.”read more
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Focus on Cyber-Crime Misses Real Threat
Thanks to tough economic times and a generous dollop of fear-mongering from the media and opportunistic profiteers, we've all become myopically obsessed with cyber-crime.
This is not entirely a bad thing. Unless you've been living under a rock, everyone knows that technology has created unimaginable opportunity for resourceful crooks. The pitfall is in our myopia. But we've become so obsessed with cyber-crime-a "petty" offense in the grand scheme of things-that we've overlooked the bigger picture. While monetary gains are certainly a big motivator for cybercrime, increasingly cyber-criminals are acting out of political interests. Thus, it is important for IT departments to be aware that threats can come from anywhere.
A recent article in the New York Times reminded us of a conspicuously under-reported digital security threat: cyber-terrorism. Dennis Blair, the Director of National Intelligence, made the following comment in an appearance before the U.S. Congress.read more
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CA's O'Malley: 3Tera Buy Is Foundational
Computer Associates announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to buy Virtual Data Center provider 3Tera. Chris O'Malley, EVP, Cloud Products for Computer Associates announced the acquisition at an investors conference in San Francisco today.
“CIOs can use cloud computing to build and manage a new type of IT ‘supply chain’ across today’s virtualized internal and external technology infrastructure,” said O’Malley.. “3Tera technology is a powerful addition to the total solution CA provides for optimizing these high-value supply chains—from the mainframe to the cloud.”
"This acquisition is foundational to our growth strategy," commented O'Malley. He continued "You are seeing CA change before your eyes."
At the conference, 3Tera presented a 4 minute demo which showed how their technology could easily configure at world-wide data center, with computing resources in Dallas and the Netherlands. The demo purported to be able to copy the applications and all related data between 2 geographical dispersed data centers quickly and easily.read more
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The Government Can See You Naked: EPIC Sues
In an announcement on its web site, epic.org, the Electronic Privacy Information Center has sued the US Government over the use of "devices that capture images of individuals stripped naked." The Transportation Security Agency has confirmed that the Body Imaging devices, which are part of the Millimeter Wave Passenger Imaging Technology Pilot, are being used in at least one Virginia Court. Also, a San Francisco International Airport spokesperson confirmed, on KQED radio late last year, that the device is in use in the international terminal at the airport, as well as in at least 11 other airports nationwide.read more
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Supreme Court Case Could Freeze Innovation
In the High-Tech industry, the machinations of the US Supreme Court are, at best, fodder for dinner party trivia questions. There is one case on the Supreme Court docket this year that has the potential to change the way intellectual property protected in the United States, and have a major effect on the software companies who rely on the patent process. It could also have a devastating effect on innovation.read more
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CIA Falls for Cloud Computing in a Big Way
The most anticipated talk of the day, at the Cloud Computing Conference and Expo yesterday, was by the deputy CIO of the CIA, Jill Singer. Her talk was entitled, Enterprise Cloud Computing, the Infrastructure’s Final Revenge. She acknowledged the problem with defining Cloud Computing, and then went on to give her paragraph-length definition of “the cloud”. Her talk focused on the part of the Cloud behind the firewall.read more
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Long Lines, No Parking: A Good Sign?
Day One of the Cloud Computing Conference and Expo is in full swing. First off, it took me nearly 30 minutes to find parking. For some reason the top level of the parking structure of the Santa Clara Convention Center was closed off. Not sure why. Then I walked through the San Jose Hyatt. At that point, I ran into the lines. The lines for registration were 50-100 people deep. And there was no special “press” registration. I waited 42 minutes to get my badge, and so did everybody else.read more
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Ebay's Silver Lining
(Full disclosure: As of this writing, I am likely to take a job with Ebay in the next few weeks).
Yesterday, Ebay posted earnings that were less than stellar at first blush. But when you dig behind the numbers, there are many reasons for optimism. First, the potential sale of Skype will generate cash for other activities. I must admin that I am a fan of skype, and would like to see them keep it, but I trust management to make the decision that they can spend the $2B in cashe they hope to generate more profitably. It is also important to note that Gross Merchandise Value is up. As an eBay seller, I am quite aware that the marketplaces business makes most of its money off a percentage of the sale price of the items on eBay. Hence, more good news.
Second, a good chunk of the reason behind the depressed earnings was the integration of Bill Me Later. This is a good thing. The BML purchase, while not intuitive, is a great move. It not only beings on a payment method with higher margins, it also has been seen to be the only payment method that actually improved conversion on ecommerce sites. It not only helps customers, but it helps EBay as well. read more
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Ebay's Silver Lining
(Full disclosure: As of this writing, I am likely to take a job with Ebay in the next few weeks).
Yesterday, Ebay posted earnings that were less than stellar at first blush. But when you dig behind the numbers, there are many reasons for optimism. First, the potential sale of Skype will generate cash for other activities. I must admin that I am a fan of skype, and would like to see them keep it, but I trust management to make the decision that they can spend the $2B in cashe they hope to generate more profitably. It is also important to note that Gross Merchandise Value is up. As an eBay seller, I am quite aware that the marketplaces business makes most of its money off a percentage of the sale price of the items on eBay. Hence, more good news.
Second, a good chunk of the reason behind the depressed earnings was the integration of Bill Me Later. This is a good thing. The BML purchase, while not intuitive, is a great move. It not only beings on a payment method with higher margins, it also has been seen to be the only payment method that actually improved conversion on ecommerce sites. It not only helps customers, but it helps EBay as well. read more
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