Communications News articles from August 2006

Communications News archives from August 2006

Security paranoia.(Computer crimes)(Viewpoint essay)
August 1, 2006... I don't know about you, but my "security paranoia quotient" is getting way out of hand. The Veterans' Administration temporarily "loses" nearly 27 million records on a laptop when an employee takes the records home without authority. The U.S....

Wireless issues take priority.(Trends)(wireless local-area networks )(Survey)
August 1, 2006... As enterprises seek to reap the benefits of mobility, 64% of businesses intend to increase deployments of wireless local-area networks (WLAN) during the next 12 months, according to a survey by Gartner. Meanwhile, Forrester's latest survey of...

Secure policies.(SHORT TAKES)(ING Investment Management's usage of Cambia CM software)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... ING Investment Management, the U.S. investment arm of ING Group, has deployed Cambia Security's security policy-enforcement software, Cambia CM, for use on thousands of network assets. "It's hard to keep track of everything and know how assets...

Seven top security tips.(Trends)
August 1, 2006... Is it really the fault of problems with a virus protection program, or an insecure hotspot, if notebook users lose data? A recent Gartner study showed that 86% of all security events in wireless networks are caused by the mobile devices--and...

Telecom for Dummies.(PUBLICATIONS)(Brief article)(Book review)
August 1, 2006... Telecom For Dummies, by Stephen Olejniczak, is a plain-English guide to help those who are new to telecom services to choose the most economical solution for their business. Subjects covered include how to analyze what your company needs, how...

Voice over IPv6.(PUBLICATIONS)(Brief article)(Book review)
August 1, 2006... Voice Over IPv6, by Daniel Minoli, explains IPv6 and how telephone networks can be built on its foundations.The book explores where IPv6 is similar to IPv4 and where it differs, and discusses how to transition existing Internet telephony...

Better performance.(SHORT TAKES)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Contech Stormwater Solutions (CSS) and G&T Conveyor (G&T) have selected and deployed Riverbed Technology's Steelhead appliances to improve application performance, enable collaboration, improve VoIP and video quality, and allow replication and...

Classroom cable.(SHORT TAKES)(Geneva Area City Schools)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Geneva Area City Schools in northeast Ohio has selected VBrick Systems to stream cable television to the classroom-eliminating $200,000 in traditional information technology infrastructure costs. Geneva also is able to select and restrict...

Voice market expanding.(Trends)
August 1, 2006... The U.S. enterprise equipment market strengthened in the 2004 and 2005 period, expanding 14%, compared with only 5% growth in previous years (2000-03), according to the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). Total revenue from spending...

Events.(Trends)(Brief article)(Calendar)
August 1, 2006... VoiceCon, Aug. 21-24, San Francisco, features sessions and exhibits focused on the equipment and services that power IP-telephony and converged VoIP enterprise networks, www.voiceconfall.com VON, Sept. 11-14, Boston, includes an exposition...

Caught in the middle: user expectations and network performance issues caused the network operations team at Collier County to turn to a unique troubleshooting technology.(Cover story)
August 1, 2006... Sometimes, the best-laid technology upgrade plans can go bad. Take Collier County, Fla., for example. The county's directors had tasked each department to develop ways to improve efficiencies by relying more on technology. One of those tasks...

County tries hosted monitoring: service collects comprehensive server data-providing IT administrators with all the data required.(Network Monitoring)
August 1, 2006... With a population of 16,000, and located less than 20 kilometers south of Calgary in the Sheep River Valley, along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, Okotoks is one of Canada's fastest-growing communities, averaging more than 6% growth...

Shorten the problem lifecycle.(Network Monitoring)
August 1, 2006... The process of isolating and fixing network-based performance problems frequently can be slow, labor-intensive and heavily dependent on the capabilities of the person completing the troubleshooting. The typical approach in most enterprises...

Network remains problem-free: platform for network monitoring and troubleshooting provided analysis of traffic problems.(Network Monitoring)(WildPackets Inc.)
August 1, 2006... Founded in 1984, Smart City Networks is the nation's largest provider of event technology in the convention industry, providing clients with design, installation and maintenance of data, voice, electrical and utility platforms, coupled with...

A user-centric view.(Network Monitoring)(Network analysis )
August 1, 2006... While most companies have system-management tools that provide a detailed view of servers and networks, they lack a similar view of performance as experienced by the end-user. Another approach to ensuring application performance is to...

Videoconferencing transforms training: Illinois firefighters benefit from new system, as do the residents they help protect.(Conferencing)
August 1, 2006... Firefighters in Palatine, Ill., spend an estimated 20 hours each month attending classes related to firefighting and emergency medical services. In addition, they perform double-duty as homeland security representatives. Class curricula span a...

Flat-rate conferencing.(Conferencing)
August 1, 2006... When you ask most companies what they spend on voice and Web conferencing, no one can tell you. Even front-line business managers often do not know what their own groups are spending. Conferencing today is purchased on a decentralized basis...

Orchestrate vulnerability management: threats emanating from inside the perimeter are expected to increase.(Network Security)
August 1, 2006... For the past five years, businesses have been plagued by the threat of worm attacks such as Blaster, Slammer, CodeRed, Welchia and others. In 2005, more than 5,000 new security vulnerabilities were discovered in software across the industry....

The endpoint struggle.(Network Security)
August 1, 2006... Many challenges faced by network security managers today are a direct result of not giving consideration to securing the infrastructure, or creating any access protection or access controls within the infrastructure at the time the...

Centralized e-mail security.(Product Spotlight: Security)(Utimaco Safeware's SecurE-Mail Gateway 5.0)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... SecurE-Mail Gateway 5.0 manages and secures e-mail traffic from a central location on the enterprise network. The software decrypts and verifies incoming e-mail and encrypts and signs outgoing e-mails automatically. SecurE-Mail Gateway 5.0 also...

Secure file transfer.(Product Spotlight: Security)
August 1, 2006... FileMarshal 2.0 provides secure and auditable delivery of files and documents for Microsoft Outlook users. FileMarshal tracks and reports on delivery, receipt and viewing of files and messages. The product allows deliveries to be retracted by...

Enterprise-class firewall.(Product Spotlight: Security)
August 1, 2006... The SG-3100 FW/VPN Gateway is a firewall solution designed to meet the requirements of large central sites, large VPN networks and data centers that have thousands of users. Multilink technology enables the product to simultaneously maintain...

User-friendly network security.(Product Spotlight: Security)
August 1, 2006... GB-OS 4.0 focuses on the user experience by providing powerful functions in an intuitive, simple-to-use graphical user interface. The updated interface features a unique live mode/test mode tool for runtime configuration. Administrators have a...

Secure VPN connectivity.(Product Spotlight: Security)
August 1, 2006... The Viking V Security Solution is comprised of the Viking V 2-Gigabit VPN/Firewall appliance and two multi-vendor management products-the Viking V Multi-Vendor Policy Manager and the Viking V Multi-Vendor Log Manager. This solution provides...

Detect network intrusion.(Product Spotlight: Security)
August 1, 2006... StealthWatch 5.5 is a network behavior-analysis system that works in conjunction with Cisco IOS NetFlow-enabled enterprises. Once installed, the product monitors network traffic, gathering data to create baselines. These baselines are then...

Multivendor security appliance.(Product Spotlight: Security)
August 1, 2006... The QRadar 3102 appliance provides management of network and security environments by combining network behavior analysis, security event management, vulnerability management and directed remediation in one device. The product uses a real-time...

Revitalized spyware defense.(Product Spotlight: Security)(Webroot's Spy Sweeper Enterprise 3.0)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Utilizing a completely redesigned client, Spy Sweeper Enterprise 3.0 offers kernel-level driver protection to detect and remove the most malicious types of spyware, including rootkits and other evolving malware. Spy Sweeper Enterprise 3.0's...

Security policy assessment.(Product Spotlight: Security)
August 1, 2006... Cambia CM 3.5 automates the network security compliance process by analyzing network asset conformity with security policy. The product provides administrators the ability to create detailed and prescriptive policies that detail precisely what...

Real-time enterprise monitoring.(Product Spotlight: Security)
August 1, 2006... FraudProbe is a new platform for detecting fraud in online channels. The appliance passively monitors online transaction activity to and from Web applications, as well as integrating online fraud-detection capabilities into existing enterprise...

Integrated access controls.(Product Spotlight: Security)
August 1, 2006... The Elemental Security Platform (ESP) is an enterprise security software solution that enables organizations to manage the policies and risk for any computer connecting to the network. Enterprises can integrate the access controls necessary to...

Protection against spoofing.(Product Spotlight: Security)
August 1, 2006... Panda's GateDefender Performa 8200 is a secure content-management tool that offers protection against spoofing. GateDefender Performa scans the e-mail message header in depth to determine the real source address of the e-mail. Panda...

Change comes to enclosure systems: new modular units maximize space and provide flexibility for future upgrades and growth.(Racks & Enclosures)
August 1, 2006... Sensitive electronics have evolved over the years, but some things never change-excessive heat, poor power quality and unauthorized access can damage or impair the operation of vital systems. To avoid mishaps, IT departments need to consider...

The dangers of overheating.(Racks & Enclosures)
August 1, 2006... An invisible enemy lurks within computer networks and communications equipment. The enemy is not a hacker, virus or worm, but something that appears much more innocuously: heat. As equipment heats up, performance slows and productivity drops....

Lightweight fiber-optic cables.(Infrastructure Products)
August 1, 2006... The Light ARMOR product line is a family of lightweight, yet durable, fiber-optic cables. The product incorporates the functionality of a traditional fiber cable with the durability and longevity of ruggedized cable, at a lighter weight....

Modbus interpreters.(Infrastructure Products)
August 1, 2006... The MES1A and MES1B modbus interpreters connect Ethernet networks to new and existing modbus serial devices. Model MES1A provides connection for modbus devices with RS-232 interfaces. Model MES1B connects to devices with RS-422 four-wire,...

Multichannel transceiver.(Infrastructure Products)
August 1, 2006... The 94887SL Series fiber-optic transceiver is designed for large-scale surveillance with multiple cameras. The system provides 48-channel input and output of 10-bit digitized video with bidirectional Ethernet channel, multiprotocol data channel...

Rackmount enclosures.(Infrastructure Products)
August 1, 2006... The VersaFlex Series is a line of desktop/rackmount sheet metal enclosures designed to utilize space and allow for mounting of heavy components. The field replacement of trims and handles eliminates the need to disassemble the entire case....

Category 6 FTP cable.(Infrastructure Products)
August 1, 2006... LANmark-6 FTP cables are designed for situations that require extra control of signal emission, and an additional layer of security for installation in areas with high levels of EMI or RFI. The cables are TIA/EIA Category 6, draft 10-compliant,...

Integrated camera power.(Infrastructure Products)
August 1, 2006... The HubWay2 is a video/data/power-integrated device that provides centralized UTP video, RS-422/RS-485 data and distributed camera power over a single CAT 5 or higher cable. The device takes advantage of new or existing structured cable as a...

Consider managed voice services: third-party experts often bring efficiencies and depth of experience to VoIP deployments.(Voice Networks)
August 1, 2006... IP communications has come of age. Faced with aging time-division multiplex-based PBX voice systems and the need to improve operational efficiencies and reduce costs, the move to voice over IP (VoIP) is no longer "if" but "when." A third-party...

Bank of China installs VoIp.
August 1, 2006... Agricultural Bank of China (ABC), China's largest commercial bank, with revenues exceeding $250 billion, was looking to decrease its long-distance phone expenses between its more than 50,000 domestic and international branches and affiliate...

Backup appliance.(General Products)
August 1, 2006... The FastStream NDMP 4600 is a solution for enterprise customers interested in using network data management protocol NDMP) for backup of their NAS storage devices. It is an open protocol for managing data stored on network-attached tape and...

Network IP camera.(Voice Networks)
August 1, 2006... Nexdome Dragonfly from Nexvision is an IP video security camera that can be integrated into global surveillance systems. The Dragonfly provides an open-camera platform that is suited to large area surveillance applications, such as public...

Secure flash drive.(Voice Networks)
August 1, 2006... DataTraveler Elite-Privacy Edition is an ultra-secure, plug-and-play USB 2.0 flash drive designed for enterprise use. The product features on-the-fly, 128-bit AES hardware-based encryption of all data. Its complex password enforcement mechanism...

Mobile thermal printer.(General Products)
August 1, 2006... The lightweight Printek MtP 300 Mobile Thermal Printer features graphic-rich labels, wireless communication, quick production of receipts and resistance to accidental damage. All popular wireless options, including IrDA, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi,...

Wi-Fi fingerprint access.(General Products)
August 1, 2006... Bio-NetGuard is a fingerprint-based access-control system for Wi-Fi LANs that is 802.11a/ b/g and 802.11i compliant. The system is a DSP-based, fully contained network-authentication device that works with any WPA-compliant access point. It...

Network analysis tool.(General Products)
August 1, 2006... The EtherScope Series II analyzer provides complete vision into twisted pair, fiber-optic and wireless LANs. A full suite of tests provides detailed information about RF signal strength, access point and client configurations, and network...

Encrypted storage.(General Products)
August 1, 2006... The Spectra T950 library automates tape and mobile RXT Sabre RAID in a single enclosure, and combines backup and encryption into a single step. Spectra Logic's hardware-based BlueScale encryption allows users to encrypt and back up data without...

Optical fusion splicer.(General Products)
August 1, 2006... The OptiSplice Premier M90i Fusion Splicer replaces Corning Cable Systems' OptiSplice Premier iLID and M90 Fusion Splicers, combining all the features into one unit. The M90i includes core detection-system technology for fast video core...