Communications News articles from May 2008

Communications News archives from May 2008

Security as a service.(Viewpoint)
May 1, 2008... One of the interesting takeaways from the bustling RSA Conference last month was the plethora of companies offering managed security services. I talked with at least seven companies at the San Francisco event that provide such services, which...

SaaS marketers face skeptics.(Managed Services)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Software-as-a-service (SaaS) adoption by small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) increased by 58 percent to 15 percent from 2006 to 2007, according to Forrester Research, as the market's early adopters flocked to the...

Secure access.(SHORT TAKES)
May 1, 2008... The University of Minnesota has selected Secure Computing's Secure SafeWord as a two-factor authentication solution for 8,000 staff and faculty members. "Secure Safe-Word provides an effective solution to the university's authentication needs,"...

Hospital care.(SHORT TAKES)
May 1, 2008... Virtua Health, a multi-hospital healthcare system based in Marlton, N.J., is implementing an IP communications migration that includes all aspects of NEC Unified Solutions' UNI-VERGE360 portfolio-from infrastructure and applications to...

Spam volume could double in 2008.(Security)
May 1, 2008... This is probably not a surprise to Communications News readers, but spare volumes are growing--fast. Proofpoint, a provider of unified e-mail security and data loss prevention solutions, has seen enterprise spam volumes rise by more than 50...

Now it's Enterprise 2.0.(Web 2.0)
May 1, 2008... A majority of organizations position Enterprise 2.0 as critical or important to business goals and objectives, but few organizations have a clear understanding of Enterprise 2.0. The single greatest factor impacting attitudes, adoption rates...

Wireliess access.(SHORT TAKES)
May 1, 2008... Barnard College has selected Meru Networks to provide student residence halls on its New York City campus with high-speed IEEE 802.11n wireless network coverage. This summer, Barnard will deploy approximately 150 Meru 802.11 n-enabled wireless...

Linen change.(SHORT TAKES)
May 1, 2008... Anna's Linens, a $300 million specialty retailer, has purchased Stampede Technologies' Application Acceleration Series to achieve network- and application-performance increases sufficient to allow the company to improve end-user productivity...

Events.(Calendar)
May 1, 2008... Wireless Enterprise Symposium, May 13-15, Orlando, provides the background, tools, practical experience and best practices needed to start up or extend the value of BlackBerry wireless solutions. www.wirelessenterprisesymposium.com ...

IT Compliance & Controls-Best Practices for Implementation.(PUBLICATIONS)
May 1, 2008... IT Compliance & Controls-Best Practices for Implementation, by James DeLuccia, offers a step-by-step best-practices approach to adopt and manage new IT controls, while delivering insight into government and industry mandates, www.wiley.com

Router Security Strategies: Securing IP Network Traffic Planes.(PUBLICATIONS)
May 1, 2008... Router Security Strategies: Securing IP Network Traffic Planes, by Gregg Schudel and David J. Smith, provides an approach to understand and implement IP traffic plane separation and protection on IP routers, www.ciscopress.com

Networking with Microsoft Windows Vista.(PUBLICATIONS)
May 1, 2008... Networking with Microsoft Windows Vista, by Paul McFedries, is a beginner's guide to creating, configuring, administering and using a small network using Windows Vista. www.informit.com/que

Teleworking making strides.(Teleworking)
May 1, 2008... Private-sector employers have taken significant steps to expand telecommuting initiatives since a year ago, and private-sector telecommuting adoption is approaching the federal level, with 14 percent of private-sector employees telecommuting,...

Attacks now mostly Web-based.(Web Security)
May 1, 2008... A recent Internet security threat report issued by Symantec concludes that the Web is now the primary conduit of attack activity, as opposed to network attacks, and that online users can increasingly be infected simply by visiting everyday Web...

Back to basics to fight botnets: employee education might be the best tool for fighting invasion of computer networks.(Threat Stoppers)
May 1, 2008... While malware has dominated the security conversation in the past year, the growing strength of botnets--systerns of thousands or even millions of personal computers networked together and controlled for cybercrime--has even the most...

Four tips on load balancing: high-volume network applications are driving the need for optimization technologies.(Beyond Testing)
May 1, 2008... Web transaction rates and throughput continue to increase exponentially with Internet-driven applications and media-rich communications. In response, customers in all verticals are considering deploying or upgrading server load-balancing...

Global overhaul: Neeraj Rajpal, CIO at law firm Bryan Cave, realized his distributed communications network was architecturally challenged.(Cover story)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When Neeraj Rajpal, chief information officer of law firm Bryan Cave LLP, first realized the company's distributed communications infrastructure needed an overhaul, each of the firm's offices maintained its own...

Firm turbocharges Web meetings: conferencing appliance and Web interface allow numerous departmental and training sessions.(Conferencing)
May 1, 2008... FleetPride, a large distributor of parts and services for the trucking industry, located in The Woodlands, Texas, needed a communications solution for its network of more than 160 offices. The company required an internal network solution,...

Virtualization affects applications: the infrastructure needs to be built so that capacity can be changed and resources removed transparently.(Virtualization)
May 1, 2008... To some IT departments, virtualization is at the server level, running multiple operating systems on one server. To others, it enters at the network level, consolidating multiple servers, managed from one logical entity. Still others apply it...

Are hosted services right for you? Lower costs, uptime guarantees, continuous monitoring and trained staff are all potential benefits.(Voice Networks)
May 1, 2008... With the ever-increasing demand on IT staffs to keep mission-critical messaging and collaboration applications running 24/7, the IT departments of many small and midsize businesses (SMBs) are feeling the strain. This is causing IT and C-level...

Managing voice matters.(Voice Networks)
May 1, 2008... Today, quality of service (QoS)is the foundation for deploying voice over IP. As IP applications started to proliferate, QoS started to emerge as the way to prioritize between different applications. The normal approach to QoS takes a...

The advantages of a hosted PBX: the key benefit (besides cost savings) is that the service can send calls virtually anywhere.(Voice Networks)
May 1, 2008... While mobile phones, PDAs and landlines allow workers to stay connected with the office, often they cannot synchronize those devices with one preset number that works through the company's PBX system. This means that callers need to try various...

Small business tries ASPS.(Voice Networks)
May 1, 2008... Northshore Paralegal Services in Danvers, Mass., is a small business serving the Boston area with background screening for clients' potential hires and title abstracting for the mortgage industry. Last year, President Ted Lannon took note of a...

Rethink data center requirements: midsize organizations should emulate big company solutions on a smaller scale.(Up to Speed)
May 1, 2008... IT managers in midsize companies may not know it, but their problems are similar to those in large companies, particularly concerning their data centers. One common problem is the need to modify systems to comply with regulations such as...

Cabling changes in store for 2008: fiber to the desktop, Wi-Fi networks and copper prices affect plans.(Cabling Infrastructure)
May 1, 2008... The enterprise network is undergoing a major shift in emphasis that impacts cabling." according to Jim Hayes of the Fiber Optic Association, the international non-profit professional society for the fiber-optic industry that develops...

Air management.(INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2008... For thermal management in data centers, the HotSpotr HT-500 under-floor air mover automatically adjusts airflow in front of a rack or groups of racks in the event of thermal rise due to poor airflow, rack density or cooling system failure. The...

Cable ties.(INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2008... Available in four different lengths to suit a variety of bundle diameters, WIT-50RLA cable ties snap into predrilled holes and enable bundling of cables either before or after mounting. An arrowhead mount rotates in the hole to self-align the...

Security products catalog.(INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2008... The Graybar Security Solutions Catalog features more than 1,400 products from 44 suppliers in the following categories: surveillance, access control, intrusion, audio-visual notification, remote facilities security, control center and fire...

Cabinet rack.(INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2008... VisionCab is a cabinet rack with a removable see-through, acrylic front door and solid-steel removable rear and side panels for easy access. The enclosure is designed to house 19" and EIA-310-compatible equipment. Each unit comes equipped with...

42"-Deep enclosure.(INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2008... Providing extra room for expanded cable and thermal management, the 42"-deep 10 Series Electronic Equipment Enclosure is available in 19" and 24" wide configurations. The enclosures feature fully welded construction, a static load capacity of...

Switched/metered PDUs.(INFRASTRUCTURE PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2008... Tripp Lite's MV /MH series Power Distribution Units (PDU) are available with digital load meter or switched architecture and include PowerAlert software for central monitoring and configuration. Most models feature a built-in network interface...

Data loss prevention.(Product Spotlight: Endpoint Security)
May 1, 2008... Featuring plug-and-play operation, the PacketSure 7.0 data loss prevention appliance requires no on-site implementation services. A central management server allows deployment of policies to distributed gateways and endpoints in the enterprise,...

Endpoint security.(Product Spotlight: Endpoint Security)
May 1, 2008... Designed to protect laptops and PCs against malware and data loss, while enabling secure remote access to the corporate network, Check Point Endpoint Security provides a single software agent and management console to be managed by a single...

Network access control.(Product Spotlight: Endpoint Security)
May 1, 2008... The CounterACT CT-4000 is an agentless, appliance-based platform for the enforcement of network access control on endpoint machines. The platform combines intrusion prevention and NAC features, enforcing NAC policies on up to 4,000 concurrent...

One-time password token.(Product Spotlight: Endpoint Security)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] To protect identities and manage access, the MobiSecure USBToken uses a one-time password authentication in a driverless, portable USB device. The USBToken plugs in to any PC or laptop supporting Microsoft Windows,...

Endpoint security and control.(Product Spotlight: Endpoint Security)
May 1, 2008... To assess, control and protect all endpoints with one product, Endpoint Security and Control 8.0 integrates antivirus, antispyware, host intrusion prevention, application control, firewall and network access control to block viruses and...

Endpoint encryption.(Product Spotlight: Endpoint Security)
May 1, 2008... To prevent unauthorized access, Symantec Endpoint Encryption provides advanced encryption for desktops, laptops and removable storage devices. Designed to protect sensitive information and mitigate the risk of data loss, the solution offers...

Web application security.(Product Spotlight: Endpoint Security)
May 1, 2008... Securing Web sites against data theft, denial of service or defacement, the Barracuda Web Site Firewall blocks or cloaks attacks, such as SQL injections, cross-site scripting attacks or buffer overflows, while preventing outbound data leakage....

User activity monitor.(Product Spotlight: Endpoint Security)
May 1, 2008... With PacketSentry 3.0, businesses can track user behavior inside the network in real time to identify improper actions and respond immediately. Administrators can see precise details of user activity on the network, such as which files, folders...

Biometric authentication.(Product Spotlight: Endpoint Security)
May 1, 2008... The PalmSecure PC Log-In Kit includes a palm authentication sensor embedded in a mouse and Windows Iogin and single sign-on software to eliminate the need for passwords for entry into Windows sessions and password-protected applications. By...

Identity management software.(Product Spotlight: Endpoint Security)
May 1, 2008... Utilizing a risk-based approach, IBM Tivoli Identity Manager version 5.0 provides a centralized point to manage user accounts, and access permissions and passwords, and assigns business roles and access rights for employees, contractors and...

Portable hard drive.(General Products)
May 1, 2008... The 320-GB MiniStation TurboUSB portable hard drive is designed to absorb bumps, drops or shocks and features a wrap-around cable for easy cable management. The high-speed 5400-rpm drive measures 5" x 0.8" x 3.3" and weighs 0.42 pounds....

SMB VoIP solution.(General Products)
May 1, 2008... Digital Phone Service offers small businesses the ability to upgrade to VolP by including all of the hardware and software necessary in a plug-andplay package. The solution includes up to eight cordless or desktop phones. The service includes...

Lifecycle management.(General Products)
May 1, 2008... Promoting compliance with IT policies and standards, VMware Lifecycle Manager allows companies to implement a consistent and automated process for requesting, approving, deploying, updating and retiring virtual machines. The solution shows who...

Cable cutter/stripper.(General Products)
May 1, 2008... The Combo UTP/Coax SureStrip Professional all-in-one cutter and stripper is suitable for both twisted pair and coaxial cables With contoured finger grips for cutting power, the adjustable stripping blade accommodates different insulation...

Wi-Fi analyzer.(General Products)
May 1, 2008... The Yellowjacket 802.11 b/a/n/g Wi-Fi Analyzer is a hand-held receiver system that sweeps 2.0 GHz-4.0 GHz and 4.9 GHz5.9 GHz, while demodulating and measuring all 802.11 packets discovered. The analyzer includes full spectrum and packet...

E-mail recovery.(General Products)
May 1, 2008... Providing automated disaster recovery for Microsoft Exchange servers, NearPoint Disaster Recovery Options provides immediate access to Exchange mailboxes and archived message data in event of any disaster. The software prevents replication of a...

Remote office data protection.(General Products)
May 1, 2008... ROBObak V8 enables companies with remote and branch offices to defend data throughout its lifecycle. Agentless continuous data protection lets administrators schedule repeated backup operations that protect changes made to documents, databases...

Green is also the color of money: saving money, not corporate social responsibility, is the primary driver in the green IT movement.(Green Tech)
May 1, 2008... As awareness of and support for environmentalism increase, technology organizations are implementing green initiatives at a rapid pace. Moves toward greater energy efficiency, however, and the resulting environmental benefits, are motivated...