ITEC Connect Newsletter

Webinar: How to Cut Storage Costs by One-Third

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Unstructured data on underutilized storage devices create huge data center inefficiencies. Learn how to extend the capacity of your existing storage investment without buying new equipment.

This Hitachi Data Systems webinar will teach you five important concepts that will lower your storage costs by one-third or more. Learn about money-saving tactics like:

NAS Head Consolidation
File Tiering
Capacity Efficiencies
Archive Reduction
Backup Efficiencies

You'll also learn where you can view a Video White Paper: Storage Economics: "Four Principles for Reducing TCO"

Google Apps Trump IBM / Lotus iNotes Lame Offering

James Gaskin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Did you notice Google Apps has a new competitor? Didn't think so. You'd think IBM and Lotus could come up with 1) a better product to compete on Google's turf and 2) figure out a way to make a bigger splash. All we have here are lame offerings created by idiot vice presidents and marketed by other idiot vice presidents.

How to improve on 'refer a friend' concept?

Rick Quinn — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

I see this a lot - if you like this story, please share it with friends. You can email the link to your friends (with a neat customized message), or share the link ondelicious,facebook, digg and other social networking sites. Yes, you can do this within the registration process, but, as event planners, wouldn't you rather already have the data than rely on your attendees "friends" to fill it out??

Five Steps to Determine When to Virtualize Your Servers (white paper)

IDG Connect — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Virtualizationisn't just for big companies. Most, if not all, organizations will haveintroduced some measure of virtualization to their systems in the near future.As it's no longer a question of 'if,' but of 'when,' figure out the steps youshould take before virtualizingyour data center. The first step is to know the benefits of going virtual,which includes simplified management, cost and time savings and faster recoverytime from disaster.

For a detailed overview of how to figure out the right time to virtualize, downloadthe complimentary whitepaper "FiveSteps to Determine When to Virtualize Your Servers." It's availableright now courtesy of VMware via IDG Connect.

We think you'll find it educational and rewarding.

Can government harness IT?

Judi Hasson — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The Obama administration is working on a number of important information technology initiatives to improve government operations.

On one front, the administration is trying to bring transparency to the public by making more information about government policy and spending available online, and in an accessible way and usable formats.

Microsoft links malware rates to pirated Windows

Gregg Keizer — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Microsoft today said computers in countries with high rates of software piracy are more likely to be infected by malicious code because users are leery of applying security patches.

"There is a direct correlation between piracy and the malware infection rate," said Jeff Williams, the principal group program manager for the Microsoft Malware Protection Center. Williams was touting the newest edition of his company's biannual security intelligence report.

Will microservers take off?

Paul Mah — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

On the first read, it sounded like blade servers all over again. You see, Intel is working to introduce a new "microserver" standard to be offered at the Server System Infrastructure Forum "by the end of the year." Assuming the groups' board votes for its approval, group members will be able to use the designs on a royalty-free basis, Jason Waxman, general manager of Intel's high-density computing group, told CNET News.

Storage Economics for File and Content Solutions - a webinar invitation

Next Data Center — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Data growth is something we all must manage within our data centers. Recent data has pointed to unstructured file data and content depots growing faster than structured data base data. As with most areas of technology, spending must be held flat if not lowered. Join Hitachi Data Systems' Peter Sjoberg for a discussion on how HDS focuses on lowering the total cost of storage ownership, including in the fast-growing area of file and content data. The webinar will also focus on five key areas of potential savings and discuss how they can be applied to lower your TCO. This is a free webinar, part of the Next Data Center series.

Register now - Wednesday, November 4, 2009 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST

10 things you need to know about Windows 7

Tom Henderson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Windows 7 officially ships on Thursday, which means end users and administrators running Windows XP (and to a lesser extent, Windows Vista) have some interesting decisions to make.To help you make those tough choices, here are 10 things you need to know, based on our hands-on testing of Windows 7.

Data loss prevention market on upswing

Judi Hasson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

A survey sponsored by Dimension Data and performed by analyst firm IDC has found that the market for data loss prevention products will be growing, reports eWeek.com. The survey discovered that 57 percent of the 400 organizations polled intend to invest in data loss prevention software during the next year.

Getting Down to Business with the Cloud

IDC — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

On November 4, 2009 IDC is hosting an invite-only executive conference for senior technology executives. The recession is driving more IT executives towards Cloud solutions, with 2 out of 3 companies now adopting Cloud strategies. According to IDC, spending on Cloud services will triple in the next three years to $42 billion.

Setting IT Priorities

Sixto Ortiz Jr. — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Fall means cooler weather, baseball playoffs, and the winding-down process for yet another year. But, autumn also means decision makers must begin thinking about their budgetary and strategic priorities for the coming year. This year has been quite a challenging year, so setting up priorities for 2010 and beyond will prove to be especially challenging.

Apple sets sales records 'as if recession never happened'

Gregg Keizer — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Apple reported today that it sold more Macs and iPhones last quarter than in any other three-month period in the company's history, with executives using words like "phenomenal" to describe its performance.

Cloud reliability, revisited

Paul Mah — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Remember the recent case of how a massive cloud failure reportedly wiped out all customer data on T-Mobile Sidekicks? Detractors of cloud computing are quick to jump at the opportunity to highlight this as a perfect example of how unwise it is to trust someone else to manage your data.

Three Reasons You'll Upgrade to Windows 7 - Time, Money, and Hassle

James Gaskin — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

A few of you will move toward Macintosh and Linux operating systems for more of your computers, but not enough to hurt Microsoft. Windows 7 will become, for three reasons, the most popular personal computer OS in 2012 (assuming ancient Mayan predictions are wrong and we're still here). Those three reasons? Money, time, and hassle.

The Well Equipped Mobile Professional

James Gaskin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The more you leave the office and still work, the more you must plan ahead to make your work tools mobile. ComputerWorld's Office in a Bag lists many of the items some mobile professionals feel are musts for the modern digital nomad.

Is purpose-built hardware the key?

Paul Mah — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

If you haven't heard by now, Cisco made a mid-week announcement of its plan to acquire Norwegian company Tandberg, a maker of specialized equipment and software for videoconferencing. To put it succinctly, videoconferencing allows a large company to conduct meetings without having to factor in mundane limitations such as physical distance.

Ready to Launch Social Networking into Space?

Adelaide O'Brien — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Today's announcement Cureton tabbed as next NASA chief information officer -- Government Computer News signals good news for the agency as Linda Cureton will bring to this position her savvy leadership, sense of humor, participative style, and ability to frame complex issues into everyday analogies that many can identify with. NASA will get a bonus in that Cureton brings another talent to her new position - social networking skills. Cureton is an avid blogger and Facebook user, and as CIO at NASA Goddard she helped create its own version of Facebook: Spacebook. Recognizing that the "rocket scientists" at Goddard possess some of the sharpest intellects, have deep information to share, and are curious learners, Cureton led the development and deployment of social media technology.

Waging War With The Web

Christian Perry — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Today's World Wide Web bears little resemblance to the Web of 10 years ago. Almost every aspect of modern enterprises touches the Web in one way or another, thanks to communication and productivity innovations that continue to evolve. But evolving alongside those innovations are Web threats, which have reached confounding levels of sophistication and stealth.

IT outsourcing in flux

Judi Hasson — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

IT outsourcing is not going away anytime soon, but the market is in the midst of some big changes as we report this week. New analysis by Gartner, a leading information technology research and advisory company, says we are at the start of a dramatic upheaval in the business process outsourcing industry that could lead to the demise of one of every four firms during the next three years.