IT Management
Computerworld, 8/12/04: Strategies for automatic patch management
Opinion by Eric Voskuil, AutoProf
AUGUST 12, 2004 (COMPUTERWORLD) - If the onslaught of Trojan horses, worms and viruses has taught us anything, it's that software patches are as vital to network security as virus updates. The infamous Blaster worm and the more recent Scob Trojan are just two examples of attacks that could have been easily avoided with timely and accurate application of software updates.
Patch management is one of many critical IT management tasks, which is why busy IT departments look to automation for relief. But what's the best approach to automated patch management? The answer depends on your network's infrastructure and design, both current and future.
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The Register, 8/13/04: How dangerous are your users?
By Simon Travaglia
BOFH Userometer - an online sysadmins resource
Sure, your users may look about as likely to rebel as the pack of mindless sheep that they are - but can they be trusted?
Are your users reading forbidden literature?
Are they trying to climb the technical greasy pole behind your back?
How will you know?
Can the cattle prod be trusted to solicit the truth?
It's time to put it to the test!
Put yourself in your users' place and answer these simple questions to see if things are going according to plan at YOUR workplace.
1. A MAC Address is:
A. A place you get Quarter Pounders
B. A street address in Scotland
C. Something Technical
D. A Hardware Address in Networking
E. Something technical a system administrator changes to cause the Boss's machine to lose network connection
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Security
Computerworld, 8/12/04: IronPort, others support Microsoft's Sender ID
IronPort's security appliances will include Sender ID checks
IronPort's C-Series security appliances will include Sender ID checks as one element used to generate a score used to establish the reputation of e-mail senders. The company's Bonded Sender Program, which is used by e-mail marketers, will also use Sender ID data as part of its accreditation process for e-mail senders, the company said in a statement.
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Future Focused
ZDNet, 8/12/04: Why host your SOA's connective tissue when you can outsource it?
By Dan Farber
Grand Central CEO Halsey Minor (also founder and former chairman of CNET Networks) likes to talk about how his company is similar to salesforce.com (he was one of the first investors in that company), which is leading the first wave of business software as a service. Grand Central's business is a bit more esoteric in that the company provides hosted integration services, leveraging service-oriented architecture (SOA) and Web service protocols.
During a video interview and a follow-on conversation with me, Minor asserted that software delivered as a network service is going to replace traditional enterprise software, providing a cheaper, simpler solution.
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