At first the term could computing can be quite a difficult term to comprehend – what is is the cloud? What dos it do? And where does it exist? Now the answer seems to be quite simple; the ‘cloud’ is merely another term for the internet. Cloud computing basicaly involves third parties providing businesses with the use of software and facilities via the internet so that the business does not need to own this software themselves. Software does not exist in servers at the location of the business but rather in the cloud. There are many benefits to managing IT in this way and with many market leaders such as Microsoft, Google and Yahoo getting involved it is set to be the way of the future. There a number of glaring advantages.
First off, not having as many servers on-site can vastly reduce the workload of the IT department, giving them more time to spend on benefitial activities such as aquiring new licences rather than spending hours de-bugging software problems and conducting maintenence. These problems are taken off the hands of the business.
Also reduced costs involved at start-up offers easier access to the market for new businesses. Licencing costs amount only to fraction of the huge cost of installing vast IT harware services. Costs are not only cut at the initial stage but also in the future through depreciation and out-dating. With cloud-computing, users always have access to the most recent software versions.
The mobile capabilities of cloud computing are one of the most exciting, especially in our current mobile computing orientated environment. What will excite managers is the notion of being able to access all their business applications through a web browser from any location. This would only previously been achievable through very high powered devices.
However as with all relaively new computing concepts there are a few incorporated issues. For example, one such issue for the business is how to integrate the data stored on their own servers with the data that existists within the cloud. For a business the idea of having data on their own servers and possibly differing corresponding data at another location will be a nightmare. Luckily companies such as Informatica are currently providing integration solutions to this problem.
References:
www.informatica.com
www.informatica.com
Friday, December 4, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Social Networking - hype or not?
In Ireland, until mainly the mid naughties we as a nation had been pretty ignorant to the notion of social networking. The idea of people who preferred to communicate online electronically rather than ‘down the local’ seemed quite odd. To put it bluntly, social networking had a bad image; it was viewed as a tool which only catered for nerds and pimply techno-kids to allow them the dignity of remaining in comforting surrounds of their bedrooms when they needed to make contact with members of the outside world! That was of course until the infamous Bebo revolution! Now social networking has hit the mainstream and brands such as Facebook and Myspace are as recognisable as those of Coca-cola and Nike. To investigate if they are here to stay I believe we must look at the people who use them, why they use them and inevitably their benefits to business.
Users
In 2008 the most comprehensive study of social networking surveying 49.3m people between the ages of 14-74 was carried out by Rapleaf. It revealed some unsurprising and also some interesting statistics. For example the world’s most popular social networking site Facebook, is dominated by the youngest demographic of user i.e. 14-24; it also stated that the demographic of users of a given social networking website varies greatly for the functionality offered by that website. This shows that the old generation of social network users has been replaced by a younger, more informed group.
Why use social networks?
For me the popularity of social networking is glaringly obvious- giving a person their own personal webspace where they can control the content, control who views the content and offers them the opportunity to be put them in contact with people of their own interests who they have not and possibly will not ever meet is an experience which i believe cannot be equalled, certainly not in the near future. Social networking’s impact on society has been immense and is most noticeable each day in the faces which appear on our TVs and in our newspapers. At the very least it offers the humble everyday user the chance to catch up with friends and follow their interests, at any time they wish.
Benefits to business
As with any fad the commercial viability of social networks has a huge part to play in whether or not they will be around in times to come. We always hear about the success stories arising from sites such Youtube and Myspace, but offering professionals a forum where they can communicate and share their work can offer similar success for the business. Exploiting the advertising and customer relationship management potential of a social network which has reached peak usage in its lifecycle can be very beneficial to the business.
References:
www.rapleaf.com
Users
In 2008 the most comprehensive study of social networking surveying 49.3m people between the ages of 14-74 was carried out by Rapleaf. It revealed some unsurprising and also some interesting statistics. For example the world’s most popular social networking site Facebook, is dominated by the youngest demographic of user i.e. 14-24; it also stated that the demographic of users of a given social networking website varies greatly for the functionality offered by that website. This shows that the old generation of social network users has been replaced by a younger, more informed group.
Why use social networks?
For me the popularity of social networking is glaringly obvious- giving a person their own personal webspace where they can control the content, control who views the content and offers them the opportunity to be put them in contact with people of their own interests who they have not and possibly will not ever meet is an experience which i believe cannot be equalled, certainly not in the near future. Social networking’s impact on society has been immense and is most noticeable each day in the faces which appear on our TVs and in our newspapers. At the very least it offers the humble everyday user the chance to catch up with friends and follow their interests, at any time they wish.
Benefits to business
As with any fad the commercial viability of social networks has a huge part to play in whether or not they will be around in times to come. We always hear about the success stories arising from sites such Youtube and Myspace, but offering professionals a forum where they can communicate and share their work can offer similar success for the business. Exploiting the advertising and customer relationship management potential of a social network which has reached peak usage in its lifecycle can be very beneficial to the business.
References:
www.rapleaf.com
Emerging threats to business security
While electronic security has always been an issue for businesses to deal with, many may have found a false comfort in the impressive development of internet security and anti-virus software in recent times. Along with our ever increasing technology landscape comes new ideas and opportunities for criminals to attack. These facts are backed up by an FBI report published in February 2009 which stated that cyber criminals have stolen more than $433 billion, which in itself translates to 6% of the US economy.
1. Emerging opportunities for attack.
In a statement released this year, WatchGuard, a leading network security company claimed that due to the ever increasing 'mobile workforce' and 'the exponential growth and development of Web 2.0' a new and innovative security solution was requried. They also estimated that threats of this nature will triple in 2010. These types of attacks result from the growing number of mobile devices and their use of features such as 'always-on' internet access which allow attackers more opportunity and scope for disruption.
2. Malware.
Although in existance for many years malware remains a constant issue in business security. This can by proven by the fact that a type of autorun based malware is currently topping the 'BitDefender’s Top Ten Threat Report for November'. This is a report issued by BitDefender each month outlining the top current threats.
3. Insider misuse.
Although like malware in the sense that it has been an issue for many years, negligence of authorised users continues to emerge as the leading cause of security breaches.
A February 2009 Ponemon Institute study reported 88% of data breaches were attributable to staff negligence or lack of awareness.
References:
1. Emerging opportunities for attack.
In a statement released this year, WatchGuard, a leading network security company claimed that due to the ever increasing 'mobile workforce' and 'the exponential growth and development of Web 2.0' a new and innovative security solution was requried. They also estimated that threats of this nature will triple in 2010. These types of attacks result from the growing number of mobile devices and their use of features such as 'always-on' internet access which allow attackers more opportunity and scope for disruption.
2. Malware.
Although in existance for many years malware remains a constant issue in business security. This can by proven by the fact that a type of autorun based malware is currently topping the 'BitDefender’s Top Ten Threat Report for November'. This is a report issued by BitDefender each month outlining the top current threats.
3. Insider misuse.
Although like malware in the sense that it has been an issue for many years, negligence of authorised users continues to emerge as the leading cause of security breaches.
A February 2009 Ponemon Institute study reported 88% of data breaches were attributable to staff negligence or lack of awareness.
References:
. http://searchenterprisedesktop.techtarget.com/
www.bitdefender.com
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