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Hill
Associates Telecom Newsletter
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Hello!
Labor Day is behind us and that can only mean one thing—that summer is almost over. Fortunately, some warm temperatures over the next few days will extend our summer just a little longer. Here in Vermont, we can use all the help we can get!
Speaking of Vermont, the Simpson’s movie is a big hit, especially here, as the town of Springfield won the national competition to host the premiere. To join in the fun, Burger King has sponsored a site that lets you see what you would look like as a Simpson’s character. Give it a try!
Now, back to the telecom industry. We are approaching the final quarter of 2007, and the M&A activity is still not over. Consolidation will continue. It also seems that 2008 will be the year of wireless and mobility, despite the large bills we’ve heard about in the news. People want wireless and mobility regardless of the challenges. Vermonters are still purchasing the iPhone, even though AT&T does not offer cellular service here!
We look forward to continuing to work with all of you. We appreciate your business and hope you enjoy the rest of your summer!
Paul
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| In
the News
Getting the best for free
The old adage, “You get what you pay for,” is not always true. Jim Rapoza of eWeek, found 20 free products that just might have “changed the future of technology.” See if his list includes your favorites.
YouTube: The new law enforcement tool?
A man in New Zealand was fined after a heavily trafficked YouTube video gave him a bit more exposure than he wanted. The video attracted 500,000 hits worldwide! The Associated Press article has all the details.
Very cool USB gadgets
CIO Magazine has assembled a list of 20 very cool USB-powered gadgets. There’s just one problem—they have very little business value or practical use. Does anyone really need a USB-powered cannon?
BREAKING NEWS: The Internet crashes!
In case you missed it, this news clip has all the details! It’s a must see.
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Analysis
Google and Microsoft are trying to change health care together
Electronic medical records are on the way! Google and Microsoft are considering combining Internet search tools, the Web, and online personal health records. Since so many people use the Internet to research health issues, both companies believe they can help people make smarter choices about their health habits and medical care. Check out Google Health to see the genesis of the idea, and read about Microsoft’s purchase of the medical search engine, Medstory, and its plans to offer medical software.
The compliance maze
Regulatory compliance is one of the leading drivers for information security programs and business continuity planning. Rules such as Sarbanes-Oxley’s section 404, HIPAA Grahm-Leach-Bliley, and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure can be daunting. Two white papers might help: one published by Hill Associates and the other by IBM.
Social networking may be costing the business
For many 18-25 year olds, social networking is the only thing that matters. A report by Australian security company SurfControl notes that too many users of MySpace and Facebook log in at work. This can cost a company more than $6200 per year per employee in lost productivity time and increased network risk. Another recent study indicates that “social networkers” are willing to reveal personal information to anyone about most anything, which leads to increases in SPAM, malware, and risk of identity theft. As a result, some companies are now blocking such sites.
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Talk
Fibre Channel will speed up storage
The 8 Gbps Fibre Channel products are about to hit the market from companies like Emulex and QLogic. However, customers do not seem all that excited about upgrading from their 2G or 4 Gbps infrastructures—not until at least 2010. Instead, many appear more interested in iSCSI or 10 Gbps Ethernet, especially as they become more affordable. We have been predicting this as well. For more on storage fundamentals, check out one of our newest ExperTechs or our white paper on the subject.
Serious security breaches
TJX’s much discussed data security breach cost the company almost $120 million. Forty-five million records disappeared! InformationWeek examines the breach, the largest data heist in U.S. history, as well as an identity theft ring that targeted the Forbes 400. To see the worst data breaches since 2005, check out eWeek’s list. What are you doing to protect yourself and your business?
As an aside, CISSP certification requirements are changing October 1. Read this interview to find out more.
Where can we get more power?
VoIP-capable devices and upgrades to support new 802.11n wireless access points will all require power. Where will it come from? The IEEE created Power over Ethernet (POE), officially known as 802.3af, but it has limited power—15 watts. There is an upgrade in the works that will double the power—802.3at—but don’t look for the standard until 2009, according to this Network World update on POE Plus.
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| Hill Associates News
The hits just keep on coming
Security Policy Design: Implementation and Management Practices is our latest ExperTech 2.0, available for preview at our online store. We continue to enhance our library of titles as fast as we can. IMS and MPLS are on deck. Remember that all of these, and other titles, can be customized to meet your needs.
How’s your technical knowledge?
Need a refresher on core technical concepts? Our wiki now has over 700 telecom articles, including five-minute PodSnacks that relate to over 100 of those! We continue to receive requests for content, and we appreciate your comments and feedback. (We’re finding that our students are using the wiki to study!) And don’t forget to spread the word about our podcast series called the Hill Associates Week in Telecom (tHAWT).
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