service provider

3Com adds virtualization to its router

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 07:59:56 -0400

In a partnership between 3Com and LineSider Technologies, LineSider's OverDrive software will be offered on 3Com's MSR Series of Multi-Service Router under its Open Services Networking initiative. LineSider Technologies is a provider of policy-based network infrastructure control and management products, whose software enables users to deploy and manage IP-based services across a network. Two versions of the suite will be made available--OverDrive for the Enterprise and OverDrive for the Service Provider--respectively. The OverDrive software suite joins other products such as VBrick for video, Expand Networks for WAN acceleration, and even an Asterisk-based VoIP module that have flocked in to leverage on 3Com's platform.

For more on 3Com's routers:
- check out this Network World article

How to better measure outsourcing

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:59:59 -0400

Outsourcing has ballooned into a $120 billion a year industry. While most companies say that it's critical to their business, Forrester Research recently announced survey results that show that 57 percent of IT buyers are somewhat satisfied with their primary outsourcer, 22 percent are very satisfied and more than 20 percent think their outsourcing could be better. "It's not as bad as a lot of people make it out to be. You're not inviting disaster into your firm by outsourcing," Dr. Paul Roehrig, a senior analyst with Forrester told CIO. "But there's a tremendous amount of room for improvement."

Roehrig has a number of tactics that CIOs can use to make certain their outsourcing is on track: First off, get regular checkups on the health of your outsourcing deals. He recommends going beyond just measuring performance against service-level agreements (SLAs). He says that CIOs should "assess the deal systemically beyond 'price per widget' or whether the service provider met the SLAs." He further contends that there are six areas that outsourcing customers should assess: business management capability, relationship and context, provider market status, expectation matching, transformation capability and delivery management capability.

For all the details on this holistic approach to outsourcing:
- see the article in CIO

Verizon Wireless files FCC suit

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 06:59:59 -0400

Having failed to sway regulators at the FCC, Verizon Wireless has moved their battle to the courts, where they have asked District of Columbia Circuit Judges to review open-access rules on about a third of the 62Mhz of spectrum in the 700 Mhz-band to be auctioned in January. The open access rules allow would wireless customers to use their handset devices from other carriers on whichever network uses the slice of spectrum in question. Fearing a stampede away from their service, Verizon characterized the open access rules as "arbitrary, capricious, unsupported by substantial evidence and otherwise contrary to law." Open access proponents characterized Verizon's legal maneuvers as sending "lawyers, FUD and money" to overturn the FCC's decision. Open-access fans say there is more of a need than ever to help foster new service provider options. Indeed, they were hoping that the FCC would also require the winning bidding to provide access to competitors at wholesale prices.

For all the details in this lawsuit:
- see the full text of the suit here
- read the article in InfoWorld

Study: Failed IT outsourcing due to poor management

Wed, 21 Mar 2007 20:01:39 -0400

According to a new report from sourcing advisory firm TPI, many businesses are doing a poor job of managing IT outsourcing projects. Not only do some companies put more emphasis on setting up the outsourcing contract than managing it, many also held unrealistic expectations on how the deal works in real-life conditions. Much of the problem stems from a lack of communication and clarity between client and service provider about the scope of services to be provided. Companies tend to place much of the blame for their dissatisfaction with IT outsourcing relationships on themselves, not the outsourcing provider, the study noted.

Read more about IT outsourcing:
- read the article at ITWeek

ALSO:
- read this on how outsourcing changes the CIO's role
- and this on how IT infrastructure outsourcing saves money
- and this on the outsourcing debate

Lawyers are a fact of life for CIOs

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 19:01:38 -0500

The recent rash of legislation governing data retention, electronic discovery, privacy, data use and abuse has created a goldmine for lawyers well-versed in IT issues. More than ever before, CIOs must interact with attorneys just to protect themselves and their companies. It's not always a pleasant experience, but it's a fact of corporate life today. There are ways to reduce your exposure to lawyers, though. One option is to outsource the management of data and compliance to an outside service provider and another is to cue up new types of software to classify data at creation, apply policies to it and to enforce it--all in one fell swoop. Yet another is to employ an internal search technology to help companies locate difficult-to-find data.

Learn more about how to avoid lawyers:
- read the column at ComputerWorld

The Foley scandal and IM data trails

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 20:01:37 -0400

As the current scandal involving Florida lawmaker Mark Foley reveals, the trail of instant messaging communications can be a huge piece of evidence in criminal cases. Instant messaging communications do not just disappear when a user logs off--the data is typically stored somewhere within the hard drive or housed within the service provider's log and preserved for an unknown amount of time. For companies dealing with compliance and governmental mandates to protect and store data it's a reminder that IM use is just as vital when it comes to these requirements as email.

For more on IM security and storage:
- check out the Mercury News article

Divorcing a vendor requires pre-planning

Wed, 26 Apr 2006 20:01:35 -0400

There's expert advice out there on how to pick the best vendor partner and how to get a good solid relationship going. But there's little on how to disengage, or divorce, your enterprise from a vendor when a relationship goes sour and can't be salvaged. The goal is to avoid getting hit with a lawsuit over severing the agreement or having an unhappy consultant do damage before his access is cut off. The latter was a hard-learned lesson for one biotech firm, which gave its consulting service provider a heads up the good times were over. The consultant, unfortunately, did some major damage in retribution.

The first step in managing this process is getting a good replacement in the wings before doing anything or relaying any news to the vendor you want to dump. Then review the termination clause in the agreement to avoid legal liability. Also, make sure that the vendor doesn't have anything valuable or critical you need or expect back from them.

For more on making a smooth partnership break:
- read this article at InfoWorld

Good security practices that don't cost a dime

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 19:01:35 -0500

IT security leaders at small to midsized firms face a few heftier challenges that colleagues at larger and more financially secure companies typically don't have to deal with, yet they have to secure the enterprise just like their counterparts. Doing so requires some innovative and creative ideas, such as making sure that every security staff member has the skills and knowledge necessary to do their job, realizing the benefits value-added resellers can bring to the service provider relationship, and investigating potential ways to share insight and gain needed help and insight from external organizations and support resources. While security leaders at midsize firms may have less money and resources, they still have some creative ways to drive good security without killing their IT budgets.

For more on economical security strategies:
- read this CSO article