wireless networking

How to be an IT survivor

Judi Hasson — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:28:17 -0400

IT has been changing right before our eyes, with outsourcing and offshoring, advances in communications and security, and the growing role of technology in business strategy. So what do all these changes mean for the typical IT employee? And what skills should an IT staffer be nurturing to enhance his or her career?

InfoWorld.com says several technologies stand out as enticing career opportunities: virtualization, unified communications, wireless, and modern application development.

Experts also say it helps to have multiple skills to be marketable. While training and certification programs exist for virtualization management, experts say the best way to enhance your virtualization career is to get real-world training on the job, especially through a large virtualization project. As for unified communications--the merging of voice and data networks through technologies such as VoIP--the best bet may be knowing how to set up the right controls, policies, procedures, and enforcement mechanisms.

Demand has exploded for wireless networking and related security issues, and getting smart in these areas can only be a plus. Experts also suggest there is a high demand for those with know-how in web application development, with Java skills, Oracle or SAP's development app, and C# and ASP.Net skills a must.

For more on job skills:
- see this InfoWorld.com article

Secure your IT job

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 07:59:56 -0400

In these chaotic economic times, it's important for an IT professional to do his job. It's also important to think about job security and to position yourself properly when your employer starts tightening its belt. An article in CIO Magazine offers a series of tips on how IT executives can fortify their positions as pressure overflows to cut costs.

Here are a few of them:

Update and expand your skills, especially those in Windows administration.
Learn about network administration because there is always a demand for maintenance and troubleshooting for routers, hubs and switches.
Have database management skills, including Oracle database and Microsoft SQO administration.
Make sure you have wireless networking management skills.

In other words, it's no longer good enough to have just the basic skills. You must keep building your resume even as you excel at your current job.

For more on enhancing your resume:
- Check out this CIO Magazine article

Muni WiFi: One step forward, two steps back

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 06:59:58 -0400

Well, it certainly wasn't a happy week for people waiting for ubiquitous access to wireless Internet in major metropolitan areas. Chicago and San Francisco, two cities with major initiatives to provide citizens with free or inexpensive access to wireless network resources, announced setbacks in their plans. Problems in Chicago arose after the city was unable to reach an agreement with the two companies that submitted proposals: EarthLink and AT&T. It seems they both wanted Chicago to pay to use the WiFi network for internal services. While Chicago agreed to help the vendors build the infrastructure, city officials were not interested in bringing cash to the table, despite the fact that other cities like Philadelphia have done exactly that. In San Francisco, EarthLink refused to accept city-requested contract terms. While these are obviously setbacks, observers note that the key to these types of projects is starting small and focusing on a couple of applications--then expanding out.

For more on the how municipal WiFi is evolving:
- read this article at Ars Technica

ALSO NOTED: Wireless networking takes off; Linux proponents team up;

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 19:01:38 -0500

> New videoconferencing product offers productivity at high price. Article

> Wireless networking takes off. Article

> Microsoft issues Excel update. Article

> Linux proponents team up. Article

And Finally... Microsoft has some new tactics for fighting piracy: animated cartoons. Video

ALSO NOTED: No slowdown in outsourcing to India; Why corporations are digging in at the virtual world of Second Life; and much

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 19:01:33 -0500

> No slowdown in outsourcing to India. Article

> Why corporations are digging in at the virtual world of Second Life. Blog

> A few tips for making that budget go further. Article

> New wireless networking approach hurdles metal obstacles. Article

> UK tech salaries closer to being on par with London salary levels. Article

And Finally... The Apple iPhone lives! Article

SPOTLIGHT: Why ignoring wireless networking isn't a good idea

Sun, 17 Sep 2006 20:01:34 -0400

If your enterprise wireless network strategy has been to ban wireless networking, then you're likely feeling a false sense of security. As some industry pundits explain, WiFi is entering every enterprise even if the 'official' IT policy is no WiFi. Users and neighboring businesses are just two potential risks you need to pay attention to. It's better to embrace, and control, wireless connectivity rather than ignore it. Article

PLUS: The latest on the certification effort. Article

WiFi flaws put laptop data at risk

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 20:01:37 -0400

Everyone's been predicting that increased wireless networking deployments would bring in a slew of new security risks and headaches, and this past week's news illustrates how right everyone was. Intel's announcement that there are three flaws within its software that could let hackers compromise Windows systems via WiFi radio communications and WiFi cards. That could put a great deal of data housed on laptop devices at risk, say security experts. The best approach at this point, until fixes come from card makers and PC makers, is to keep the laptop off the network as much as possible.

For more on the wireless security issues:
- see BusinessWeek's article on what's taking place

Intel flaws tied to Microsoft drivers

Wed, 02 Aug 2006 20:01:39 -0400

Intel is the latest to issue patches for three vulnerabilities related to wireless networking. Two of the three vulnerabilities impact Intel's Pro/Wireless Network Connection Hardware, which is part of the vendor's Centrino mobile platform. Yet the actual flaw is tied to Microsoft drivers that are used, says Intel. The third security hole is with Intel's Proset/Wireless Software. Supposedly no hacker activity has been reported.

For more on the wireless vulnerability patches:
- check out this Infoworld article

ALSO NOTED: Apple issues patches for 26 Mac OS X flaws; More executive shuffles at Microsoft; and much more...

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 20:01:33 -0400

> Apple issues patches for 26 Mac OS X flaws. Article

> A few more executive shuffles at Microsoft. Article

> Women like techie gadgets as much as men. Article

> Germany home to a new "Linux Valley" development center. Article

> Avaya targeting the small-medium business segment. Article

> Firefox hits 200-million download mark. Article

And Finally... Solar powering wireless networking. Article

ALSO NOTED: New malware code aimed at Microsoft Windows Powershell; McAfee patching vulnerability in its SecurityCenter tool; a

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 20:01:33 -0400

> New malware code aimed at Microsoft Windows Powershell. Article

> McAfee patching vulnerability in its SecurityCenter tool. Article

> How terrorists are embracing the Web. Article

> The first steps to take when a laptop goes missing. Article

> Sun CIO moves to new operations role. Article

> Boston's municipal network in hands of nonprofit group. Article

> How debate over standard is stalling wireless networking tools. Article

And Finally... Invisibility may no longer be just a H.G.Wells plot device. Article