C-Level

Domain registration SCAM derailed

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:59:59 -0400

A federal judge has stopped a Toronto company from continuing to deceptively pose as a domain name registrar and sending bogus bills to thousands of U.S. small businesses and nonprofit organizations for their annual "WEBSITE ADDRESS LISTING."

Many of the businesses and nonprofits believed they would lose their website addresses unless they paid the bill. The Federal Trade Commission alleged that, in most cases, the defendant did not provide domain registration services or the "search optimization" services it claimed to provide, and bilked small businesses and nonprofits out of millions of dollars.

For more on this scam:
- check out this FTC press release

Data center engineers command big bucks

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:59:59 -0400

In years past, the engineers who designed and ran computer data centers were often viewed as an afterthought, especially compared to software developers and others stars of the digital age.

Today it's different, with data center experts in high demand and no longer taken for granted. The New York Times reports that with the rapid growth of data centers and all of the new environmental, energy and economic challenges, those with skills to design, build and run data centers are getting new attention and commanding ever-increasing salaries in the six figure range. The newspaper said that "five-figure signing bonuses, retention bonuses and generous stock grants have become ingredients in the compensation packages of data center experts today.''

For more on this salary bump:
- check out The New York Times article

Study: Some virtualization works

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Forrester Research has found high value in some virtualization technology, but believes not everything makes business or technical sense. It has found server and client virtualization mature enough to pay off in the short term, but suggests that the value of application storage virtualization is questionable.

Forrester also thinks some other virtualization technologies aren't quite ready for prime time, but lists some that it says are in the "survival phase" that could develop in the next few years. These include network performance services, virtualized network security and out-of-band storage virtualization.

To read more:
- see this CIO.com article

For more tech articles from the FierceCIO network:
> Yahoo goes with Google. Article
> Web browsers put to the test. Article
> Apple unveils 3G iPhone. Article

Today's CIO must keep pace

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:59:58 -0400

InformationWeek reports that CEO's have big expectations for IT executives at a time when the influence of CIOs is actually slipping. According to a new survey, companies want more than infrastructure management from CIOs and their IT organizations, including "leadership, effectiveness, vision, help with optimizing business processes, and insight into new areas of growth.''

But many executives don't seem to believe CIOs are meeting that standard, according to the survey of more than 700 corporate managers and CIO and VP-of-IT-level executives. Only 39 percent of the corporate managers in the survey said the influence of the CIO is increasing, down from 43 percent a year ago. CIOs were more upbeat, with 55 percent saying their stature is increasing. But that was down from 66 percent a year ago.

For more on the plight of the CIO:
- see this InformationWeek.com article

IT execs are an unhappy lot

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:59:56 -0400

A survey conducted by executive career and recruiting network ExecuNet found that only 53 percent of the 286 IT executives polled said they're satisfied with their current jobs--a lower happiness rating than finance executives and those in human resources, marketing, general management and sales.

Dave Opton, the founder and CEO of ExecuNet, said the dissatisfaction may be the result of IT executives not doing work that truly excites them, the general reluctance of companies to adopt leading edge technologies and the thankless nature of their roles.

For more on the IT job blues:
- check out this Computerworld.com article

Paying attention to the next generation

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:00:00 -0400

An article at Networkworld.com tells how IBM is trying to close the IT skills gap, launching a web-based resource to better help prepare college students for job opportunities. IBM says it no longer can afford to spend as much time and money with on-the-job training as it has in the past, and expects young workers to be productive sooner. It hopes that increased collaboration with the university community and making a direct connection with students will help. All this makes a good deal of sense, and the article is worth a close read because it offers insight into the types of skills companies like Big Blue are looking for in their hires. These include service science management and engineering, database technology, Web 2.0 development, web server technology and enterprise systems. Are you prepared for the present, and the future? - Judi

IT workers would take pay cut to telecommute

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:59:59 -0400

A new survey by Dice Holding has found that IT workers don't like commuting and in fact, 37 percent would be willing to take up to a 10 percent pay cut to work from home full time. With the high cost of gasoline, the time lost getting to and from work, and the flexibility it offers, telecommuting is beginning to look better every day.

And with improvements in personal computers, videoconferencing, and Internet speeds, many telecommuters can deal with virtually all of their tasks from a home office.

For more on telecommuting:
- see this InformationWeek.com article

Farm workers vs IT workers on H-1B visas

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:59:59 -0400

Legislation to make it easier for foreign high tech workers to stay in the U.S. ran into a bit of a buzz saw last week from one lawmaker who wants the same kind of equity for immigrants further down the economic scale.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) told a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing that the high tech companies should get "the innovators they need,'' but added that farm workers are "just as critical and relevant to the innovation of that industry." He urged the panel to take a "holistic approach" to immigration so that the most vulnerable "are not stigmatized by actions of the Congress."

His concerns reflect one of many elements involved in the contentious effort to reform the nation's immigration system, and why the push to separately raise caps on H-1B visas and green cards faces such a difficult time in Congress.

For more on the ongoing immigration debate:
- see this Computerworld.com article

IBM cultivates students for next generation IT

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:59:59 -0400

Always seeking ways to find and develop new IT talent, IBM has expanded its web-based Academic Initiative by adding a new section for students that supplements the current program for faculties who teach IT and IT-related courses. The new student section includes tutorials, games, skill assessments and online forums that can be incorporated with regular university courses.

"Our key concern is the skills pipeline," said Kevin Faughnan, director of the company's Academic Initiative. He said IBM and the entire industry need "young workers who have the skills to continue innovating," and who are "ready to contribute from day one."

For more on the IBM program and needed tech skills:
- check out this NetworkWorld.com article

How to get the CFO to buy into an IT project

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:59:58 -0400

How does a CIO get approval for new technology projects in tight budgetary times? Greg Baker, the CFO of technology provider Logicalis, said the issue is not always money, but the ability of the CIO to communicate and tie the proposal to business needs and future growth.

In broad terms, said Baker and other experts, a CIO must explain how the initiative will improve the security of the company's applications or operations, how it will increase productivity, whether customer service will improve, and what the impact will be on strategic, tactical or operational goals. In short, said the experts, the CFO will not want to know technical details, but whether the IT project will save money, make customers happy and mean more efficiency.

For more in selling IT projects:
- check out this baselinemag.com article

For more tech stories from the FierceCIO network:
> Not all flash drives are created equal. Article
> Prediction: Faster USB drives next year. Article
> Touch screen Blackberry spotted. Article