Latest on Enterprise IT: News, Features, Opinions and More  Q&A: Austereo CIO Ross Forgione
We take a look at what's coming up next on his IT agenda. Mobile CRM app helps construction firm diversify its business
VCC, a nationwide retail construction company, finds that giving project managers smartphone access to customer data is a big boost in attracting new business. Water cooling returns to IBM mainframe
IBM next week will add water-cooling to a mainframe offering for the first time in 15 years; the company has started offering the technology fror blade servers and supercomputers in recent years. The role of IT in strengthening the modern corporate enterprise
IT in the modern enterprise has evolved from a back-office component to a core operational constituent that can improve business performance and increase shareholder value. CIOs now have an opportunity to demonstrate a truly executive level-leadership role in defining their enterprises. Gas distributor says its SAP project expected to succeed
SAP customer Airgas said Tuesday that its "highly customized" implementation of the vendor's ERP software is looking like a major success. IT works out, gets fit
A growing number of fitness and wellness programs are being offered to IT employees, but it takes a commitment from top leadership to give people the flexibility they need to take advantage of those opportunities. How the Cloud, Mobile Devices Affect Application Strategy
Delivering applications on any device-whether desktops or smartphones-and from any location calls for rethinking your enterprise architecture What CIOs Look for in an Enterprise Architect
Enterprise architects need strong business and technical skills, and years of experience. Dell, HP bidding war for 3Par heats up
HP's latest bid of $2 billion for 3Par is about 10 times greater than the amount of revenue 3Par reported last year. But market value has little to do with this bidding war, experts say. While 3Par's technology would complement HP's offerings, Dell needs the company to get into the high-end data center market. Gmail users make 1M calls in 24 hours
Google announced on Twitter that more than 1 million calls had been placed via Gmail in a 24-hour period. Rumored SAP-Red Hat merger unlikely, analysts say
Rumors swirled once again this week regarding a possible takeover of Red Hat, this time by SAP, but a number of industry observers said Thursday that the prospect is unlikely at best. Fending off the digital dark ages: The archival storage issue
Paper archives can survive centuries of benign neglect. Digital archives require careful management if they are to last more than a few years. Without such management, all bits will die. Red Hat offers Deltacloud platform to standards group
Red Hat has submitted its Deltacloud could platform to the Distributed Management Task Force as a candidate for standardization. Security chiefs at home: No such thing as 'off duty'
From monitoring their kids' Facebook accounts to always taking a seat facing the door, chief security officers from the likes of MasterCard, ADP and Juniper Networks take precaution to a whole new level. Marin County to rip and replace ailing SAP system
Officials in Marin County, Calif., decided to replace the county's ailing SAP ERP (enterprise resource planning) system, an option that would cost less than trying to fix widespread problems with the software. Building a private cloud: Get ready for a bumpy ride
Virtualization is just the beginning of a private cloud. To reap the full benefits, you'll need automation and resource orchestration and other tools, not to mention a whole new attitude about how to 'do' IT. HP or Dell -- which is the better suitor for 3Par?
HP's $1.6 billion offer to buy 3Par is a smart move that could keep a key cloud storage player out of Dell's hands while giving HP its own enterprise-class storage array. Are other suitors looking to join the fray? Before We Get to 2020, Let's Look at IT Today
Things are messy, and if history is any guide, they will get even more messy, not less. Patricia Calkins
Patricia Calkins, vice president of environment, health, safety and sustainability at Xerox, sees the IT world evolving toward a more conscious effort to reduce waste, and to measure, track and provide feedback on green practices and behaviors. Study Questions Focus on Speedy Patch Regimens
A Verizon study of 2009 data breaches says hackers are increasingly exploiting configuration errors -- not the software holes that are plugged by vendor patches. Report: Cloud IT Ideal for Testing Innovative Ideas
Cloud computing offers a speedy way to set up experimental testbeds to accelerate business innovation, according to a report by consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. When Gen Y Runs the Show
Expect to see a reshaped work environment when the next generation steps into management roles. These IT leaders of the future will give their staffers more flexibility and more opportunities to be challenged. 20:20 Vision
Whether you're just starting out or are hitting the midway point in your IT career, the fast-changing nature of the profession means only the agile will thrive. Here are some ideas to help you set your career on the right path for the next 10 years. 5 Indispensable IT Skills of the Future
In 10 years, workers in every part of the organization will have technology skills. But certain IT talents, including data analytics and risk management, will be in demand. IT Leaders: Master the Upcoming Culture Change
The IT organizations that will thrive in the year 2020 will be adept at building systems that deliver business value and developing a workforce with excellent human relationship management skills, says columnist Paul Glen. IT Careers 2020
Cloud computing will extinguish the traditional IT department in the next 10 years. In this new order, it will be the IT-savvy business experts who thrive. Is ERP Ready for Corporate Social Responsibility?
We are entering an era where corporate social responsibility (CSR) is of central concern to executives of almost every enterprise. With the publication of ISO 26000, a standard for CSR based on the UN Global Compact, executives now have a reliable blueprint for action. But to what extent is enterprise technology up to the task of documenting CSR initiatives? Which apps should you move to the cloud? 5 guidelines
SaaS and cloud-based applications are richer and more customizable than ever, but not every app delivers good ROI when moved to the cloud. Here's help for deciding whether an application is suited for the cloud. Laugh at work: True tales from the IT trenches
We laugh with them... well, OK, sometimes we laugh at them, too. Enjoy The Best of Shark Tank. Fusion Apps questions Oracle should answer
Oracle appears set to deliver more information than ever before about its long-awaited Fusion Applications at the OpenWorld conference in September, with more than 30 sessions listed as of Tuesday. Q&A: Riverbed CEO sees WANs in the data center and the cloud
Riverbed CEO Jerry Kennelly gives his views on battling with Cisco Systems, expanding Riverbed's product line and opportunities in the cloud. Virtualization and software pricing: Very tricky
Sure, virtualization saves money on the hardware side -- usually. But it's not nearly as straightforward with software. Get more for your enterprise software budget: Negotiating strategies
The economy and the availability of SaaS and virtualization have changed some things but not others about negotiating with enterprise vendors. Here's what you need to know. ERP woes delay wheel maker's financial results
Problems with a recently installed ERP system have partly forced automotive wheel maker Superior Industries International to hold off filing its second-quarter results, according to a company statement and U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission filing. Stupid data center tricks
Forget cyberattacks, natural disasters and hardware failures -- the biggest threat to your data center may well be human error. Users offer advice to HP
As Hewlett-Packard looks for a new leader after the sudden departure of Mark Hurd, HP customers back the company but offer advice on moving ahead. The scary side of virtualization
Some IT executives are concerned about the vulnerability of their virtualized architectures and are making changes. The best approach: Bake security in before you begin. MTV gets its first Twitter deejay
Move over video deejays. MTV has just hired its first Twitter deejay or TJ. Global Brands Snap Up .co Domain Names
Figuring the good .com domain names are already taken, major companies are registering the newly available Internet domain names ending in .co. The New IT
The old way of running IT is not coming back -- ever. What is the profession going to look like? New Malware Targets Utility Control Systems
Discovery of the Stuxnet malware, which targets utility control systems, raises concerns about the security of the U.S. power grid. CIOs Call for Maintenance Bill of Rights
A Gartner-backed user group is urging IT vendors to follow a 'code of conduct' for maintenance contracts and fees. BI Goes Mobile
At long last, business intelligence is busting out of enterprise databases and desktop PCs and moving into the field, thanks to the ubiquity of smart mobile devices. Chiquita Slips, but Does Not Fall
Chiquita's huge finance systems overhaul has run into software bugs, business resistance and delays, but it's getting closer to providing 'one version of the truth.' The Grill: Sridhar Vembu
Sridhar Vembu, CEO of online applications maker Zoho, discusses how IT needs to prepare for the cloud, Microsoft's role in the cloud, and how traditional education doesn't prepare kids for the workplace. Women in IT: The Long Climb to the Top
More women are reaching the IT executive suite than ever before, yet inequality in the IT ranks persists. Successful female IT leaders describe their experiences and offer advice to the next generation of IT women. Social computing's evolution in the enterprise
It's moving in via the technology adoption life cycle and what might be termed the technology adaptation life cycle. BlackBerry maker to UAE, Saudis: No 3rd party can access encrypted data, not even us
A document sent by Research In Motion to its enterprise customers offers insight on its decision to keep encrypted BlackBerry data locked down. The lions of IT, the mainframe pros, learn new post-recession approaches
Gray-haired systems administrators dominate the hallways and meeting rooms at the IBM Share conference, and not always by choice. Businesses haven't been hiring a lot of new IT employees, and in some cases retirements have been put off as a result of the downturn. Falling through clouds
Legally, do you dare trust your business's data to the cloud? As promised, SAP expands open source efforts, execs say
SAP catches up with rival Oracle on the open source software front Check your baggage: Are biases keeping you from hiring the best candidate for the job?
Your next new hire might not have the 'classic IT' résumé. Let go of your old assumptions to find the person who's truly best for your open position. SAP set to add iGoogle-like layer to NetWeaver portal
SAP is sprucing up its NetWeaver portal with an upcoming add-on, Enterprise Workspaces, which will provide an iGoogle-like way for users to work with content. Business video: Make mine searchable
Videos can be used and reused for any number of purposes, so it's vital to allow end users to find exactly what they're looking for. Here are some pointers. SAP reports revenue up 12%, earnings up 15%
SAP reported a 15% year-on-year rise in earnings for the second quarter, on revenue up 12%. It forecast that underlying revenue growth in its core business of software and software-related services will accelerate following completion of its acquisition of Sybase. NAC decisions you need to make now
Be forewarned: Nothing about enterprise-level network access control is particularly easy, from the multiple levels of protocols involved to figuring out whether to use appliances or switches. Find out whose gear plays together with the least amount of trouble, and learn about the different NAC architectures so you can get going. Gartner: CIOs Should Plan for Recession No. 2
Gartner says CIOs should develop a list of IT projects that could be postponed or canceled -- if there's a second recession in the next 12 to 18 months. Visualize First, Build Later
Visualization tools help ensure that application developers don't miss key user requirements. Business users get to see simulated screens before coding begins. Sustaining Innovation
Find out how companies such as Verizon, Harrah's and Accenture run their IT departments to ensure that innovation happens repeatedly, not just once in a blue moon. The Grill: Jason Scott
Digital historian Jason Scott's upcoming documentary, Get Lamp, set to debut this week, examines text adventure games through interviews with developers, designers and players. Even if you don't know Scott, you might know his cat: Sockington, the most-followed animal on Twitter, has more than 1.5 million fans. When good projects go bad
Problem projects -- killed, euthanized or launched with disappointing results -- can leave techies with unresolved feelings that linger for years. Here are some suggestions for avoiding major pain. IBM mainframe management support for Windows coming, but Solaris uncertain
IBM's zEnterprise system has an expansive yet still limited role. This "system of systems," as the company calls it, is still operating in a mainframe-centric universe, although a larger one. IBM's new mainframe, the zEnterprise 196, is a leviathan
Every new IBM mainframe says something about the times we live in, and today's latest mainframe release is no different. Thus, the zEnterprise system has become a cross-platform management system, a sovereign of other systems. With 2.2 release, Android for the enterprise deserves a second look
This dot version is more enterprise-friendly than Android 2.0, but few devices run it now. IT pros: Lurking legal gotchas and how to avoid them
Ignorance and seemingly innocent activities can subject you to fines, lawsuits, and even jail. Here's how to play it safe. Companies not using social nets at risk, report says
A majority of consumers want to interact with companies over social networks like Facebook and Twitter, but only 30% of businesses are prepared for it, according to a survey. Alcatel-Lucent gets social with company communication
Alcatel-Lucent was trying to improve communication among its employees. Starting slowly, the company now has more than 19,000 employees connected via enterprise social networking tools. Business intelligence goes mobile
At long last, business intelligence is busting out of enterprise databases and desktop PCs and moving into the field, thanks to the ubiquity of smart mobile devices. Big guns for hire: Supercomputing-in-the-cloud
Even small companies can 'act big' by harnessing the power of supercomputing-in-a-cloud that they rent rather than own. IT explained in 9 simple words
With transformation looming, the tug of war between business and IT has both sides groping to define each other. How can IT help reframe the debate? Chicago School Adds Predictive Analytics Center
DePaul University will offer a master's degree in predictive analytics, starting in September. E-health Flaws Could Increase Legal Liability
Two professors warn that the use of electronic health record systems could leave health care providers vulnerable to malpractice charges if those systems have software bugs or are used incorrectly. Las Vegas Data Center Is Low on Glitz
An ordinary-looking data center must do some extraordinary work to keep a casino's gambling operations running smoothly. The Grill: Jonathan Koomey
In 2007, energy efficiency expert Jonathan Koomey raised the alarm about out-of-control power consumption by data centers. Here, he discusses how the industry has responded to those runaway costs, why cloud computing is better for the environment, and why you should think twice about where you locate your next data center. IT Education on a Budget
With unprecedented federal backing and rising enrollments, community colleges are taking center stage with adaptable and affordable education tuned to the IT industry's labor needs. Are You Listening?
Social media monitoring efforts usually start in marketing or PR departments. But as they grow in importance, the IT department will need to play a role too. Steer Clear of Consolidation Potholes
Avoid 'willy-nilly deployments.' Successful server-consolidation projects require lots of upfront research and careful attention to details such as configuration, compatibility and scalability. How we tested firewall management products
We focused on practical and usability characteristics of the products, specifically installation and ease of use, configuration, compatibility and interoperabiliy. The evaluation was conducted with firewalls from Cisco, Check Point, Juniper and Sonicwall. Review: Firewall operations management
Anyone running multiple firewalls in a complex, enterprise environment knows how difficult it can be to catch misconfigurations, avoid conflicting rules, identify vulnerabilities and meet auditing and compliance mandates. Lawson CEO mostly mum on Icahn talks
There's still no public word of what may come of billionaire investor Carl Icahn's stake in ERP (enterprise resource planning) vendor Lawson Software. Updated BlackBerry security features aimed at boosting corporate use
RIM Wednesday unveiled a new version of its Blackberry Enterprise Server that includes features aimed at allaying security fears of IT managers. How to best manage enterprise mobility
A new study by Aberdeen Group finds that companies can improve the success of mobility projects, extend mobility to more employees, and control costs with a set of inter-related best practices. SAP extends $5.8B Sybase bid; cites EU review
SAP said today that it has extended its $5.8 billion bid for Sybase while it awaits approval under European merger regulations. Survey finds storage systems underutilized as companies add more capacity
A survey of 1,165 IT decision makers showed that while storage utilization rates remain low, the amount of data storage capacity is expected to almost double over the next five years. Beach reads for techies
Who's on your summer reading list -- Randy Pausch? Malcolm Gladwell? Take a cue from IT types this summer and crack open a good book -- or fire up an e-reader. Open-source ERP 'most active' SourceForge project
Open-source ERP software may represent a small chunk of the overall market, but as a concept it has clearly gained a critical mass of adherents. EU anticompetition complaint lodged against SAP
Versata Software lodged a complaint against SAP with the European Commission on Tuesday, claiming that the vendor illegally blocked it from selling its pricing software to SAP customers. New technologies mean shorter server life cycles
Thanks to new technologies and business processes, server replacement cycles are getting shorter and more complex. Here's how to maintain control over your server inventory and perhaps save some money in the process. Visualize first, build later: The advantage of simulation tools
Software-visualization tools help ensure that developers don't miss key user requirements, IT executives say. Infor, Microsoft join on ERP push
Infor will be relying on Microsoft technology for the next generation of its line of ERP (enterprise resource planning) products, in the wake of a deal the companies announced Wednesday. IBM eyes finance market with new framework
IBM today unveiled a new package of pre-integrated software applications, called the Financial Markets Industry Framework, configured for the financial services market Taiwan Eyes Containerized Data Centers
A Taiwan research center seeks to halve the price of data centers by using low-cost commodity components inside shipping containers. 8 Ways to Keep Your Best Workers On Board
The best organizations never forget that their IT departments are only as good as their best people. Robert Half Technology's David Willmer offers up eight proven strategies for keeping the most productive and talented IT people on board. The Grill: Patricia Titus
Patricia Titus, the first chief information security officer at the TSA and now CISO at Unisys, talks about the advantages and disadvantages of such an opportunity, and the broader challenges involved in defending U.S. interests in cyberspace. No. 1 Place To Work in IT: USAA
From vacation time to on-site gyms, it's a benefits bonanza at USAA, ranked No. 1 in Computerworld's 2010 Best Places to Work in IT list. But IT employees also enjoy expansive career options and limitless prospects for innovation. Is IT dead?
Cloud computing is only one reason that IT in enterprises is in trouble. Oracle taps top attorney Boies for SAP suit
Oracle has brought in the big guns to assist in its intellectual-property lawsuit against rival applications vendor SAP, hiring attorney David Boies, well-known for his high-profile role prosecuting the U.S. government's landmark antitrust case against Microsoft. Oracle socializes business process management
Oracle's updated business process management software includes social networking, greater integration, exec says Why You Don't Need a Cloud Strategy
The trouble with creating a "cloud strategy"? You're focusing on technology, not business benefit. Forrester's Randy Heffner advises you focus on how cloud can enhance your existing architecture strategy. Security, compliance come before collaboration
Enterprise 2.0 strategies are becoming more popular among companies today, but there are serious logistical and legal challenges along with the expected benefits of using social collaboration tools.
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