Blogs play a role in homeland security

Dan Verton   Today’s Top Stories    or  Other Security Stories  

Why SaaS is Vital to Email and Web Security Avoiding the Latest Phishing Attacks Safeguarding Critical Data Intercept Spam & Viruses Seven Steps to Secure and Seamless Field Mobility Backup and Recovery for Microsoft Exchange Server Sign up to receive Security Resource Alerts

May 12, 2003 (Computerworld) -- Weblogs, the Internet technology that allows anyone with a browser to publish a personalized online journal, are increasingly being used to support the intelligence-sharing requirements of homeland security efforts.

Providence, R.I.-based Traction Software Inc. today will announce that the Western States Information Network (WSIN) has deployed Traction's TeamPage enterprise weblog software to support law-enforcement task forces that are working on terrorism and drug investigations.

Karen Aumond, assistant director of the WSIN, said a new project called the Advanced Terrorism Information Exchange, which is being expanded to local water departments, fire departments and other critical-infrastructure organizations, will be one of the first initiatives to benefit directly from enterprise weblogs.

"What typically happens is that there is a flurry of e-mails, and everybody is copied on the e-mail," Aumond said. "And they are automatically purged after 60 days if you don't archive them. By doing this [posting e-mails to a weblog], we can forward these e-mails to a central place, and then we can access them from the road. And what's even better, we can search them."

Criminal-intelligence analysts are using TeamPage to create access-controlled weblogs, or blogs, as repositories for research data collected for further analysis. The WSIN watch center in Sacramento, Calif., uses them to share user tips, training schedules and articles that are of interest to law-enforcement task forces.

The enterprise weblog "has all the hallmarks of a disruptive technology," said Greg Lloyd, Traction's co-founder and president. "Unlike ERP hell or groupware hell, where it may take six months just to deploy infrastructure, weblogs that use the standard Web infrastructure can be deployed in 15 minutes."

Many Benefits

Peter Brockmann, vice president of marketing at Irving, Texas-based bTrade Inc., is using a weblog as a marketing tool for the company's business-to-business software. Low cost is only one advantage that blogs have over more traditional and complex collaboration products, he said. "The other tools allow you to do more, but what's nice about a blog is it's real easy. It's highly tuned to allow for rapid publishing," he said.

Blogging is "no-brainer Web technology," Brockmann added. By deploying it, "you save yourself a lot of headaches, heartburn and pain."

Weblogs can also benefit corporate cultures, analysts said. "Knowledge management systems are often so formal and top-down-driven that the normal worker sees no benefit in using them or contributing," said James Gaskin, an IT consultant in Dallas. "Blogs, like e-mail, flatten the hierarchy and let everyone contribute without having to stare down a suit at a meeting or contradict a manager in person."

Sundar Kadayam, chief technology officer at Intelliseek Inc., a Cincinnati firm that develops Web-based intelligent-agent and knowledge-discovery technologies, said blogging applications can add to the problem of information overload if they don't incorporate personalized searching and alert mechanisms—capabilities that Intelliseek is developing. "When those types of capabilities are layered on top of blogging tools, you're going to see the mainstream adoption of weblogs in the enterprise setting," he said.

The Blogging Revolution Enterprise Weblogs: Take advantage of common Web infrastructure at very low cost. Can improve knowledge-sharing from the bottom (lower-level personnel) up. Can be outfitted with access controls, communities of interest, archive and search features, and e-mail alerts.

Print this Story

Send Us Feedback

E-mail this Story

Digg this Story

Slashdot this Story

"It's IT Blogwatch: in which Grisoft, maker of the AVG anti-virus package, backs down in its attempt to DDoS the..." Read more... Read more Security posts or See all Blogs

Google gives away home-cooked Web application security scanner HP eyes move of support facilities out of Colorado Springs Microsoft trumpets security additions in upcoming IE8 More top stories...

How much is too much? Upgrade your notebook without going over the line French ruling on counterfeit goods could have far-reaching effects for eBay Apple cuts price of high-end SSD MacBook Air by $500

This old laptop: Revitalizing an aging notebook on the cheap All it takes is a couple hours and about $125 to breathe new life into an old laptop. Here's how. Bill Gates moves on Is Microsoft's Golden Age over? What are Gates' most memorable quotes? Find out in Computerworld's complete coverage of the end of the Bill Gates era at Microsoft. Five things you should never tell your boss There are some things your CIO definitely doesn't want to hear. Also don't miss the flipside, Five things you should always tell your boss. Hands-On: Firefox 3 fixes what's broke and keeps what's right With its latest version, Mozilla's browser continues to raise the bar for what Web browsers should be. Windows Vista A to Z Reviews, analyses, how-tos, visual tours, hot issues and predictions about Microsoft's new OS. More Continuing Coverage After 9/11: Homeland SecurityAsk a Premier 100 IT LeaderBlackBerry Legal BattleData Security BreachesElectronic VotingFirefoxH-1B VisasHP's Boardroom ScandalHandheld DevicesHurricane Katrina AftermathMicrosoft Legal IssuesMicrosoft's VistaOpen SourceRFID TechnologySCO's Linux FightSarbanes-Oxley ActSpamVoice Over IPWi-FiWindows Meta File VulnerabilityWindows XP Service Pack 3 IT Careers 2010 Four years from now, the IT field will be a vastly different place. Will you be ready? More Special Reports Premier 100 IT Leaders 2007 Best in Class2006 Computerworld Horizon Awards2006 Premier 100 IT Leaders2006 Salary Survey2007 Best Places to Work in IT2007 IT Forecast2007 Premier 100 IT Leaders40 Years of ComputerworldASPs, Take TwoBest Places to Work in IT 2003Best Places to Work in IT 2004Best Places to Work in IT 2005Best Places to Work in IT 2006Business Intelligence Home RunsBusiness Intelligence: Smarter BIBusiness Intelligence: The Future of BICRM Goes VerticalCRM: Sober CRMCareer Planning Guide 2005Careers: IT Profession 2010Computerworld Horizon Awards 2005Data Management: Mining for GemsData Management: Taming Data ChaosDevelopment: Hard-Workin' Web SitesDevelopment: New Tools New ChoicesDevelopment: The New World of Application DevelopmentDevelopment: The Web Services TsunamiDevelopment: Web Services HurdlesDisaster Recovery: Preparing for the WorstE-commerce Grows UpE-mail/Groupware: Big DecisionsFaces of Mobile ITForecast 2006Global MobileHardware: Multiple Cores, Multiple ChallengesHardware: On-Demand Un-HypedHardware: The Shape of Things to ComeHorizon Awards: 10 Cool Cutting Edge TechnologiesIT Management: Guide to Managing VendorsIT Management: Navigating Global ITIT Management: Recovery AheadIT Management: The Future of ITIT Management: The Resourceful Project ManagerInnovative Technology Awards 2004Management: Reinventing ITMicrosoft in TransitionMobile/Wireless Leaders and LaggardsMobile/Wireless: The Untethered WorkerMobile/Wireless: Tiny Gadgets, Huge CostsNetwork Management: Taking ControlNetworking: Turbulence Ahead!Networking: VoIP Goes MainstreamOperating Systems: In the Slow LaneOperating Systems: Linux Goes GlobalOperating Systems: Should You Nix Unix?Outsourcing: Offshore Buyer's GuideOutsourcing: Outsourcing DangersPremier 100 IT Leaders 2004 Best in ClassPremier 100 IT Leaders 2005 Best in ClassROI: Do the Math!Salary Survey 2003Salary Survey 2004Salary Survey 2005Security Action PlanSecurity: Compliance HeadachesSecurity: Proactive SecuritySecurity: Risk and RewardSecurity: Tips From Security ProsSouped-up SecurityStorage: Battling ComplexityStorage: Cheap & Secure Data StoresStorage: Stretching Your Storage DollarsStorage: The Lean Storage MachineStorage: The New Rules of StorageStorage: The Ultimate Backup GuideSupply Chain: Missing LinksSupply Chain: RFID Reality CheckThe Business of SecurityWeb 2.0 SecurityWireless: Wireless At Work All Zones Application Performance Zone Business Continuity Zone Data Center Management Zone Enterprise-Class Security Zone The File Data Management Zone Grid Computing on Windows Zone Security Management Zone ITIL Best Practices Zone The SAS Zone Storage Virtualization Zone Business Intelligence and Analytics Zone See your link here

Why SaaS is Vital to Email and Web Security Why SaaS is Vital to Email and Web Security Download this webcast, free, compilments of Webroot Software Go to the webcast  Computerworld Executive Bulletin: Building a Robust Antivirus Defense Download this Executive Bulletin (a $49.95 value) for free, compliments of MessageLabs. (Source: MessageLabs) Antivirus software alone isn't enough to prevent today's speedy, sophisticated virus attacks. Security managers should consider multitiered approaches that include behavior scanning, appliances that check e-mail for worms, and restricting user access to dangerous Web sites. Download this Executive Bulletin (a $49.95 value) for free, compliments of MessageLabs, to learn more. Download this executive briefing  Eliminate SPAM, Gain Productivity Get this white paper now! (Source: MessageLabs) Learn all about the dangers and the costs of spam in all its forms - from stock-touting to spreadsheet. Also, understand the drawbacks of traditional hardware- and software-based defenses - and the unique benefits of MessageLabs multi-layered, managed Anti-Spam solution; as illustrated by a real-world case study where MessageLabs stopped spam cold. Download this white paper  White Papers Read up on the latest ideas and technologies from companies that sell hardware, software and services. Deploying Virtualized NetWare on Linux Whitepaper Toward More Flexible, Next-Generation Collaboration Solutions Driving Business Success Through Workgroup Choice and Flexibility View more whitepapers

• Google gives away home-cooked Web application security scanner
• HP eyes move of support facilities out of Colorado Springs
• Microsoft trumpets security additions in upcoming IE8
• More top stories 

Security Management Zone Security management is the process of developing a comprehensive data protection plan. It takes into account all potential threats, the existing network environment, the future needs of the organization, and lays out a multi-tiered blueprint to integrate the security technology needed to combat these threats. CDW can help keep your network and data secure. Visit the CDW Security Management Zone now See All Zones

Fired up about IT? Join Sharkbait and share your true tales of IT. SharkBait is the place for you to sound off about everything IT – the good, the bad, and the rest of the weird stuff you deal with every day. New baits

"Security Directions" virtual trade show 2008's Code-Red Security Issues for Protecting the Enterprise Webcasts, white papers, demos, and more. Presented in a unique 3-d environment. Enter our show right now! Click here to enter

In Security Stripping away the trappings of applications, systems and networks, information is the core asset of most organizations. Our columnist describes how asserting the importance of information governance is crucial to making that asset tangible, addressable and protected. Click here to read the latest column by Jon Espenschied