Well, time definitely flies.  It seems like I blinked and it is now April 9, 2008 already.  I had to put the newsletter on hold for a while due to a combination of classes, family and work.  In surveying the world these days there is much that is going on that I want to cover and relay.  Reflecting interests, the format and focus of the newsletter will be evolving as time goes on. 

 

If you have time and are inclined to send me an email and let me know how things are going, please do.  Also, if you would like to be removed from the email list, instructions are at the end.

 

Best wishes,

 

--George

 

 

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did so. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

 

Top Picks

Visible Ops Security

As some of you may know, Gene Kim, Paul Love and I published a new book entitled “Visible Ops Security”, which is published through the ITPI.  This book is about the need to integrate information security into the other IT functional areas so it can best help the organization succeed at attaining goals.  A great deal of work went into the book and I am hoping people both find it beneficial.

http://www.itpi.org/home/visibleopssec.php

 

IMF Sees US Falling Into Recession

“The world economy will slow sharply this year, according to an International Monetary Fund forecast, with the United States sliding into a recession amid housing, credit and financial slumps.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/09/AR2008040901154.html

The report is at:  http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/

 

IT Audit / Internal Audit

Report Faults IRS Network Security

“The Internal Revenue Service has inadequate security controls over its routers and switches, jeopardizing sensitive taxpayer information, according to a report by the Treasury Department's inspector general.”

http://www.webcpa.com/article.cfm?articleid=27358

The report is online at:  http://www.treas.gov/tigta/auditreports/2008reports/200820071fr.html

 

Audit-Rules Convergence Plays Catch-Up

“Settling on a single set of auditing standards worldwide gets a lot less attention than the commingling of accounting standards, but is gaining ground.”

http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/11002824/c_11003041?f=alerts&x=1

 

IT Process Improvement / Quality Management

Control & Process Reviews

“In response to a variety of needs including process improvement and regulatory compliance, organizations develop controls and processes. Many times they are aimed at preventing an error from happening again or are designed to enable the attainment of objectives.   Okay, good. The problem is the environments within which organizations operate foster a constant need to evolve. If processes are not updated, then they can slow or even halt progress and create organizational conflict. The problem we are discussing is compound.”

http://www.itsmwatch.com/itil/article.php/3732776

 

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

Treasury's Plan for Regulatory Overhaul Annoints the Fed As Wall Street's Supercop

“While there are many aspects to the sweeping blueprint for redesigning financial markets regulation - two of the most critical parts are the proposed merger of the SEC with the CFTC and the move toward principle-based regulation.”

http://advancedtrading.com/blog/archives/2008/04/treasurys_plan.html

 

Security and Risk Management

U.S. Has Launched a Cyber Security 'Manhattan Project,' Homeland Security Chief Claims

“Speaking to hundreds of security professionals at the RSA security conference, Chertoff cited last year's denial-of-service attacks against Estonia, and hypothetical hack attacks on financial networks and air traffic control systems, as proof that a federal strategy was needed.”

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/rsa_conference/index.html

 

Symantec Statistics and Malware's Mushroom Cloud

“Initially, I set out to write this blog about the security risks involved with the misperception of numerical data, and the problems with conventional wisdom.  However, my internet readings led me slightly off course, in pursuit of understanding some recent malware statistics.”

http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/26769

 

Healthcare / Bio-Informatics / Care Delivery Organizations (CDOs)

Medicare, Medicaid cut deep into health care IT

“CIOs in the health care industry say looming Medicare and Medicaid cutbacks remain one of the top challenges facing their industry, at a time when many of them are already being forced to trim their IT budgets.”

http://searchcio-midmarket.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid183_gci1307948,00.html?track=NL-973&ad=632067&asrc=EM_NLN_3407523&uid=3121061#

 

Human Error / Safety / Environment

American Airlines canceling hundreds of flights to re-inspect MD-80s

“American Airlines confirmed in mid-afternoon that it was grounding most of its MD-80 fleet to re-inspect a wiring harness to a hydraulic pump in a wheel well.”

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/04/american-airlines-canceling-hu.html

 

Pressure to build green data centers will intensify, say IT execs

“Rising energy costs and the need to consolidate IT infrastructure will force business managers to re-evaluate data retention policies and learn how much power every device in their data center consumes, said IT executives today on a panel at Computerworld's Storage Networking World conference.”

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9075978&intsrc=news_ts_head

 

Outsourcing / Globalization / International

Logistics News: Once You Outsource Distribution or Transportation Functions, Can You Ever Go Back?

“If you outsource key logistics processes, can you ever go back?  That’s the question Adrian Gonzalez of ARC Advisory Group asked in a recent research note, after saying he noticed a small trend towards some companies pulling formerly outsourced logistics functions back in house.”

http://www.scdigest.com/assets/On_Target/08-04-08-1.php?cid=1598

 

Economics / Business / Misc.

Don't Blame NAFTA for Downturn, Many Economists Say

“The escalating debate over the future of free-trade agreements promises to be a stark fault line in the campaign. Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the presumptive Republican nominee for president, is an unabashed supporter of free trade, and the Bush administration is pushing for a free-trade agreement with Colombia.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/08/AR2008040803294.html?nav=rss_business

 

 

End Notes

The News is brought to you by George Spafford, Principal Consultant at Pepperweed Consulting, LLC.  Pepperweed is nationally recognized as a leader in IT Management Consulting.  For more information, check out our website at www.pepperweed.com or call 888-229-0145. Please let us know if you see stories you think should be included in the next issue of The News, and feel free to forward this email on to others.

 

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