"Only the curious will learn and only the resolute overcome the obstacles to learning. The quest quotient has always excited me more than the intelligence quotient. ” – Eugene S. Wilson

 

Top Picks

NEW – Dan Swanson's Resource Email List (replacing his two previous resource email lists)

Leading resources covering subjects such governance, leadership, risk management, compliance, control, internal audit, IT security, project mgmt, and numerous others.

http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/DansResource_EmailList/

[ Dan is in Canada now so even if you used to get his lists in the past, be sure to sign up for the new one as the old ones are discontinued. ]

 

Planet is running out of clean water, new film warns
“The demand for fresh water in our world over the next 30 years is far outstripping the supply. Not that the water isn't somewhere on the planet still -- but we have polluted it, diverted it, allowed it to get poisoned by seawater. One way or another, we have taken accessible clean water ... and we have rendered it unusable.”
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/09/19/water.crisis/index.html

 

Expert backs new security certification for coders

“Tipton pointed out an IBM Systems Sciences Institute study that said fixing defects can cost up to 15 times more during the software testing phase, and 100 times more during the maintenance and operations. If security is not implemented from the beginning of a life cycle, vulnerabilities are more likely to be exploited and costs will rise, he said.”

http://www.sdtimes.com/EXPERT_BACKS_NEW_SECURITY_CERTIFICATION_FOR_CODERS/About_SECURITY_and_SOFTWAREDEVELOPMENT_and_ISC2/32912

 

Another opening for a data center elitist - Microsoft Corp

“The latest opening comes from San Antonio, Texas where Microsoft has opened its latest of several facilities powering its consumer and online businesses. Other recently planned Microsoft facilities include Quincy, Washington, Des Moines, Iowa and a new facility in Chicago, Illinois.  The company said the data center occupies nearly half a million square feet and costs $550 million to construct.”

http://datacenterjournal.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2044

 

IT Audit / Internal Audit / Compliance

GAO: Los Alamos Lab has cybersecurity gaps

“The Los Alamos National Laboratory suffers from cybersecurity weaknesses that affect how it protects information on its sensitive but unclassified network, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.”

http://www.fcw.com/online/news/153921-1.html

 

IT Process Improvement / Quality Management

Gold Plated IT
“Most organizations fundamentally need IT in order to operate.  IT, of course works to provide services that meet the needs of the business.  In an effort to provide ‘good’ service, some personnel even go way beyond what is required.  This is known as ‘gold plating’ – to provide more than what is required.  On one hand, it sounds wonderful “we are going to provide excellent service and exceed expectations”.  The reality is that gold plating can actually set expectations that can’t be consistently met and damage the credibility of IT.”
https://swarm.jupitermedia.com/itsmwatch/2008/09/gold-plated-it.html

 

Green IT: Reality or Hype?
“Attempting to separate the green computing hype from reality is a bit challenging, but one report seems to suggest that the interest is there, but the action is yet to take off meaningfully. One of the major reasons that data centers seem to be lagging when it comes to green strategies is that there are no policies being put in place.”
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Green-IT/Green-IT-Reality-or-Hype/

 

The Making of the First Certified-Green Data Center
“Advanced Data Centers is building the first-ever data center to be certified as energy efficient. Here’s how they did it and what Wall Street firms can learn from this project about being green.”
http://www.wallstreetandtech.com/it-infrastructure/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=210601596
[ Their use of an air-side economizer made a big difference in energy consumption. ]

 

How to Approach Green Technology Adoption
“It’s not a good idea to start with a major green effort, such as consolidating data centers. Instead, begin with simpler things that will enable the IT department to develop a groundswell of support for the green concept. A good example of how to go green comes from the state of Delaware and its evolution from automated PC hibernation that dovetailed in to larger energy efficient initiatives.”
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Green-IT/How-to-Approach-Green-Technology-Adoption/

 

Data Center Containers Offer Wall Street Scalability
“What's the best way to cool a large data center that's currently only partially filled with servers but is expected to near capacity over time (a common problem as servers have gotten larger and denser)? A good approach, according to Glen Seimetz, director of portfolio strategy for data center and security services at Siemens IT, is to use containers.”
http://wallstreetandtech.com/it-infrastructure/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=DVKQLVFVIUCU2QSNDLRSKHSCJUNN2JVN?articleID=210601593&_requestid=116193

 

11 Steps to Data Center Design
“The following 11-step program enables IT organizations to correlate business processing demands with relationships and dependencies of processing resources to design a data center with the right infrastructure qualities to ensure optimal service and deliver in the best manner possible in terms of performance, costs, availability and efficiency.”
http://wallstreetandtech.com/it-infrastructure/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=DVKQLVFVIUCU2QSNDLRSKHSCJUNN2JVN?articleID=210602489&_requestid=115986

 

How Not to Build a Wall Street Data Center
“Previous data center designs have resulted in complexity, waste, performance barriers and cost models that just do not work. A lack of understanding and transparency about what has been done in the past will continue to create misalignment with business needs if this issue is not addressed today.”
http://wallstreetandtech.com/it-infrastructure/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=DVKQLVFVIUCU2QSNDLRSKHSCJUNN2JVN?articleID=210601608&_requestid=115973

 

Capis Transforms Its Data Center
“The Dallas-based brokerage moved to a colocation facility, upgraded its infrastructure and virtualized production servers in the pursuit of high performance, low latency and efficiency.”

http://wallstreetandtech.com/it-infrastructure/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=DVKQLVFVIUCU2QSNDLRSKHSCJUNN2JVN?articleID=210601972&_requestid=116194

 

Security and Risk Management

Getting To Grips With Data Security

“Information security is no longer solely an issue for the geeky IT department. With well over half* of data leakages caused by staff, the issue has to be addressed by all employers who give two hoots about the confidentiality of their data and their reputation.”

http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10009406o-2000537720b,00.htm

 

BlackBerry users neglecting security

“Over a third of BlackBerry devices are sold without being wiped of sensitive personal and corporate data, according to new research released today by BT.  The study of over 160 second-hand handheld devices found that they still contained details of bank accounts and board meetings, along with financial data.”

http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2226958/blackberry-users-neglecting

 

Who has your old phone’s data?

“Two years ago CESG, the technical wing of the UK government’s eavesdropping organization GCHQ, which is responsible for advising the government on technology vulnerabilities, was privately briefing that mobile phones cannot be wiped. Now, according to CESG, some measures can be taken, though its spokesman was not prepared to share precisely what those measures are.”

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2008/09/28/2003424400

 

European Network and Information Security Agency – Obtaining Support and Funding from Senior Management Report

“The EU Agency ENISA (The European Network and Information Security Agency) launches a report on how to convince the CEO to support and invest in security initiatives. The Agency issues 9 recommendations on how to overcome obstacles, identifies 7 hands-on advice to get a buy-in in a senior management meeting, and gives 5 cases studies to identify key problems, issues and solutions in the report Obtaining support and funding from senior management for awareness raising initiatives. “

The report is at:  http://www.enisa.europa.eu/doc/pdf/deliverables/obtaining_support_and_funding_from_senior_management.pdf
The main website for this agency is: http://www.enisa.europa.eu/

 

Is suggesting improved security the same as blaming the victim?

“If you cannot see that suggesting stricter security measures to avoid befalling the same fate as the victim of a security breach is not the same as blaming the victim, you may well leave yourself wide open to such security violations yourself.”

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/security/?p=599

 

Corporate Technologist's Guide to Application Security

“Application Security is the strategy and actions to prevent security breaches of applications and systems. Because the vast majority of applications are known to have bugs, security issues such as design, development, implementation, and/or deployment flaws, application security is a necessary component of any company's technology strategy.”

http://www.enterpriseitplanet.com/security/features/article.php/3774181

 

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

Federal health premiums to rise 7 percent in 2009

“The 2009 premium hike for FEHBP marks the largest since 2005. The previous increase was 2.1 percent -- lower than the industry average for 2008. A study by Aon Consulting Worldwide found that private sector health care costs are expected to increase by 10.6 percent in 2009, with the aging population, the rise of prescription drug costs and patient demand for services fueling much of the increase.”

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=41054&dcn=todays_most_popular

 

Health exchange leader looks beyond NHIN test

“The demonstration last week of applications via the Nationwide Health Information Network underscores progress on technical standards, but the main challenge for local health information exchanges lies in the policy environment.”

http://www.govhealthit.com/online/news/350593-1.html

 

Human error to blame for Grady data breach

“Private medical records of Grady Memorial Hospital patients were made public on the Internet, in a way that has become an increasing concern to information security experts.  Human error — not hackers — apparently caused the medical records of 45 patients to make their way onto an unsecured Web site in July, where they remained for a few weeks, Grady officials said.”

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2008/09/23/grady_data_breach.html

 

Human Error / Safety / Environment

Arctic Saw Fastest August Sea Ice Retreat On Record, NASA Data Show

“Following a record-breaking season of arctic sea ice decline in 2007, NASA scientists have kept a close watch on the 2008 melt season. Although the melt season did not break the record for ice loss, NASA data are showing that for a four-week period in August 2008, sea ice melted faster during that period than ever before.”

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080926194613.htm

 

Running out of time

“Present attempts to reduce carbon emissions are falling behind. According to the Global Carbon Project, emissions are actually speeding up, moving more quickly to dangerous levels than the International Panel on Climate Change had predicted.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080927.ECARBON27/TPStory/Comment

 

Rail safety's human error excuse

USC research “… has shown that on many occasions, the error and its consequences are the result of a multitude of factors, including poor workstation and workplace designs, complicated operational processes, unreasonable mental and/or physical workloads and inadequate staffing, faulty maintenance, ineffective training, nonresponsive managerial systems, dysfunctional organizational structures and haphazard response systems.”

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-meshkati17-2008sep17,0,5267226.story

 

Global News / Business / Economics

Despite Warnings, China’s Regulators Failed to Stop Tainted Milk

“The dairy scandal raises the core question of whether the ruling Communist Party is capable of creating a transparent, accountable regulatory structure within a one-party system. Party leaders realize that effective regulation is essential to convince the world that China’s products are safe and so maintain the rapid economic growth that has helped to sustain the party’s power.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/27/world/asia/27milk.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

EU fears over Chinese milk:  http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/world/asia/26melamine.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

US fears over Chinese milk:  http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/27/world/asia/27recall.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

 

Japan Gets New Prime Minister, Veteran of the Governing Party

“Taro Aso, a veteran politician who fought for years to win Japan’s top political post, was officially named prime minister on Wednesday by the lower house of Parliament, becoming the country’s fourth premier in two years.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/world/asia/25japan.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

 

Financial Chill May Hit Developing Countries

“As Europe and Asia play down the need for an American-style bailout for their banks, the crisis may threaten a different class of countries: those in Eastern Europe, Latin America and Africa that depend on foreign capital and shoulder American-style trade deficits.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/business/worldbusiness/26global.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

 

US News / Business / Economics

Partners at the Destruction
“We will look back on the failure of Congress to reform the government-sponsored enterprises at the heart of the mortgage meltdown as one of the most expensive derelictions of its duty ever. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac used their lobbying clout, political contributions and even charitable largesse to charm or bully anyone demanding reform in their lending practices.”

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122257274028583113.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

 

Behind Insurer’s Crisis, Blind Eye to a Web of Risk

“Although America’s housing collapse is often cited as having caused the crisis, the system was vulnerable because of intricate financial contracts known as credit derivatives, which insure debt holders against default. They are fashioned privately and beyond the ken of regulators — sometimes even beyond the understanding of executives peddling them.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/business/28melt.html?bl&ex=1222747200&en=486a776f9f184e9c&ei=5087%0A

 

Technology & Science

China astronauts return to Earth triumphant

“Three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth Sunday, completing a three-day mission that included China's first-ever spacewalk.  The Shenzhou-7 re-entry capsule parachuted to a landing on the Inner Mongolia steppe at about 5:39 p.m. (0939 GMT) on Sunday.”

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/space/09/28/china.space.astronauts.return/?iref=hpmostpop

 

UCLA Mathematicians Discover Large Prime Number

“The Los Angeles Times reported the discovery of the first verified Mersenne prime number with more than 10 million digits qualifies UCLA for a $100,000 prize from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The discovery is the 46th known Mersenne prime number and the eighth Mersenne prime discovered at UCLA.”

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7012458283

 

Two Bills Aim for the Skies

“As it prepares to adjourn, Congress is close to passing and sending to President Bush two bills aimed at keeping American astronauts flying to the international space station during a five-year gap when NASA will have no manned spacecraft of its own capable of reaching the $100 billion orbiting laboratory.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/26/AR2008092603260.html?hpid=moreheadlines

 

California science museum reopens with green theme

“What's being heralded as the greenest museum building in the world opens to the public September 27. The new academy in Golden Gate Park is insulated with nontoxic, second-hand jeans and capped with a 2.5-acre living roof planted in native wildflowers. Thousands of live species of flora and fauna and 20 million specimens are housed in the building.”
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/09/24/museum.makeover.ap/index.html

 

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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