"It is better to be predictable and mediocre – than occasionally outstanding. ” – Kurt Milne

 

Top Picks

Rising Arctic methane threatens efforts to reverse global warming
“Gustafsson's preliminary report, published in The Independent of Sept. 23, is a development far more frightening than the current financial crisis, although it will get only one-thousandth of the coverage. The worst that the financial crisis can bring is some years of recession. The worst that massive methane releases in the Arctic can bring us is runaway, irreversible global warming.”
http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_10586023
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,430623,00.html
The original article in the Independent is at:  http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/exclusive-the-methane-time-bomb-938932.html

 

Data Center Commissioning article series
There is a boom in the building of data centers with very high capital costs and ongoing operating costs.  These articles should give teams involved with the project many different things to consider.
1 – Data Center Site Selection:  http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid80_gci1299208,00.html
2 – Selecting a Data Center Design Team: http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid80_gci1315321,00.html
3 – Working With Data Center Contractors: http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid80_gci1316386,00.html
4 – Data Center Construction Runbook: http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid80_gci1332595,00.html

 

Outsourced--And Out Of Control
“As the economy sinks and budgets are squeezed, outsourcing looks more and more like a thrifty necessity. But when it comes to the data security of those far-flung offices, businesses may find they get what they pay for.  A study released Tuesday, compiled from surveys of information technology managers and users in 10 countries, reveals an alarming gap between the information-security practices of developed countries and those of emerging markets like China, Brazil and, to a lesser degree, India.”
http://www.forbes.com/technology/2008/09/29/outsourcing-data-breaches-security-tech-cx_ag_0930outsource.html

 

Book and Product Recommendations

If you have any book recommendations that you think other readers would be interested in, please email me at george.spafford@....  I’m pretty buried with writing these days so I haven’t had time to read and people are always asking for suggested resources including books.

 

IT Audit / Internal Audit / Compliance

The Latest Star Wars Woes: Launching Fake Targets
“The Pentagon's missile-defense program has already cost $100 billion and strained relations with the Russians, and it has yet to prove its real-world value. Hitting a bullet with a bullet — the heart of the system — is a difficult enough task. But a new report reveals that the Pentagon is even having problems launching the practice targets needed to test the system.”
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1845354,00.html?cnn=yes

 

Sentinel - The IT Governance Newsletter
“Sentinel, our newsletter for IT governance and information security professionals, continues to explore the great range of available of available resources found for us by editor Dan Swanson.”
http://www.itgovernance.co.uk/media/article.aspx?news_id=239

 

IT Process Improvement / Quality Management

Lean, Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma and ITIL
“I’ve encountered several groups that either are not doing ITIL, or are stopping ITIL implementation, because of entity-level Lean or Lean Six Sigma quality management initiatives.  Doing so reflects a fundamental misunderstanding about the roles of these quality frameworks.”
https://swarm.jupitermedia.com/itsmwatch/2008/10/lean-six-sigma-lean-six-sigma.html

 

Understanding Effective Change Management
“The economy is in the doldrums, budgets are shrinking and management wants more accomplished. Not a good job-security recipe to say the least. In the middle of this quagmire there are still some fundamental principles that hold true. The change management process is critical at this time, more than ever, because studies have shown that 78%-80% of network availability problems stem from human error.  Whether you dispute the exact figure, we know that a large percentage of the incidents that IT must address could have been avoided with better planning and communication both within and between IT teams as well as with the business. These errors give risk to unplanned work that is typically urgent and comes at the expense of planned work, chiefly projects. In these lean times we can’t afford to be doing unnecessary work.”
http://www.itsmwatch.com/itil/article.php/3775881

 

Google celebrates SC data center
Google opens a $600 million data center in Moncks Corner, SC.
http://www.wbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9095809

 

Managing Data Center Complexity as Most Effective Way to Improve IT Efficiency
“Avocent Corp. revealed results of an independent survey that showed companies are seeking better visibility into their data center operations to help mitigate business continuity challenges, better manage virtualized systems and applications, and control power consumption and overall complexity.”
http://www.ecnasiamag.com/article-22932-managingdatacentercomplexityasmosteffectivewaytoimproveitefficiency-Asia.html
[The article reviews thoughts around monitoring power usage, virtualization, network uptime, and budgets.]

Access the full report at:  http://www.avocent.com/NewsRoom/NewsRoom.aspx?id=11075

 

Virtualisation impacting data center economics
“All data centers tend to be very complex, with servers running at very low utilization rates. That is where virtualisation makes a  difference by increasing server capacity . According to Rajesh Saha, VP - Enterprise Systems, Systems & Technology Group, IBM India/SA, virtualization is key to improving data center economics.  It enables the reduction of server sprawl and complexity, while improving processor utilization and helping business streamline IT staff resources, he states in an interview with CIOL.  “
http://www.ciol.com/Enterprise/Biztech/Interviews/Virtualisation-impacting-data-center-economics/30908111038/0/

 

Business Facilities:  The Location Advisor
A magazine dedicated to helping organizations determine where to locate their next facility.
http://www.businessfacilities.com/

 

Google Data Centers 'The Most Efficient In The World'
“Teetzel explained that while all data centers use water for cooling, Google-designed data centers don't use water for chillers, which are a kind of air conditioner. Instead, Google uses cooling towers, which just let the water evaporate without using any power.”
http://www.informationweek.com/news/infrastructure/management/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=210605082

Web Host 1&1 Supports Renewable Energy for its US Data Center
“The company will offset electricity usage at its data center though RECs sourced from the Bowersock Mills and Power Company's hydroelectric facility in Lawrence, Kansas, USA.” … “According to the company, the move will save 30,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year.”
http://hostsearch.com/news/1&1_internet_ltd_news_7812.asp
http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/data_centers/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=210604699

 

The Data Center From Hell article series
Jan Buitron, CISSP, MCSE, ITIL Foundations Certified, Network + recounts her experiences with facilities security at a data center that had significant deficiencies.
Part 1:  http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/sec/2008/092208sec1.html
Part 2:  http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/sec/2008/092208sec2.html
Part 3:  http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/sec/2008/092908sec1.html?hpg1=bn

 

Security and Risk Management

The Cyber Security Knowledge Transfer Network
“We are a single focal point for UK Cyber Security expertise, to collaboratively identify universal challenges and develop effective response, influence UK investment strategy and government policy, accelerate innovation and education, harness and promote UK capability internationally and help improve the UK security baseline.”
http://www.ktn.qinetiq-tim.net/

 

CERT has released OCTAVE-Allegro
It is a streamlined approach for information security and assessment.  On the following website are resources including a podcast and publication.
http://www.cert.org/octave/

 

Making Business-Based Security Investment Decisions – A Dashboard Approach
“This article presents one approach for selecting security investments using business-based criteria. The approach and supporting tool define seven decision criteria categories, each supported by three or more indicators. Categories and indicators are ranked and applied to a series of investments. Individual investment scores are presented for discussion and evaluation by decision makers. Our intent is that this approach can be use to rationalize and prioritize any class of security investments including software assurance.”
https://buildsecurityin.us-cert.gov/daisy/bsi/articles/best-practices/management/985-BSI.html
[Note, this site is updated so check it out.]

 

Security Economics and the Internal Market
“Information security is now a mainstream political issue, and can no longer be considered the sole purview of technologists. Fortunately, information security economics has recently become a live research topic: as well as collecting data on what fails and how,

security economists have discovered that systems often fail not for some technical reason, but because the incentives were wrong. An appropriate regulatory framework is just as important for protecting economic and other activity online as it is offline. This report sets out to draw, from both economic principles and empirical data, a set of recommendations about what information security issues should be handled at the Member State level and what issues may require harmonisation – or at least coordination.”
http://www.enisa.europa.eu/doc/pdf/report_sec_econ_&_int_mark_20080131.pdf
[This is a 114 page report!]

 

Welcome to the RSA Innovation and Security Site
“In today’s landscape, the security priority must shift from eliminating risk to maximizing business reward. Security teams that successfully make this transition will earn a valued seat at the business innovation table.  To find out how to make this journey, check out the latest report from the Security for Business Innovation Council. 10 of the world’s most accomplished security leaders offer invaluable tips, lessons learned and concrete ideas for mastering the risk/reward equation.”
https://www.rsa.com/node.aspx?id=3001
http://www.emc.com/about/news/press/2008/100108-1.htm
http://blogs.wsj.com/biztech/2008/09/30/security-and-innovation-why-cant-we-all-get-along/

[The above security resources are all courtesy of Julia Allen with Carnegie Mellon – thank you Julia! ]

 

Gartner dispels common myths about information security
“As organisations embark on an information security management programme, they encounter a threat landscape that contains both real and perceived obstacles which distract them from business priorities, according to Gartner.”
http://www.computingsa.co.za/article.aspx?id=852943

 

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

CCHIT Certifies EHRs and HIEs
“It is shaping up to be a busy week for the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT).  On Tuesday, the federally sanctioned private organization said that eight ambulatory electronic health records (EHR) products earned full certification under the new 2008 criteria for interoperability, and two more EHRs are conditionally certified once they are operational in physician offices.”
http://www.digitalhcp.com/2008/09/30/CCHIT-certified.html

 

Searching for Clarity: A Primer on Medical Studies
“Experts agree that there are three basic principles that underlie the search for medical truth and the use of clinical trials to obtain it.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/health/30stud.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

 

Human Error / Safety / Environment

Climate change: Floods, drought, mosquito disease aim at Europe
“Climate change will amplify the risk of flooding in northwestern Europe, water scarcity and forest fires on the northern Mediterranean rim and bring milder winters to Scandinavia, the European Environment Agency (EAA) said on Monday.”
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i7FTdie9-szNGtszhxIR0uUfYG6Q

 

Earth survived climate change in past
“Earth survived extreme climate change approximately 750-550 million years ago, before dinosaurs roamed our planet.”
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/HealthSci/Earth_survived_climate_change_in_past/articleshow/3541147.cms

 

Energy Star Doesn't Mean Your Fridge Is Green
“The U.S. government helps consumers select energy-efficient products by means of a little logo called the Energy Star. Surveys show that 70% of U.S. households recognize the symbol. This efficiency standard has helped lower the nation's utility bills by $61 billion over the past five years, according to the Web site EnergyStar.gov. That translates to a reduction of greenhouse gases equal to taking half the country's vehicles off the roads for one year.  There's just one problem: Consumer and environmental groups say it's often too easy for companies to win the right to display the star.”
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_41/b4103076223809.htm?campaign_id=rss_daily

 

Global News / Business / Economics

Jobs more important than climate change action
“The 2008 Lowy Institute Poll revealed that Australians want action on climate change, but not if it costs jobs or hits them in the back pocket.”
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24417308-5009760,00.html

 

Filipinos Draw Power From Buried Heat
“Reacting to the early 1970s oil shock, Marcos created a major government program to find, develop and generate electricity from hot rocks deep in the ground. Since then, the Philippine government has championed this form of energy.  Geothermal power now accounts for about 28 percent of the electricity generated in the Philippines.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/03/AR2008100303843.html?nav=rss_world/asia

 

Japan's Carmakers Hit Hard As Exports to U.S. Plummet
“The swoon in North American car sales -- which account for more than half of the operating profits of Toyota, Honda and Nissan -- is a major reason why Japan's export-driven economy began shrinking in the second quarter and why many economists here are predicting a long recession.  The sudden and painful fizzle of the U.S. car market, the world's largest, comes on top of a longer fadeout in Japan's car market, the second-largest. Sales of new cars in Japan have been falling steadily for 18 years.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/01/AR2008100100539.html?nav=rss_world/asia

 

As Japan's Economy Falters, New Premier Vows Swift Action
“Japan's economy started shrinking in the second quarter of this year, ending its longest period of sustained growth since World War II. A decline in the third quarter now seems certain, several economists said.  Car shipments to the United States nosedived in August, down 30 percent as Toyota, Honda and Nissan all cut production.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/30/AR2008093000555.html?nav=rss_world/asia

 

Kim Jong-il Said to Emerge to Watch Soccer Game
“North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-il, who is believed by South Korean and American officials to have suffered a stroke, recently made his first public appearance in more than a month, the North’s state-run news agency reported Saturday.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/world/asia/05kim.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

 

Boomtown of Dubai Feels Effects of Global Crisis
“Some of Dubai’s more extravagant building projects — the ever-bigger malls, islands and indoor ski slopes — are likely to be dropped if they do not already have financing lined up, bankers say. The credit crisis could also reduce demand from buyers, who will have a harder time getting mortgages.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/world/middleeast/05dubai.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

 

US News / Business / Economics

Data Center Business On Rise; Credit Crunch May Be Downer
“There's strong demand for data center space, but banks have cut back on lending and co-location firms won't have an easy time getting money to expand data centers.”
http://www.investors.com/editorial/IBDArticles.asp?artsec=17&artnum=1&issue=20081001

 

Bailout is Law
“After two weeks of contentious and often emotional debate, the federal government's far-reaching and historic plan to bail out the nation's financial system was signed into law by President Bush on Friday afternoon.”
http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/03/news/economy/house_friday_bailout/index.htm?cnn=yes
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fi-bailout4-2008oct04,0,6267511.story
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ioHc80xKMiATnqCpK0cDKJzk_nPQD93JI2I00
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/04/business/economy/04bailout.html?bl&ex=1223265600&en=80352c05b6d4b135&ei=5087

 

Economy is bailed out, but still leaking
“The bailout did not spark a rally, but it might have prevented a nosedive.  Stocks tumbled because investors finally realize we are facing serious economic problems for which there is no cure. Some of the problems are caused by the excesses of the past decade, while the rest are caused by the fear that we will not find a way out.”
http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2008/10/04/2008-10-04_economy_is_bailed_out_but_still_leaking.html

 

Bailout dish has heaping side of pork
“Here we are, in the midst of the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression, and the members of the U.S. Senate are busy dispensing pork in a shameless fashion.  In their vote on the $700 billion Wall Street bailout Wednesday night, senators packed the bill with scores of lavish goodies to please favored groups and win support from opponents in today's House vote.”
http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2008/10/03/2008-10-03_bailout_dish_has_heaping_side_of_pork.html

 

Technology & Science

Scientists trace AIDS virus origin to 100 years ago
“The AIDS virus has been circulating among people for about 100 years, decades longer than scientists had thought, a new study suggests.  Genetic analysis pushes the estimated origin of HIV back to between 1884 and 1924, with a more focused estimate at 1908.”
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/10/01/aids.virus.origin.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

 

'Space elevator' would take humans into orbit
“A conference discussing developments in space elevator concepts is being held in Japan in November, and hundreds of engineers and scientists from Asia, Europe and the Americas are working to design the only lift that will take you directly to the one hundred-thousandth floor.”
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/10/02/space.elevator/index.html

 

2008 Ig Nobels honor best, weirdest scientific research
“In a ceremony with a main theme of redundancy, the ceremony honored the research that ‘makes people laugh and then think’ in a redundantly-themed ceremony. This year, eight fields of research were honored: archeology, biology, chemistry, economics, literature, medicine, nutrition, and peace.”
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081003-2008-ig-nobels-honor-best-weirdest-scientific-research.html
[ You have to read the article! ]

 

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.

 

Titles and links to articles written by me are listed at:  http://spaffordconsulting.com/articles.html and if you have news or feedback you’d like to share, please send an email to george.spafford@....

 

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_____________________________________________

George Spafford
Principal Consultant
ITIL Service Manager, TOCICO Jonah, IPRC, CISA

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