"Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never, in nothing, great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. ” –  Winston Churchill

 

Top Picks

How Do We Start Growing Again?
“Economic growth is always and everywhere the result of productive work effort, so rather than more economy-enervating handouts, the policies necessary to get our economy moving again must be focused on the removal of barriers to productivity.”
http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2008/11/30/productivity-stimulus-growth-oped-cx_jt_1201tamny.html

 

It'll Be a Good Year for Green IT, IDC Predicts
“Global economic worries -- and a slowdown in overall IT spending -- will actually help spur adoption of energy-efficient technologies and other green IT strategies, according to a new report from IDC.”
http://greenercomputing.com/news/2008/12/05/2009-will-be-a-good-year-green-it-idc

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20081204005107&newsLang=en

 

Microsoft trying to blow the roof off data-center design
“The company envisions a set of prefabricated containers the size of a semi-trailer filled with as many as 2,000 preconfigured servers. The containers can be parked next to and plugged into pre-built mechanical, electrical, cooling and security components. In essence, it is a giant collection of boxes and pluggable components that can grow and shrink based on need.”
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/120408-microsoft-data-center-future.html?t51hb&hpg1=mp

Be sure to read Manos’ original post on the Generation 4 Modular Data Center Plan:  http://loosebolts.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/our-vision-for-generation-4-modular-data-centers-one-way-of-getting-it-just-right/

Microsoft’s video on the Generation 4 data centers:  http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2008/12/02/video-microsofts-generation-4-data-centers/

 

Major e-stores malfunction on Black Friday and Cyber Monday
“Sears, Saks Fifth Avenue, Costco, Dell, Victoria's Secret, Bloomingdale's and Williams-Sonoma all saw their sites malfunction at some point between Friday and Monday, according to companies that monitor Web performance.”
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9121982&source=rss_news

 

Economic Meltdown: Green IT's Best Friend
“Sometimes bad news can be good news: The economic meltdown may be the best thing that ever happened to Green IT. I recently interviewed Dr. Albert Esser, Vice President of Data Center Infrastructure at Dell, and Dell's resident green guru, and he explains why tough times can be good for greening the data center.”
http://www.greenercomputing.com/blog/2008/12/05/economic-meltdown-green-its-best-friend

 

Book and Product Recommendations

Visible Ops Security, Phase 3

“Today I'm reviewing their chapter entitled, ‘Phase 3: Implement Development and Release Controls,’ which the authors introduce as follows: ‘we move upstream to the development and release management processes, as well as to the internal audit and project management processes. We will involve stakeholders from development, project management, and release management so they get involved earlier with projects and we will also work with change management, purchasing, and accounting to maintain accurate situational awareness. We will define the model for engaging with individual project groups when there are information security relevant tasks that we can help with.’”
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/sec/2008/120108sec1.html?hpg1=bn

Order Visible Ops Security at:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0975568612?ie=UTF8&tag=georgespaffor-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0975568612

 

Dr. Goldratt’s New Book – “The Choice”
Dr. Goldratt has a discussion with his daughter about his philosophy on life.  I purchased my copy at the recent TOCICO show in Las Vegas after hearing him talk about some of it.  At this point, I have only had time to skim it and find it very interesting .  Eliyahu is a remarkable man and people looking for unique insights as to what he is thinking should buy his new book.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0884271897?ie=UTF8&tag=georgespaffor-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0884271897

 

IT Audit / Internal Audit / Compliance

Troubled Asset Relief Program:  Additional Actions Needed to Better Ensure Integrity, Accountability, and Transparency. 
GAO-09-161, December 2, 2008
The report is at:  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-161
Highlights are at:  http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09161high.pdf

 

IT Process Improvement / Quality Management

Keeping the Lights On … Literally
“In addition to cost concerns, some data centers managers are finding they can’t even get additional power from their utility and are essentially constrained to operate within the limits of the power feeds they currently have. Combine the two and you can readily see that unless power demands are managed, IT will be limited in terms of supporting the business.”
http://www.cioupdate.com/features/article.php/3788281/Keeping-the-Lights-On--Literally.htm

 

Cost of Power in Large-Scale Data Centers
“…it turns out that power alone itself isn’t anywhere close to the most significant a cost. Let’s look at this more deeply. If you amortize power distribution and cooling systems infrastructure over 15 years and amortize server costs over 3 years, you can get a fair comparative picture of how server costs compare to infrastructure (power distribution and cooling). But how to compare the capital  costs of server, and power and cooling infrastructure with that monthly bill for power?”
http://perspectives.mvdirona.com/2008/11/28/CostOfPowerInLargeScaleDataCenters.aspx

[Great post by James Hamilton of MS Data Center Futures!]

Also, be sure to read the post he links to entitled “Intense Computing or In Tents Computing”:  http://blogs.msdn.com/the_power_of_software/archive/2008/09/19/intense-computing-or-in-tents-computing.aspx. It will make you question how much we worry about data center environmentals in terms of ASHRAE standards, vendor specifications and reality.

Three Mistakes HP Made, And One It Didn't
“Randy Mott admits he and his team didn't plan well enough for acquisitions or for success, but he wasn't about to extend the deadline for the IT transformation program.”
http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/data_centers/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212200748&subSection=All+Stories

 

Dell applies its own data center lessons to new green IT services
“Rather than overhauling the entire thing, an investment strategy that would be hard to support at any company right now, the company is encouraging businesses to embrace an endless cycle of three-year refreshes. And it is using its own experiences in improving data center productivity to shape a new set of services, according to Albert Esser, vice president of Dell’s Data Center Infrastructure Group.”
http://blogs.zdnet.com/green/?p=1509

 

Guidelines on How to Plan a Next-Gen Data Center
“At the Gartner Data Center Conference Dec. 2 at the MGM Grand Hotel, Gartner research vice-presidents Donna Scott and Paul McGuckin offered their perspectives on what factors and best practices should be considered in developing a data center strategy and architecture -- while balancing risk, cost, quality and agility.”
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Data-Storage/Guidelines-on-How-to-Plan-a-NextGen-Data-Center/

 

ITSM for the Real World
Check out Shane Carlson’s blog on ITSM.  His current piece is entitled “Brother, could you spare some CHANGE? (Managing Cultural Change”
http://itsmfortherealworld.wordpress.com/

Google opts out of grant for North Carolina data center
“Google Inc. has opted not to take a $4.7 million state grant to build a data center in the town of Lenoir, N.C. – a sign the company may be slowing down its expansion in the state.”
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2008/12/01/daily76.html

 

Security and Risk Management

Rootkit discovered in [Chinese] Enterprise Information Security software
Trend says a Chinese EIS vendor has embedded a rootkit in the file scs11hlp.sys in the EIS tool.  Trend isn’t naming the firm but has added the file to their signature database.
http://www.heise-online.co.uk/news/Rootkit-discovered-in-Enterprise-Information-Security-software--/112109

[Given US-Chinese info war spats, is it really safe for a US organization to use a Chinese infosec tool?

 

Embedding a Culture of Information Security
“This programme is now available to view on egovtv.tv, the online television channel for public service modernisation. An interview with Dr Louise Bennett, Chair of the Security Forum Panel for the British Computing Society, explores the issue of information security which extends from preventing data loss to cyber bullying and ensuring teachers are not slandered on line.”
http://www.publicnet.co.uk/abstracts/2008/12/01/embedding-a-culture-of-information-security/

 

Is there no end to the AutoRun madness?
“Let’s skip any introduction and get straight to the point: We’re currently facing a problem of epidemic proportions in malware that is spreading via removable devices.”
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=2235&tag=nl.e550

 

You are the weakest link
“Human error continues to be the primary cause of information technology (IT) security breaches. In fact, the UK Government has faced repeated embarrassments over lost data, with over 270 data breaches being reported over the past year alone.”
http://www.securitypark.co.uk/security_article262361.html

 

The myth of cloud computing
“Though many companies don't understand the precise workings of the technology, many at least acknowledge that there's a security challenge to address. Michele Perry, CMO for security vendor Sourcefire, maker of the popular Snort open-source IDS tool, says customers are expressing concern that they have no way to proactively track or identify new virtual systems within their environments.”
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9121923&source=rss_topic17

 

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

Questions and answers about our health care system
“We spend more money on health care than any other industrialized nation, yet more than 15 percent - 45.7 million Americans - are uninsured. That number is sure to grow in the current financial crisis. And other countries with cheaper health care systems deliver higher quality care in many areas. The World Health Organization ranked the United States 37th in overall health care.”
http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/sunday/news/ny-txtheal235946930nov30,0,3262868.story
James mentions this post “Intense Computing or In Tents Computing?” and it’s very interesting too:  http://blogs.msdn.com/the_power_of_software/archive/2008/09/19/intense-computing-or-in-tents-computing.aspx It makes you question how much is too much in terms of concern over environmentals.

 

Doctors ditch drug samples to avoid influencing treatment
“Who doesn't like freebies, especially when it comes to pricey pills?  But free medication samples, which at first glance look like a win-win-win situation for manufacturers, doctors and patients, can have hidden costs.”
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-11-30-drug-samples_N.htm

 

Health 2.0: Patients as Partners
“This new patients-as-partners model is often called Health 2.0. PatientsLikeMe and a proliferation of similar startups are building a new business predicated on the belief that the wisdom of crowds of patients will bring insights, solace, and most of all, power.  Power because, as it turns out, patients talking among themselves on a global scale with complete transparency produces all kinds of unexpected results.”
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_50/b4112058194219.htm?campaign_id=rss_tech
The website is:  http://www.patientslikeme.com/

 

Human Error / Safety / Environment

Climate change juggernaut on the horizon, UN talks told
“War, hunger, poverty and sickness will stalk humanity if the world fails to tackle climate change, a 12-day UN conference on global warming heard on Monday.  A volley of grim warnings sounded out at the start of the marathon talks, a step to a new worldwide treaty to reduce greenhouse gases and help countries exposed to the wrath of an altered climate.”
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gTCW-1nX1C78iJTnQTIg3lI-ROwA
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3837985,00.html

 

International Climate Change Programs: Lessons Learned from the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme and the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism
GAO-09-151, November 18, 2008
Report is at:  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-151
Highlights are at:  http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d09151high.pdf

 

Climate change is old news: Scientists predicted global warming more than a century ago
“Irish scientist John Tyndall first speculated that human-induced global warming might be possible back in 1861 and Nobel Prize-winning chemist Svante Arrhennius had confirmed climate change (with laborious pencil and paper calculations rather than the shortcut of computers) by the end of the 19th century.”
http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=climate-change-is-old-news-scientis-2008-12-04

 

Global News / Business / Economics

China to grow 10 percent in 2009 despite global crisis: government economist
“The main reason is China's ability to provide its own growth momentum, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Zhang Liqun, an economist with the Development Research Centre, a cabinet think tank.”
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j1AxLTFbgoJdHBrkxNYUHTy2r5xA

 

Nine Perplexing Phenomena About China’s Economy
“I would not venture to present a panoramic view of China’s economic situation (which is impossible for one article anyway). Instead, I will simply list nine visible phenomena in China’s economy, mostly paradoxical and unheard of in other economic systems, hoping to shed some light on an extremely complicated subject.”
http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/opinion/china-economy-7869.html

 

World economy 'weakest since 30s'
“The United Nations says the world economy faces its worst downturn since the Great Depression.  It expects world economic output to shrink by as much as 0.4% in 2009, due to a slump among developed countries - particularly the US and in Europe.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7757506.stm

 

All Infosys and India
This is an interesting interview with Nandan Nilekani who is the cochairman of Infosys.
http://www.forbes.com/technology/global/2008/1208/026.html?feed=rss_technology

 

China, US pledge $20bn trade aid
“China and the US have pledged $20bn (£13.6bn) to help finance global trade, as part of efforts to boost the faltering world economy.  The money will be made available to importers, including those in developing countries, who have found it difficult to get credit to buy goods.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7766333.stm

 

Iceland:  The Ultimate Location for Data Centers
This is a web page from the Trade Council of Iceland and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
http://www.invest.is/Investment-Opportunities/Data-Centers-in-Iceland/

 

US News / Business / Economics

U.S. job losses worst since 1974 as downturn deepens
“U.S. employers axed payrolls by 533,000 jobs in November, the most in 34 years, as the year-old recession hammered the economy and hardened calls for dramatic government action to turn the tide.”
http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed2/idUSTRE4B437520081205

 

Maybe It's Time to Buy
“Even though they have fallen about 25 percent and 45 percent, respectively, from their peaks, houses and stocks could well fall further, possibly much further. That's what happens when bubbles deflate -- things can fall into a reasonable-value zone, then keep falling until they're unreasonably low. It's the other side of an inflating bubble, during which prices can keep rising even after they're unreasonably high.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/06/AR2008120600134.html?wprss=rss_business

 

Technology & Science

Data center panel weighs cloud computing risks, rewards
“For this month's data center advisory board question, we asked our panel if data center managers should consider cloud computing for their operations, and under what scenarios.”
http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid80_gci1341258,00.html

 

Gartner's Top 10 disruptive data-center technologies
“A new computing fabric to replace today's blade servers  and a ‘pod’ approach to building data centers are two of the most disruptive technologies that will affect the enterprise data center in the next few years, Gartner said at its annual data center conference Wednesday.”
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/120408-gartner-top-10-disruptive-technologies.html

 

Data Centers Confront Energy Costs
“The energy-guzzling, ever-expanding data center is in need of a makeover. In the past, the most important priorities of the data center have been speed, reliability and uptime. Energy efficiency was not a top priority. Today, data centers are facing soaring energy prices, coupled with increased energy consumption due to increases in server processing power Relevant Products/Services and a greater demand for cooling.”
http://www.cio-today.com/news/Data-Centers-Confront-Energy-Costs/story.xhtml?story_id=010000NNRG56

 

Study: Two-Thirds of Data Centers Face Critical Power Shortages
“Going green with a data center is no longer merely good public relations, or just a money-saving project. It's about to become imperative for a corporation's survival. That's the inescapable conclusion, when you consider a recent study that discovered that unless data centers figure out a solution to their energy problems, nearly two-thirds of them will run out of power capacity by 2011.”
http://www.climatebiz.com/blog/2008/12/04/study-two-thirds-data-centers-face-critical-power-shortages

http://weblog.infoworld.com/sustainableit/archives/2008/12/green_tech_data.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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