Virtualization

Thu, January 21, 2010 - Even tech companies need an IT overhaul from time to time. Case in point: Last year, a Canadian software developer (who preferred to remain nameless for the purposes of this story) called my team at Microtek to give its server room a badly needed upgrade. The six-person company, which develops a suite of subscription-based applications allowing small businesses from across a variety of vertical markets locate and and acquire specialty parts, was in desperate need of a new server to host the home-built CRM system it uses to manage roughly 100 client accounts.

Wed, January 13, 2010 - Security expert Ariel Silverstone continues his series on the threats facing the cloud and how best to secure it.

Mon, January 04, 2010 - Gibbs's editor asked him to get out his crystal ball and ponder the New Year. Cross his palm with silver and maybe he'll reveal the future...

Tue, November 17, 2009 - In the second installment of his series on "Clearing the Cloud," security expert Ariel Silverstone proposes some clearer definitions and metrics to improve cloud security.

Tue, November 10, 2009 - We like to talk about how much easier or cheaper it is to run applications off the cloud or use software-as-a-service (SaaS), and it is - when our Internet connection is working. When we have network problems, though, it's another story entirely.

Wed, October 07, 2009 - A new era of computing is at hand, and botnet herders and malware writers of the world are ready to pounce. Too few users are taking notice, even though security warnings surrounding wireless and mobile technology and cloud services are on the rise.

Fri, October 02, 2009 - Independent business service companies have become a rare breed after Monday's news that Xerox is buying Affiliated Computer Services. Xerox follows Dell and Hewlett-Packard, fellow hardware companies that see revenue in selling machines as well as services. In Internet news, a more diverse management body will run the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), ending the U.S. government's close oversight of the organization. Finally, two of Microsoft's latest software products, Windows 7 and a rudimentary version of its online collaboration applications, are reviewed.

Mon, September 21, 2009 - Most consumers and enterprises have never had to give productivity suites a second thought. They just chose Microsoft Office. But with more apps and data living in the cloud, that's starting to change.

Mon, August 31, 2009 - Many companies have rushed into the cloud without a security strategy, and that's a recipe for trouble.

Mon, August 24, 2009 - There is a great deal of truth that Google can maintain the security of systems better than individual companies. While I may be critical of some aspects of Google Apps security, I firmly believe that Google is significantly more likely to maintain the security of individual systems than companies would themselves.