InformationWeek Reports : Network and Systems Management

Strategy: SIEM

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:46:58 -0500

A security information and event management system serves as a repository for all the security alerts and logging systems from a firm’s devices. But this can be overkill for a company that is understaffed or has overestimated its security information needs. In this report, we discuss 10 questions to ask yourself in determining whether SIEM makes sense for you—and how to pick the right system if it does.

Strategy: Database Defense

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:10:15 -0500

The biggest threat to your company’s most sensitive data may be the employee who has legitimate access to corporate databases but less-than-legitimate intentions. And while the incidence of insider data breaches has decreased, external attacks often imitate them—and do serious damage. Follow our advice to mitigate the risk.

Strategy: OpenFlow vs. Traditional Networks

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:22:29 -0500

We look at the pros and cons of OpenFlow and SDN and how they stack up with existing options to simplify
networking.

Strategy: Stop Illicit Data Dumps

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:59:16 -0500

There are no silver bullets when it comes to protecting company and customer data from loss or theft, but there are technological and procedural systems that will go a long way toward preventing a WikiLeaks-like data dump.

Research: IT Pro Ranking: Data Center Networking

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:11:34 -0500

Cisco has an iron grip on the data center network. One reason is its reputation for quality: The company scores a 4.3 out of 5 for reliability, a rating no other vendor matched. That said, technology and market changes are loosening Cisco’s hold. Will the shift to virtual infrastructure, next-gen Ethernet and commodity switching components change the vendor pecking order? More than 500 IT pros weighed in to evaluate 7 vendors.

InformationWeek Supplemental Issue: December 2011

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:11:35 -0500

Data Center Automation -- Process Analysis: A Necessary First Step To Automation

InformationWeek Digital Issue: December 19, 2011

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:36:30 -0500

Outlook 2012 -- Inside Windows Server 8 -- Twists In The Coming Year -- Is That Really SAP? -- IT Leader Survival Guide -- Deals Of The Year

Strategy: SOX Security

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:18:35 -0500

We share 10 best practices to meet Sarbanes-Oxley security-related requirements and help ensure you’ll pass your next compliance audit.

InformationWeek Supplemental Issue: December 2011

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 05:10:54 -0500

Disaster Recovery Disaster -- Don't Let Old Thinking Sink A New Disaster Recovery Model

Strategy: Tablet Security

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 09:57:33 -0500

As businesses rely increasingly on tablets for the productivity benefits they provide, IT must address the security challenges the devices present.

Who Owns the LAN?

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:20:02 -0500

Cisco still leads, but rivals are making some inroads.

Strategy: Email Security

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:14:13 -0500

Email encryption, rights management, email gateways and full-on data loss prevention systems can keep corporate data secure. Consider the pros and cons of each to determine what’s best for your business.

Strategy: Database Access

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:35:54 -0500

Role-based access control based on least user privilege is one of the most effective ways to prevent the compromise of corporate data. But proper provisioning is a growing challenging, due to the proliferation of big data, NoSQL databases and cloud-based data storage.

IT Pro Ranking: LAN Equipment Vendors

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:18:30 -0500

Cisco leads on the LAN, with an overall score of 77% based on product reliability, product performance and other key criteria, but HP, Dell and others are finding ways to compete. Find out how 444 IT pros who use and evaluate LAN equipment compare vendors.

Buyer's Guide: MDM

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 02:01:13 -0500

As a greater variety of smartphones and tablets tap into corporate resources, IT must have a strategy for security, access control and management. Our buyer’s guide helps you make the right call on mobile device management tools.

InformationWeek Supplemental Issue: November 2011

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:49:59 -0400

Databases -- 3 Steps to Database Defense

IT Pro Impact: Apple iPhone 4S

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 05:35:16 -0400

While Apple’s iPhone 4S may not live up to its preannouncement hyperbole, it does offer significant improvements in both performance and functionality over its predecessors. And with preorders alone totaling over 1 million devices in 24 hours, the 4S is undoubtedly showing up on enterprise networks. Here’s a rundown of new hardware and software features and the implications for IT teams charged with supporting mobility.

Research: Mobile Device Management

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 04:22:21 -0400

The only constant in mobility nowadays is change. Former market leaders such as RIM and Microsoft are now followers straining to keep pace with consumer-driven operating systems from Google and Apple. Almost 80% say tablets will grow in importance. No two platforms have the same security and management hooks, yet your end users are demanding email, calendaring, VPN access and much more—64% are on board with custom apps. This is changing the face of computing—and terrifying the IT managers charged with providing productivity tools while maintaining control of sensitive data.

Strategy: Biometrics

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:20:23 -0400

As data volume and sensitivity grow, companies cannot rely on password- and token-based authentication.
Biometrics can be used to provide strong access control, but you must weigh added complexity and costs against assurance that users are who they say they are.

Research: IT Process Automation

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 12:06:02 -0400

Big enterprise systems management vendors have been on an acquisition run, assembling tools to support the 68% of respondents striving to orchestrate workflows across public and private clouds and automate their data centers. Have they been successful? While 46% say IT process automation is still too difficult, it's early yet: 53% have been at it less than three years. We'll explore best practices and key tools.

IT Pro Impact: HP's Strategy

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 05:44:56 -0400

Our survey finds that technology professionals don’t understand where HP is headed -- and where they do have a glimpse of the new direction, they don’t like it.

Research: Service-Oriented IT

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:51:26 -0400

More tech-savvy and demanding end users plus plentiful, cheap outsourcing options mean IT organizations that want to survive and thrive must remake themselves. But what does it really gain us to deliver technology via an internal services model? To start with, better security, lower costs, more engagement and solid metrics to prove all this goodness to business leaders. In our three-part report, we explain how to adopt this model across the enterprise.

Strategy: Malware Analysis

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 01:52:03 -0400

Vulnerability management identifies and closes exploitable holes in your enterprise network. But some systems remain vulnerable, and traditional antivirus and perimeter defenses are proving less effective against sophisticated malware, targeted attacks and zero-day exploits. In this report, we show you how malware analysis, tied closely to incident response, is an essential complement to enterprise vulnerability management programs.

Software Licensing: Endure and Triumph

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:29:35 -0400

Managing software licensing can seem a lot like climbing an insurmountable summit, but you can make headway. Here's how.

Strategy: Hardware-Based Authentication

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:36:05 -0400

Tokens, smartcards, biometrics and other hardware-based authentication technologies provide a significant layer of security for sensitive enterprise data. But the wrong choice, or a mishandled implementation, can mean unexpected costs and management overhead, device failure and user rejection. We explore the pros and cons of the various technologies, and help you choose the right approach for your company. Plus: Best practices in the wake of the SecurID breach.