When WANs Aren’t Wide Enough

CIO Magazine‘s recent tech poll revealed something that may not be surprising to corporate network managers: Spending on networks has eclipsed computer hardware as the top IT budget category. What is surprising is that this isn’t due to an increase in the local area networks (LANs) that now run in

Managing Mobile Devices

They are the best of tools and the worst of tools. Mobile computing devices can support the workforce out in the field or make your most sensitive company secrets public knowledge. The only way to simultaneously unleash your workforce and rein in company threats is to control the risks. Many

Reinforcing WiFi Redundancy

Redundancy is routine in the constant scramble to keep a conventional enterprise network functioning. But the wireless infrastructure is often ignored, leaving enterprises vulnerable to malicious attacks and network failure. No longer a hot-spot sideshow, wireless is on track to become the primary enterprise network sooner than you might think.

Web 2.0 Seduces the Enterprise

Talk about disruptive technologies. Despite being widely available for only a few years, Web 2.0 tools, such as WYSIWYG blogging platforms, wikis, social networks, RSS and social bookmarking sites have had a tremendous impact on the way millions of people think about and use the Internet. The term “Web 2.0”

Welcome to the World of Web 2.0

You know the drill: You call tech support about a computer problem, you’re immediately put on hold, and then you wait for anywhere between five minutes and forever before talking to a real person. You’re asked to describe the problem, then you’re put on hold again while the support person

Wired Versus Wireless Networks: What’s Right For You?

When comparing wired networks to wireless ones, it’s six of one, half dozen of another. Wired network speeds have increased to the gigabit range, providing more rapid, reliable and secure access to stored data. On the other hand, wireless networks offer flexibility, mobility and faster return on investment (ROI). What’s

Is It Finally Time for the Grid?

Grid computing would seem to be a simple concept: computers are linked together and the machines share resources such as CPU cycles, RAM and data storage capabilities. Free resources on one machine can be tapped by other users on the grid; in return, a machine in need of additional computing

Five Critical Criteria for Server Virtualization

Virtualization is the topic du jour among IT professionals. As CIOs continue to search for more efficient – and cost-effective – ways to manage the data center, the promise of being able to do more with fewer resources is spurring a large proportion of enterprises to test the virtualization waters.

Data on Demand

Ramiro Perez doesn’t like to wait around. As purchasing manager for Copart Inc., a $500 million automotive services firm based in Fairfield, Calif. helping insurance companies process and sell “total loss” vehicles, his job is all about efficiency — and that’s as much about making sure his organization doesn’t waste

Maximizing Multicore Servers

In the perennial push for greater speed and more robust functionality, multicore servers have been promoted as the solution for the future. But despite their obvious benefits in cost-effective and faster parallel processing, there are significant trade-offs. Chief among these are pushback from application developers, skill transfer, memory limitations, provisioning