Digital Common Sense

April 25, Dayton Business Journal — Identity theft costs small business. Small businesses aren’t immune from the data security breaches that have recently stung LexisNexis Corp. and DSW Corp., experts say. They said small business owners are faced with myriad issues involving data security. Companies of every size must guard their databases against intruders and in case of a breach, notify customers and salvage their businesses reputation. Despite the high−profile cases at large corporations, small business networks are particularly vulnerable to attack, said Vincent Weafer, senior director of security response for Symantec, an Internet security company. Local offices of large corporations are subject to attacks from hackers who see them as a weak entry point to the entire corporation’s network, Weafer said. Also, small businesses tend to overprotect one computer, for instance one that houses the accounting software, but leave others unprotected. Intruders will use the unprotected computers as a way to get into the better−protected machine, Weafer said. Spammers also are attracted to small business computer networks because they tend to be left on, allowing the spammer to constantly send e−mails, he said.
Source

Filed by Ken at 1:45 pm under General
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April 25, ZDNet (UK) — Hackers attack IT conference in London. Hackers infiltrated an IT exhibition last week and attacked delegates’ computers with a new type of wireless attack. Security experts attending the Wireless LAN Event in London last Wednesday, April 20, found that anonymous hackers in the crowd had created a Website that looked like a genuine login page for a Wi−Fi network, but which actually sent 45 random viruses to computers that accessed it. Spencer Parker, a director of technical solutions at AirDefense, said that the hackers walked around the exhibition carrying a Linux−based laptop running software that turned it into a wireless access point. The technique has evolved from an “evil twin” attack, where hackers host fake log−in Websites at commercial Wi−Fi hotspots. This was originally used to lure people into typing in credit card details onto the Web page, so the hacker could steal them.
Source

Filed by Ken at 1:44 pm under General
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April 25, BBC News (UK) — Survey: Web server attacks ‘growing fast’. A survey by Zone−H revealed that web server attacks and Website defacements grew by 36% during 2004 when almost 400,000 incidents were recorded. The attacks include 49 separate sorties against U.S. military servers and huge numbers of Website defacements. The figures were collated by Zone−H , a web−based organization that uses a world−wide network of volunteers to spot and investigate web server attacks and site defacements. “Defacement is just one option for an attacker,” said Roberto Preatoni, Zone−H coordinator. “In most circumstances the techniques used by defacers are the same techniques used by serious criminals to cause more serious damage.” The report found that more than half of all attacks and defacements, 55%, succeeded by exploiting a known bug or vulnerability or an administration mistake. The figures show that the many incidents occur on the anniversaries (mid−March) of the start of the most recent war in Iraq when both pro−Muslim and pro−American groups defaced sites. The survey also found that the long holidays around Christmas provoke a spike in attacks and incidents. The frequency of attacks also dips around the time that schools re−open suggesting that many teenagers are behind the defacements.
Survey: http://www.zone−h.com/news/read/id=4457/
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4480689.stm

Filed by Ken at 1:43 pm under General
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This was posted just a year ago in response to conversation about that illusive yet non-existent A-list, but it seems appropriate for repost (and a chance to pull it forward from the MT archives into WP).

Reading online this morning made me think about this again. It’s something I hate thinking about. It’s counterproductive. It leads to stratification of our community of interest. It’s childish. Like Orkut, it’s playground rules. It’s second grade all over again. There is no A-list. Some people think there is. Some people think they’re on it. Some people think there’s a club with secret handshakes and a password…a grand conspiracy to keep the rest of us out. People on the inside of some circles believe this just as much as some who feel they’re outside those circles. This is a reality of life as much as a reality of the blogosphere. There is no A-list in real life either. Only people who think there is. All people are created equal. No one person is of greater value than another.

The problem is people don’t understand circles. Overlapping circles. Concentric circles. Intersecting circles. Just like ripples in a pond, we are the sum of our circles. Some circles overlap. Some intersect. Some are smaller circles inside larger circles. Some circles never touch. And yes, some circles…jerk. Welcome to our world.

Our circles of interest intersect at some points, but think of the ripples in a large lake. The intersecting circles on one side of lake have such a miniscule impact across that body of water that it’s nearly immeasurable. Sure there’s impact, but the laws of nature weaken the kinetic energy of the ripple as the mass of the water diminishes its strength. So too is the blogosphere a large body. Ripples sometimes make it across and make small differences. Some folks make a big splash are are gone. Every person cannot expect to affect every other person in this world. Reasonable expectations are key. We all exist within our circle of influence and our own community of interest. If we want to move to a new community, we make the necessary adjustments.

Some folks ripple like a bubbling brook, always spilling out something we enjoy. It might be useful information. It might be cheerful good news. It might be tidbits of wisdom about productivity tools. These folks are a fountain, every renewing our spirit and keeping our water fresh. These folks don’t care about lists. They pay attention to their circles of friends…their community of interest. They are focused outward.

Some lie quietly like a sleeping giant. A body of water at rest is quiet and peaceful until the eruption of frenzied activity. These folks, erupt like a waterspout, blasting new ideas into our consciousness at unexpected moments. These folks care about making a difference in one area or another. They seize ideas they think are important and blast out thoughts. Their circles coverge and split and merge and change continually. They too are focused outward.

The quiet ones are just there. Think of the 20th century female poet, J. Sydney. Who said “He poured so gently and naturally into my life like batter into a bowl of butter. Honey into a jar of honey. The clearest water sinking into sand.” They pervade our daily life, having some small affect on our thoughts and actions every day, but we never really realize or appreciate the impact they have. Their circles overlap and intertwine (intertwingle) with one another. They come and go and make quiet friends as interests evolve. Like the others, these friends keep an outward focus.

Then there’s always the boistrous fat guy doing the cannonball. You know the one always hollering “look at me….watch me.” Yep, he’s there and he has an affect too. It’s not a lasting affect. Let him splash in your pool and look an hour later. His ripple are gone. He’s an aggressive, but ephemeral agitant. He’s the self-aggrandizing one who isn’t nearly as important as he thinks he is. He’s the one who thinks there’s a n A-list and thinks he’s on it. I’m here to tell you a secret — he’s wrong. These are the folks who are looking the wrong direction. They look inward to me, my company who I am, what I can do, how popular/important/sexy I am. The center of their universe is different.

I rarely feel like I’m one to offer advice. Rex Hudler said “be a fountain, not a drain.”

Ken says

Then again, as someone walking by just told me, maybe I’m all wet…

Filed by Ken at 8:13 am under General
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I’m finding the last couple of weeks or so to be relevant and redefining in many ways. I’ve often noted how some of the people I’ve read for so long have lost their appeal for me. Not the folks I call good friends, but many that I’ve read from a distance now seem to have so little to say. They’ve lost their voices and have no relevance.

But new voices beckon everywhere I turn. I find them on the left, the right, behind me, but so often they’re ahead. Forward. In the last week or two I’ve realized that almost every new blog I add, whether to the link bar on the right, or my Bloglines subscription, is a non-white, non-male, non-A-list sort of voice. And the thing is that these voices (Elisa, Eleanor and Mary, seem to fit so comfortably with old friends like Elaine, Jeneane and Frank.

Then this evening I stumble across Sentinel 47: Keeping the Gate. I’m not sure where I saw the link. Only that I was riveted. You really need to read to appreciate - Two months shy of giving myself the promised end to my service in the National Guard, I was mobilized for deployment to Iraq. Total service for such a call-up is a maximum of 24 months, minimum 12 months in country. Herein lie the stories of this Desert Daughter, Woman-soldier, commissioned officer — A VIEW FROM THE FRONT GATE.

I read this young woman’s posts. Few and recent, for she was only just deployed from the look of it. Yet, I’m compelled to read, and to link. To support. To say thank you for watching the gate. Having been there, at the gate, years ago, when the gate was along the coastlines of southeast Asia, I do both appreciate and understand the sacrifice it takes to be a guardian of those gates. And we who’ve been there salute and respect those who serve today.

Only to read later in the evening that this young woman serving in country is Mary’s daughter Tommi. We come full circle. Circles within circles, weaving together a tapestry of kinship that serves as our steel armor mesh against the insanities of the world.

Friends. New and old. Near and far. Yes, male and female. But friends who share a bond in many ways. It reminded me to go copy and revisit an old post -

This day is called the feast of Crispian: He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named, And rouse him at the name of Crispian. He that shall live this day, and see old age, Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours, And say ‘To-morrow is Saint Crispian:’ Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars. And say ‘These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.’ Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot, But he’ll remember with advantages What feats he did that day: then shall our names. Familiar in his mouth as household words Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester, Be in their flowing cups freshly remember’d. This story shall the good man teach his son; And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remember’d; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition: And gentlemen in England now a-bed Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

Filed by Ken at 10:59 pm under General
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Barbara Walters of 20/20 did a story on gender roles in Kabul, Afghanistan, several years before the Afghan conflict. She noted that the women customarily walked 5 paces behind their husbands. She recently returned to Kabul and observed that women still walk behind their husbands.

From Ms. Walters vantage point, despite the overthrow of the oppressive Taliban regime, the women now seem to walk even further back behind their husbands and are happy to maintain the old custom. Ms. Walters approached one of the Afghani women and asked “Why do you now seem happy with the old custom that you once tried so desperately to change?”

The women looked Ms. Walters straight in the eyes and without hesitation, said “Land mines.”

Moral of the story: Behind every man is a smart woman

Filed by Ken at 3:53 pm under General
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Someone took offense to my reference to twelve o’clock flashers yesterday, so I thought I’d come back and be more offensive. I mean if you’re gonna offend people, why hold back? Wanna know where they are? Here’s an example fromJeff Jarvis just to show these people hide everywhere.

This is an example of Cluless. 12:00 Flashing. The Global Leper Colony of the Internet — people to be shunned because they do not fucking get it. Even generally clueful people can be 12:00 Flashers.

Disregard - On further thought I’d don’t even want to waste my breath here. Links removed and comments off.

Filed by Ken at 12:16 am under General
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I’m behind on reading and would haven’t caught this article today if Bruce Schneier hadn’t mentioned it.

On any given day, we CSOs come to work facing a multitude of security risks. They range from a sophisticated hacker breaching the network to a common thug picking a lock on the loading dock and making off with company property. Each of these scenarios has a probability of occurring and a payout (in this case, a cost to the company) should it actually occur. To guard against these risks, we have a finite budget of resources in the way of time, personnel, money and equipment—poker chips, if you will.

If we’re good gamblers, we put those chips where there is the highest probability of winning a high payout. In other words, we guard against risks that are most likely to occur and that, if they do occur, will cost the company the most money. We could always be better, but as CSOs, I think we’re getting pretty good at this process. So lately I’ve been wondering—as I watch spending on national security continue to skyrocket, with diminishing marginal returns—why we as a nation can’t apply this same logic to national security spending. If we did this, the war on terrorism would look a lot different. In fact, it might even be over.

Read the whole essay here.

The best quote was the sidebar - “CSOs know how to best allocate available resources to guard against the most likely threats. We should be vocal about the need to apply that same logic to our nation’s security.”

Welcome to my world. I do the work for free. I get paid to worry.

And to rescue the twelve o’clock flashers…

Filed by Ken at 7:46 pm under General
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Thanks to all the BlogHer Con chatter, I’m crossing paths with all sorts of interesting new people. Today’s new person is Mary who got tagged with this book meme that I snagged because it’s one of the more interesting that I’ve seen lately. (Note - Fixed the link. Thanks Elisa!)

You’re stuck inside Fahrenheit 451, which book do you want to be? Ummm, Farenheit 451 is a book. Did you mean that movie? I never bothered watching it. They can’t possibly drop the price low enough for me to buy it at Costco in the next decade.

Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?
Does Emma Peel count? She has to count, right?

The last book you bought is?
Getting Things Done - David Allen.

What are you currently reading?
Catch Me If You Can - Frank Abagnale
Angels and Demons - Dan Brown
On Writing - Stephen King

Five books you would take to a deserted island
Shakespeare anthology. Pick one. There are many to choose from.
Collected works of Thoreau
Bible
The Stand - Stephen King
US Army Survival Manual (duh!)

Who are you going to pass this stick to and why?
Jeneane because I think she reads far more than she lets on.
Jon because he reads things I’d never think to pick up for myself.
Shelley because I wonder what she’d read on a deserted island where she’d have no reason to read/write code.
ntodd because of his eclectic tastes and the neat Russian history he’s always finding. (Besides, he’s never played a meme that I can recall)
Marek because he’s just been too damn quiet.

Filed by Ken at 9:05 am under General
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The Obvious?: In mysterious ways …

When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bike. Then I realized, God doesn’t work that way, so I stole one and asked him to forgive me.

Filed by Ken at 8:35 pm under General
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I’m way too slow at posting a link to Memer here. Nonetheless, despite his manly ways, he’s a voice worth listening to. He’s in the Affinity Group over on the right and I’ll pay better attention now that I realized I’d missed him on here.

Filed by Ken at 8:25 pm under General
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April 20, Finextra Research — British bank urges online banking customers to tighten personal computer security. British bank Lloyds TSB is urging Web banking customers to step up their IT security after research conducted by the bank indicated that over half of consumer PCs and laptops have been infected with a computer virus. The survey of 1400 people showed that three quarters of computer users were worried about the threat of viruses, but 10% had never updated their anti−virus software. The research also found that one percent had no anti−virus technology installed at all. Matthew Timms, Internet banking director, Lloyds TSB, says: “While we are doing everything we can to make our security watertight, we also urge all of our customers to think carefully about the measures they have taken to protect their PC. This means regularly updating their anti−virus software and ensuring they have a robust firewall.” Cost was the main reason given for not updating anti−virus software, although some respondents claimed that they didn’t know it was necessary, or didn’t know what to buy.
Source: http://www.finextra.com/fullstory.asp?id=13553

Note: Life is tough. It’s tougher when you’re stupid.

Filed by Ken at 8:31 am under General
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April 19, vnunet — Report says virus writers turning from e−mail to IM. Email worms are falling out of favor with the hacking community, according to a report investigating malicious Internet activity. Instead malware authors are increasingly subverting vulnerable instant messenger (IM) systems and using network viruses that do not require user interaction to spread. Other threats identified include botnets and increasingly intrusive adware. The report, “Malware Evolution. January−March 2005,” from security firm Kaspersky Labs notes that viruses for IM systems started to appear late last year but are only now appearing in volume. Seven out of every eight IM worms attack Microsoft’s MSN Messenger service. “Improved antivirus technologies, and increased user awareness of security issues are clearly forcing virus writers and hackers to use new approaches to access users’ information and systems,” said Alexander Gostev, senior virus analyst at Kaspersky Labs. The study identifies 40 individual IM worms in the first quarter of the year, the majority written in one of the simplest computer languages, Visual Basic (VB). It noted that use of this language indicates the authors are relatively unsophisticated coders, since VB is not widely used by experts because it is so slow to run.
Report: http://www.viruslist.com/en/analysis?pubid=162454316
Source: http://www.vnunet.com/news/1162557

*** Nice that we have a report to now confirm something that’s been common knowledge for over a year.

Filed by Ken at 8:29 am under General
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Shelley’s been at it again. If we believe what we read, she’s taking things personally and just stirring up all sorts of sexual tension between the genders. Wait a minute now, isn’t that sort of thing sometimes called foreplay?

I just thought I’d been too quiet on the subject and had to jump in to agitate one more time on behalf od all us manly men out in this universe. We manly men even have our theme song - The Man Song. I won’der if they’ll use it a BlogHer Con. The interesting thing is that the ladies involved are bright and witty enough, that they probably would. But the mysogynistic side of the blogosphere probably wouldn’t get it.

Update - Realizing that some folks will just be a tad to anal-retentive to deal with the Man Song, those of you who find yourselves irony impaired can click here instead for a little cup of joy.

In the meantime, me — I’m just sticking my nose in being who I am…

—–

Update 4/22/05 - And kudos to Elisa for rising to the bait and posting it on the Blogher site. The misogynistic side of the world won’t ever figure it out anyway.

Filed by Ken at 7:30 am under General
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Well, in one regard, they didn’t make an offer that piqued my interest, but even that warrants some qualification.

When I decided to move to Washington last year Microsoft was one of the companies I queried with a resume. I didn’t hear anything back for a very long time, but recently they did contact me.

I met with Microsoft and discussed a potential management position there. It was in a dynamic team of genius caliber people. An unprecedented opportunity that did not come to fruition.

I haven’t heard any more on this lately, but that’s. I would withdraw from consideration at this point. As one friend observed, I’d probably find it too stifling

I did have chances to meet with them and go through a range of interviews. The campus is a splendiforous place, and a magnificent work environment. But it’s just not for me at this point.

Some of you reading this are pretty rabid anti-Microsoft in thinking, and I thought this was an opportunity to speak out and suggest that you consider helping facilitate change from within. Unless you’re the biggest customer a company has, driving change in behavior is a challenge. From within it’s still a huge challenge.

Some of you reading this are incredibly talented. Many of you write code, and far better than I ever did. I’m a manager in the tech sector, albeit a highly technical one. Wouldn’t you rather work to change the culture in a company that’s dynamic and vibrant and alive than in some of the dead and brain-dead places we’ve all worked at in the past?

I’m not encouraging you all to go send resumes to Microsoft. I have no “in” there. But I do think building and cultivating the relationships is a more useful approach to bringing change. And I do think MS represents a premier employer. I wish I felt there was a fit, but I don’t at this time.

So while things didn’t quite fit for Microsoft and my talents and needs, that doesn’t mean they don’t fit you. Or someone you know. The question becomes one of faith. Hoow much faith do you have in their system?

I for one operate in multiple environments. I use MS products extensively. In part because I have to, but in part because they’re the tools that get the job done. But I also have Linux systems (more on ubuntu one of these days when I have some time). And I’m a pretty dedicated Palm user for a long time (I’m on #9), I’ve seen little in the Pocket PC platform that intrigues me. In truth, PocketPC and Palm are both a bit stale and boring these days, so perhaps I’m staying in my comfort zone until something comes along that excites me.

I see my decision as somewhat akin to my decision to leave Lucent several years ago. I’d lost faith in AT&T because they’d lost their way. Sure the company still exists…sort of, but they’ve been wandering in the wilderness headed for demise for years.

Has MS lost their way? Had they ever found it? I don’t know. It’s the most talented group ever assembled, yet in so many ways, the collective organism flounders. Microsoft is certainly far from death throes, but I’m not alone in wondering if they slipped off the power curve. In so many ways Microsoft demonstrates either clueless or egomaniacallly stubborn behavior. My friend’s observation that I’d find it too stifling was especially thought provoking.

I know a couple of readers had an inkling this whole interviewing process was underway. Just wanted to take a moment to reassure you that I’m still here and nothing’s changing at this point. The adventure continues.

*** mo:Blogged ***

Filed by Ken at 9:08 pm under General
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30-40% of Internet activity at work is unrelated to work. 70% of porn is downloaded between 9am and 5pm.

There are now 10 million identity thefts per year.

43 million people use IM at work.

In p2p networks almost half the files downloaded carry some malicious code (songs included).

Botnets of 10-20,000 systems are common.

For the most part, hackers don’t have a specific target. They’re looking for the path of least resistance and will follow the path where it leads. A corporate laptop is the Holy Grail.

Microsoft XP is 40 million lines of codes with one estimate bug per thousand lines.

The lifespan of an unprotected system on the Internet is now under 4 minutes.

Observations
Life is tough, but it’s toucher when you’re stupid.

Caution: This machine has no brain. Use you own.

Internet privacy is an oxymoron.

Quote of Note - I am root. If you see me laughing, you better have a backup.
—–
And Snoop Dog stayed here at the Adam’s Mark last night. Ummmmm whoopee

Filed by Ken at 7:35 pm under General
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Verizon CEO sounds off on Wi-Fi, customer gripesI

The head of the country’s largest phone company ridiculed San Francisco’s interest in building a municipal Wi-Fi network that is designed to offer cheap or free Internet service throughout the city.

“That could be one of the dumbest ideas I’ve ever heard,” said Ivan Seidenberg, chief executive officer of Verizon Communications, during a meeting with Chronicle editors and writers on Friday. “It sounds like a good thing, but the trouble is someone will have to design it, someone will have to upgrade it, someone will have to maintain it and someone will have to run it.”

Oddly enough, I once sat in a session with Ivan at Verizon HQ just off Times Square. I used to thiing he got it. I’m deeply disappointed because talk like this will be the undoing of Verizon. Ivan needs to get a grip.

Filed by Ken at 7:45 pm under General
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Ok, I’m not actually on the road yet. My team has a cutover going tonight, so I’ll be in at work later to make sure that goes well. Then in the morning I’m headed to Denver for an MS-ISAC conference for a couple days. I’ll be back late Tuesday evening. Hoping to maybe get a chance to connect with some friends in Denver while I’m there. I doubt any of you who read here will be at the conference (it’s decidedly *not* a blogging thing), but it’s always a possibility. If so, look me up.

Filed by Ken at 12:37 pm under General
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News from PC Magazine: Microsoft Reveals Longhorn Details

By Michael J. Miller

Microsoft is slowly but surely lifting the veil of secrecy surrounding its next version of the widely used Windows operating oystem, code-named Longhorn.

Recently, I got a firsthand look at Longhorn’s new search capabilities, as well as many more details about what end users can expect from the still-in-development OS, courtesy of Jim Allchin, group vice president of Microsoft’s Platforms Group. Allchin also revealed that hardware developers at this month’s Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHec) will be given a release designed for writing device drivers, and that a full beta version with user interface will come out a few months later.

Allchin described Longhorn as nothing less than “the OS platform for the next ten years.” It’s on track for Beta 1 release this summer and final release for the 2006 holiday season. Although the Avalon graphics system, Indigo Web services system, and WinFS file system (now slated to ship sometime after Longhorn) have gotten the most attention, Microsoft’s design goals focus on six key points, Allchin says:

1. It just works
2. Safe and secure
3. Easy to deploy and manage
4. Client experiences—at work, at home, and on the go
5. The right server for your business
6. OS platform for the next ten years

The article goes farther and it does have some interesting points. These six bullets made me think, and I feel the need to react.

1. It just works
Like Plug and Play, right? Desirable, even noble. Show me. I’ll believe it after I see it on a system I manage. When users in the real world say it just works, then this can be used for a description. Until then, it’s just a wish.

2. Safe and secure
I hope so. I’ll believe it when I see it. My personal concern is that Microsoft understands Layer 7 of the OSI model, but not the underlying foundation layers. So often things in MS applications make assumptions or place requirements un the underlying network. As the worldwide web becomes the worldwide OS, decoupling the OS from the network is less and less practical. Show me.

3. Easy to deploy and manage
Like Plug and Play, right? Is there an echo in here? Again, when users in the real world say it just works, then this can be used for a description. Until then, it’s just another fantasy.

4. Client experiences—at work, at home, and on the go
Huh? Does this say something? I have client experiences with Microsoft already. Some good, some not good, some disastrous. I just think this is filler that says nothing. Or it says it might work some of the places you’ll need it.

5. The right server for your business
Says who? In many ways, this ties back to the OSI model and how applications behave with the underlying network layers. Microsoft doesn’t always understand that even the OS is an application at layer 7 and there are other dependencies (read plays well with others). So again, I say show me.

6. OS platform for the next ten years
Nobody will ever want a computer in the home.
Nobody will ever outgrow a 20Mb hard drive.
Nobody will ever ened more than 640k of RAM.
See Moore’s Law. Some folks have already learned this lesson. Take advantage of lessons learned.

I remain ambivalent about Longhorn, in large part because it doesn’t matter.

Any new OS will be an enabler and a disabler

Some things we do today won’t be possible in a new environment. Some things we can’t do today will become possible. Until the OS is in the hands of users and system adminstrators, we don’t know what the good, bad or ugly will be.

There are a few things I feel confident predicting about Longhorn. It will consume more disk space than any PC-based OS ever seen. It will eat more system resources. It will need more RAM. More, more more. It won’t run on my old Toshiba P90 laptop with 16M RAM and a 720M hard drive. I can pretty much guarantee it won’t.

In the real world, in the IT Garage-like real world, Longhorn is still so far into the future that the talk is pure fantasy. Fantasy and illusion. Smoke and mirrors. And while it may be cool beans, it doesn’t exist in our real world, and won’t until it’s tested, released, gains traction and proves itself.

Just rambling thoughts…

Filed by Ken at 2:11 pm under General
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DHS asks for business help
DHS asks for business help

Homeland Security Department officials appealed to information technology vendors this week to help them solve the department’s interoperability problems by offering more than technical assistance.

Under growing pressure from lawmakers to make the department more cohesive, DHS chief information officers said technology companies could help by proposing business ideas that officials could use as they try to merge the department’s 22 agencies into an effective organization.

“Interoperability is not simply a technical issue,” said Scott Hastings, CIO for the U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology program, which keeps track of foreign visitors entering and leaving the United States.

The business and policy challenges of achieving interoperability are proving to be the most difficult, Hastings said, speaking in Washington, D.C., at the FOSE government IT conference. He appealed to companies that want to sell IT products and services to DHS to offer their help in overcoming budgeting and contracting obstacles, for example, which have proved more difficult than many anticipated.

What, they thought IT was easy?

Filed by Ken at 10:01 am under General
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