Microsoft to launch iSCSI version 2
Microsoft is preparing to launch version 2.0 of its iSCSI software
to improve Windows-based server connectivity to enterprise storage
area networks. Version 2.0 is expected to be available for download
next month. The new version provides a failover system to protect
data, improve load balancing, ease management and support 64-bit
computing.
BMC to offer web identity management
Enterprise management software firm BMC Software has acquired web
access provider OpenNetwork to offer users web-based identity
management. BMC said the £10m acquisition would expand its identity
management suite to include browser-based authentication and
authorisation. OpenNetwork offers single sign-on and identity
management capabilities.
Attachmate's SOA tools available for Solaris
10
Attachmate has certified its Synapta Presentation Builder and
Services Builder products for Solaris 10. The two products are part
of Attachmate's family of tools to support service-oriented
architectures. Synapta Services Builder can turn existing IT
resources into reusable services for application development.
Synapta Presentation Builder turns host applications into new
applications for the web.
BT Convergent to offer fraud management
BT Convergent Solutions has launched a portfolio of call and fraud
management products based on technology from communications
management firm Soft-ex. Ringmaster offers centralised call
management for businesses with 50 or more seats and Switchminder
detects potential fraudulent activity.
Borland and Capgemini join on lifecycle
software
Borland and Capgemini have joined forces to offer Capgemini
consultants and enterprise resource planning customers an
application lifecycle management methodology to improve software
delivery.
Airwave completed on time and on budget
Airwave, the £2.9bn Tetra-based communications network for every
police force in England, Scotland and Wales, has been completed on
time and to budget. The system allows officers to communicate
directly regardless of location and enables officers to spend more
time on the frontline as they do not have to go back to the office
to file data. However, safety fears remain over the effect of
Airwave signals on users.
MoD signs £1.5bn contract with BT
The Ministry of Defence has awarded BT a £1.5bn contract extension
to the Defence Fixed Telecommunications System. The contract, which
will run until 2012, will provide stability during the £4bn Defence
Information Infrastructure modernisation contract, which was
awarded to an EDS-led consortium last month.
OFR lays down another compliance burden
The Operating and Financial Review (OFR) came into force last week
with the aim of tightening up financial reporting. A legal
requirement for all UK quoted companies for financial years
beginning on or after 1 April 2005, the OFR will add to the
compliance burden on IT departments. Requirements include a
statement of business objectives and strategies and a description
of the principal risks and uncertainties.
Tesco sends customer orders via Marrakech
Tesco is installing an order management system from software
supplier Marrakech. The pay as you go system has been rolled out to
all 780 Tesco stores in the UK. The Marrakech on-demand system is
at the heart of Tesco's click to order initiative, where customers
can order goods through an electronic catalogue.
Viruses and spyware risk from laptop laxity
IT managers are failing to protect their networks from the risks of
viruses and spyware introduced by staff plugging in laptops.
Although 70% are aware of the risks, only 20% take precautions.
Websense asked 500 IT managers to identify the biggest network risk
posed by laptops; 56% said viruses, 34% spyware and 11%
peer-to-peer applications. Despite the risks, only 21% of IT
managers had automatic restrictions and policies in place to ensure
secure laptop use.
Government delays IT waste directive
The government has delayed implementing the Waste Electronic and
Electrical Equipment Directive recycling legislation that was due
to become law on 13 August. It said the delay was caused by "major
practical difficulties" in meeting the deadline.
SAP programme smoothes path to SOA
SAP has announced an education and technology programme to help
firms move towards a service-oriented architecture that can respond
to changing business needs. The programme offers a step-by-step
approach to help with the transition to a services-based
ITarchitecture and is based on companies' individual needs.
MySQL releases beta upgrade for developers
MySQL has released a beta version of a major upgrade to its open
source database, which includes improved enterprise features. The
MySQL 5.0.3 beta is available from MySQL's website and offers
improved support for running e-commerce operations and building
datawarehouses. The upgrade also supports transactions and data
processing running across databases from different suppliers.
Researcher collects Firefox bug bounties
The Mozilla Foundation has awarded five "bug bounties" of £1,400 to
a German security researcher who discovered vulnerabilities in its
Firefox web browser. Michael Krax received the cash for discovering
security threats relating to "chrome privileges" that could have
led to users inadvertently downloading malicious code.
Symantec patches Norton AV against DoS
Symantec has been forced to issue patches for two denial of service
vulnerabilities in its main anti-virus software product. The holes
were found in the Autoprotect functionality of the Symantec Norton
Antivirus range in the 2004 and 2005 versions.
UKhit by 20 new e-mail infections every
second
More than 53 million e-mails containing new or new variations of
viruses were released onto the internet in the UK in March before
anti-virus companies managed to update their software, according to
research by BlackSpider Technologies.