Tips

Tips

• Big data storage management challenges and how to deal with them

  Big data storage management is becoming an important concern. This tip will help you deal with your big data storage management challenges.  Continue Reading

• ISDN implementation: Part 2 -- Protocols, components and router options

  ISDN provides for digital transmission over ordinary telephone copper wire as well as over other media uses. In this continuation of his tip on ISDN implementation, Chris Partsenidis discusses the OSI Layers, protocols, components and router options...  Continue Reading

• Organising an information security discussion on IT security processes

  Creating a checklist can help prevent important IT security processes from falling through the cracks.  Continue Reading

• 4 WAN accelerator tweaks to address performance and bandwidth issues

  Here are some tricks to address bandwidth constraints and speed up your corporate network with WAN accelerators.  Continue Reading

• Cloud computing in education: How moving to the cloud can help schools

  There are huge benefits of using virtualisation and cloud computing in education. What’s holding schools and other public sector departments back?  Continue Reading

• Windows 7 exploit via hosted network, a security threat to enterprises

  Windows 7 ships with the hosted network feature, which has the potential to become a Windows 7 exploit, and pose a serious security problem for enterprises.  Continue Reading

• BackTrack 5 tutorial Part I: Information gathering and VA tools

  Our BackTrack 5 tutorial covers information gathering and vulnerability assessment using BackTrack 5.  Continue Reading

• To avoid cloud computing legal issues, consider these three domains

  Attorney Stewart Room discusses three critical focus areas that will help organizations avoid cloud computing legal issues and SLA conflicts.  Continue Reading

• Benefits of business analysis tools to SMBs

  Business analysis tools are no more the domain of large enterprises alone. Today, even small businesses are charging in by using business analysis tools.  Continue Reading

• UK public sector IT grapples with cloud computing security risks

  Can UK public sector IT overcome its fear of cloud computing risks in order to reap badly needed savings?  Continue Reading

• 8 power usage effectiveness (PUE) best practices for your data center

  Power usage effectiveness (PUE) is a measure of power efficiency in data center IT equipment. Use these best practices to learn how to tweak PUE levels.  Continue Reading

• How to build and manage an energy-efficient data centre: A mini guide

  An energy-efficient data centre helps save considerable costs over time. This mini guide has info on how to build, manage and measure ROI of an energy-efficient data centre.  Continue Reading

• Customers ponder effect of vSphere 5 licensing changes

  VMware raised vRAM limit in its new vSphere 5 licensing model after facing customer ire. What will the changes actually mean to its users?  Continue Reading

• Storage design mistakes you should avoid: Part II

  Design decisions on storage need to be driven by business objectives. Steer clear of these storage sizing mistakes when designing your IT solutions.  Continue Reading

• Build an MDM hub with this step by step guide

  Building a master data management (MDM) hub can be baffling. Use this step by step manual to build your own efficient MDM hub.  Continue Reading

• Secure software development lifecycle: An approach for SMBs

  Small businesses that lack the resources to implement the full MSDL can use its basic tenants to provide more secure software development.  Continue Reading

• DPA personal data: Policies for employee information privacy

  Many organisations don't realise that DPA regulations on personal data privacy apply just as much to prospective employees as to recruited ones.  Continue Reading

• Instant-on enterprise: What value does it add to your business?

  Vendors may be pushing “instant-on enterprise” as the next big concept in enterprise IT. Business expert Andrew Cross explores whether it can really make a difference to your company’s bottom line today.  Continue Reading

• Web server load balancing solution planning checklist

  Although Web server load balancing can improve performance, a few pre-assessments are advisable. Know these steps before you loosen your purse strings.  Continue Reading

• Step-by-step aircrack tutorial for Wi-Fi penetration testing

  Aircrack-ng is a simple tool for cracking WEP keys as part of pen tests. In this aircrack tutorial, we outline the steps involved in cracking WEP keys.  Continue Reading

• Downloadable business impact analysis (BIA) template for effective business continuity

  Download our business impact analysis template to ease your organization’s business impact analysis exercise and ensure effective business continuity.  Continue Reading

• Get your mobile Web analytics project approved

  Mobile Web analytics can help maximize customer yields. Here’s how to successfully make the business case for your mobile Web analytics investment needs.  Continue Reading

• Network infrastructure, SAN and VMware upgrade: A law firm case study

  A law firm gave its IT infrastructure a much-needed facelift with a storage and network infrastructure redesign, as well as a VMware upgrade.  Continue Reading

• Adopt public cloud computing in four easy steps

  Public cloud computing is gaining in terms of offerings’ maturity. Learn about the four stages in setting up public cloud computing in your organization.  Continue Reading

• Free-air cooling – using natural cooling in the data centre

  If your energy bills are soaring and you want a cost-effective means of maintaining your data centre’s temperature, consider natural cooling or free-air cooling.  Continue Reading

• Optimize your IT outsourcing strategy with this guide

  Before your organization leaps into outsourcing, use this comprehensive guide to shape your IT outsourcing strategy and reap business advantages.  Continue Reading

• Mobile analytics: New kid on the block

  Mobile analytics (customer behavior analytics on mobile web) will soon be the rage. Read on to find out why mobile analytics is set to become big.  Continue Reading

• Cross-site request forgery: Lessons from a CSRF attack example

  Cross-site request forgery attacks can lead to serious damage to websites. See how lessons from a CSRF attack example can help prevent these attacks.  Continue Reading

• TOGAF certification for the information system architect

  TOGAF certification can be a valuable addition to a system architect’s resume. Learn more about TOGAF certification in this TechTarget career feature.  Continue Reading

• Storage sizing mistakes you should avoid: Part I

  Storage sizing mistakes could adversely impact IT setups. This tip explains how to evaluate importance of capacity and performance during storage sizing.  Continue Reading

• Easy installations for vCenter and VMware Update Manager

  Installing vCenter and VMware Update Manager (VUM) for vSphere5 need not always be a manual process. Automate the deployment of the two core services for your VMware environment.  Continue Reading

• 6 information security risk assessment pitfalls to avoid

  Information security risk assessment helps determine steps to a proactive infosec posture. Our expert looks at the pitfalls to avoid during risk assessment.  Continue Reading

• Creating secure virtual machines with strong data separation policies

  Virtualisation can increase cost savings and efficiency, but could also increase an organisation's risk level.  Continue Reading

• Project collaboration tools: Web security policy for B2B collaboration

  Project collaboration tools are easy for users to set up. Securing them, however, takes a bit more time and effort.  Continue Reading

• Internal security audit: The importance of security system assessment

  Internal security audits can help keep compliance programs on track, as well as reduce the stress of formal audits.  Continue Reading

• Map your data classification policy to controls effectively: How-to

  Data classification policy plays an important role in control implementation and effectiveness. We take a look at the involved parameters.  Continue Reading

• Big data analytics made easy with SQL and MapReduce

  With growth in unstructured big data, RDBMS is inadequate for big data analytics. Know how to use SQL and MapReduce for big data analytics, instead.  Continue Reading

• OpenVAS how-to: Creating a vulnerability assessment report

  In this OpenVAS how-to, learn how to use the free scanner to create a vulnerability assessment report and assess threat levels.  Continue Reading

• SLA template and guidelines for DR outsourcing

  Use these guidelines along with our downloadable SLA template to structure, implement and successfully manage SLAs for DR infrastructure outsourcing.  Continue Reading

• Metasploit tutorial 3 – Database configuration & post exploit affairs

  Part three of our Metasploit tutorial covers database configuration in Metasploit and what needs to be done subsequent to exploitation using Metasploit.  Continue Reading

• Storage considerations for containerised data centres

  Containerised data centres are useful disaster recovery infrastructure. But if you use a lot of storage, don't expect off-the-shelf units to do the job.  Continue Reading

• Can’t afford a server refresh?

  If you can’t afford a server hardware refresh, consider these lower-cost alternatives to boost hardware performance.  Continue Reading

• Application migration to the cloud: Selecting the right apps

  Migrating applications to the cloud depends on many parameters. This tip helps you prioritize and carry out application migration correctly and effectively.  Continue Reading

• CRM vendor evaluation criteria simplified

  Evaluating CRM vendors for the right fit can be tricky. These guidelines for CRM vendor evaluation will help you quickly hone in to the right choice.  Continue Reading

• Include ROI measurements to find true server virtualisation costs

  Although it’s widely accepted that virtualisation, especially server virtualisation will save organisations money, IT pros must not sidestep the return on investment calculation process.  Continue Reading

• Five ways customer data integration (CDI) can help your organization

  Customer data integration (CDI) is one of the new technologies companies have set their eyes on. Find the benefits of customer data integration here.  Continue Reading

• Data backup and recovery software: A financial services case study

  A financial services firm used data backup and recovery software to optimise its newly virtualised infrastructure and remain compliant.  Continue Reading

• ITIL Foundation certification V3 preparation guide

  ITIL Foundation certification is in great demand currently. Follow these guidelines to successfully prepare for the ITIL Foundation certification exam.  Continue Reading

• Private cloud setup in six easy steps

  Private cloud setup entails a systematic progression from assessment to optimization. This tip helps smooth your private cloud setup adoption journey.  Continue Reading

• Citrix virtualisation licensing, pricing and features mini guide

  If your organisation is looking at Citrix virtualisation to meet its IT needs, this guide offers info on Citrix XenServer virtualisation and Citrix licensing, pricing and features.  Continue Reading

• Best practices for audit, log review for IT security investigations

  Device logs can be one of the most helpful tools infosec pros have, or they can be a huge waste of space.  Continue Reading

• Instant messaging: Corporate policies for IM security issues

  While the business benefits of using IM often outweigh the risks, locking down instant messaging in the workplace is still essential to enterprise security.  Continue Reading

• MDM tools vendor selection criteria

  MDM tools are fast turning into necessities. Start your MDM tools vendor selection process with these helpful tips.  Continue Reading

• Water cooling vs. air cooling: The rise of water use in data centres

  When comparing water cooling vs. air cooling techniques in data centres, you will find that air cooling is more popular. But water cooling is making its presence felt again.  Continue Reading

• NIST SP 800-30 standard for technical risk assessment: An evaluation

  Risk assessment with NIST SP 800-30 focuses on securing IT infrastructure. Find out NIST SP 800-30 strengths, and learn how it differs from other standards.  Continue Reading

• Getting the right hardware for your server refresh

  Server consolidation, virtualisation and other trends complicate the server refresh process. An expert provides some advice on making the right hardware platform choices.  Continue Reading

• 6 cloud SLA monitoring tips for better service delivery

  Cloud SLA monitoring is essential for better service delivery. These tips on effective cloud SLA monitoring help ensure SLAs from cloud vendors are met.  Continue Reading

• Advanced persistent threat (APT) defense; best practices

  An advanced persistent threat could be disastrous if targeted at entities of strategic value. Follow these nifty tips to tackle advanced persistent threats.  Continue Reading

• VMware to support Microsoft Hyper-V

  VMware’s latest fling, XVP Manager, provides basic virtualisation management capabilities for non-vSphere hypervisor platforms such as various Hyper-V flavours enabled on Windows.  Continue Reading

• VMware vSphere 5 licensing demystified

  VMware’s vSphere 5 licensing model enables businesses move to usage-based costing. Here’s a look at the updated vRAM pooling option in vSphere 5 licensing.  Continue Reading

• Website secure login: Alternatives to out-of-wallet questions

  Learn about alternatives to static knowledge-based authentication and out-of-wallet questions for secure website logins in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Create an information sharing policy for protection from data leakage

  Secure information exchange is a crucial aspect of controlling sensitive data, but few companies have a policy outlining such exchange. Learn how to lock down information sharing in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Metasploit tutorial part 2: Using meterpreter

  Part two of our Metasploit tutorial covers usage details of the meterpreter post-exploitation tool in Metasploit to create exploits that evade detection.  Continue Reading

• Pitch for security investment planning: How-to

  Security investment planning for a scalable future-proof business infrastructure can be tricky. Here’s how you can prepare the business case.  Continue Reading

• Six IT budget planning tips for Indian CIOs

  By adhering to some battle-tested principles, CIOs can improve their IT budget planning skills. Use the tips to plan your IT budgets better.  Continue Reading

• MDM tools business case secrets

  MDM tools can streamline data management totally. Use these smart tips to effectively pitch the business case for MDM tools investment to top management.  Continue Reading

• How to optimise CRAC units for best energy efficiency

  CRAC systems are a key part of a data centre facility. For an effective data centre energy efficiency action plan, match the facility to the needs of the IT estates and optimise CRAC units.  Continue Reading

• Nmap tutorial: Nmap scan examples for vulnerability discovery

  Learn how to use Nmap, the free network scanner tool, to identify various network devices and interpret network data to uncover possible vulnerabilities.  Continue Reading

• IT gap analysis template: Download the simplified edition

  Use our simple IT gap analysis template to document gaps between promise and delivery, for foolproof IT gap analysis and recommendations for bridging gaps.  Continue Reading

• How to plan out your virtual environment

  How to make informed decisions when moving to a virtual environment from a physical setup.  Continue Reading

• XBRL software selection guide for Indian CIOs

  A software tool is needed to convert data to XBRL format. Use this guide to choose XBRL software wisely. Don’t let vendors dictate terms to you.  Continue Reading

• Predictive analytics software deployment: 4 pitfalls to watch out for

  Predictive analytics software can aid focused growth. Consider these factors to make your software a winner in predictive analytics.  Continue Reading

• SAP security tutorial: Top 10 SAP security implementation steps

  Implementing SAP software securely isn't only the job of SAP specialists; the entire IT department has a role to play. Learn the top ten steps to a secure SAP implementation.  Continue Reading

• OCTAVE risk assessment method examined up close

  The OCTAVE risk assessment method is unique in that it follows a self-directed approach to risk assessment. Leverage its strengths with this expert tip.  Continue Reading

• Metasploit tutorial part 1: Inside the Metasploit framework

  In part one of our Metasploit tutorial, learn the framework’s basics, to use it for vulnerability scans and create a simple exploit on a target system.  Continue Reading

• Building the business case for a server refresh

  As IT managers consider a server refresh, they need to create a solid business case for replacing hardware. Here’s how to garner support for the project.  Continue Reading

• How to use a QSA assessment to secure a cardholder data environment

  Read Mathieu Gorge’s top five tips to prepare for a PCI QSA assessment, and learn how that preparation enables a secure cardholder data environment.  Continue Reading

• Opex vs Capex: Maintaining the right balance

  A few thumb rules can provide answer to the conundrum that puzzles CIOs, opex vs capex. Read these tips to know what suits you the best: Opex or capex.  Continue Reading

• Text analytics illustrated

  Text analytics can extract valuable information from masses of textual data. Get the full recipe of text analytics here.  Continue Reading

• How to stop SQL injection and prevent data compromises

  While they're some of the easiest attacks to prevent, SQL injections are also some of the least protected against forms of attack. Learn how to stop them with this advice.  Continue Reading

• Three mobile device security policy lookouts from ISF

  Advice from Information Security Forum (ISF) on how to draft a comprehensive mobile device security policy, given the evolving mobile device environment.  Continue Reading

• Build open source business intelligence platform successfully

  A business intelligence tool without a platform is like a body without a skeleton. Here is how you can build an open source business intelligence platform.  Continue Reading

• DPA compliance not a black and white process

  For DPA compliance, a ‘tick-box’ approach is not an option. Therefore, the trick is to simply to keep out of trouble and avoid obvious negligence. Alan Calder explains how.  Continue Reading

• ITIL problem management process simplified

  This tip takes your through the ITIL problem management process, and how companies can deal with problem management effectively using ITIL guidelines.  Continue Reading

• Energy saving tips: Reduce energy consumption with hot and cold aisles

  Are you using a cooling technique which is wasting energy instead of conserving it? Use these hot and cold aisle energy saving tips to reduce energy within the data centre.  Continue Reading

• 13 LUN management tips for VMware environments

  Use these LUN management recommendations to ensure your VMware-based virtualization exercise results in optimal storage utilization and performance.  Continue Reading

• A malware analysis kit for the novice

  As malware gets more and more sophisticated, one needs to be aware of the latest techniques for effective malware analysis. Here are some useful guidelines.  Continue Reading

• Assessing your server refresh options

  Hardware updates are unavoidable, but you have to know when a server refresh will make the most sense. Here are factors that signal it’s time for an upgrade.  Continue Reading

• Security awareness and training programme design: A case study

  In this excerpt for Robbie Craig's MSc thesis, "Security awareness and training programme design: a case study at Luton Borough Council," Craig explains why most security training programmes fail.  Continue Reading

• Free IT risk assessment template download and best practices

  Here’s a structured, step-by step IT risk assessment template for effective risk management and foolproof disaster-recovery readiness.  Continue Reading

• Top incident response steps: Incident response team responsibilities

  Do you know the proper incident response steps to handle a breach? Expert Davy Winder covers how to manage incident response team responsibilities.  Continue Reading

• Top incident response steps: Hacker tracking, mitigating brand damage

  Computer systems aren't the only things that can suffer as the result of a breach. In this tip, learn how to create policy for hacker tracking and mitigating brand damage.  Continue Reading

• Smart RoI formula for guaranteed success

  : A practical and realistic approach to ROI formula calculations can ensure that projections for return on IT project investments are achieved as planned.  Continue Reading

• How sensitive company data leaks onto mobile devices in business

  Expert Peter Wood explains the top five ways sensitive information can get onto mobile devices, and what policies need to be in place to prevent data exposure.  Continue Reading

• Business intelligence center of excellence (BI CoE): A handy reference

  To extract maximum benefit from a BI solution, setting up a BI center of excellence (BI CoE) is essential. Here’s how you should go about it.  Continue Reading

• Leveraging ISO 27005 standard’s risk assessment capabilities

  In this first of a series of articles on risk assessment standards, we look at the latest in the ISO stable; ISO 27005’s risk assessment capabilities.  Continue Reading

• Select a BI software with full knowledge of what it does

  Investing in BI software without knowing the specific needs it fulfills can be disappointing. Know about BI and allied analytical software in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Cloud migration primer for user-generated content (UGC) websites

  A step-by-step procedure for smooth cloud migration from one vendor to another, for organizations running user-generated-content (UGC) websites.  Continue Reading

• Data governance ownership gives business a leg-up

  Assigning ownership of a data governance program is critical to its success. Here’s a few tips to define data governance ownership in your organization.  Continue Reading

• Benefit from customer data integration (CDI) on cloud platform

  Customer data integration (CDI) on cloud platform appears can be an efficient, cost effective option. Discover what it can do for you.  Continue Reading