It's definitely Happy New Year!!!
Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season, and are eager and ready for 2007. It's really hard to believe this "new" century is already 7 years old. I keep saying it, but this 7th year should be an exciting one.
This month we'll look at the job outlook – next month the technology update, as more and more predictions come in. Predictions for IT jobs uniformly say the job market is – and will stay – up! The market is very tight today. There is a 2% unemployment rate among IT professionals with still a lot of employment being created. Watch the finance, pharmaceutical, biotech, technology product development, insurance and real estate, transportation, business services, and professional services industries for the biggest new job growth. We're creating new jobs, the baby-boomers are retiring…
As far as salaries go – check out the first of the salary surveys from eWeek at http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2034739,00.asp. That's looking good, too.
Again from eWeek, the top jobs are expected to be in project management and security. Then add networking specialists, database managers and information architects. Also, certifications are continuing to grow in importance, especially in areas such as information storage, security, networking and project management which deliver the best return on investment, in the form of higher salaries.
Next month we'll look at the hot technologies, so don't forget to keep up!
Here's the schedule. Or you can view the complete Schedule on our website.
CSTA Web sessions:
January 10,11
February 7,8
March 7,8
CSTA classroom sessions:
February 22 - Washington DC area
February 28 - Atlanta
March 15 - Chicago area
March 27 - New York City area
UITJ (Understanding IT Jobs) Web sessions:
February 8
March 8
TR Web session:
February 13
March 21
Keep in touch . . .
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BPM - The Last One
Business process modeling is the last of our BPM discussions. Business Process Modeling is an application development technique performed by business analysts to depict both the current state of an enterprise and the desired future state. The activity of modeling a business process usually is undertaken when there is a need to change processes or identify issues to be corrected. This transformation may or may not require IT involvement, although that is a common driver for the need to model a business process. Part of Business Process Management.
Understanding business process modeling starts with understanding what is meant by business process. There are many definitions, but most start with: "A business process is a sequence of tasks performed in a specific order by specific people in order to meet a business need." The definitions are usually augmented with reference to working with input (data, materials, activities, etc.) and transform it to create an output. Ideally, the transformation that occurs in the process should add value to the input and create an output that is more useful and effective to the recipient."
BPM was known as workflow less than a decade ago. The workflow of handling an insurance claim would include taking as input a scanned image of a paper claims form, passing the form electronically from the mailbox of one claims specialist to that of another, to replicate the traditional movement of interoffice mail from desk to desk. The growth of workflow to business process modeling today is an enterprise integration technology complementing SOA (Service-Oriented Architecture), EAI (Enterprise Application Integration), and ESB (Enterprise Service Bus). The current BMP orchestrates complex system interactions, and is itself a service which can communicate with the processes of other companies according to well-defined technical contracts. A retailer's process to handle a purchase order, for example, is a service that uses XML messages to converse with the service-based processes of consumers and warehouses.
With business process modeling, developers build a model of the processes, and then write, or use tools to generate program code for the processes. Building the model is the critical development component. Once models are built for the processes, necessary updating is done on the model. The tools will automatically generate the code.
We see all sorts of new terms and tools used with this modeling. BPML (Business Process Modeling Language) is one of the most important. It's a development tool, a meta-language used to build models of business processes, as XML is a meta-language for the modeling of business data. Another, BPQL (Business Process Query Language) enables the standards-based management of eBusiness processes in much the same way SQL enabled the standards-based management of business data with Database Management Systems (DBMS).
The BPMN (Business Process Modeling Notation) specification provides a graphical notation for graphically expressing business processes by both technical users and business users. The notation is intuitive to business users yet able to represent complex process semantics. BPMN allows different XML-based process languages including BPEL4WS (Business Process Execution Language for Web Services) and BPML (Business Process Modeling Language), to be visualized using common elements. BPMN is a comprehensive notation and points toward the convergence of open standards for business process management by enabling practitioners to more easily exchange business process models between different business process languages using a standardized "graphical notation."
Because BPM is standards-based, it fits into an SOA environment, and UDDI, XML, SOAP, and WSDL are often part of the environment. Remember – what we're talking about is the BPM (Business Process Management) environment, which is developing models of business processing, using tools to generate code (programs, services, etc.) for these models, and keeping the systems updated by changing the models when circumstances dictate it's time to do so.
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1. Challenge: Name at least two company names that have become verbs, according to the Merriam-Webster English dictionary.
2. What's the latest initiative in identity management?
3. What's the current name of Sparkle, Quartz, and Acrylic?
4. What search engine allows you to buy theatre tickets?
5. What's IT's definition of ESP?
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One of the biggest changes in IT was the acceptance, even the full support, of open source development and products. Oracle went into partnership with Red Hat, and Microsoft partnered with Novell to support Linux. IBM has backed open source for a long time, and Sun Microsystems has been releasing hardware and software to the open-source community for several years. Sun finally released all versions of Java, fulfilling the desires of many developers during Java's 11 years in existence.
Security issues grew way beyond expectations. Security is always an issue, but in 2006 new words and software appeared. Malware (Computer virus. Software that is embedded and hidden in other software. Often used to describe Trojan Horses and back doors that are inserted into systems developed offshore) became a term used much too often, and spyware (type of software that aids in gathering information about persons or organizations without their knowledge -Internet spyware is usually secretly installed in a computer to gather information about the user and relay it to advertisers or other interested parties. Spyware is often inserted in systems through a virus or is sometimes hidden in purchased programs). Rootkits (System monitoring software that provides administrator-level control of operating systems. While this software was originally designed to monitor system usage, it has been taken over by hackers who use it to break into systems. Considered to be a serious problem because the software is very difficult to detect and the only solution is completely erasing the hard disk and reinstalling the operating system. Available for many operating systems.) became a problem instead of a solution.
Even the basis of computers changed – from single core processors to dual-core and finally quad-core. Dual-core chips have two processors, quad-core chips have four processors, and both offer new speeds and processing capabilities, especially with technologies such as virtualization. November saw the release of the first quad-core chips.
Companies changed. Both Bill Gates and Scott McNealy stepped down from central management of their firms (Microsoft and Sun Microsystems). Dell lost its place as top PC vendor worldwide to HP. Also in 2006, the greening of the data center continued, with chip makers and OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) continuing to roll out more energy-efficient products. Efforts were made to bridge the gap between IT administrators and facilities managers, and governmental bodies, including Congress, showed an increased interest in the issue. Net neutrality found its way into Congress as legislators were asked to decide whether telecommunications giants could charge extra for enhanced services or had to treat all Internet traffic as equal.
Corporate acquisitions continued with the biggest news being Google's purchase of YouTube for $1.65 billion in a power play against established mass-media models. Oracle's purchases, however led the list. These were often referred to as an acquisition binge starting with its purchase of Siebel Systems in January, and then through Sleepycat, HotSip AB, Portal, Net4Call, Demantra, Telephony@Work, Sigma Dynamics, Sunopsis, Metq\aSolv Software, SPL WorldGroup, and ending with Stellent in November.
This is just a quick look at some of 2006's major points – and now we move eagerly to 2007!
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Storage Management
Storage Management is a definite specialty now. And, new technologies and products are appearing regularly. Storage management is a critical part of systems management, and managing corporate data and software securely to provide effective response time for increasing numbers of users has led to new knowledge for all of us.
backup and recovery Storage management function. Includes the automated backup of data and programs, and the ability to recover (retrieve) any of that data from the backup stores. Backup includes copying information as it is changed, but also includes taking periodic snapshots to protect against disasters. Backup and recovery systems must consider hardware and software failures, regulatory compliance, security, and asset management.
bulletproof storage Technology initiative that deals with building a storage system that users do not have to worry about. It provides for fault tolerance in every part of a storage system: disk, controller, network cards, power supplies and software. Provides for redundant components that can delay part replacement for many years, thus reducing maintenance, and the errors that occur during maintenance and replacement procedures. Software errors are addressed with a software project called N-Version Programming, where two pieces of code in the same application save data and then compare the data to ensure that there are no errors. The two pieces of code are written by different programmers and use different technologies, so the chances of both having duplicate errors is remote. Plans are to implement this initiative over several years starting in 2006.
cluster, clustering Technology used to manage both computers and storage devices. A computer cluster is a group of computers linked together to provide multiprocessing capabilities. Clusters can actually contain dozens of processors and Linux clusters (all the processors run under Linux) are increasingly popular. A Linux cluster can provide the same processing power as a supercomputer for a fraction of the cost. Computer clusters are also referred to as parallel processing. A high-availability cluster links a second computer that acts as a backup in case of system failure. A storage cluster is multiple disks treated as one by a software system. Storage clusters can also join multiple NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices and the software works across operating systems.
disk mirroring Storage management technique used to provide fault tolerance (protecting against system failures) by writing to two duplicate disks simultaneously. This way if one of the disks fails, the system can instantly switch to the other disk without any loss of data or service. Technique commonly used with RAID (Redundant Array of Independent [or Inexpensive] Disks) systems.
fabric Communications terminology. Refers to the hardware and software that moves data through different nodes in a network. It includes the switching units in a node, the integrated circuits that they contain, and the software that controls the switching paths. The full term is switching fabric and is sometimes used to mean all switching hardware and software in a network. Commonly used in SANs (Storage Area Networks).
fibre channel Communications. High speed interconnect technology standard defining high-speed data transfer. Hardware interface that allows for the connection of peripheral devices. Operates at 1-2 Gbps (gigabytes per second). Uses fiber optic, copper cables. Main technology used in SANs (Storage Area Networks). Same functionality and similar performance as SCSI (Small Computer System Interface).
holographic storage Storage technology which records data throughout the entire depth of the medium rather than just on the surface as in traditional data storage. Uses lasers to record a million bits of data with a single flash of light. Combines high storage densities, with fast transfer rates to create a new generation of storage products. The storage medium can be many things which will allow the development of a wide variety of holographic storage products that range from handheld devices for consumers to storage products for the enterprise. 2GB of data could be stored on a postage stamp, 20 GB on a credit card, or 200 GB on a disk. Products are expected to be available in 2007. Main vendors working on this technology are Optware and InPhase.
NAS (Network Attached Storage) Type of external storage where devices (disks) are connected by a network, and the network can be attached to multiple computer systems. Both Unix and Windows NT systems can access the same network.
nearline storage Storage media. An alternative to online storage that includes disks, CDs, and tapes. Main storage media used in small and some mid-sized companies, and the main media used for backup files in all companies. This storage cannot be infected by viruses, but, unlike online storage, there can be significant delays in accessing data.
persistence The capability of storing data structures in files or databases on disks or other permanent storage. Without this capability data structures only exist in memory, and are lost when a program exits. Persistence allows, for example, a program to be restarted and reloaded with the data structures from a previous invocation of the program. Persistence allows programs to "remember" data that a particular user had already entered in an earlier user session, and let the user start where they left off during the prior session. Without persistence, every time a program was loaded it would have to execute from the very beginning. Persistent data is often used to reflect persistence, and is the opposite of transient data, which is gone when the program ends.
SAN (Storage Area Network) Storage technology. A network that controls the access to multiple data sources by any number of heterogeneous servers. This means, for example, that Web servers, file servers, and application servers could all access data stored on all storage devices in the network, and the network would control the access. SANs include NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices and software and create a centralized data store that is connected by high-speed Fibre Channels or iSCSI (IP-Small Computer System Interface).
SMI-S (Storage Management Initiative Specification) Storage standards which defines the way multi-vendor systems communicate with each other. It defines interfaces between network-attached storage and iSCSI-based devices and deals with device descriptions and the services associated with them, such as replicating data from one array to another. Version 1.03 ratified by ANSI (American National Standards Institute) in 2006.
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1. Xerox, which means to copy. And, of course, Google, with the definition: "to use the Google search engine to obtain information about (as a person) on the World Wide Web."
2. IGF (Identity Governance Framework) is a technology initiative originated by Oracle to help organizations better govern and protect sensitive identity-related employee, customer and partner information across heterogeneous applications. Identity vendors, including CA, Layer 7 Technologies, Novell, Ping Identity, Securent and Sun Microsystems, have reviewed a draft of the Framework and plan to work with Oracle to develop full specifications. Announced December, 2006.
3. Expression Studio is an application development suite of tools used by graphic designers to build Web sites and other documents. It includes: Expression Blend, used to build 3-D animation and graphics and originally called Interactive Designer (code name Sparkle), Expression Design, a painting and illustration tool similar to Adobe's Illustrator and originally called Graphic Designer (code name Acrylic), Expression Web, a layout and design tool for building Web sites and successor to Frontpage (code name Quartz), and iView Media Pro, photo management software, no code name. The code names could change with the official release. The suite integrates with .NET so Visual Studio designers have design tools comparable to Adobe's Dreamweaver, PhotoShop and Illustrator. Originally named Microsoft Expression and now available as a CTP (Community Technology Preview). Full release planned for mid-2007.
4. Ask.Com. allows users to phrase questions in natural language. It was originally named Ask Jeeves, and changed its name in 2005. The latest release added AskCITY, which provides local search functions. AskCITY taps local services such as CitySearch, Ticketmaster and ServiceMagic (among others), to deliver listings and reviews of local businesses, along with maps and driving directions. It will also let users perform actions from within its interface, including making a restaurant reservation, buying tickets to movies and other events, and making an appointment with a contractor. AskCITY added in December, 2006.
5. ESP is Event Stream Processing. Application system that manages event data through a graphical environment that allows business users to compose, deploy and evolve real-time event processing scenarios without low level coding. Expresses event patterns that include time as an element, and then analyzes that data and triggers action instantly. It looks for sequences of events, correlates them and determines if there is some event-driven action that has to be initiated. Includes adapters for the most popular middleware and databases and runs on Linux (Red Hat and SuSE), Solaris, and Windows systems. Released: September, 2005. Version 3.0 released: November, 2006.
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