It's actually spring . . . at least in Florida |
We're solidly into 2007 now, and it's actually Spring, at least in Florida. And IT is solidly into growth, as predicted. What's hot right now? Predictions said that project managers and networking professionals would be among the hot IT jobs. A snapshot look at Dice for jobs posted on March 1st alone showed over 670 jobs for IT project managers and over 2400 networking jobs.
Other numbers from the snapshot:
over 850 job posts for SOA (Service Oriented Architecture),
over 560 posts for open source,
over 200 posts for EA (Enterprise Architecture).
Looking for buzz words:
over 1490 posts for compliance,
over 1190 for ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)
over 1320 for CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
The jobs are out there, and they are growing! Make sure you're current.
Here's the schedule. Or you can view the complete Schedule on our website.
CSTA Web sessions:
March 7,8
April 4,5
May 2,3
May 30, 31
June 27, 28
CSTA classroom sessions:
March 27 - New York City area
April 12 - DC area
May 23 - Atlanta area
June 5 - Chicago area
UITJ (Understanding IT Jobs) Web sessions:
April 5
May 31
TR Web session:
March 21
April 17
May 16
Keep in touch . . .
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Security – Always on the Top of the List
No matter what list of hot topics, skills, or jobs you look at, security will be on it. It's always one of the top priorities in IT. And, it always will be, as no matter what security systems are set up, someone will figure out how to bypass them. With that, security in today's IT has two parts – keep people out, and protect my data.
Keep people out - Authentication
We've all got passwords – too many, in fact. But passwords are only one factor in authentication. There are three factors that can be used in authentication:
Something you know (passwords)
Something you have (security token)
Something you are (fingerprints)
Today's security specialists say authentication must be at least two-factor. One of the most interesting implementations of this is a system called BioPasswords. Each individual has a unique typing pattern reflecting how long keys are held down, how much time between key strokes, how hard the keys are hit, etc. When this is combined with a password, we've got both something you know, and something you are. Even if someone gets your password, it does them no good.
Firewalls, IDS (Intrusion Detection Systems), and IPS (Intrusion Prevention Systems) are standard tools in preventing unwanted and unauthorized access, and have been augmented by Identity Management systems. These systems manage identities across diverse applications and networks and use an integrated system of business processes, policies and technologies that control user access to online applications and resources. This protects confidential personal and business information from unauthorized users. These systems can include user authentication, access rights, access restrictions, account profiles, passwords, and other functionality. Often they include SSO (Single Sign-On), a form of software authentication that allows a user to authenticate once and gain access to the resources of multiple software systems.
Protect my data - Encryption
Protecting data starts with keeping people out – but if that doesn't work, the next step is making sure that what they access doesn't make any sense. Data is encrypted (turned into meaningless bits and bytes according to a varying key) when it is entered, then decrypted when it arrives at its destination – a database or file. This is one of the things that is changing. A new trend in encryption is to keep data in its encrypted form while stored in the database or file. The decryption is done when the data is later accessed. Decrypting stored data can be done through a technology called controlled rights, which allows an authorized agent to revoke the access and privileges once afforded to a particular user, on the fly. The document is authenticated and encrypted at inception and distributed in encrypted form. When someone attempts to open the document, the related application connects to the originator to verify that the requesting user still has access. If so, the decryption key is supplied (or decrypted) and the document is opened. At a later date, the document's authorization can be revoked. Another new trend is self-deleting data, which is often an option for laptops, cell phones, PDAs, and other devices. Encrypted data is protected by monitoring software and a compatible device. Whenever the device is turned on, it uses the Internet (or cell phone network) to connect back to the data owner's authorization server. The connection "back home" requires no request on the part of the user and is often intentionally hidden from casual interaction. If the device is stolen, the owner can instruct the device to delete or encrypt the data when it next connects. Some solutions instruct the device to delete or encrypt the data after a predefined number of days if the device is unable to connect to the authorization server.
The basics of security are authorization and encryption. The specifics are what change. For example, at first nothing was encrypted. Then we started encrypting credit card numbers, and then social security numbers. Now some data is kept encrypted on disk. Some experts say all data should be encrypted all the time. We're not there yet, but that's the direction this part of security is taking. Originally authentication allowed users into a system or not, now different users are allowed to access different parts of a system. Eventually every user will have a dynamic profile that defines exactly what they are authorized to access, and when. The ever-evolving area of security is always a top priority.
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1.What's the largest database in the world?
2.Which of the following does not belong?
a.Achilles
b.Agamemnon
c.Ajax
d.Atlas
3.Are all client/server systems designed the same?
4.Over-allocation is used with what technology?
5.Anything new happening?
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By far the majority of our training is offered over the Web. The conveniences of this training are hard to resist. Your people can attend sessions from the office or from home; the training is interactive so there's plenty of time for questions; and you incur no expenses for travel, food, etc. CSTA (Computers: Systems, Terms and Acronyms), TR (Technical Recruiting) and UITJ (Understanding IT Jobs) are all regularly scheduled on the Web.
CSTA travels around. We do send instructors to metropolitan areas (Atlanta, Chicago, New York/New Jersey, and Washington, DC) on a regular schedule. Classroom training gives your employees a chance to meet and attend training with peers. It gets them out of the office so they don't get interrupted (except through their cell phones) and can concentrate on the training. Whether Web or classroom, CSTA is the gold standard in training for business people to keep current with today's technology.
Dedicated Training
In addition to attending public classes, companies and organizations can schedule dedicated training for a group of employees. This provides even more benefits – you get to schedule the training whenever you want, and you can customize training to concentrate on the topics most important to you, or even to combine topics from multiple courses. And, dedicated courses can be scheduled either at the location you choose or over the Web. For six or more employees this is really the way to go, as the per person cost of training is less than the individual cost.
Whatever you choose, we look forward to seeing you!
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Hardware Advances
We spend most of our time on software, but every once in a while it's time to stop and look at what's happened with the hardware. Hardware is always improving, changes almost always are described as smaller and/or faster. The things we look at are the computers – both the processors and memory – and disks.
blue-laser-based optical disk Hardware. Disk storage system that can store more data than DVDs because of the shorter wavelength of blue light. Disks are the size of CDs and have a capacity of 23.3GB, with higher capacities to follow (50GB by 2005, 100GB at an unannounced date). Similar, but not compatible with Blu-ray (disk storage system used in home systems for data such as movies and games. Competitive with HD-DVD )which was developed for consumer use.
Core Computer architecture. Microarchitecture from Intel designed for performance and power consumption needs. Based on its predecessors, Pentium 4 and Pentium M and building a design that looks most like Pentium M. This architecture is intended to be the architecture for all processors through at least 2010.
dual-core chips Computer architecture. Computer chip with two processors. Putting more transistors into a single microprocessor increased heat, and by dividing work between two microprocessors, a chip can run faster than a single-microprocessor chip without generating excessive heat. Servers with dual-core chips were available in mid-2005, while personal computers using this technology were available by the end of 2005.
flash memory Variation of EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory). Information is burned into memory in blocks, not individual bytes, and memory can be erased and reprogrammed as often as needed. Flash memory provides the best speeds and cost ratios, and is the most popular type of ROM being used today. Includes two types:
NAND Flash memory, used in memory cards and USB flash drives, MP3 players. Also provides the image storage for digital cameras. Used in devices requiring high capacity data storage and offers faster erase, write, and read capabilities over NOR architecture. Software cannot execute in NAND Flash, and must be moved to RAM for execution, so NOR Flash is more commonly used to store code. Introduced by Toshiba in 1989.
NOR Flash memory, used in flash devices to store and run code, usually in small capacities. Has fast read capabilities but slow write and slow erase functions compared to the NAND architecture. NOR technology is more commonly found as embedded designs and in lower-end set-top boxes and mobile handsets, and BIOS chips. Introduced by Intel in 1988.
fuel cell Hardware. Replacement for regular batteries for notebook computers. Can operate for 40 hours without attention. Fuel cells take in hydrogen and oxygen and turn them into electricity. Rather than charging, they require a refill of fuel such as hydrogen gas or liquid methanol in order to keep operating. Fuel cell prototypes have been built, but commercial products are not expected before 2010.
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 300 GB on a disk. Products first offered in late 2006. Main vendors working on this technology are Optware and InPhase.
multicore Computer architecture where a single piece of silicon holds two or more processing cores.
optical disk A disk storage device that is read and written by laser. Provides greater storage capacities than magnetic disks, thus allowing large amounts of data to be kept online. Can contain up to 27 gigabytes (GB) on a single-sided 12-centimeter disc.
phase-change memory Computer chip technology that could eventually replace flash memory and hard disk drives. A prototype runs 500 times faster than flash memory and uses half as much power to write data to a memory cell. Initial use is to store songs, pictures and other data on iPods and digital cameras. Planned for use in 2015. Developed by a group of companies led by IBM.
SiGe (Silicon Geranium) Computer architecture. Type of computer chip that uses low power and offers high performance and high frequency designs. Often used in mobile phones and cordless handsets. Another possible application is emergency safety systems for automobiles which use small radar-like sensors in the car's bumpers to detect any fast approaching objects and adjust the speed as needed. The technology was originally announced in 1989, the first chip introduced in 1995 and the fourth generation of the chips announced in August, 2005.
Vega processor Computer processor that includes 24 processor cores on a single chip which allows each processor to run 24 simultaneous threads, each on an independent core. Released: 2005. Vega 2 with 48 processor cores is planned for 2007.
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1.Many people say it's the database created by NSA (National Security Agency) to store a record of every single phone call made in America – both land line and cell phone calls. The database was started after Sept. 11th, and is highly secret including information about what exactly is available in the database, how many calls it reflects (estimates say it includes information on over 1.9 trillion calls), and exactly when and how data is collected and accessed. This is a political hot point – many people consider it to be illegal and an invasion of privacy.
2.It's actually b) Agamemnon. Agamemnon is not an IT product. Achilles is a security program, Ajax is a tool for Web development, and Atlas is a framework used to build Ajax programs. All four of them are characters in the Iliad, the tale of the Trojan War.
3.No. Client/server designs include:
a. thin client: A system where most of the processing is done in the server program or program logic tiers. "Thin client" systems can use very basic desktop client machines, as they just provide a graphic interface to a server system. Network computers always function as thin clients.
b.rich client: A system where the bulk of the program logic executes on the client system, or the PC. This creates problems when the logic changes as every client program would have to be changed instead of changing one server program. Originally called fat client.
c.smart client: These systems were originally called hybrid systems because they include both thin and rich client characteristics. Smart client systems access data via a server, but execute some, if not all, the program logic on the client. The client software is deployed and updated in real time over a network from a centralized server to relieve the problems caused trying to update multiple PCs in a timely manner.
4.Over-allocation is used with provisioning, a technology used in storage management which allocates storage to applications. It's actually part of thin provisioning, which uses virtual pools of storage that can be applied to the demands of all applications as needed (not fat provisioning, which assigns an entire pool of storage to a specific application). Thin provisioning can also provide Over-Allocation, or Over-Subscription. Over-allocation allows server applications to be allocated more storage capacity than is reserved on actual disks. This allows leeway in growth of data without having to accurately predict which storage volumes will grow by how much.
5.Just a reminder. Windows Vista is out – the latest desktop operating system. Oracle 12 has been released – the latest version of Oracle's ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) suite. Lotus Notes/Domino 8.0 is in Beta, soon to be released. Microsoft Office 2007 (originally Office 12) was released in January. Seibel CRM 8.0 was just released in February. Some really big product here.
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