December 2010

U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) introduced legislation last week that would require the federal government to work with the private sector to work together to reduce the ability of terrorists, criminals and other malicious actors to compromise computer networks and critical infrastructure.

The Internet and Cybersecurity Safety Standards Act, if enacted, would require a cost-benefit analysis “to determine the costs and benefits of requiring providers to develop and enforce minimum Internet and cybersecurity safety standards.” The factors to be considered in this analysis include the effect that these minimum standards may have on “homeland security, the global economy, innovation, individual liberty, and privacy.” read more

A recently released study conducted among Canadian business executives and IT executives found that the majority of business executives remain confused about the concept of cloud computing and the related benefits and costs of deploying cloud technology. The study, conducted by Leger Marketing, reported that 62 percent of Canadian business executives and 23 percent of IT executives acknowledged confusion regarding the concept of cloud computing.

The results of the Canadian survey are both challenged and supported by a recent survey of nearly 250 U.S. IT departments. That survey, performed by Chadwick Martin Bailey, revealed that there was less confusion regarding the concept of cloud computing than a year ago among U.S. IT departments. read more

As reported in many news outlets, including the in the Wall Street Journal, Microsoft won a major government contract to supply cloud email and messaging services to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The deal covers 120,000 USDA employees, who previously were using 21 different email systems across the department's locations. The USDA systems will be migrated over the next month to Microsoft's cloud-based Business Productivity Online Suite, which includes Exchange, SharePoint and Office Communication applications.

A USDA spokesperson noted the size and complexity of the migration required not only a trusted enterprise-ready solution, but also a partner who could navigate everything from archiving to authentication to mobile phone support. read more

According to news reports, Google's new Chrome operating system will rely on cloud-based storage rather than hard drives. Microsoft's Windows 8, currently under development, is rumored to take a similar approach, although combined with hard drive support.

The Chrome operating system is reported to boot up in only seven seconds, to avoid the potential loss of data inherent in possible hard drive failure, and to make the amount of storage needed essentially irrelevant. Presumably, such solutions would also cut down on the size and cost of PCs, tablets, and other devices. read more

The online edition of CNET has a very interesting article that once again underscores the importance of having an enterprise-wide IT governance plan that addresses, among other things, data privacy and security.

Apparently, NASA sold some computers to the public but failed to wipe the hard drives before they sold them. According to the CNET article, the "NASA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) found security breaches at four NASA facilities: the Kennedy and Johnson Space Centers and the Ames and Langley Research Centers." read more

Much has been written in the past few days in the blogosphere regarding Amazon's termination of cloud based services for WikiLeaks. The suggestion has been made that this should be a matter of considerable concern to those using cloud-based services. There is no doubt that users of cloud-based services should understand that the provider typically establishes both an acceptable use policy and reserves considerable (if not absolute) discretion to terminate services it deems potentially illegal or inappropriate.

Although termination of services (and how a user retrieves data upon termination) is a risk that should not be taken lightly, it probably will not come into play for the vast majority of users. Why? Because the vast majority of users of cloud-based services are engaged in ordinary business enterprises that raise no controversy. A cloud provider has every economic incentive not only to keep such users, but to keep them happy.

What are the real lessons of WikiLeaks? The real lessons - which should raise considerable concern for every business with confidential information - are listed after the jump.   read more

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released its long-awaited privacy report today. The report is the result of earlier FTC privacy roundtables that solicited input from varied parties on consumer privacy in light of new technologies being used by companies and consumers, especially online.

One of the main focuses of the FTC's report is online behavioral advertising, which is, essentially the generation of extremely detailed profiles on consumers in order to create advertisements targeted toward that consumer's interests. More on this after the jump.

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