Daily News Archive

Please note that The Daily News is publishing (hopefully) twice a week for the foreseeable future due to time constraints.

Tuesday, November 8th

 The Daily News wasn't published.

Thursday, November 10th

The most important wings on an airplane are on the pilot.” -- T. Allen McArtor (FAA Administrator)

 

The Picks of the Day

Power-Hungry Computers Put Data Centers in Bind

“The newest hardware -- particularly the servers that run most business programs and Web sites -- draws too much electricity and generates too much heat.”

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB113193708767796182.html?mod=OHP2MP

[This may require membership to the Wall Street Journal online.  I am a subscriber (actually I think I subscribe to too many services) and this was an interesting article from the DR/BCP and cost of operations perspectives.]

 

Column: Below the surface of the cost of Sarbanes-Oxley

“Bashing Sarbanes-Oxley, the law Congress passed to rein in corporate-accounting abuses, is popular locker-room banter among executives. But it has gotten out of hand.”

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/11-05/11-16-05/a02bu983.htm

 

New Study Finds the Convergence of Traditional and Information Security Functions Necessary for Global Organizations to Protect Assets, Maintain Profits

“New threats and soaring costs are two factors driving the “convergence” or integration of traditional and information security functions in a growing number of U.S.-based global companies, according to the results of a new study commissioned by three leading international security organizations, ASIS International (ASIS), Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) and Information Systems Security Association (ISSA).”

Press Release:  http://www.isaca.org/Template.cfm?Section=Home&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=22596

PDF Report:  http://www.isaca.org/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm?ContentID=22607

 

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

Small Businesses Voice Concerns About Regulatory Compliance in National Survey on Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX)

“Nearly half of all small companies feel that Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) regulation has made it harder for them to successfully conduct business, according to a recent study commissioned by SAP America, Inc., a subsidiary of SAP AG (NYSE: SAP).”

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-14-2005/0004214822&EDATE=

 

Puts & Calls: Sarbanes-Oxley 'reform' harming economy

“Since the law's passage, Sarbanes-Oxley has meant hidden costs for workers, consumers and businesses. It has inhibited job growth, while providing little in useful benefits for shareholders.”

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05317/605320.stm

 

The role of regulation in strategy

Companies have everything to gain from linking them.

http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/links/19852

[This requires a subscription to the McKinsey Quarterly but I really like McKinsey’s work.]

 

Security and Risk Management

Sony's 'Rootkit' Is on 500,000 Systems, Expert Says

“Sony BMG will have a big job ahead of it as it tries to replace all copies of controversial copy protection software, according to a computer security expert, who says that he has evidence there are more than 500,000 versions of the program installed worldwide.”

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1887181,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03129TX1K0000614

 

UK Companies Failing to Overcome Security Threats, Says Butler Group

“UK companies are under-spending on IT security and not doing enough to protect their assets, despite the fact that three quarters of organisations suffer at least one serious virus incident each year.”

http://www.industryanalystreporter.com/T2/Analyst_Research/ResearchAnnouncementsDetails.asp?Newsid=6084

 

The NIST has just released “800-68 Guidance for Securing Microsoft Windows XP Systems for IT Professionals: A NIST Security Configuration Checklist”

http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/#sp800-68

 

Human Error / Safety

Pandemic fears loom over flu season

“Concerns over the seasonal flu, which sickens millions of people each winter, have taken a back seat this year to fears of the bird flu and the horrifying potential that it could evolve into a worldwide pandemic.”

http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/11/14/flu.overview/

 

Bird flu questions and answers

“World leaders are moving to try to control a growing outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza, which is spreading to poultry flocks in several Asian and European countries. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the disease.”

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N15491069.htm

 

Outsourcing / Globalization

Indian wages cheaper than Chinese

“The Mercer survey found senior managers and professionals in several sectors in China earn more than twice as much as their counterparts in India.”

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/11/16/stories/2005111603150100.htm

 

Outsourcing as economic tonic

“IF the Philippine economy was looking for a tonic to energize it then it has come in the form of outsourcing, with the Philippines at the leading edge of this rapidly growing industry which—via the wonders of the IT highway—provides key backroom operations for leading corporations in the United States and the European Union.”

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2005/nov/15/yehey/business/20051115bus5.html

 

Don't lose control with outsourcing

“Two or three years down the road, would you like to see your enterprise IT security go out of control? Would you like protection to be almost completely reactive, expensive, always responding to emergencies and fraught with surprises? Try Outsourcing.”

http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/2005/111405blum.html?fsrc=rss-outsourcing

 

Economics / Business / Misc.

Intelligence Gets Smarter

“A burst of innovation has made business-intelligence software more relevant to day-to-day operations.”

http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/4390968?f=alerts

 

Navy Sank $1 Billion into Failed Enterprise Programs, GAO Says

“The Navy defended its expenditures and practices. In a written response to the GAO, Thomas Modly and Paul Brinkley, both deputy undersecretaries at DOD, said that calling the pilot projects a waste of money was ‘inconsistent with the facts presented.’”

http://www.bpm-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=39383

 

Dirty Data Blights the Bottom Line

“’You can have all the controls in place, but if your data's not accurate, your CFO will be signing off on inaccurate information,’ says Robert Lerner, an analyst at Current Analysis. Lerner cites the regulatory compliance as one catalyst for data accuracy.”

http://www.bpm-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=39384