March 2006

March 2006

To ensure your company's technology and business strategies align, try these proven techniques to shore up IT's role in business planning. You'll also read in the March 2006 issue of BizTech how small businesses are bucking the nationwide trend toward IT staff turnover. Plus get tips on building rapport with difficult end users and changing your technology department's image from that of a cost center to a strategic business partner.

Features

Reinvention — By Design
Direct marketer Exmplar leverages technology and in-house expertise to rebuild its business.
Small Business: The Cure to IT Burnout?
Small companies with strong leadership and varied opportunities for IT staff are offsetting the nationwide trend.
Get Your Ducks in a Row
Here is what you can do to ensure alignment and shore up IT's role in the business planning process.
Building Rapport
Seven Tips for Dealing With Difficult Users

Departments

Dashboard: Dashboard: January 2006
How To: Active Directory Shortcuts
Don't paint yourself into a corner; use these tips for AD migration to Windows Server 2003.
Out-of-the-Box ROI: Improving Your Outlook
Reversing the 80/20 rule can help you get more out of Outlook.
Security: Not Your Father's Firewall
Unified Threat Management has a new generation of all-in-one security appliances poised to replace aging firewalls.
Tech Trends: 3 Ways to Protect Your IT Essentials
Protect your essential IT gear from damaging power failures with the right UPS.
Tech Tips: Embrace E-Mail Limits with Exchange Mailbox Management
Exchange mailbox management can keep e-mail packrats under control.
Tech Watch: Ready, Set, Gig
Before running out and installing a Gigabit Ethernet, understand that it's not about boosting the Internet, but improving file transfer speeds.
Road Warriors: Bells But No Whistles
While every user wants a notebook loaded with all the latest goodies, it's best to let functional responsibility drive feature selections.
Profile: IT Manager Ryan Suydam
Best Practices: Protect & Serve
Despite .NET's built-in security, programmers should follow these tips to keep Web services safe and secure.
Best Practices: Options for Your Business' Software—Lease, Build or Buy
Best Practices: Home Wreckers
When malware takes up residence on company computers, here's how to give it the boot.

Opinions

Letter From the Editor: Our Promise: Provide Insights and Metrics Right for Your Business
The Lowdown: Who Says You Have to Upgrade Now?
By keeping your head, you can turn panic about an overhaul into success.
Your CIO: Earning Respect for IT
Do end users think your company's systems and IT team are a necessary evil? Then prove their value by making changes in how they serve users.
Harry’s Corner: Get Ahead of the Deadline
Finding time to plan is a luxury that growing businesses very seldom get to enjoy.
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BizTech's Must-Read I.T. Blogs

Security

+ more

Review: Belkin Advanced Secu... |
This tool can prevent KVM toggling from being a source of network vulnerabilities.
Honeywords: Password Securit... |
Researchers are proposing a new method of spiking the password punch as a way to identify...
How Many Vulnerabilities Doe... |
The potential for damaging data breaches lurks in nearly every corner for SMBs.

Storage

+ more

EMC World 2013: Software-Def... |
Storage virtualization is a key element of providing on-demand, flexible cloud services.
How Steve Wozniak Explains V... |
Fusion-io's chief scientist breaks virtualization down into terms everyone can understand.
Product Review: Quantum NDX-... |
Device does double duty for storage and backup.

Infrastructure Optimization

+ more

Why More Software Is Headed... |
Many of your favorite software suites are trading in their shiny discs for cloud-based...
Cisco Live 2013: Brush Up wi... |
Get up to speed on convergence, wireless networking, collaboration and more ahead of the...
EMC World 2013: Software-Def... |
Storage virtualization is a key element of providing on-demand, flexible cloud services.

Networking

+ more

How to Secure Optimized Netw... |
WAN optimization and security aren’t always complementary. These tips can help you deal...
Cisco Live 2013: Brush Up wi... |
Get up to speed on convergence, wireless networking, collaboration and more ahead of the...
Do Virtual Meetings Boost Pr... |
New study finds that face-to-face meetings don’t always work in workers’ favor.

Mobile & Wireless

+ more

Consumr App Powers Informed... |
Reviews and ratings for products on the shelf are only a barcode scan away.
Faster In-Flight Wi-Fi: Com... |
The FCC is working on regulation to free up more Internet bandwidth for air travelers.
CTIA: Wireless Network Data... |
The invisible bytes that zip through the air continue to multiply at rapid rates.

Hardware & Software

+ more

Consumr App Powers Informed... |
Reviews and ratings for products on the shelf are only a barcode scan away.
Review: Belkin Advanced Secu... |
This tool can prevent KVM toggling from being a source of network vulnerabilities.
How Many Vulnerabilities Doe... |
The potential for damaging data breaches lurks in nearly every corner for SMBs.