This Week on Tom's IT Pro: 8/3/12

This week on TIP:  New videos on Cloud and DCC, and articles about Defcon 20, Dell, Microsoft and Linux, Security Issues, Hardware Certs and more.

Someone’s on vacation this week, so I declared it Tech Editor’s Week here at Tom’s IT Pro! 

A lot of stuff has happened in the IT industry during these past few days.  We’ve been working hard keeping up with it all and I’m sure James will still have a lot of catching up to do when he gets back.

Here’s the recap…

First and foremost, we’ve been making videos trying to demystify concepts like Cloud Computing and DCC (Datacenter Convergence).  The industry seems to talk a lot about these new technologies, but not enough is being done to explain them.  Here’s our take:

• Cloud Services: No Buzz, No Bull – Don’t get buzzed by this Cloud stuff.  Learn about it…

• Data Center Convergence – Putting IT under your control

Defcon 20 happened and Mikhael Felker was there to cover it:

• Defcon 20: NFC Hacking, DIY Drones and Big Brother

Microsoft’s Office 365 is getting a little push from Dell at the SMB level.

• Dell Begins Reselling Microsoft Office 365 to SMBs

Companies paying Microsoft to use Linux?  Read why and understand why Microsoft may not sue you…

• Microsoft Receives Licensing Fees for Linux Servers

It’s bad enough when too many admins have “God” level rights in the datacenter, but what happens when users start getting too many privileges?

• Most Organizations Unaware of Employees with Admin Rights

There are Cloud solutions for managing all those devices everybody keeps bringing in.  More help for your MDM troubles…

• Mobile Device Management in the Cloud

Dell’s been busy acquiring other companies this past year, but now it’s Oracle’s turn.  Virtualization in the IT realm has its dominant forces already, so it the database giant vying for that status as well?

• Oracle Acquires Virtual Networking Company Xsigo

Researchers in China are working on ways to improve network performance and reliability for modular datacenters:

• Redundant Switches Increase Fault Tolerance in Mega-Datacenters

Speaking of the house that Michael built, Dell gets a little more hardware support from Emulex and the Lightpulse line of 16 Gb host adapters.

• Emulex Offers 16 Gb Fibre Channel Cards For Dell Servers

Some might say part of the problem with MDM, BYOD and Consumerization of IT is all the social media that’s getting bounced around your networks.  IBM is releasing a new security appliance that should help solve some of those problems…

• IBM Reveals Security Appliance for Social Network Threat Protection

Microsoft released the latest Service Pack (SP2) for SQL Server 2008 R2.  There are plenty of cumulative updates in this package:

• SQL Server 2008 R2 SP2 Available For Download

The storage world keeps expanding and outgrowing its older limitations.  HP announced a storage system that can use up to 1.6 PB.   Options are SSD or HDD, but I’m betting the interest out there will lean towards the former.

• HP Announces 1.6 PB SSD Storage System

Call the Mythbusters!   Are tablets and smartphones NOT behind the Consumerization of IT?

• Consumerization of Tablets Just a Myth?

What do you need to know before you go out and start looking at security solutions for your network?  Dan Sullivan gives us five point to ponder before making the big buy:

• Criteria for Evaluating Network Security Solutions

For how many years have you thinking about getting certified?  Are those training books on your shelf still sitting in pristine condition?  Time to start creasing those book spines and check out Ed Tittel’s latest article on entry-level hardware certifications.  …at least it’s a start. 

• Top 5 Entry-Level Hardware Certifications

Julio Urquidi is the Technical Editor at Tom's IT Pro. Previously, he spent 17 years in healthcare-related enterprise IT. Julio’s most recent responsibilities centered around virtualization, but he is also well-versed in Linux, Windows and systems administration. Specializing in articles that help small companies with limited budgets leverage technology, he has been a contributing editor to Tom's Hardware.

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