Cameron Sturdevant

Applications and the data they process are among the most valuable targets of crackers. Applications are also among the least protected and most vulnerable targets because they often are designed with only a cursory nod to user authentication and data encryption. For many applications, its understandable why this is the case. Developers have been paid […]

The RSA Conference, one of the longest-running computer security shows, was held in San Jose, Calif., during the week of Feb. 18-22. It was a witches brew of federal money, a rowdy crowd of nervous-but-not-showing-it second-tier players, serene market leaders, and circling, savvy IT security managers. According to President Bushs 2003 budget proposal, IT spending […]

A network security audit should be near the top of IT managers list of things to do since Tuesdays disclosure of the existence of a test tool that, when used maliciously, can overcome SNMPv1 (Simple Network Management Protocol, version 1) in a wide variety of caching devices, routers, switches, printers and a myriad of other […]

The distributed version of Fluke Networks OptiView Workgroup Analyzer, a hand-carried senior technician tool, works well even without a human around. In my tests, OptiView Workgroup Analyzer performed like a champ, even stripped of its touchscreen interface. The distributed market already has a number of solid players, including Network Instruments Observer Suite and Network Associates […]

AdminStudio Helps IT Roll With Changes”> InstallShield Software Corp.s AdminStudio 3.0 takes some of the sting out of packaging software applications for deployment to the ever-changing corporate desktop. The product fits in best at midsize to large organizations that need a sophisticated tool to customize software application installations before the products are deployed to the […]

Individual privacy, whether that of a person browsing online, employees at work, medical patients or banking patrons, is increasingly being treated like a rowdy churl best tossed into the gutter, rather than a basic right to be handled with the utmost respect. IT managers should develop privacy policies that respect individual employees while ensuring that […]

Managing the end-user environment boils down to improving productivity while containing costs, and IT professionals can reach this desktop sweet spot by letting end users do the work for them. Well, not exactly, but self-service should be the guiding principle for IT departments looking to create efficiencies. Enabling end users to help themselves and one […]

Symantecs $69.95 Norton AntiVirus Professional Edition 2002, which started shipping last month, provides secure file destruction as well as effective virus defense. The secure erase feature worked well in tests: I was unable to recover deleted files. Users will appreciate being able to securely erase files from their computers. Norton AntiVirus Professional 2002 also effectively […]

Express Software Manager 6.0 from Express Metrix LLC does a good job of monitoring and reporting on the use of desktop applications, but most IT managers will be hard-pressed to justify adding this utility to their tool kit, even with the Business Software Alliance breathing down their neck. Although it proved to be an effective […]

Network management in the enterprise never went away, but lately it seems that the discipline is coming out for the first time all over again. One reason for this is an emerging recognition that optimum network performance is crucial for two important areas: storage and security. Established players include Hewlett-Packards OpenView product family, Tivolis Performance […]

Remote control software, still the wallflower of the IT help desk, is rapidly gaining functionality, as I saw in tests of CrossTecs $179 NetOp Remote Control 7.0, released late last year. I was able to remotely control Red Hat Linux systems from the same console that I used to take over a variety of Microsoft […]

InfoExpress CyberGatekeeper uses “all stick and no carrot” to keep remote users in line when it comes to security and anti-virus products. During tests, I used the product to prevent log-ins by remote users who had either removed or had not upgraded various InfoExpress and third-party security products. Although some harshness is necessary to keep […]