Daily Tech Briefing: May 20, 2014

Microsoft and SAP AG recently announced they will be expanding their global partnership to deliver new cloud, data and mobile solutions. The goal of these new solutions is to help improve employee productivity, enhance workforce mobility and encourage increased business value for customers and partners.

Scott Guthrie, executive vice president of Cloud and Enterprise at Microsoft said in a statement that this expanded partnership demonstrates Microsoft’s commitment to give customers the technology they need in private clouds, service provider clouds, Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Office.

The Institute for Business Value study recently released by IBM shows that less than 10 percent of 750 organizations are ready to address the proliferation of cloud computing, analytics, mobile devices and social media. In light of these findings, the company plans to unveil new systems, software and capabilities to help organizations create smarter infrastructures that can bring about faster access to big data insights through the cloud and improved business performance.

Cisco System CEO John Chambers is asking the Obama administration to curb government surveillance in light of allegations that the National Security Agency has intercepted shipments of IT gear and installed firmware into the systems.

Chambers wrote a letter stating that reports about the NSA putting surveillance technology into servers and networking gear – including Cisco products – will negatively impact global confidence in the tech industry, making it difficult for vendors to sell new technology.

The U.S. Justice Department announced on May 19 that it is taking legal action against China for hacking American companies. Chinese military officers attached to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Unit 61398 were mentioned in an indictment that stated they were allegedly responsible for attacking U.S. companies.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder stated that this is the first time the United States has ever charged known state actors for infiltrating U.S. commercial targets by cyber means.