Archive for the ‘Pc Softwares’ Category

Top 5 Key Learning’s for M&A Information Security

Sunday, July 27th, 2008

I was recently asked to pull together a quick list of key information security learning’s for Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A). This year I assumed responsibility for information security of Intel’s M&A programs. M&A work is typically frantic, unpredictable, and ambiguous, involving the brightest engineering and integration management talent. It demands great flexibility and willingness to rapidly adapt creatively to emerging problems. This work is basically a recipe dreaded by us entrenched security types, who like the controllability of consistent, predicable, and structured activities. It can press the boundaries of good security practices and test the mettle of the strongest security organizations.

Top 5 Key Learning’s for M&A Information Security

1. Security does not happen by default. As the complexities of divestitures emerge, smart people aggressively move to solve problems and security is likely not a consideration. Information Security must be involved both at the early planning stages and stay engaged until the last tactical maneuver is completed
2. Profiling the data is key. Knowing what data is involved, it’s sensitivity, who has logical/physical access, and where it is physically located is necessary. It will be needed to insure regulatory, legal, and IP confidentiality protection
3. Technical and Behavioral considerations must be incorporated to prevail. Neither must be ignored, and in most cases the combination must be applied to every issue where information security is at risk. A security savvy M&A team is the first step to highly effective results
4. Logical and physical security aspects cannot be separated. Information security professionals can easily overlook the physical security factors which can jeopardize the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the business just as logical based threats
5. Great attention must be paid to data retention, transfer, and destruction. ‘Deal data’ can be a vague and changingconcept which may be interpreted differently over time, especially in larger deals. Understanding the scope, expectations, and commitments is a necessity

After reviewing the list, I had an interesting observation. It occurred to me there was a glaring omission. The unwavering support of information security by management is absolutely crucial. To be honest, I left it out as I am spoiled. The Intel culture and chain of management is very supportive of information security. So for those of you less fortunate, add it to the list.

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All My Communities

Friday, July 25th, 2008

There are so many social/networking/professional tools out there, but they all have a common purpose (or should), and that is to create a community.

Professional tools target professional communities - many of them based on the knowledge of a technology, software, product suite, etc. That might be an ERP community, professional group affiliation, or one based on a programming language like C#.
Networking tools create a wider set of communities - perhaps based on common interests like group affiliations (Camping/Hiking Clubs, Religious Clubs, Fan Clubs, etc.). They focus less on a professional grouping and more on overall populations, but still with the intent of connecting people.
Social tools tend to focus on interactions that, in my opinion, are a bit more coffee shop, telephone, local park. In other words, they are less about connecting people and more about chatting on day to day stuff. They don’t necessarily focus on people who might want to coordinate a camping trip or ask technical questions, but they offer an online watercooler for socialization and gossip and play.

Each tool has a user base, with some overlap, but they tend to tailor their offerings based on the type of user they really want to visit. Take a look at MySpace*, for example - you can completely customize your profile with music, videos, flash animations, colours, whatever. You can’t do that on something like LinkedIN* because that’s not primarily what it’s about.
When I’m at work, I focus on the Professional or Networking tools - places I can go to ask questions about a technology problem I’m having, or to find someone who not only likes the Sci-Fi Network* show Eureka but wants to chat about geek gadgets for the digital home.
When I’m at home, I think less about work and so I shift my focus to Networking and Social tools. I’m more inclined to look for people who want to chat about the latest episode of American Idol, or perhaps go read the latest deliciously sarcastic blog from TV icon Bobby Rivers.
I’m part of any number of communities that are dynamically created based on my hobbies, interests, and likes. It’s exponential the number of communities I’m a part of on any given day, but I thought it might be interesting to figure out just how many.
So here’s what I consider to be 10% of the communities that I am a part of:
First, I will boil it down to the lowest common denominator and eliminate things like: human being, on planet Earth, inhabitant of the Milky Way Galaxy, and anything that would be consistent with every other person on the planet.
So what does that leave… US Citizen, NC Native but CA resident who lives in the Sacramento area, employee of a high tech company, team manager, user of an overloaded laptop. Alumni of a college that gave me a BSBA in Information Systems, formerly a member of a professional organization at said college, alumni of my high school and the marching band, child actor (used to be in a lot of plays when younger). Camper, book reader (sci-fi, horror, comedy, adventure), bike rider, gardener, writer of books, lover of reference materials/trivia, bicentennial quarter collector, RPG game player, movie watcher (sci-fi, action, comedy, thriller), music listener (ambient, jazz, soft pop, 80’s), caretaker for three cats. Sushi eater, coffee drinker, non-American sports car driver, and lover of diet Pepsi* vanilla.
Now that I write all that out, I don’t even think that’s 10% of the communities I’m a part of. I can think of a hundred other aspects of my personality/life that would lend themselves to larger communities…so how is this at all useful?
The example that I’m prone to use when asked about the value of Social Networking/Communities is this… I want to find people of any gender and any race, working at the same place I do, who like to eat sushi for lunch, who are fans of Stephen King novels, have some experience in wiki’s and online document repositories, and have a background in organization development. And then I want to schedule a lunch with those folks so we can discuss putting together an internal website on org development BKMs, and after we’re done talk about the latest novel from our favourite horror writer, all the while enjoying unagi and maguro.
That, to me, is the power and usefulness of the community. Where do you find value?
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We Tell Stories

Monday, July 21st, 2008

Penguin have launched an experimental storytelling site using a combination of Google Earth and digital Storytelling. Six authors have written work especially for this medium. The 21 Steps is told by following the story as it unfolds across a map of the world. You follow the trail by clicking on the link at the bottom of each bubble.You then click on any green markers you see for extra features. Once you have read all the pages in the current location you can continue the story by clicking ‘Next’.

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