Articles by Alison Diana

With its release of the Google Search Appliance last year, the long-time leader of consumer Web search turned its attention to the needs of complex, data-intensive enterprises The search appliance -- which includes hardware, software and support -- interacts with an organization's datacenter to search either an intranet or a business' external Web ...

Algorithms -- or, in layman's terms, defined procedures for accomplishing a task or solving a problem -- abound throughout the computing industry. These protocols have shaped the ways in which people communicate, transact business and even pursue recreation using computers Certain algorithms are more well known than others. Some of the most famous ...

With global e-commerce revenue expected to approach US$2 trillion this year, it is hardly surprising that online stores are investing heavily in technologies that can convince potential customers to become repeat clients Search engines are one such "killer" technology because they play a crucial role in customer satisfaction, according to industry ...

In the past year, enterprise networks have faced a plague of security issues. Now, many companies are finding themselves forced to channel more time and money toward improving security. From worms and viruses to compliance and patching issues, businesses must develop ever-more complex protocols to keep unwanted visitors out of their networks. Is a new Iron Curtain about to fall as businesses lock down their network environments, or are more moderate measures still feasible?...

Microsoft is still top dog in a newly invigorated brawl over the browser space, despite some security flaws and a somewhat sluggish development schedule Although alternative browsers may offer more secure portals to the Web, many IT managers in corporate America are reluctant to move away from IE -- preferring, instead, to gamble on Microsoft's rel...

The U.S. federal government can be a lucrative market for many vendors in the IT hemisphere, thanks to its constant demand for technology, certain agencies' willingness to sign long-term contracts for products and services, and the current focus on data security. One might even say the path to government contracts is paved with gold -- and crater-size potholes...

They may not wear capes, carry futuristic laser guns or live in underground lairs, but members of Internet Security Systems' (ISS) X-Force team are accustomed to being summoned to work in the wee hours of the morning, on holidays and on weekends to fight crime and save the world -- or, at least, the business world as we know it ISS formed X-Force i...

Although outsourcing has cast a long shadow over many IT professions and functions, there are glimmers of sunlight for U.S. employees involved in certain aspects of the computing industry For example, although it has been affected by outsourcing to some degree, research and development retains much of its shimmer....

Although outsourcing has cast a long shadow over many IT professions and functions, there are glimmers of sunlight for U.S. employees involved in certain aspects of the computing industry For example, although it has been affected by outsourcing to some degree, research and development retains much of its shimmer....

Although outsourcing has cast a long shadow over many IT professions and functions, there are glimmers of sunlight for U.S. employees involved in certain aspects of the computing industry For example, although it has been affected by outsourcing to some degree, research and development retains much of its shimmer....

Without measurement, organizations that rely on the Internet for all or part of their business cannot identify problem areas, monitor user compliance with service-level agreements or fully understand users' online experience. Keynote Systems has been measuring Web performance since 1997, and in that time it has seen Web sites grow in complexity and value...

Network Appliance, which initially focused on network-attached storage (NAS), in recent years has moved toward offering a broader spectrum of storage technologies and capabilities, including iSCSI and SAN The move apparently is paying off. In its second quarter of fiscal 2004, whichended November 18th, NetApp's revenue rose 28 percent to US$275.6 m...

As reliance on and investment in e-commerce grows, so too does companies' overall investment in Web monitoring software and services. In 2002, the average Web analytics company saw sales increase 15 percent, according to Forrester Research. Solutions -- both for in-house and for external monitoring -- are available from a slew of companies, with costs ranging from free to thousands of dollars...

Notebook computers may not have the same cachet as a Hermes purse or a Savile Row suit, but for some executives, carrying the right laptop ranks on a level with choosing the most suitable restaurant for a power lunch or driving the best company car Fortunately, there are myriad notebooks from which to choose, and the trend toward diversification is...

Many e-businesses, whether they sell physical goods or more intangible services, are casting a covetous eye at the vast potential of the international market After all, the world population is growing. As just one example, China is expected to have a population of 1.48 billion by 2050, according to the International Institute for Applied Systems An...

Last year was a busy one for Symantec, one of the United States' leading developers of security products. The Cupertino, California-based company helped customers battle and protect against an ever-growing list of malware, ranging from Blaster, Slammer and SoBig to hundreds of smaller irritants The hectic year paid off: Symantec posted revenue of U...

Although worms can create media furor and disrupt business, to date they have adhered to a strange dichotomy: A given worm may spread rapidly or deliver a destructive payload -- but no worm has accomplished both tasks with equal aplomb SQL Slammer and SoBig.F, for example, tunneled voraciously through the Internet. On the other hand, the Magistr wo...

Recently, many traditional firewall vendors have been adding more capabilities, such as antivirus and antispam, to their security offerings This all-in-one approach has both proponents and opponents. Proponents say more all-inclusive security devices can simplify the all-too-complex life of an IT manager. On the negative side, opponents note that i...

As enterprises continue to invest in wireless devices and networks, IT specialists will be faced with the growing challenge of maintaining and improving the security of those networks In many cases, they are getting the financial assistance they need to achieve this goal. Global spending on overall security and business continuity will grow at twic...

Outsourcing may be a bane to many U.S. technology, finance and manufacturing employees, but it has proved a boon -- and a catalyst for cultural change -- to nations like India that are reaping the benefits of this trend It is fortunate that a bright side for employees exists, because the outsourcing tide seems unstoppable. By 2015, more than 472,00...