Lots of Healthcare IT Jobs…

So good news out there IT people!!  The government’s piece of the stimulus package aimed at boosting the adoption and the use healthcare information technology is expected to create 50,000 new jobs- maybe more according to an October 23rd publication of Healthcare IT news.    New workers will be needed at all levels, from pulling wiring to overseeing installations.   Nurses might not be well prepared for the change from paper to digital but by contrast the pharmacy workforce seems fairly facile.

The biggest gap will be in the higher level set of skilled IT workers.  It is hard to find seasoned, experienced personnel.  While there is an appeal to bring on 23 and 24 year olds there is an element of effectiveness on the job that comes from having seen and solved problems associated with major deployments.

So good news senior level IT people.  Lots of healthcare IT jobs out for you right now..!

Vulnerability Assessment !!!!!

Yo!

So a vulnerability assessment is very critical in securing your network.  Most organizations perform these assessments annually or quarterly at the most.  The difficulty with this level of frequency is that new network vulnerabilities are discovered daily.  Since networks often change due to patching, new machine installations and many other reasons, your vulnerability posture can change just as often.

ALSO, many regulatory bodies recognize the value of vulnerability assessments including the PCI council which published the PCI-DSS regulation.  With so many reasons to scan, it makes sense to consolidate all of these scans inside one easily accessible  location that includes scan scheduling, report review, and remediation recommendations.

There are multiple scanning services…..

External  this vulnerability scan uses hardware outside of your network to scan the outside the network for vulnerabilities.  The same web-based portal is included for easy service management and reporting with this service as is included with the internal service.

Internal this open option allows you to turn any supporting hardware into an internal scanner that searches for vulnerabilities within your network.  The same web based portal is included for easy service management and reporting with this service as in the External service.

PCI this external scan is customized to include the required Statement of Attestation and Self Assessment questionnaire.  In addition to the management and reporting portal, this option provides additional reporting options including an overview of your PCI compliance status and more inside into any areas that may be out of compliance.

Within each service listed above there are two versions to select to provide the best solution..

On Demand - this version gives you complete control over scan scheduling and allows you to schedule unlimited scans for unique hosts.

Managed - Configured and a scheduled monthly scan.  Security experts  review the outcome and discuss the findings with you.  Additional consulting is then available upon request. 

And who is RedLegg’s fine partner of choice for such a security assessment..?  AlertLogic & Perimeter USA of course!

Cisco, EMC and VMware Team Up for Data Centers!

Cisco and EMC have teamed up to bring us integrated products for building private cloud computing infrastructures.

VMware has been included in the partnership as well.  There are 2 different ventures that will come from these partnerships.  The first is a Virtual Computing Environment coalition that will develop new products and the other is a joint venture called Acadia.  Acadia will help to train customers how to install and use the products. 

Acadia will have its own CEO and an initial staff of roughly 130 people.  The majority investors in Acadia will be Cisco and EMC with VMware and Intel as the secondary investors. 

Acadia’s goal is for them to accelerate product sales and deployment, perform initial operating and then transfer operations to customers or partners.

The Data Center Cloud market is in the area of $350 Billion a year with 70% of that spent on maintaining existing infrastructure which leaves only 30% or less for new technology purchases.

John Chambers, CEO of Cisco Systems thinks that this alliance between Cisco, EMC and VMware will have the biggest impact on Data Centers and cloud computing made in this decade when we look back at it years from now.

Let us know if you want to know more about this exciting new alliance!

Managed VoIP with Unified Communications

hmmm sound interesting..?   As you know, the cost of implementing a VoIP network can be very overwhelming.  Most IP enabled phone systems run in the ten of thousands of dollars.. at least.  And then there is the technical knowledge required to over see a VoIP system’s equipment, software and ever evolving network infrastructure.   I have no doubt most of you can learn these skills pronto, but learning is still a very time consuming and costly process.

This is where I think managed VoIP services can fit in.. With these services, a third party provider offers all of the equipment, software, operations, facilities and technical expertise that is needed for a company to reap the benefits of a VoIP phone solution without the costs, risks and headaches of an on premise VoIP solution.

So how the heck does it work..? Well.. a typical VoIP service package includes the design, integration and deployment of IP-telephony equipment and software along with the maintainance of existing telephone solutions and the new VoIP network.   Network management and maintainance offerings usually consist of remote fault monitoring with network surveillance, customer defined service level agreements for response and resolution; moves and changes; comprehensive customer reporting and service management guaranteeing a certain percent of network uptime.  Pricing may range from usage based to a fixed flat rate, depending on your needs and performances.  You can monitor your cost of operation through regular reports.

Overall Benefits of VoIP managed..

1. Experienced Staff
2. Faster Time to Market
3. Greater Innovation
4. Low Up Front Capital Expenditures
5. Predictable Operating Expenses
6. Enhanced Security
7. Flexibility
8. Special Features

Ok and here is what to look for in a Managed VoIP provider..

1. Willingness to integrate your existing technologies with a new VoIP solution
2. Proven track record
3. History of financial stability and long term commitment to VoIP
4. A service level agreement that promises a high degree of uptime and establishes a maximum threshold for downtime
5. Security precautions such as build in redundancy
6. Round the clock availability of highly experienced and knowledgable IT people

Here are some examples of some well known managed VoIP service providers as well as RedLegg’s favorite… sorry yes we are biased based on experience.

IPtimize Inc – Voice Pilot is a hosted VoIP PBX service that delivers integrated local, long distance and advanced communication features while leveraging an existing broadband connection.

Verizon Business- Relies on Nortel Network.. they have cool things like the find me/follow me application but no thanks to Verizon Business for me.. yuck

Avaya – Remote Management Services for IP Telephony.  Good solution but their focus is not on managed services.  It is on a new phone system.   It is annoying to be constantly upsold, so beware of that with Avaya.  But overall good solution.

M5 Networks Inc – Never really heard of them or dealt with them.  I think they are only for companies based in NY.. but that may not be true.  Don’t know a lot about this company but I do know they have an offering.

Whaleback Systems – Premises based, software driven all inclusive managed service with unlimited use and flat rate pricing.  Sounds like a decent solution

Smoothstone IP Communications - REDLEGG FAVORITE!!!  Lots of raving fans like this solution.  Has multiple different options to deploy VoIP across any system or MPLS network from TDM emulation and SIP trunking to fully hosted VoIP to the desktop.   I like the flexibility and the options AND the support staff.   Really, really good.  There are lots of different options including conferencing, voice mail and E911, along with all inclusive domestic and international calling plans that combine DID, unlimited local calling and 4 digit on net calling.  Smoothstone complete is a hosted solution that delivers fully managed voice services without an on site PBX.  Smoothstone also provides managed solutions and SaaS based applications for MPLS networking, unified threat management, contact center, collaboration and messaging.   Smoothstone offers such good support throughout the planning, implementation and ongoing management of the solutions.  MUY MUY IMPORTANTE.  

We are having a webinar November 20th 1pm regarding Managed VoIP.   Come one, come all!  There is a free stainless steel mug given to everyone that attends.  Limited number of participants so register today..

http://www.redlegg.com/files/webinarregister.php

Cisco DataCenter 3.0

Data Center challenges include business alignment, cost and power efficiency and risk management and compliance.

With these crazy trends come a shared, virtualized infrastructure model which enables you to provide more of a cloud model.   This structure is very reliant on the network and the network becomes more of an underlying foundation upon which the virtualized data center infrastructure runs.

Cisco DataCenter 3.0 is Cisco’s way of handling these new trends.  DataCenter 3.0 combines an innovative architecture with an integrated technology roadmap, design best practices, and services, all designed to help customers transform their data center infrastructures, processes, and organizations with maximum effectiveness and minimum risk, cost, or disruption.

The roadmap consists of these steps:

Consolidation, Virtualization, Automation, Utility and Market.  Each one of those steps is an important part of the roadmap to making your data center the most efficient it can be.

Using DataCenter 3.0 allows you to standardize and consolidate the servers , storage, and network equipment in your data center and remote offices to improve operational efficiency, utilization and resilience.

All IT organizations have important challenges like growing data, application growth, space/area limits, and underutilized resources.  This is where DataCenter 3.0 can have benefits to you and your organization. 

Let us know if you want to talk more about Cisco DataCenter 3.0!

TOP 10 IT Management Trends for the Next 5 Years

1.  Client Virtualization

2.  Enterprise Data will grow 650%

3.  Energy Cost will be a part of an IT Manager’s budget

4.  Tools to monitor energy consumption as well as automate energy usage to optimal levels

5.  Establishing rules around web communications, social networking and other platforms.

6.  Unifying Communication

7.  Utilizing applications for mobile and wireless applications that are either free or modestly priced

8.  The energy cost of supporting a server will exceed the cost of a server in 3 years

9.  Mashups created by users are also something IT has to manager.

10.  Cloud computing, particularly a private cloud, separates users from the technology decision because it turns IT into a set of services.  The public cloud will grow slower than the private cloud.

Thanks Jack for the 411 found from both CIO.com and ComputerWorld.  Good stuff!!

Weekend RedLegg Halloween Jokes

Question:  What did the Skeleton say as he jumped on the motorcycle?

Answer:  Bone to be Wild

Question:  Why did the Skeleton NOT cross the raod?

Answer:  Cause he had no guts.

Question:  Why did the Skeleton go to the BBQ?

Answer:  Cause he was looking for some spare ribs

 

Yes I know I am sure you are laughing so hard right now.. ha ha ha =) Ok little comic relief now back to work.

Oh and the reason for the yoga girl is because Pregger Yoga really helps when you are pregger in the final 3-4 weeks.  Big believer!!  Of course I have a very pregger belly as opposed to the gal in the picture.  But yoga is yoga yo.

Engineers Create Tiny Chip That Holds 1TB Of Data

Something interesting for your Friday! 

This could save everyone a lot of space and money on hard drives as well as  fuel for your car!!!

Newly engineered chip can handle 1TB, 50 times more data, than previous chips that usually store 20GB’s of data.

The process the engineers used to creat this chip looks like it can boost cars fuel efficiency and reduce heat produced by semiconductors, a potentially important development for more efficient energy production.

Let me know if you would like to know more about this and I will send you a link to read more about it! – Jack

jack.campise@redlegg.com

Tandberg Bid Rejected….

Cisco just pay more for them…!  You know you have the mula for it…

Yesterday, Cisco was down 4 cents at $24.34 and “The current bid is 153.50 crowns per share.. and the bid might have to increase by 170 crowns.”  What the heck is a crown?

Update: Cisco said in a statement that it could not comment on the Tandberg holders move, but that it has previously said it is offering a fair price. Here’s the full text of their response, which comes from a spokesperson for the company:

“We are aware of statements made by Tandberg shareholder[s] and as we are currently in the middle of a tender offer process, we are not able to comment. We have stated previously that we believe we are paying a fair price for a quality asset and our offer comes recommended by the Tandberg Board of Directors. As noted in Tandberg’s communications to the Oslo Exchange, Cisco’s offer represents a 38.3% premium to the closing share price on July 15 – which is one day prior to major media reports of a possible transaction.”‪

Update 2: William Blair analyst Jason Ader asserts that there is a high probability that Cisco will raise its offer, noting that Cisco is paying only an 11% premium to the price of the stock on the day before the bid. He thinks they could cinch the deal by offering 10%-15% more – or the 170 crown price noted above. He says this is a highly strategic deal for Cisco, and that walking away now “would be contradictory and puzzling to Cisco shareholders, especially given Cisco’s huge cash reserves.”

Do you have a good Disaster Recovery Plan?

Figured out your Halloween Costume yet?  Well get moving on it!

Figured out your Disaster Recovery Plan yet?  Well get moving on it!  I have some fantastic options.  Ask me about it ASAP!