Rob Thrush

I find it fascinating how the “older” generation responds to today’s technology. Now that I am fast approaching the point where I am “the older generation” I try to be more critical of my reasoning for accepting or not accepting a “new technology”. I have been reading articles in some of the “trade rags” (technology magazines) and an interesting question is being raised. As the “upcoming generation” enters the work force in the next 5 to 10 years how will we have to adapt our corporate technology to first attract them to work for us and second provide them the tools they are used to using to communicate such as SMS messaging and social networks. Quite an interesting question.

Below is and example article from CIO magazine.

Management Techniques for Bringing Out the Best in Generation Y
Deborah Gilburg
http://www.cio.com/article/149053

What about people who use only a cell phone and forgo a land line telephone.  I think this introduces social changes as well as emergency ramifications. 

On the emergency side, they are probably about as safe as if they had a land line if they live in a major or lager city; because of the additional number of cell towers which can give a more precise location.  For rural areas, however, it would be more risky to not have a land line for emergency’s. 

On the social side I am seeing more people who are deciding to have only a cell phone which is presenting a different dynamic when calling them.  For instance both of my children live in different cities and do not have land lines.  So when calling them, I call them directly.  Because they have no land line it is very rare that I speak with their spouse, unless we are visiting them in person.  If they had a land line I would have more of an opportunity to talk to whichever of them answered the phone and therefore would have more of an opportunity to talk to their spouses as well. 

Before cell phones, if you called someone you called their “house” and spoke to whoever answered the phone, and, you knew they were at home.  If you call someone today, and all they have is a cell phone, you are calling them directly and you never know where they are or if you are interrupting them. 

Anyway, I find this to be an interesting social dynamic. 

There are many things to consider when attempting to integrate voice, data, e-mail and collaboration components.  The most important, I think, is the basic network infrastructure.  An analysis of the network wiring and switches/hubs must be done to determine if it can support the bandwidth requirements necessary to handle the integration of all of the above components.  If the results of the integration of these components need to be accessed from “anywhere” then an analysis of available internet  bandwidth needs to be made as well.  Now that I have all of these components integrated what is the need for accessing this information.  Do I just need it at my desk or do I need to be able to access it in a meeting in someone else’s office or in a conference room.  This has an impact on the type of computer needed (i.e. desktop or laptop) which then determines the robustness and extent of the wireless network as well.  Next, does it need to be accessed from outside the office.  This can determine if a wireless modem/PC card is necessary.  Next a determination needs to made if all or part of the above components should, or need to, be made available on PDA’s or smart phones for remote access. 

The integration of voice, data, email and collaboration software can make staff extremely productive but it does come at a cost in robustness of the network infrastructure provided. Some basic business decisions need to be made up front for how these integrated components can,or should be used.  Doing this will ensure the success of this integration. 

We all think that we are impervious to a data disaster until a tornado comes through or a hurricane, such as Katrina.  Add the rarest of disasters such as the attack on the World Trade Center and you can see many different types of disasters where not only your data is lost, but your whole infrastructure.  A side effect to the World Trade Center attack was the loss of the entire staff.  Not only was data and infrastructure lost but the brain trust was lost as well.  I always ask my executive team how long can they live without a component of the telecommunications and data infrastructure.  This determines the cost or investment we will make in the backup/redundant system. 

Are you prepared for disaster?

I understand the pain of losing data off of a laptop.  This has been one of my frustration points in supporting our staff.  What I have in place now is a “synchronized” environment.  All of my users, desktop or laptop, are mapped to a drive on the server for their personal files.  We then redirect the “My Documents” folder to link to their server based directory.  When they log-on or log-off the network, their “My Documents” folder is synchronized to the server.  With this set up they have access to their files whether they are logged on to the server or not (that is if they don’t cancel the synchronization process).  We have had to do some “education” to ensure folks understand what is going on but it has paid off very well.  Now when a desktop or laptop fails or needs to be replaced, no data is lost; as long as all documents are filed in their “My Documents” folder. 

Are you planning for growth in your network infrastructure?  I think the more involved and progressive companies are planning for this type of growth.  Those in the CIO or senior IT position have to be the ones to take the lead on this type of planning and implementation.  Network planning has evolved to a more complex and critical level than it was, even three to five years ago.  Companies today have to do this planning correctly or face significant losses not only in the products or services they offer but also in wasted investments in technology. 

Too often a lot of the senior IT leadership gets “comfortable” with things as they are and don’t really want to deal with any change.  The type of planning that needs to take place to properly plan an improvement in a network is hard work and many IT leaders either don’t want to work that hard or don’t want to let anyone know that they don’t know how to do it;  instead of finding the talent that is already part of their teams and developing and making use of that talent. 

Take a look at the CIO magazine top innovative companies (http://www.cio.com/cio100/2007/1) and you will see the progressive companies,  with forward thinking IT leaders as well as executive level leaders in the company.   Also take a look at Google and the infrastructure they are building in order to not only provide service to their customers but also their development and support teams.  My place of work has improved 1000 per cent since I have been there.  However it has taken a lot of very hard work convincing the senior leadership team of not only the need, but also what the benefits are to be gained from the improvements.  We, as IT leaders have to step up to the plate in order to ensure the improvements and growth in our IT infrastructures continue to move forward or be willing to become like the dinosaurs portrayed in the IBM and banking advertisements that are in a lot of the print trade magazines today.

Are you planning for growth?  Why not?

How do you, as an individual or as a business, know when you are vulnerable or worse being ‘attacked”?

This is exactly the problem that many companies face today and don’t even realize it.  Conversely there are companies that know they are possibly vulnerable but have determined that their data is not something they care if someone else has, and accept the vulnerability.  A number of companies have intrusion detection systems that monitor who accesses their network and track where they go once they have gained access.  Even with this it is difficult to determine if there is a “break in” in real time.  If an account has been spoofed, or broken, the person using it may be accessing files or records that this account would normally have access to.  Until a “theft” takes place there may never be a need to review these accesses.  It is almost always after the fact that an intrusion is discovered and tracked.  But if a theft never takes place then a company may never know that their network has been compromised.

However, now that Visa has implemented the Cardholder Information Security Program (CISP) all organizations that process credit cards must comply with the strict security protection required by the  program or risk being fined for any loss of credit card information.  Quite an incentive for ensuring that their network is properly protected.  (http://usa.visa.com/merchants/risk_management/cisp.html)

Who is accessing your corporate data?

One of the things that makes my head hurt is when I am driving in to work and I hear the DJ advertising the radio stations web site for streaming audio.  With out failure every one of them say to “log on when you get to work” to listen to their radio station on your computer!  It’s as if they think our corporate network’s have unlimited bandwidth.  Now with the television stations and other news and sports outlets making their video available there is, or can be, a tremendous strain on the corporate network as employee’s try to “enjoy” themselves at work.  Also add in the video sites like YouTube and a company’s internet access can come to a crawl. 

We have had to start blocking sports, news, and some video sites with our content filter and then install a “packet shaper” in order to prioritize our internet traffic.  Our “mission critical” apps have priority access to the internet and everything else “that isn’t blocked” can use the left over bandwidth.  Now, when someone calls the help desk to complain about how slow the internet is we first check to see if the mission critical applications are the ones that are running slow.  If these are working well and it is “just the internet” then we very politely tell them “bummer”.  Not necessarily in those words though…..

Where is your Internet bandwith going?

Does this sound familiar? 

The current IT Director leaves for a new position.  Then the most technically savvy person on the IT team is thrust into the leadership position and expected to swim (or sink) as best they can.  Sometimes they are provided leadership training but most often they aren’t.  Most of the time this person is a very dedicated and talented technical person and they work very hard on the technical side of the leadership.  More often than not, they don’t even want the leadership position but take it on because “someone has to be the leader”.  With out the leadership training, or an understanding of the business, they don’t know how to ask the right questions so that they know where the business is going and why. 

This may be the extreme case but have you been in this position?  Is this an unfortunate waste of talent or an opportunity to grow?

I have read about making sites more user friendly but for some reason have never considered those who are color blind, either totally or partially.  What an interesting dilemma.  One of the ways that I use to differentiate or accentuate information on my web sites is by using color.  I had never considered that this could be totally useless to someone who cannot differentiate the colors.  My organization provides activities for individuals with handicaps and I have been slowly trying to ensure our web site is “Bobby Approved” (http://www.accessible.org).  I have been focusing on text readers to ensure those who can’t see can still enjoy the information on our web site.  I will now have to go back and rethink the use of color on our web site and how we can still highlight information without totally depending on color.

Is your web site “Bobby Approved”?