Stories by Ryan Francis

Inside the Google v. Oracle courtroom drama

The trial pitting Google vs. Oracle on the claim of intellectual property infringement by Google in Android has reached almost a tabloid like feel. Outside the courtroom feels like the red carpet as tech giant after tech giant emerge from limos and town cars to testify.

By Ryan Francis | 11 May, 2012 01:04

Tags: software, oracle, Google, freemium, copyright infringement

Macs under attack, who is safe?

It was always thought that as Apple products increased in popularity, so would the target on its back placed by cybercriminals. Always looking to take down the king of the hill, cybercriminals finally got to Apple's Macs last week with a botnet that attacked more than 600,000 machines.

By Ryan Francis | 18 April, 2012 00:06

Tags: anonymous, anti-malware, Apple, cybercrime, cybersecurity, flashback, freemium, legal, Microsoft, security

Can you handle Big Data?

Big Data is the latest industry buzzword. It's just another way of saying you as a network manager are being inundated with data and you better figure out a way to manage, secure and analyze it.

By Ryan Francis | 28 March, 2012 07:48

Tags: Big Data, Configuration / maintenance, Data Center, freemium, hardware systems, infrastructure management, LogLogic, management, networking, Network management, security

Cisco's big comeback

Just a year ago, Cisco's stock was taking a beating after the sales failed to meet Wall Street expectations.The company wasn't exactly reeling, but CEO John Chambers knew something had to be done to right the ship.  

By Ryan Francis | 22 March, 2012 01:24

Tags: Cisco, Cisco Systems, Ethernet Switch, freemium, John Chambers, LAN & WAN, security

iPad 3 could blow away competitors

There has been wide speculation on what Apple's next iteration of its tablet will look like, feature and be named. Network World editor John Cox even is able to write a weekly story on the wild rumors surrounding the next iPad.

By Ryan Francis | 07 March, 2012 02:23

Tags: Apple, Configuration / maintenance, Data Center, freemium, hardware systems, iPad 3, networking, pc, Tablet, wireless

BYOD: There is no stopping employees' devices on your network

It used to be the IT department's answer was always no when an employee asked to use a personal device for work. IT often felt the risk was far too great to the company's network security to allow this.

By Ryan Francis | 01 March, 2012 06:00

Tags: Apple, bring your own device, byod, freemium, insider, networking, security, wireless

The ultimate tips box

Got problems with insider threats? Need help securing your wireless LAN because of employees bringing their own devices on to your network? Know how to protect your Android device?

By Ryan Francis | 22 February, 2012 10:42

Tags: cloud computing, Configuration / maintenance, Data Center, freemium, hardware systems, internet, LAN & WAN, networking, network security, security, tips, tricks, wireless, WLANs, WLANs / Wi-Fi

Windows 8: What you need to know

Just when you got used to Windows 7, Microsoft is threatening to ship Windows 8. The first public beta is slated to be released at the end of this month, with a final ship date rumored to be in October.  So, what does Windows 8 mean for you?

By Ryan Francis | 15 February, 2012 09:03

Tags: freemium, Microsoft, operating systems, software, Windows, Windows 8

Macs take on the enterprise

Change can often be slow. It took many years for the Mac to begin to even threaten the PC in the enterprise. It is still a slow process, but Apple is making up ground on Microsoft.

By Ryan Francis | 07 February, 2012 08:53

Tags: Apple, apple in the enterprise, Configuration / maintenance, Data Center, freemium, hardware systems, IDC, Macs, macs in the enterprise, Microsoft, pc

Will RIM survive?

As Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie step down as co-CEOs at Research in Motion, the company is at a cross roads. Thorsten Heins steps into the CEO chair with many daunting obstacles ahead of him and RIM.

By Ryan Francis | 26 January, 2012 06:25

Tags: Blackberry, consumer electronics, freemium, networking, PlayBook, research in motion, rim, smartphones, wireless

CES 2012 in a nutshell

As technology conferences go, CES this year reached new heights of stardom, with its own television show on Spike TV and big entertainment names like Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson and Ryan Seacrest.

By Ryan Francis | 19 January, 2012 05:31

Tags: CES, consumer electronics, Consumer Electronics Show 2012, freemium, wireless

What to do in the event of a data breach?

Even though it now appears there was no terrorist attack on a pump at an Illinois water utility, the SCADA infiltration scare was a reminder that data breaches can come from any number of angles.

By Ryan Francis | 07 December, 2011 08:41

Tags: anti-malware, cybercrime, data breach, freemium, legal, scada, security, sony

Tech arguments: then and now

While standing around the water cooler in the IT department, perhaps you debate with a coworker about whether LinkedIn is better than Facebook. Or you argue with an end user about whether they can use their own device on the corporate network or can only use what is provided by the company.

By Ryan Francis | 30 November, 2011 05:50

Tags: consumer electronics, Data Center, Facebook, freemium, Google, hardware systems, internet, LinkedIn, tech arguments, twitter

Should social networks be blocked at work?

One of the biggest trends in IT is how consumer products have crept into the enterprise, and the trend extends to Internet services. The ingenious thing about social networks such as Facebook and LinkedIn is that these consumer-oriented sites have become key tools for professionals.

By Ryan Francis | 11 November, 2011 09:44

Tags: applications, collaboration, Facebook, freemium, internet, Internet-based applications and services, LinkedIn, networking, security, social media, social networking, software, unified communications, web 2.0

Steve Jobs' memory lives on

Apple founder Steve Jobs' death earlier this month brought forth an outpouring of remembrances from fanboys, industry leaders -- even people who didn't seem to realize they were fans of Steve Jobs.

By Ryan Francis | 20 October, 2011 05:00

Tags: Apple, business issues, Facebook, freemium, Microsoft, personnel, twitter, wireless

Twitter Feed

  • rohan_p RT @Techworld_AU: Gear and gadgets at @CeBITAUS 2012, Sydney http://t.co/J1Sch1sX #cebit2012
    1 day, 2 hours
  • Techworld_AU Gear and gadgets at @CeBITAUS 2012, Sydney http://t.co/J1Sch1sX #cebit2012
    1 day, 2 hours
  • HamishBarwick CeBIT 2012: Will NBN speed up freight delivery times? http://t.co/gaZyjOlH #cw #cio #tw #CeBIT2012 #nbn
    1 day, 22 hours
  • HamishBarwick CeBIT 2012: NAB calls for mobile app security overhaul http://t.co/3Z3ZPUPq #cw #cio #tw #CeBIT2012 #infosec
    2 days, 1 hour
  • rohan_p RT @Techworld_AU: BigPond Games Arena, Games Shop hit by hackers http://t.co/OXNPeDfL #bigpond #infosec #security
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