Caution in adopting Internet-of-Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things puts computing technology in nontraditional devices — that is, things other than desktops, tablets and smartphones. A network interface allows these devices to communicate over private networks and the Internet. Think: My refrigerator knows we’re out of milk so it contacts the store to order another gallon.

You may think this futuristic vision is a long way from practical application in your business. But the technology industry is betting differently — and pushing hard to make it appealing to your business. The industry analyst Gartner expects the Internet of Things — shorthanded as IoT — to grow from just under a billion devices reported in 2009 to 26 billion by 2020. The giant network technology company Cisco is even more bullish, estimating 50 billion by 2020.

Read this article in it's entirety at the Sacramento Business Journal >>>

Danger in your Data Center

Last April I wrote about the risks of using the Windows XP desktop operating system after Microsoft support for that system expired. On July 15, another important Microsoft operating system is reaching the end of its supported life: Windows Server 2003. This presents a far more severe risk for your business.

One reason is simply the potential scope of impact. Unlike a desktop computer, a server hosts an application or database across an entire department, line of business or even the whole company. The scope is compounded for small businesses because many extend their hardware investment by running multiple applications and databases across one server.

The second factor, a potentially larger risk, is increased exposure to a data breach. After July 15, security updates will no longer be available for Server 2003. This means any new exploits could provide a doorway into your company’s most sensitive data.

Read this article in it's entirety at the Sacramento Business Journal >>>