Cloud computing represents a completely unique opportunity to re-think enterprise security and risk management. Cloud security has become a divisive topic within many companies. Some see cloud computing as a business necessity, required to maintain with competitors, or a vehicle to seriously change “old world” IT. Others see daunting and threatening security risks. To me, cloud computing represents a chance to re-think, re-design, and operationalize information security and risk management to drive business agility. Cloud computing offers a completely unique change in managing information systems: using automation. While most observe automation because the cornerstone of cloud computing’s cost savings and efficiency, automation is equally valuable, if not moreso, for information security and risk management. today’s security problems, the landscape is plagued by methods which are largely manual and disconnected. Business systems are launched and retired faster than security teams can identify, analyze, and track. Risks are implicitly accepted by business sponsors during design, development, and operation, but mitigated only when pressed by security and risk... Read More »

Cisco, SAP, Salesforce.com back MuleSoft and its quest to simplify on-premises and cloud integration; $131 million raised to this point. 8 Data Centers For Cloud’s Toughest Jobs (Click image for larger view and slideshow.) Mulesoft has grown up, from a firm built around a quiet open source project to provide an enterprise service bus, right into a potential cloud behemoth. It now offers 200 connectors to supply integration, either on-premises or in its CloudHub service running on Amazon Web Services. Its three most modern rounds a big gamble capital funding have boosted its take to $131 million, with the newest round of $50 million backed by Cisco. The former round was backed by Salesforce.com, and the only before that was backed by SAP AG. “It shows the neutrality of what we’re doing in the midst of everything,” declared Greg Schott, president and CEO, in an interview after Mulesoft announced the third round March 13. Mulesoft will use the cash to expand all phases of its... Read More »

Rival search services gain a guaranteed spot alongside Google results, but competitors say it isn’t enough. 10 Great Google Apps Tips (Click image for larger view.) Google has agreed to settle a eu Union antitrust investigation launched three years ago by promising to modify how it operates its search business. After twice rejecting Google’s proposed changes to its search business practices last year, the eu Commission, the ecu executive body, now finds Google’s concessions adequate to prevent a legal challenge. For Google, the agreement eliminates the chance of a costly antitrust battle in European courts. The corporate still faces separate antitrust inquiries regarding its Android business and to the way in which its Motorola Mobility unit, that is being sold to Lenovo, sought injunctions over industry-standard patents. In January, Google settled an antitrust inquiry conducted by the Federal Trade Commission, to the dissatisfaction of FairSearch.org, a lobbying group supported by Oracle, Microsoft, Nokia, and diverse search industry competitors. Unsurprisingly, FairSearch.org offered an identical assessment of... Read More »

iOS developers earn $7 billion, while Apple keeps $3 billion. 10 Lavish Monuments To Tech Egos (click image for larger view) Apple customers spent over $10 billion inside the company’s App Store in 2013, demonstrating the continuing appeal of native mobile apps and the company’s curated software distribution model. In December alone, Apple App Store customers spent over $1 billion, the foremost revenue in one month for the reason that App Store’s debut in July 2008. Apple said its iOS developers have earned $15 billion so far. That’s after Apple has taken its 30% cut. And almost half that payout, about $7 billion, was returned to developers in 2013, when Apple had about $10 billion in App Store sales and retained $3 billion. Many companies will be thrilled to have earned $3 billion in net revenue from apps in 2013. As Bloomberg BusinessWeek observes, were Apple’s App Store listed by gross revenue among publicly traded companies, it should rank 238th, between Public Service Enterprise Group... Read More »

After years of rumors, Office for iPad could arrive before the top of the month. Here is what we all know. Windows 8.1 Update 1: 10 Key Changes (Click image for larger view and slideshow.) A native version of Microsoft Office for iPads is the software equivalent of the Loch Ness Monster: rumored to exist, endlessly discussed, and stubbornly unrevealed. That may all change by the tip of the month. In line with multiple reports published late Monday, Microsoft will announce Office for iPad on March 27 at an event in San Francisco. Will the much-anticipated release live up the hype? Here is what we all know to date about Microsoft Office for iPad. 1. Office for iPad may be Satya Nadella’s first major announcement as CEO.Microsoft issued press invitations late Monday to a March 27 event at which new CEO Satya Nadella will deliver remarks “regarding the intersection of cloud and mobile.” Citing unnamed sources acquainted with Microsoft’s plans, Reuters, ZDNet, and The Verge... Read More »