SDN earned a number of hype in 2013, however the ability to program networks improves network performance and security in a more systematic and automated fashion. Over the last year, we have seen another technology phenomenon added to the long list of IT hype: software-defined networking (SDN). Chances are you’ll ask: “Haven’t networks been defined by software because the days of the ATM or the introduction of VLANs?” The answer’s yes, there were efforts to administer and manipulate physical network components through software, but these kinds of efforts have targeting easing network management tasks. What makes SDN different is its intent to permit programmability of the network in response to real-time information and knowledge traffic flows. This permits for a closed-loop system where the network could be reconfigured to optimize applications or protect against threats dynamically, in response to the present environment. Imagine a USB stick inserted right into a laptop that delivers malware. The laptop is delivered to the office and connected to the... Read More »

Microsoft is decided to call Nadella as its next CEO. Take a better examine who he’s and what he brings to the table. 7 Mistakes Microsoft Made In 2013 (Click image for larger view and slideshow.) Microsoft is preparing to introduce Satya Nadella, the company’s executive VP for cloud and enterprise, as its new CEO, in line with numerous reports. An official announcement reportedly could arrive inside the next several days. Since Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced last year that he will be retiring, many would-be candidates have taken turns on the center of speculation. But at the same time as possible Ballmer successors, including Ford CEO Alan Mulally and Ericcson CEO Hans Vestberg, entered and exited the conversation, reports have consistently listed Satya Nadella among those under one of the most serious consideration. Citing multiple unidentified sources, news website Recode reported Wednesday that Microsoft was on the subject of choosing Nadella. Bloomberg followed up the following day, stating that a source with knowledge of... Read More »

For cloud computing to grow, we’d like a balance between individual privacy and control of information, and the government’s ability to fight crime and terrorism. Persistent encryption stands out as the answer. The ongoing case of the government versus Lavabit was a hot topic of debate at RSA — not only concerning the merits of the case, but as it demonstrates how the increasingly stringent safe harbor provisions within the European Union can impact US companies doing business inside the cloud. For people who didn’t follow the tale, Lavabit, a corporation that offered encrypted email as a service, shut down last August without explanation. Under a gag order, Lavabit CEO Ladar Levinson was prohibited from disclosing any information when it comes to the shuttering of the business, in addition to the main points resulting in the termination of Lavabit. After court documents were unsealed, it emerged that Levison was resisting a central authority order to produce Lavabit’s encryption key to authorities. The character of the... Read More »

Amazon.com and its Web Services unit grew inside the fourth quarter of 2013 but not enough to thrill investors — Amazon stock dropped 9.5%. Deadly Downtime: The Worst Network Outages Of 2013 (Click image for larger view and for slideshow.) Amazon reported its fourth-quarter results Thursday. Although revenue grew 20% from a year earlier to $25.59 billion, its stock slumped in trading after the announcement. Net income greater than doubled to $239 million, or 51 cents per share, throughout the key holiday shopping quarter of October-December. The Wall Street analyst consensus earlier than the report had pegged earnings 74 cents per share on revenue of $26.05 billion. The results seemed to trigger disappointment in Amazon investors, even if full-year revenue grew 22% to $74.45 billion. Operating costs grew at a slower rate of 10%, but Amazon’s spending on its business went from $676 million in 2012 to $745 million in 2013. Amazon stock fell 9.5% within the aftermath of the announcement from its close of... Read More »

DigitalGlobe’s soon-to-be six satellites gather data at a freakish pace — capturing images of everything from natural disasters to shipping containers in ports. DigitalGlobe’s soon-to-be six satellites orbiting the globe are amassing image data at a freakish pace. Its archive could be in a position to offer new services with that data, provided it’ll maintain the gathering, storage, indexing, and repair-delivery infrastructure had to support it. DigitalGlobe offers image services to forestry agencies, mining companies, government crop-estimating experts, and other organizations seeking information on everything from the choice of cars in a competitor’s car parking zone to the variety of shipping containers in port. The Longmont, Colo., firm has forms of satellites in orbit, some collecting color images, some black and white. It applies different software to the resulting data — as an example, stretching upward when it’s viewing the Himalayas and other mountain ranges, and chopping the shadows off tall buildings lest the picture misrepresent their true height. But certainly one of its biggest... Read More »