December, 2007

Wireless security major networking concern for 2008

A few weeks ago, I asked our readers to tell me the number one networking issue you’d like to learn more about in the new year. It was no surprise that “security” appeared again and again in the comments, but I thought it was interesting how many people wanted to learn more about wireless network security. That really shouldn’t be a surprise, given that the increased demand for mobility and flexibility is driving up the number of wireless deployments, and subsequently, the need for wireless security.

Rest assured that SearchNetworking has planned lots of wireless security coverage for 2008. But in the meantime, (if you don’t mind a little plug) I’ll point out a couple resources that are available to you now:

• This guide to wireless security covers the basics.

• The Advanced Network Workshop, “Integrating Networking and Security — Wireless Security” features a podcast, webcast and tip by wireless networking expert Lisa Phifer.

There were a few other themes that stood out amongst the comments. For starters, it sounds like the majority of readers are using Cisco products and want to learn more about those, or about networking heterogeneous environments in which Cisco hardware sits side-by-side with other vendors’ products. Keeping with the network security theme, some readers wanted to learn more about Cisco security and security automation.

A couple of people mentioned that they would like to learn more about implementing VoIP for SMBs. I would point you toward this brand new guide on SearchCIO.com to learn more about VoIP in SMBs: VoIP’s midmarket play.

Some of the themes we’d pegged for 2008 coverage already came up, including IPv6, virtualization, and MPLS. Watch this space (and SearchNetworking.com) for more tips and advice on those topics in the coming months.

And now for the winners of our feedback contest:

• Dmorley
• StewartC
  
• Sarku
• Swhuffman96
• Elysium
• Bfsteel
• Accarlson
• Aarchangel
• Snipe
  
• Indie1138

Thanks to everyone for your comments!

Cisco’s new CTO

Cisco announced tonight that it has a new CTO. She is a woman, and she has one of the coolest names on the planet: Padmasree Warrior. Warrior was formerly CTO of Motorola. She worked at Motorola for 23 years, and, when named CTO in January 2003, became Motorola’s first female executive vice president.

Warrior was the creator of the Motorola-hosted blog, “Bits at the Edge,” which was unfortunately but understandably shut off at her resignation this week. The blog was extremely insightful and read avidly by technology enthusiasts around the globe. In it, Warrior examined technical innovations from sometimes surprising angles and mused about the effects they would have on their respective industries and on the people who used them.

Cisco is a smart company and already has a blog post up from Warrior in its heretofore lackluster corporate blog, The Platform. She writes a fairly generic welcome piece about how Cisco is poised to take on “the next wave of Internet evolution” and she is happy to be joining them. Let’s hope that she’s just testing the waters and that Cisco provides her with a true “platform” and free rein to explore and interact with users and customers about issues and concerns that really matter to them.