The Little Geeni

Virtual infrastructure technology, the core of VMware business, has changed the way we use computer hardware. By enabling a single machine to host several operating systems and applications, virtualization helps enterprises realize significant savings in resources. VMware leads the thrust towards expanding the applications of virtual infrastructure technology by focusing on these activities: resource pooling; hardware and operating cost reduction; IT infrastructure efficiency; business continuity; and desktop management and security.

VMware software enables resource pooling by providing servers, networking, storage and other resources that can be shared across teams. With virtualization, resource utilization is improved as common infrastructure resources are made available to more applications in varied configurations. In the context of software development, resource pooling can be achieved using VMware Lab Manager. This VMware Virtual Lab Automation system allows for the expedited provisioning of complex configurations for development and testing environments – servers can be set up within seconds instead of hours, or even days. This increased efficiency in providing resources required by teams gives the enterprise a boost in its work processes.

VMware virtualizes infrastructure by inserting a software layer that houses a virtual machine and a corresponding virtual machine monitor. This virtual machine apportions the physical machine’s CPU, RAM, hard disk and network controller dynamically to allow for multiple operating systems to run on that single machine. With less machines to take up space and require cooling, IT costs are greatly reduced.

Because VMware virtualization allows for resource pooling, the time it takes to perform server management activities are greatly reduced. IT administrators are freed up to perform other vital tasks for the enterprise.

A 24-hour operation requires tools that ensure business continuity. VMware’s range of virtualization software help eliminate downtime by enabling the infrastructure to backup and migrate virtual machines and environments without interrupting IT services. With a secure backup on hand, disaster recovery is greatly improved.

Furthermore, VMware increases the availability of secure desktop environments by enabling users to deploy, manage and monitor these environments in both local and remote contexts. Using these VMware desktop virtualization tools, you can maximize power and versatility of virtual machines from your desktop:

VMware Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) lets you host desktop environments inside virtual machines in the data center and end-users can access that virtual machine remotely.

VMware ACE Enterprise Edition allows you to deploy and manage virtual machines that users can access securely from any machine or portable USB media device.

VMware Workstation software makes it possible for you to simultaneously run Windows and Linux applications on the same machine, take snapshots and video captures of the virtual machine, and connect client, server and database virtual machines to create a virtual network.

VMware Fusion lets you run Windows XP and Vista on your Mac. No need to reboot, no additional hardware costs to get Windows and Mac OS X working side by side.

All of these VMware solutions make it possible for the enterprise to increase its IT service cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency. VMware’s virtual infrastructure technology is geared towards helping you build the virtual infrastructure suited your enterprise needs, empowering you to address your business challenges head on.

Information Technology changing, Forever, Services, VMware

Securing your company boundaries: The changing nature of email and web-based threats

Growing pressure on the enterprise gateway means email viruses and worms are giving way to subtler forms of malicious spam, and a rise in web-based malware.

The changing email threat

Malware-infected email has decreased as cybercriminals have found more efficient ways to get the information they want. Instead of sending the malware itself as an attachment which has to be constantly rewritten to avoid detection they spam out emails with links to websites from which viruses and other malware are inadvertently downloaded by unsuspecting visitors. For example, a spammed email in November 2006 offered free explicit images and videos, in an attempt to trick users into downloading a malicious Trojan horse.

“Up to 30 percent of companies with 500 or more staff have been infected as a result of internet surfing, while only  20-25 percent of the same companies experienced viruses and worm from emails.”
IDC.

The growing web threat

There is a low level of threat awareness among surfers, and web security within corporate networks is often overlooked. Users are inadvertently downloading spyware and unwanted applications. At the same time, employees’ uncontrolled browsing is having a significant impact on productivity and network bandwidth, and the security of confidential data.

Our expert solutions

We have a range of solutions to help you meet the challenge of protecting your organization from infection and legal risk, while also meeting end user demands for performance and accessibility. Scanning billions of web pages a day, proactively discovering thousands of new malicious URLs a week, and performing round-the-clock threat analysis, SophosLabs™ delivers focused security and performance, and rapid, proactive protection against known and unknown threats.

This article was provided by Sophos and is published here with their full permission. Sophos provides full data protection services including: security software, encryption software, antivirus, and malware protection.

Keywords: anti-virus, malware, firewall, spam, spyware, internet security, data protection, network access control, virus protection, compliance, encryption, network security, spyware removal, anti-spyware, hippa, aes, nac, computer security, hitech, data loss

Computer Security boundaries, changing, Company, email, nature, securing, Threats, webbased