Gerald Williams

Businesses demand flexible computing power in the 21st century. IT managers must implement new systems and advance existing hardware and software that provide a manageable, secure, and scalable framework for their companies. Further, they need to develop a framework that they can change easily and quickly. Vendors are now developing framework management software designed to […]

Servers and networks strain to provide the flexibility and power users demand. The advent of the Internet, the need for increased processing cycles, and the growth of workers that operate out of their home or use wireless connections redefine networks. At the same time, the need to track and support customers and suppliers threatens the […]

Authentication is not a new concept. Organizations need to protect assets, and they traditionally limit access to databases and sensitive data. In the IT world, the most basic form of authentication relies user names and passwords. If each person has a password, then the person that knows that password has permission to access system resources. […]

As more employees work at home and become mobile, corporations need to allow easy access to their networks and services. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which create connections between servers or a workstation and a server using public switched facilities, offer a cost-effective, flexible solution. In essence, the user accesses the network using a cable modem […]

IT and network managers need rules to run a protected, efficient network. They need to implement consistent network security. They must prioritize network traffic, and they require virus protection guidelines for workstations. All these concerns work best when the managers can establish a common, consistent set of rules. These rules, known as policies, sound simple. […]

The pressure to increase communications speed continues to build. Companies no longer exist in an isolated environment. E-mail and Internet access are necessities, and the increase in graphical content, streaming video, and audio content forces companies to increase bandwidth on a regular basis. In addition, the corporate environment now extends to employees as they travel […]