Nemertes Impact Analysis

The Impact Analysis is a weekly quick-take on breaking IT news.  Nemertes provides expert insight on how recent IT news affects you.

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Nemertes Impact Analysis

The Impact Analysis is a weekly quick-take on breaking IT news. 
Nemertes provides expert insight on how recent IT news affects you.

Sign up to receive the Nemertes Impact Analysis or register for access to free web site content.

Nemertes Impact Analysis

The Impact Analysis is a weekly quick-take on breaking IT news. 
Nemertes provides expert insight on how recent IT news affects you.

Sign up to receive the Nemertes Impact Analysis or register for access to free web site content.

Nemertes Impact Analysis

The Impact Analysis is a weekly quick-take on breaking IT news. 
Nemertes provides expert insight on how recent IT news affects you.

Sign up to receive the Nemertes Impact Analysis or register for access to free web site content.

Nemertes Impact Analysis

The Impact Analysis is a weekly quick-take on breaking IT news. 
Nemertes provides expert insight on how recent IT news affects you.

Sign up to receive the Nemertes Impact Analysis or register for access to free web site content.

Nemertes Impact Analysis

Expert Insight On How Recent News Affects You

Sign up to receive the Nemertes Impact Analysis or register for access to free web site content.

Nemertes Impact Analysis

Expert Insight On How Recent News Affects You

Sign up to receive the Nemertes Impact Analysis or register for access to free web site content.

Cisco gets Agitated Over Wifi

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) and privately held Agito Networks, announced last week
that Cisco would use Agito's wifi integration technology to deliver fixed mobile
convergence (FMC) capabilities.

Nemertes' recent study, Advanced Communications Services: Next generation
Wireless, finds that FMC is interesting to the enterprise IT, but that
adoption has been slowed by carriers' reluctance to provide FMC services, and of
enterprises to cede network control. This announcement, as well as offerings by
other vendors, such as privately held DiVitas, does a neat end run around the
issues.

Impacts:

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Cisco Gets "Down and Dirty" Without SOAP

Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO) announced "Etch", a new messaging protocol for
client/server and web services integration. Cisco positions Etch as a more
streamlined protocol than Simple Object Oriented Protocol (SOAP), and thus
better suited as an integration protocol between a Service-Oriented Architecture
(SOA) and unified communications. This announcement is in line with findings in
Nemertes benchmark, Service-Oriented Architectures and Applications, that
half the participants are integrating their unified communications applications
into their SOA.

Impacts:

Enterprises: Etch is one of many message protocols, including SOAP. Focus on
SOA as the framework to support whatever protocol is best for your requirements.

Vendors: Other vendors (i.e. privately held Avaya) have been promoting
existing protocols for SOA integration with UC. Market flux means vendors
developing interoperable products will need to support multiple protocols.

Investors: It's too early to tell if this is just YAP (Yet Another Protocol)
or something with investment impact.

http://www.nemertes.com/benchmarks/nemertes_benchmark_softwareoriented_architectures_and_applications
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9088338&source=rss_news50

Ted Ritter, Research Analyst

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All The Network You're Entitled To Use: Rohati Systems Network Based Entitlement Management

Privately held Rohati Systems announced its "Transaction Networking System,"
a session- and transaction-aware application security proxy appliance for nearly
any networked application.

Increasing awareness of data leaks and insider threats have raised concern
about identity and access management among IT executives; more than 25% of
participants in Nemertes' benchmark, Security and Information Protection,
identified it as a 2008 spending priority. By embedding role-and
identity-based access control invisibly in the network, Rohati simplifies
implementation of role-based access control systems.

Impacts:

Enterprises: Embedding entitlement enforcement in the network can solve
security problems for SOA, Web 2.0, and legacy applications -- explore the
option!

Vendors: Rohati, like Cisco's planned TrustSec architecture, moves
server-based security function into the network. Have a strategy for moving your
own security products into the network.

Investors: Rohati's approach challenges connector- or client-based solutions,
such as those from Tipping Point (NASDAQ:COMS), Novell (NASDAQ:NOVL), Oracle
(NASDAQ:ORCL), and Sun (NASDAQ:JAVA)

http://www.nemertes.com/products_services/research/benchmarks/nemertes_benchmark_security_and_information_protection
http://www.rohati.com/newsandevents/press-launch-release_05192008.php

John E. Burke, Principal Research Analyst

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Virtual Machine Hardening: Tripwire Makes it Easier

Tripwire, a privately held company, announced availability of VMware
(NYSE:VMW) hardening policies for Tripwire Enterprise for VMware ESX Server.
Through Tripwire, organizations will be able to automate the implementation and
management of VMware's secure configuration recommendations. Proper VM
configuration management is a baseline security best practice as discussed in
Nemertes Issue Paper Virtualization Risk Analysis, and the upcoming,
Virtualization Security Market Analysis.

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Expanded Telepresence: AT&T Throws Weight Behind Service

AT&T (NASDAQ: T), in partnership with Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), plans to
offer a fully managed telepresence service to 23 countries later this year. It
includes AT&T-owned, Cisco telepresence equipment, installation, full
monitoring and management of the application, network provisioning (including
AT&T VPN transport), remote help desk service, and on-site equipment
maintenance and repair.

Other leased telepresence services exist, including the hosted service from
Nortel and Teliris, the AT&T offering is the first hosted service enabling
inter-company connections using Cisco telepresence.

More than half the organizations in Nemertes' Building The Successful
Virtual Workplace benchmark were evaluating or planning to deploy
high-definition videoconferencing and telepresence. Cost is cited most often as
the reason enterprises are not considering. Although AT&T has not released
rates, we expect to see interest in the service if the price is right.

Impacts:

Enterprises: Companies can leverage Cisco telepresence over AT&T's MPLS
network without the large up-front capital expense. Further, businesses can hold
multi-company conferences via telepresence.

Vendors/carriers: Take advantage of the push to "go green." Enterprises are
looking for ways to cut down on travel, while at the same time maintaining a
more intimate connection than what they can achieve with a web or traditional
video conferences.

Investors: Expect to see more large service providers jumping on board with
both Cisco and their competitors to offer telepresence as a fully managed
service.

Katherine Trost, research analyst

http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2008/prod_042008.html?POSITION=LINK&COUNTRY_SITE=us&CAMPAIGN=NewsAtCiscoLatestNewsfromCDCHP&CREATIVE=LINK2&REFERRING_SITE=CISCO.COMHOMEPAGE

http://www.nemertes.com/networking_telecommunications/nemertes_benchmark_building_a_successful_virtual_workplace

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Virtual Worker Mobility Gets A Boost

Verizon Business (NYSE:VZ) introduced a hosted mobile telephony-integration
service based on Research In Motion's (NASDAQ:RIMM) "Ascendant" platform.
Features include caller ID, call-transfer, call parking, and a BlackBerry client
to enable access to desktop phone applications.

More than 90% of participants in the Nemertes' benchmark, Advanced
Communication Services, say their organizations are now supporting
mobile-computing devices, and have a growing desire to integrate mobile devices
into enterprise unified-communications strategies.

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WiMAX Gets Another Shot in the Arm

WiMAX should be called the come-back kid of wireless. Last week, Comcast
(NASDAQ:CMCSA) and Time Warner Cable (NASDAQ: TWC) announced they would partner with
Sprint (NYSE:S) to bankroll deployment of Sprint's WiMAX network. Google
(NASDAQ:GOOG) and Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) have also expressed interest in
participating. Although the anticipated investment ($1.5 billion) falls short of
Sprint's estimate for full deployment ($3 billion to $5 billion) it is enough a
significant partial build-out.

Nemertes' latest benchmark, Advanced Communications Services,
identifies the proliferation and uncertain futures of wireless standards as a
source of confusion for enterprise IT planners. Time Warner and Comcast's
involvement will allay some of this uncertainty about WiMAX, although the
question of WiMAX's ultimate footprint still remains.

Impacts:

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UC Enters the Contact Center

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and privately held Aspect Software announced a
partnership to integrate Aspect's contact-center applications with Microsoft's
Office Communications Server 2007, providing businesses with additional
capabilities to leverage unified communications for business-process
improvement.

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Terminal State: Virtualization Renews Drive to Thin Client

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) acquisition of virtual PC management vendor, Kidaro,
as well as modifications to its licensing terms for Vista, and thin-client
vendor VXL's (BSE:VXLINS) release of a sub-$200 desktop, indicate increasing
enterprise interest in thin-client solutions centered on virtualization.

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Microsoft Aims to Keep Private Information Private

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) has acquired Credentica, an authentication technology
provider. Historically, using the words "Microsoft" and "strong identity
management" in the same sentence would be laughable. Successful integration of
Credentica's U-Prove could make it serious business.

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Services Model Meets Cybercrime: Malware as a Service

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YouNext? What Happened to YouTube Could Happen to Any Enterprise

When Pakistan decided to censor YouTube this weekend, it unfortunately
botched the technology. By issuing BGP routes that black-holed YoutTube,
government officials hoped to stop all national access. Unfortunately the BGP
routes leaked, causing a worldwide re-route of all YouTube requests to a
blackhole in Pakistan.

Not only was YouTube effectively off the global Internet for a few hours, but
Pakistan's actions then backfired. First their Internet connectivity became
saturated as the world's traffic to the world's busiest site ended up on their
doorstep. Then, Pakistan's upstream providers cut Pakistan off the Internet to
stop the flood. YouTube re-published granular routes to override the poisoned
routes and everything was back to normal. That is, except for Pakistan's
connectivity and technical savvy reputation.

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Net-Neutrality Comments Indicate Internet Saturation Requires Attention

Comcast ( NASDAQ: CMCSA ) responded formallyto complaints filed with the FCC that it has violated net-neutrality principles. Rather than purposefully discriminating against particular traffic types, Comcast says it instead managed traffic in a non-discriminatory way to protect the Internet from traffic overloads.

This is one of the first admissions by a service provider that the Internet is already saturating at the access and connectivity layers.

Nemertes predicted this issue would emerge in its Internet Singularity Delayed research project (available for complimentary download via the link below).

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Undersea Cables Cut: Where's Your Business-Continuity Plan?
By Andreas Antonopoulos,senior VP, and Ted Ritter, research analyst

Multiple undersea fiber outages in the past week highlight the importance of business-continuity planning. Service interruption on subcontinent or country-level connectivity can have dire consequences to any economy, as well as the outsourcing market,which depends on undersea cables to move voice and data between countries.

Enterprises must consider diverse routing to access their carrier. A lack of confidence in the carrier infrastructure supporting low-cost outsourcers, such as those in India and China, could become a significant reason for contract non-renewals.

Additionally, undersea cables may be vulnerable to deliberate disruption. (The United States, for example, has long had the capability to disrupt or wiretap such connection from submarines). It is conceivable that a few surgical attacks could disable rival nation's Internet connectivity more effectively than any cyberattack.

Impacts:

This week's Ethernet switching announcements by Cisco and Juniper Networks highlight
ongoing changes in enterprise network architectures.

Specifically, requirements are bifurcating, based on where in the network a device is
deployed. Data center consolidation drives the need for high-capacity, highly
reliable data center switches, while the proliferation of remote branch offices
creates a need for modular, low-maintenance devices at the branch capable of
supporting increasingly complex application requirements.

In the data center, pressure continues on network architects to migrate from
general-purpose switches and routers to an architecture that emphasizes
high-performance, multiprotocol switching and routing.

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Oracle this week succeeded in its efforts to acquire BEA Systems, paying for $8.5B for the
prominent maker of infrastructural software for service-oriented architectures
(SOAs).

Nemertes research has found that enterprises tend to make strategic commitments in SOA
based on commitments to core application and platform vendors, a tendency that
has enabled Oracle to build a strong presence in SOA and has worked against
BEA.

The increasing importance of SOA to its revenues makes this acquisition an
excellent move for Oracle, as adding BEA's product lines to its own Fusion
middleware and SOA governance tools will strengthen its offerings
significantly.

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This week, Citrix Systems Inc. announced the completion of its acquisition of XenSource Inc., a privately held company in the hardware virtualization and virtual infrastructure space. Additionally, Citrix announced a line of products that completes an end-to-end virtualization offering from desktops to applications to servers.

Apple's (NASDAQ:APPL) introduction of OS X "Leopard" comes at a pivotal time for the enterprise computer market. Concerns over the cost of upgrading to Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Vista, over Windows XP security, performance, and support costs, and the constant battle against spyware and viruses is leading the enterprise market to take a second look at the Mac as part of a new focus on desktop strategies.

With Mac sales growing at faster rate than the overall computer market, Apple has made tremendous strides against its Windows-based competition. Though overall Mac market share remains low, Mac "mindshare" continues to grow, partly as a result of the 100+ million iPods sold to date, and partly because of Apple's ability to deliver a platform largely free from the virus/spyware concerns that have plagued Windows users. A recent survey by SurveyU noted that 44% percent of college students planned to buy a Mac as their next computers , with 23% already using the Mac. In high-tech environments the Mac is quickly becoming the platform of choice for those who have the choice.

But enterprises have mostly avoided the Mac, save for roles such as graphic design and media development. Given the rise of the Mac in the consumer space, it is getting more and more difficult for enterprises to ignore an increasingly popular platform, especially since it offers the potential for reduced cost of ownership from ease of use and security improvements over Windows.

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Google’s introduction of its Android platform for wireless devices has thrown down the gauntlet of open source in yet another domain: the wireless mobility space. While the much-anticipated “g phone” will wait for a while yet, this announcement paves the way for such a device in the future, and further challenges wireless carriers’ and mobility OS vendors Microsoft (NASD:MSFT), Symbian, Palm (NASD: PALM) and even, Apple (NASD: AAPL) revenues.

At this time, though, the significance of Google’s move into wireless is largely in the area of public policy. The FCC has indicated that open access is a possible requirement for the next round of spectrum auctions. Carriers have protested this idea since it would tend to reduce the value of the spectrum being auctioned. ISVs like Microsoft are not keen either since wireless operating systems like Windows CE, would definitely feel pressure if there were a low cost or free equivalent. Now Google has neatly done an end run around such protests by effectively open sourcing a way to achieve a high degree of open access. Google has also convinced 33 companies to join its Open Handset Alliance, including U.S. carriers Sprint-NexTel and T-Mobile.

Nemertes' research has disclosed that technology introduced in the consumer market eventually impacts the business market. This will likely be the case for Generation Y users who will translate their experiences with Google applications into a desire to have wireless devices that access those applications, as well as others that will leverage the Android platform.

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Microsoft has officially launched Office Communications Server 2007, supporting integrated voice, video, instant messaging/presence, and telephony features through a software-based platform. Though it's behind most of the IP telephony vendors in offering such unified communications capabilities, many IT decision-makers are closely watching Microsoft's entry into this space as they develop their own unified communications plans.

Sun announced that it will ship a hypervisor, xVM, and a management product, xVM Ops Center, aimed specifically at heterogeneous virtualized infrastructure. xVM combines a stripped-down version of Solaris with the Xen open-source hypervisor to provide a somewhat light-weight virtualization infrastructure that can use core Sun/Solaris technologies for storage virtualization and for avoiding hardware-based service interruptions.

With the demonstration of a WiMAX network at the recent Chicago WiMAX World trade show, Motorola has illustrated just how close practical carrier-provided WiMAX capabilities could be to general availability. Intel and Nokia are also presaging the reality of WiMAX with their partnership to integrate Intel WiMAX chipsets into Nokia instruments.

While various groups reported the exposure of 77 million identity records in the first half of 2007, the actual number of exposed identities is perhaps as much as ten times the reported amount, or close to 1 billion records per year. The growing identity theft market has created an arms race between security organizations and thieves, with the value of the identity theft market set to exceed the value of organizations fighting to protect identity information.