Network Event Viewer

IT Median Salaries January 2008 vs. January 2009

• Reduce power/cooling costs - IDC, the research firm, estimates that for every $1.00 spent on new servers today, an additional $0.50 is spent on power and cooling. In 2010, that ratio is expected to be $0.70 per $1.00 spent for new servers. Begin by turning off servers not being used and replacing older high power consumers and high heat producers with newer more efficient ones.
• Reduce complexity - Consolidate multiple operating systems onto fewer servers. This will reduce operational risk and operational costs that are linked to managing so many servers. Clustering will benefit by having the option of "failing over" workloads to virtual servers, reducing the operational costs of deploying standby physical server machines that run in a "passive" mode rather than an "active" mode. Taken together, these approaches improve the responsiveness of IT systems and of the people who access them across the business, ensuring high levels of availability and reducing business risk and operating expenses.
• Improve the management of  physical  and  virtual  servers - Reducing the total number of systems simplifies IT operations and impacts IT staffing requirements. Importantly, downtime is impacted by having fewer individual points of management.! Going  green  across  the  infrastructure. At the same time, business is being
• Go Green -  The process of IT transformation brings the opportunity to change the IT infrastructure, supporting "go green" initiatives by reallocating workloads to the sets of server and storage devices on which they can run most efficiently and reducing total server footprints through workload consolidation.

By Industry Janco found:

• Manufacturing: Economic and competitive pressures are driving companies to run as efficiently as possible. Just-in-time manufacturing processes that coordinate shipments from suppliers around the world demands 24 x 7 availability.
• Retail: The critical applications include credit card processing, cash transactions, point-of-sales data and enable inventory and distribution require applications that are always available.
• Distribution and Sales: Companies are becoming increasingly dependent on a global economy. Many have established key technology in “follow-the-sun” modes that require 24 x 7 availability.
• Health Care: With the digitization of medical images and patient records, retaining and ensuring availability of these applications and files is beyond mission-critical. There continues to be a pervasive use of technology in the health care field including the operating room which is driving this dependence.

Issues with Server Monitoring:

• Determining what needs to be monitored
• No clear and holistic view of the data
• Too many - or too few  - "agents" for the job
• Too many manual tasks
• Too much complexity and hidden costs
• Hodgepodge of low-end tools

At the same time the role of the CIO and CTO is changing as more enterprises more towards a "Value Added" role for the Information Technology function.  Those changes are depicted in the detail job descriptions that have been created for all of the functions with IT -- especially for the CIO and CTO.

• Since one event can be followed by another, stay alert.  There may be more danger yet to come.

• For protection, consider crawling under a table or desk and remain there for at least 60 seconds.

• Stay away from windows, mirrors, overhead fixtures, filing cabinets, bookcases, and electrical equipment.

• If an evacuation is ordered, go to a designated place.  Make sure all staff and others in your facility are accounted for.  Do not forget handicapped people who may need your help in exiting.  Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in obvious, immediate danger (building collapse, fire, etc.).  Avoid known problem areas (where there are gas lines, fire hazards, etc.).  Once out, keep as far away from the building as possible.

• Open doors carefully.  Watch for falling objects.

• Do not use elevators.

• Do not use matches or lighters.  Sparks might trigger explosions.

• Avoid using telephones and hand radios.  Again, electrical sparks or signals could trigger other bombs.

Regardless of all your good efforts--without advance Business Continuity Planning (BCP)--your business may be closed due to an overt or covert terrorist attack, a cyber attack, severe electrical storm, hurricane, earthquake, wildfire, flood, epidemic or other cause.

The questions that the Disaster Recovery / Business Continuity Plan template help you answer are:

• How well protected is your business against future hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, a pandemic event or a terrorist attack?
• How prepared is your business to reopen within 24 to 48 hours following a natural or man-made disaster or epidemic?
• What is your disaster Recovery-Time Objective (RTO: your targeted time-limit to get critical operations/systems back up and running) following a local disaster?
• Have you formulated a plan and strategies to limit the impact of risks to your business?
• How quickly can you return from incremental business resumption to normal business operations after a minor disaster? After a major disaster?
• Do you believe that insurance will take care of the losses?
• Where will your customers/clients, vendors/suppliers go, during downtime, when your building is destroyed or employees are quarantined and your business is knocked to its knees?
• Will your management team, employees, suppliers, and customers be well informed about impact, on the bottom line, if there is no Business Continuity Plan?

The Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Template address these issues directly.  At the same time the security of the enterprise records needs to be taken into consideration.  It is for that reason that the Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity and Security Manual Template bundle is a must have product.

• Establishing a position at the right level and empowering the individual appointed to provide value to the enterprise.
• Defining clearly and communicating the “power” of the CIO to enterprise executive and operational management to all levels within the enterprise.
• Selecting the right person for CIO with the necessary skills. Career senior executives should not be discounted as possible appointments to the position.
• Building credibility, which comes through the CIO delivering on leadership, ideas and products.
• Changing the perception of an information technology manager from that of a technical support function to a CIO who is part of the senior management team.
• Longer-term challenges involve building a "comprehensive management system" for information resources.

• Wet objects (electronic) - Disconnect from the power source and do not turn it on.  In the case of disk drives or other electronic storage devices - inventory all of them and label them.  Create a log of all objects recovered, actions taken, and location.  Have a disaster clean-up specialist be the one who looks at what can be recovered. 
• Wet objects (non-electronic) - Rinse with clear water or a fine hose spray. Clean off dry silt and debris with soft brushes or dab with damp cloths. Try not to grind debris into objects; overly energetic cleaning will cause scratching. Dry with a clean, soft cloth. Use plastic or rubber gloves for your own protection.
• Drying Objects - Air dry objects indoors if possible and use portable fans to move the air. Sunlight and heat may dry certain materials too quickly, causing splits, warping, and buckling. If possible, remove contents from wet objects and furniture prior to drying. Storing damp items in sealed plastic bags will cause mold to develop. If objects are to be transported in plastic bags, keep bags open and air circulating.
• Mold Prevention and Cleanup -  Exposure to molds can have serious health consequences such as respiratory problems, skin and eye irritation, and infections. The use of protective gear, including a respirator with a particulate filter, disposable plastic gloves, goggles or protective eyewear, and coveralls or a lab coat, is therefore essential. In order to inhibit the growth of mold and mildew you must reduce humidity. Increase air flow with fans, open windows, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers. Moderate light exposure (open shades, leave lights on in enclosed areas) can also reduce mold and mildew.  Remove heavy deposits of mold growth from walls, baseboards, floors, and other household surfaces with commercially available disinfectants. Avoid the use of disinfectants on historic wallpapers. Follow manufacturers' instructions, but avoid splattering or contact with objects and wallpapers as disinfectants may damage objects.
• Broken Objects - If objects are broken or begin to fall apart, place all broken piecesand detached parts in clearly labeled, open containers. Do not attempt to repair objects until completely dry or, in the case of important materials, until you have consulted with a professional conservator.
• Paper Materials - Documents, books, photographs, and works of art on paper are extremely fragile when wet; use caution when handling. Free the edges of prints and paper objects in mats and frames, if possible. These should be allowed to air dry. Rinse mud off wet photographs with clear water, but do not touch surfaces. Sodden books and papers should also be air dried or kept in a refrigerator or freezer until they can be treated by a professional conservator.
• Office Furniture - Furniture finishes and painting surfaces may develop a white haze or bloom from contact with water and humidity. These problems do not require immediate attention; consult a professional conservator for treatment. Textiles, leather, and other "organic" materials will also be severely affected by exposure to water and should be allowed to air dry. Shaped objects, such as garments or baskets, should be supported by gently padding with toweling or uninked, uncoated paper. Renew padding when it becomes saturated with water. Dry clean or launder textiles and carpets as you normally would.
• Art Work - Remove wet paintings from the frame, but not the stretcher. Air dry, face up, and away from direct sunlight.
• Metal Objects - Rinse metal objects exposed to flood waters, mud, or silt with clear water and dry immediately with a clean, soft cloth. Allow heavy mud deposits on large metal objects, such as sculpture, to dry. Caked mud can be removed later. Consult a professional conservator for further treatment.