Evolving (or not) with Our Devices

When I talk on the phone, I’ve always used my left ear to listen.  Listening in the right ear just doesn’t sound right.  This might be due to being right handed, doing the shoulder hold to take notes when needed.  As corded turned to cordless and mobile along with the hands-free ear-plugs, that plug went into the left ear whenever I was on the phone.  Recently, I’ve been listening to some music while walking the dog and have run into an issue.  The stereo ear plugs do not fit, sit or stay in my right ear.  I have no problem...

355 Shopping Days Left

After just being bombarded with the endless options of gifts for your loved ones, a simple reminder that the next blitz is just around the corner.  And you are a target.  2011 started relatively tame for breaches but when hacktivism and a few other entities decided to take hold, it became a massive year for lost data.  From retail to healthcare to government to schools to financial institutions – no one was immune.  Household names like Sony, RSA, Lockheed and Sega were all hit.   Privacy Rights Clearinghouse reports that 535 security breaches in 2011 exposed 30 million sensitive records to...

F5 BIG-IP Platform Security

When creating any security-enabled network device, development teams must fully investigate security of the device itself to ensure it cannot be compromised.  A gate provides no security to a house if the gap between the bars is large enough to drive a truck through.  Many highly effective exploits have breached the very software and hardware that are designed to protect against them.  If an attacker can breach the guards, then they don’t need to worry about being stealthy, meaning if one can compromise the box, then they probably can compromise the code.  F5 BIG-IP Application Delivery Controllers are positioned at...

When Personal Security is Compromised

My Greatest Fears Realized I debated about writing and/or blogging about this for a few days since it is very personal and didn’t want a pity-party coming my way.  But covering security, often from the human behavior standpoint, is what I do and what better way to share a security incident than when it happens directly to you.  Plus, being able to simply get it out is cathartic to some extent.  So here goes. I attended the London IPExpo on Oct 19-20 at Earl's Court Two.  IPExpo is one of the largest IT infrastructure shows in Europe with many focus areas: Cloud,...

Cloud Computing Making Waves

Every once in a while, I’ll do a news search for ‘cloud computing.’  Yesterday was one of those days and while there are always a few stories about ‘the cloud,’ I was somewhat amazed by the number and range of topics that appeared.  Also, the most recent issue (Oct 2011) of Consumer Reports had an article about ‘what’s the cloud.’  It was fairly elementary but for some reason when something is covered in Consumer Reports, I tend to think it’s finally reaching the masses.  I’m glad they included, ‘Use caution when signing up for any cloud service. Make sure your...

VMworld 2011: Interview with VMware’s Sanjay Aiyagari

I interview Sanjay Aiyagari, Senior Partner Architect with VMware.  We discuss the growth of VMworld, cloud computing, scalability, and Metro vMotion. </p> <p><font size="2">ps </font></p> <p><font size="2">Related:</font></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://devcentral.f5.com/weblogs/psilva/archive/2011/08/29/vmworld-2011-find-f5-networks.aspx" _fcksavedurl="http://devcentral.f5.com/weblogs/psilva/archive/2011/08/29/vmworld-2011-find-f5-networks.aspx"><font size="2" face="Tahoma">VMworld 2011: Find F5 Networks</font></a></li> <li><a href="http://devcentral.f5.com/weblogs/psilva/archive/2011/08/29/vmworld-2011-sign-up-for-f5s-devcentral.aspx" _fcksavedurl="http://devcentral.f5.com/weblogs/psilva/archive/2011/08/29/vmworld-2011-sign-up-for-f5s-devcentral.aspx"><font size="2" face="Tahoma">VMworld 2011: Sign Up for F5's DevCentral</font></a></li> <li><a href="http://www.f5.com/news-press-events/press/2011/20110829.html" _fcksavedurl="http://www.f5.com/news-press-events/press/2011/20110829.html"><font size="2" face="Tahoma">F5 and VMware Solutions Streamline Live Migration and Desktop Virtualization</font></a></li> <li><a href="http://www.f5.com/pdf/solution-center/vmware-vmotion-emc-overview.pdf" _fcksavedurl="http://www.f5.com/pdf/solution-center/vmware-vmotion-emc-overview.pdf"><font size="2" face="Tahoma">Improved Mobility for Live Migration Events Across Metro Distances – Solution Overview</font></a></li> <li><a href="http://www.f5.com/pdf/solution-center/vmware-single-namespace-overview.pdf" _fcksavedurl="http://www.f5.com/pdf/solution-center/vmware-single-namespace-overview.pdf"><font size="2" face="Tahoma">Enable Single...

SANS 20 Critical Security Controls

A couple days ago, The SANS Institute announced the release of a major update (Version 3.0) to the 20 Critical Controls, a prioritized baseline of information security measures designed to provide continuous monitoring to better protect government and commercial computers and networks from cyber attacks.  The information security threat landscape is always changing, especially this year with the well publicized breaches.  The particular controls have been tested and provide an effective solution to defending against cyber-attacks.  The focus is critical technical areas than can help an organization prioritize efforts to protect against the most common and dangerous attacks.  Automating security...

Audio White Paper - Application Security in the Cloud with BIG-IP ASM

Application threats are constantly evolving. Recent high-profile Internet attacks on organizations like HBGary, RSA, WikiLeaks, Google, Comodo, and others prove that no one is immune. Anyone could be a target, and perpetrators are extremely organized, skilled, and well-funded. Culprits are often better trained than the IT staff deployed to thwart the attacks, which are targeted, elaborate, and aggressive—not to mention creative. The attacks are multi-layered and constant, and seek not only to deface a website, but to steal valuable data. Customer data, intellectual property, state secrets, SSL certificates, and other proprietary, highly sensitive information are the top targets.  Whether critical...

Audio White Paper - Controlling Migration to IPv6: A Gateway to Tomorrow

While organizations worldwide are beginning to acknowledge their need to adopt IPv6, most are still struggling to define a workable strategy around it.  F5 solutions provide the flexibility organizations need to devise gradual migration plans that minimize disruption and downtime.  This White Paper describes how the BIG-IP LTM system help organizations migrate to IPv6, and can operate as an IPv4 to IPv6 gateway; operating identically in either environment, and within mixed environments. This capability is ideal for organizations that are either actively planning for or anticipating an IPv4 to IPv6 transition.  Running Time: 13:26  ...

The Land of a Thousand Twist-Ties

Have you unpacked a children’s toy set, game, doll things or any kid’s play thing that has several pieces recently?  My 5 year old got a big box with a baby doll, her bassinette, bottle, baby food, rattles, and the other accessories any new born and mommy may need to care for the infant.  I’ve this noticed before but trying to take, rather unlatch all the stuff included is a major task.  Every little item was so secured to the inner packaging that it took me several minutes to untie, clip, cut and otherwise unshackle the items from the box. ...