Global Security Survey Results are Troubling for IT
 WASHINGTON
-- It's
no secret that security risks are widespread and growing.
As technology outpaces the framework and guidelines within
which it is used, the opportunities for data and identity
theft are flourishing. From increased use of remote networks
and eCommerce to the proliferation of WiFi in home and
business, pressure to change attitudes toward security
come from all sides.
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu—one of the world's leading
professional service organizations—has recently released
findings from the "2003 Global Security Survey." Containing
both promising and troubling information, the survey
gives a good picture of the state of business in today's
dangerous online world.
Focusing on the Financial sector, the survey sets
out to answer a number of questions. At the forefront are
the issues of: CSO (Chief Security Officer) and CISO (Chief
Information Security Officer) roles and authority; security
staffing; security budgets; policies and strategies; and
the ability and preparedness of organizations to handle security
breaches and protect data.
Taking the survey global
provides a great overview of the situation not only in North
America, but also in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa),
APAC (Asia Pacific), and LACRO (Latin America and the Caribbean).
Some key finding
of the survey include:
- Worry by respondents about the growing
sophistication of the techniques being used to attack their
systems. 39% said that they have sufferred attacks in the
past year.
-
Low allocation of funds for security, with the percentage
of budget being allocated for security falling into the single
digits—including 19% saying that they have had security
budgets/staffing reduced over the last two years.
- A bad impression of available security solutions
thanks to mergers, acquisitions, and the closing of software
vendors, as well as software that simply doesn't offer the
necessary capabilities such as an audit trail.
- Less than half of respondents indicated
that company leadership is embracing the formal information
security strategy laid out by IT.
- 96% of respondents utilize anti-virus
protection.
The survey brings attention to the importance
of implementing sound security policies and ensuring adequate funding
for IT security strategies in order to prevent loss and theft of corporate
data and sensitive customer information.
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Is Jelly Belly on your Breath?
SACRAMENTO, CA -- For years nutritional
experts have said that breakfast is the most important meal
of the day. Unfortunately, a large percentage of the population
doesn't subscribe to this belief. They'd rather rush off
to work and pop some sugar around 10 o'clock to get them
through till lunchtime.
Well, Jelly Belly is considering
a new approach by attempting to marry the two and give consumers
an option that's halfway in between. The new flavor line
under development, to be called "Breakfast Bellys," takes
the sugar rush consumers are seeking and pulls in the breakfast
foods that experts recommend.
"We've put a lot of research and development
into the Breakfast Bellys concept," said Tanya Rathford, a spokesperson
for the project, "and
the results show that consumers love breakfast foods but
just don't have time to eat them. What they need is more
convenient packaging."
What could be more convenient than tiny jelly
beans? Run out the door, hop into your car, and then enjoy
flavors like Cinnamon French Toast, Blueberry Pancakes, Biscuits
and Gravy, Hash Browns, and even Bacon while you sit in traffic
on your way to the office.
"As with our other flavors," added Rathford, "we'll
be developing Jelly Belly Recipes for the Breakfast Bellys
line. Testing around the office has uncovered a clear
favorite: 1 Hashbrown + 2 Bacon. We're also going to be putting
out a Ketchup bean to really pull that one together."
Those caught with Jelly Belly
on their breath could win one of ten custom-painted Beetle
Bugs, like the one shown here inspired by Jelly Belly's
popular Plum flavor.
To promote the new line, Jelly Belly representatives will
be travelling cross-country in the new Breakfast Belly Mobile,
stopping in various towns and cities to hand out samples
and give customers the opportunity to participate in contests.
"We'll
be using our new 'Bellylyzer' to detect Jelly Belly flavors
recently eaten by the customers we meet," explained Rathford. "The
Bellylyzer can detect specific flavors eaten during the past
24 hours, even if a variety of flavors have been consumed."
"And
actually," added Rathford, "we'll
be giving bonus prizes if we detect specific Jelly Belly
Recipe combinations. Each day we will have a Secret Recipe
of the Day and Secret Flavor of the Day. Anyone who has eaten
these will also win a Jelly Belly gumball dispenser."
There are a number of
ways to win in this new campaign. Anyone who tests positive
for Jelly Bellys will receive a free one-pound bag of assorted
flavors and be entered into a drawing for one of 10 specially painted
Volkswagen Beetles.
"We've got a lot more up our sleeves for Breakfast Bellys," promised
Rathford. "The cross-country tour is just the beginning. We're out
to liberate breakfast from the neglect that it has suffered
for far too long."
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Consumers Find Relief from Gas Prices in Unlikely
Place
LOS ANGELES , CA -- Soaring gas prices
have been making a dent in consumers' pocket books all spring,
and nowhere has the pain been felt more than in Southern
California. As prices approached $3 per gallon, drivers decided
to fight back. Enter Todd Perint, self-proclaimed owner of
the world's largest collection of AOL discs.
As gas
bills mounted, Perint made a tough but necessary decision;
and he's turning that decision into a lucrative business.
"At first,
you know," began Perint, "I
was like OK with the higher gas prices. But when I started
coming up empty in the pockets and had to skip my beer, I
knew it was time to do something. I reluctantly broke into
my collection of AOL discs and began formulating a way to
run my car off of them... fortunately I've watched a lot of MacGyver."
An endless supply of AOL
discs mailed to consumers means a potential free
ride in the fast lane for beleaguered American drivers.
Perint, who has no formal training in either chemistry or
engineering, has astonished the automotive industry with his method of
melting AOL discs into a liquid that can feed a standard gasoline-operated
engine with few side effects.
"We never considered that something
like this could be done," said
Edward Mayhan, an engineer from Detroit. "It's something that you'd
expect only the Japanese to pull off; but instead you've
got this odd man from Orange County becoming the unlikely
savior of a nation of gas guzzlers."
Perint says that the process
is fairly simple, but he's guarding it like that secret family recipe
for vegetable soup. In just two months of selling his special CD formula,
Perint has earned more than $11,000 from L.A. drivers looking for an
alternative to traditional petro.
"At $2 per gallon, I can save quite a bit each month," said
Tina Franks, an Orange County resident who commutes into central Los
Angeles each day. "Plus, Todd's got this great deal where he'll
give you a 10% discount if you bring in five AOL discs. Since
I receive about four per week, I'm set. Now I look forward
to junk mail!"
Franks isn't the only one who looks forward to
junk mail. In fact, this new fuel alternative has created a whole new
class of trash rummagers. A quick trip through Perint's Orange County
suburb turned up no fewer than a dozen people digging through their
neighbors' trash looking for discarded "discs of gold."
The option of "AOLtro" as
a fuel source has also set political aspirations in motion for Perint.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger has been a proponent of hydrogen as a
fuel source for cars, and now Perint is formulating a plan to set up
AOLtro stations throughout the Golden State with hopes that it may propel
him to Sacremento when Schwarzenneger's term is up.
In the meantime, Perint is talking with officials from several companies
about national distribution of his new fuel.
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Other Business Stories
Be sure to uncover all the clues...
Issue 1
Fall in Love with Security in 2004
Bytware has developed the StandGuard Premier Customer program. The program allows StandGuard Anti-Virus customers to pick and choose the StandGuard Security products that best suit their needs, building their own custom suite, and do it at substantial promotional savings! :: View full story.
Spam Costing Companies Millions Each Year
There's virtually no computer user in the world who has not felt the frustration of unwanted commercial e-mail, also known as Spam, which floods the inboxes of millions daily and threatens to render e-mail useless. :: View full story.
U.S. Economy Expected to Hit 4.5% Growth Rate in 2004
Financial forecasters predict that the US economy could see its largest annual growth since 1984 in the coming year. :: View full story.
Issue 2
Mydoom Hits iSeries
As the original Mydoom worm (W32/Mydoom@MM) continues to spread at blazing speeds around the world, a second variant has been unleashed and is adding to the already overwhelming bandwidth consumption worldwide. In another twist that may have been unexpected by many IT administrators, Mydoom has also hit the iSeries. ::
View full story.
Evans Business Solutions Centralizes iSeries Operations
Local tech vendor Evans Business Solutions recently moved to centralize its global iSeries operations to ensure smooth business, embracing the concept of "on demand" computing. :: View full story.
IBM Enhances iSeries with New Solutions Supported by Software Vendors
Adding to its arsenal of solutions running on the IBM eServer iSeries, IBM today announced that more than 300 new Linux and WebSphere solutions have been successfully ported to the iSeries platform. The addition of the solutions over the last year is in response to demand from server customers around the world. ::
View full story.
Issue 3
Extar Stock on the Rise
Extar Systems, the California-based software company that announced a revolutionary new online commerce management product at the recent EXcomp Technology Show in Chicago said today that it has enjoyed a steady rise in stock value since the product launch. :: View full story.
Low Carb Continues to be a Boon for Business
The latest diet craze to sweep America—the "Low Carb Revolution"—continues to gain momentum and is one of the biggest boons for the food industry in years. ::
View full story.
Intercompany Romances Can Spell Disaster
We've all heard the advice that it's best not to date someone you work with. Such arrangements can often make for a tense office environment when the relationship ends. Another piece of advice that is less often heard is that employers should discourage their staff from dating workers from competing companies. ::
View full story.
Issue 4
Global Security Survey Results are Troubling for IT
It's no secret that security risks are widespread and growing. As technology outpaces the framework and guidelines within which it is used, the opportunities for data and identity theft are flourishing. :: View full story.
Is Jelly Belly on your Breath?
For years nutritional experts have said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Unfortunately, a large percentage of the population doesn't subscribe to this belief. Jelly Belly is considering a new approach. :: View full story.
Consumers Find Relief from Gas Prices in Unlikely Place
Soaring gas prices have been making a dent in consumers' pocket books all spring, and nowhere has the pain been felt more than in Southern California. As prices approached $3 per gallon, drivers decided to fight back. :: View full story.
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