Staff

That SQL Slammer was global in three minutes proves the increased speed of cyber attacks. That speed and greater exposures through wireless architectures and Web services applications are rendering companies more vulnerable. The cost of that vulnerability is just a guess as only an estimated 10 or 15 per cent of companies report their downtime. Research firm Computer Economics of Carlsbad, Calif., reportedly conjectures that the worldwide impact of malicious code is lower than the year 2000 high to date, but still over US$12 billion.

People often talk about embedding the practice of security into the business processes of an enterprise. Francis D'Addario, the CSO of Starbucks Corp. in Seattle, Wash., has taken that notion one step further. D'Addario's Partner and Asset Protection group literally steeps in the Starbucks culture and philosophy.

Three major IT industry associations from China, Japan and South Korea agreed recently to work together to push regional development of open-source software and lobby their governments to use it.

Hydro-Quebec, the Montreal-based public utility, has embarked on an initiative to add a more personal touch to its customer relationship management systems through a new customer billing solution.

The Canadian security industry is a sector with huge growth opportunities if industry lea-ders and government work together, according to the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA), in a report released during a recent meeting in Toronto.

The U.S. Senate recently passed a bill that's poised to significantly alter the way federal agencies procure IT services.

Reacting to strong demand for ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) broadband services, the government has allowed a second company to start offering broadband in competition with state carrier Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Corp. (VNPT).

The City of Mississauga, Ontario plans to build a wireless system that will give bylaw and fire safety inspectors the means to file reports while on the move.