ZyLAB on Disorganization
January 2, 2012
We look at the enterprise search forum on LinkedIn.com occasionally. We have noticed that “problems” are a big part of the discussion. If you are struggling with search challenges, you may want to consider that disorganization is an issue.
The ZyLAB blog CodeZED’s new piece about “Legacy Data Clean-up for Email, SharePoint, Audio and More” is making it very clear that most organizations are ignoring records management, policy, and governance until the last minute when it is often too late. But to what end? We learned:
Exchange server mailboxes and PST repositories are not designed for, and should not be used as, document archives—but they often are. . It is very easy for users to retain their emails, resulting in e-mail archives (PSTs) that rapidly swell to GBs of information. Problems fester because the information in these PST folders is often completely unstructured. For example, potentially sensitive human resources-related e-mails (such as performance reviews or confidential financial or medical information) are frequently in the same collection (i.e. Sent Mail) as other, unrelated messages.
It’s important to create folders and subfolders and make sure that your business utilizes software that relegates where an email is to go from the start. Keep everything organized, backup is key. When using SharePoint governance and organization is the key to a healthy happy system.
The same problems email faces are prevalent elsewhere. Always archive projects and individual documents based on your companies set of policies. Don’t deviate too often or it creates a jumbled mess that is more costly to untangle than it would have been to just do it correctly the first time.
Organization is the key.
Leslie Radcliff, January 2, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
The Cloud Competition Storms between Google and Microsoft?
December 2, 2011
I recently read two articles discussing the competition that’s heating up between Google’s cloud services app and Microsoft.
According to a Wired Enterprise story “Google Vs. Microsoft: Not All Clouds are Created Equal” Google’s cloud technology has caused companies like Oracle and Microsoft, that have historically been on-premise companies to begin to change their ways. This is due to the fact that some of their chief officers have left to join Google and the company spent two days pitching its ever-growing collection of enterprise services to 350 businesses that were interested in adopting their business model.
According to the article Google is amping up customer support too:
“Google is now offering round-the-clock phone support for all issues involving the core services in its Google Apps suite, and then David Girouard — the man who essentially founded Google’s enterprise operation — unveiled some new tools for managing smartphones that use Google Apps. But these additions served Google’s larger message: that its web-based services are more flexible and reliable than traditional “on-premise” software — or even the cloud services now offered by the likes of Microsoft and Oracle.”
While this article makes Google’s cloud technology look like it’s on the cutting edge, Microsoft is trying its darndest to compete with the search giant.
According to “Microsoft Take a Fight to Google Over Cloud App Defections” Microsoft has come out with a team called “Google Compete” to try and convince people to stay with office and not deflect to Google cloud apps.
Tony Tai, a senior program manager at Microsoft said:
“In the case of Google, we find it quite common that their consumer-oriented approach falls short of meeting enterprise customers’ needs, thus providing an opportunity for us to win the customer. The wise words of Benjamin Franklin often apply: ‘The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.”
Ouch! when did things get so ugly? and where has the civility gone?
Jasmine Ashton, December 2, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
The Cloud Competition Gets Ugly Between Google and Microsoft
November 30, 2011
I recently read two articles discussing the competition that’s heating up between Google’s cloud services app and Microsoft.
According to a Wired Enterprise story “Google Vs. Microsoft: Not All Clouds are Created Equal” Google’s cloud technology has caused companies like Oracle and Microsoft, that have historically been on-premise companies to begin to change their ways. This is due to the fact that some of their chief officers have left to join Google and the company spent two days pitching its ever-growing collection of enterprise services to 350 businesses that were interested in adopting their business model.
In addition to this, the article states:
“Google is now offering round-the-clock phone support for all issues involving the core services in its Google Apps suite, and then David Girouard — the man who essentially founded Google’s enterprise operation — unveiled some new tools for managing smartphones that use Google Apps. But these additions served Google’s larger message: that its web-based services are more flexible and reliable than traditional “on-premise” software — or even the cloud services now offered by the likes of Microsoft and Oracle.”??
While this article makes Google’s cloud technology look like it’s on the cutting edge, Microsoft is trying its darndest to compete with the search giant. ??
According to “Microsoft Take a Fight to Google Over Cloud App Defections” Microsoft has come out with a team called “Google Compete” to try and convince people to stay with office and not deflect to Google cloud apps.??
Tony Tai, a senior program manager at Microsoft said:??
“In the case of Google, we find it quite common that their consumer-oriented approach falls short of meeting enterprise customers’ needs, thus providing an opportunity for us to win the customer. The wise words of Benjamin Franklin often apply: ‘The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.”??
Ouch! when did things get so ugly? and where has the civility gone?
Jasmine Ashton, November 30, 2011
Thanks Be For A Guide to SharePoint Server 2010 Search
November 24, 2011
To understand SharePoint’s FAST Search Server, it’s smart to work your way up by first understanding SharePoint Server 2010 Search. “Configuring Enterprise Search in SharePoint 2010” is a useful guide that covers search features and has lots of screen shots. A handy flow chart visualizes the following:
“SharePoint 2010 search architecture is made up of the Crawler, Indexing Engine, Query Engine and the User Interface and Query Object Model. We now have greater flexibility and expandability with our search design in 2010 and can setup not only multiple Query Servers but can now scale out our Index server and add multiple instances.”
Savvy businesses know the benefits of collaborative content management with integrated search – add access to the constantly growing information in the Cloud, and company knowledge gets a big boost. For those needing a deeper solution that has the ability to answer enterprise search needs in the cloud, you may want to explore Mindbreeze.
Their information pairing technology results in a complete overview of a company’s knowledge, merging enterprise information with Cloud information.
Sara Wood, November 24, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Protected: Learn about the New SharePoint 2010 Online for Office 365
November 8, 2011
The Gartner Cloud Flip Flop
November 3, 2011
Hey, if it sells, it must be right. A big flip-flop by a major IT consultant concerning public vs. private cloud services is screaming “opportunism” to me.
Gartner, a global technology research company, recently asserted that “enterprises should consider public cloud services first and turn to private clouds only if the public cloud fails to meet their needs.” This has not always been the opinion of Gartner. “Gartner Flip-Flop: Try the Public Cloud First” on InfoWorld tells us more:
At the core of this advice was the fact you should first consider your requirements and the objectives for using cloud computing before you move existing systems to the clouds or create new systems. Don’t jump right to private clouds just because they solve the problem that IT has with letting go; instead, look to the value of public cloud computing first. If it’s not a fit, then go private. But in all cases, let the business requirements drive you, not the hype.
Seems to me that Gartner is chasing revenue by flip-flop. Changing from public to private means you wouldn’t necessarily have to buy and maintain your own software, but you would have to keep up with payments more regularly. The pay-as-you-go economics of public clouds, in addition to the fact that these services are gaining popularity in areas of sales automation, customer service, accounting and expense management, is a pretty obvious explanation for the change of heart.
And search? Obviously search is better from the cloud. Toss in an app and one doesn’t have to do research to make predictions.
Andrea Hayden, November 3, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
More Apple i Pain
October 20, 2011
Users Report Syncing Issues When Using Apple’s iCloudAfter much anticipation, Apple’s iCloud http://www.apple.com/icloud/, a wireless storage unit for your music, photos, and other documents, is now available to users of the company’s products and services.
Don Reislinger from Channel Insider http://www.channelinsider.com/ has come out with an informative slide show, revealing the “Ten Things You Need to Know About iCloud”.
In addition to having many other nifty qualities, Reislinger said of the iCloud:
Syncing reigns supreme. Whether it’s music, applications, iBooks, or documents, users will find that iCloud automatically syncs their content across their devices. It might seem like a simple addition, but considering how difficult (and annoying) it has been to add content to multiple devices, the service’s syncing feature is a welcome addition.
Unfortunately, according to Apple Insider, the documents and data syncing feature has proven problematic for some users, who said that their files were unexpectedly deleted.
Documents created on one device, be it in Pages or Keynote, are there for awhile, and then when you go back, you can literally see iCloud delete them in front of you.
For those who are frustrated with the iCloud’s teething issues, take a look at Polyspot’s or Blossom Software’s approach. Both firms “do” the cloud in interesting ways and avoid what appear to be Apple pits on the forest floor.
There are stable cloud platforms. We find it interesting that coincident with Apple’s earning downturn, other problems are cropping up. Will Apple’s woes drive customers to Amazon, despite the company’s flawed search system? Worth watching.
Jasmine Ashton, October 20, 2011
Freebie…Yes, believe it.
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Gain Power, Lose Control? A Search Variant
October 20, 2011
The future of technology, like always, is fascinating: personal virtual assistants, customized search results, and big changes to information appliances. However, the new future Silicon Valley giants like Apple, Google and Facebook will be creating a mix of changes that will bring both unique benefits and some bad results.
It seems that the more advanced and powerful technology becomes, the more control users lose. We learn more in Datamation’s article, “How Apple, Google and Facebook Will Take Away Your Control,” which tells us:
“The more advanced this technology becomes, the bigger the decisions we’ll rely on them to make for us. Choices we now make will be “outsourced” to an unseen algorithm. We’ll voluntarily place ourselves at the mercy of thousands of software developers, and also blind chance. We will gain convenience, power and reliability. But we will lose control.”
Personal computers will no longer need to be maintained or customized. Personal assistants, like the iPhone 4s’ Siri, will place our words in context and learn what we “want.” Search algorithms will continue to customize to user attributes and actions.
Is the gain of convenience and reliability that we get from these shiny new toys worth it? Or is the shine just a distraction from the fact that we lose all control in search and technological decision making? I am not so sure the good will be outweighing the bad in this scenario, but I fear that we may be stuck in the cycle.
Andrea Hayden, October 20, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Cloud Computing: With More Options Come More Risks and More Innovation to Combat Potential Issues
October 19, 2011
We all know two of the main concerns involving anything enterprise are security and reliability. These important issues fueled the article What to Do If Your Social Cloud Provider Pulls the Plug, posted by the IBM-sponsored site Internet Evolution.
The article discusses the importance of diversifying in order to minimize risks. Maria Korolov, the author and President of Trombly International, states:
One solution I proposed…was for corporations to set up hybrid clouds – using a private company-owned, behind-the-firewall cloud as an add-on for when you suddenly need more capacity, or as a backup for your own facilities.
Unfortunately many social networking companies don’t allow the exportation of contacts or other secure information, so backing it up via private storage is not possible. She offers some sound advice for alternative ideas.
While I was reading this article, I thought of PolySpot, a company specializing in decision-powered infrastructure and apps, which provides a solution on par with the level of circumspect the author of this article proposes is necessary.
PolySpot can interact with the cloud, create a mirror, and process your content for decisions. Basically, you get the benefit of free and public with the security of an enterprise innovator.
Megan Feil, October 18, 2011
Google Opens Cloud SQL Database for App Engine Developers
October 18, 2011
Due to popular demand by App Engine developers, Google has come out with a relational database called Google Cloud SQLfor its cloud-hosted App Engine application development and hosting platform.According to the ComputerWorld article, Google Ads Cloud-based SQL Database to App Engine, Navneet Joneja, product manager for Google Cloud SQL, said in a recent blog post:
You can now choose to power your App Engine applications with a familiar relational database in a fully-managed cloud environment. This allows you to focus on developing your applications and services, free from the chores of managing, maintaining and administering relational databases.
For now the database is available on limited preview mode and is free of charge for the select developers who have access to it. However, once the service leaves the preview stage, Google will charge developers for the management of their databases. The search giant said it will announce pricing 30 days before they begin charging, so developers shouldn’t to get too comfortable. With Microsoft getting the warm fuzzies over Hadoop, we think there will be some interesting pushing and shoving going on. If pro football coaches can do, so can Google and Microsoft.
Jasmine Ashton, October 18, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
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