1-Man IT Department

Ubuntu Linux and Compiz Fusion: A Match Made in Heaven

I have recently decided to drop Windows from my life (at least at home). I have chosen Ubuntu linux to be my desktop OS of choice. I found a lot of YouTube vids detailing the use of Ubuntu and Compiz Fusion that have peaked my interest in trying it out.

This is one of the better ones (minus the obvious Hillary Duff fascination the guy has).

Popularity: 60% [?]

StillSecure, and still on top!

I just wanted to give a quick CONGRATS to Alan and Mitchell at StillSecure. While perusing my copy of WindowsIT Pro last night, I ran up on the article “Guard Your Network with Software NAC”. I read the opening and found that StillSecure’s Safe Access product was being reviewed against offerings from Sophos, InfoExpress and McAfee.

The article shows the strengths and weaknesses of using a software-based NAC (that is Network Access Control) to protect your network. NACs evaluate each device plugged into a network against a set of rules/filters and decide if that device is allowed full access to your network. If it does not meet the standards that you have set for the network, the device is quaranteened until it can be brought up to standards.

White Papers and Followups

A white paper is an authoritative report. White papers are used to educate customers, collect leads for a company or help people make decisions. [1]

In my job, I need to read a lot of white papers to stay current with technology. Lately, my white papers have centered around network security. I have also gone through papers on Asset Management, Disaster Recovery, Policy Best Practices, and even Wireless N technology. I have read papers from CA, Beachhead Solutions, MessageLabs, Astaro, and of course, Microsoft.

I really enjoy reading white papers. In fact, I search them out when I am researching a new aspect of network administration or security. Most of them are written by vendors and they extol the virtues of their products and how they will make your life (and work) even better. You have to take them with a grain of salt because of the fact that companies will write white papers. I look to white papers to expand my knowledge on a subject that I know little about.