How to buy a UTM firewall; Show off your home testbed

Daily News: PM This newsletter is sponsored by Fluke Networks Network Analyzer FREE Trial Use OptiView Analyzer on your network free for five days. Generate network discovery reports, perform security audits and see protocol distribution. Click here to request a free trial now! Network World Daily News: PM, 09/04/07 Breaking news ISO votes to reject Microsoft's OOXML as standard Microsoft has failed in its attempt to have its Office Open XML document format fast-tracked straight to the status of an international standard by the International Organization for Standardization. In depth Comprehensive Network Access Control The new wave of sophisticated crimeware not only targets specific companies, but it also targets desktops and laptops as backdoor entryways into business operations and resources. Network access control enables proper configuration and security of user endpoints before they are allowed access on the corporate network. Click here to download this whitepaper UTM firewalls: Ready for the enterprise Deciding whether and where to deploy UTM appliances in a large enterprise is a complicated and difficult decision due to the fact that they could represent a single point of failure and raise network performance issue. That said, Network World Lab Alliance member Joel Snyder outlines an argument as to why UTM is, indeed, ready for the enterprise. Understanding federated identity Federated identity management is a relatively new concept that is an extension of identity management, which is a centralized, automated approach to regulating access to enterprise resources by employees and other authorized individuals. Review IBM Lotus Sametime tops corporate IM platform review In this Clear Choice Test of corporate IM platform IBM Lotus Sametime tops competing products from Jabber, Microsoft, Gordano, Jive Software and Serial Scientific Intl by providing a plethora of communication options, integration with other IM products, ease of use, scalability and security. From the blogs and forums Have a network testbed at home? We're looking for photos of folks with their home networking labs (along with descriptions). The owner of the best lab, as judged by our experts, wins a bunch of stuff. Entries must be in by Sept. 23 and the usual rules apply (so no, our programmer and network guy with the cool home testbeds won't show up as winners). New bloggers this month: Chris Dalby is blogging about "new tools and services that work within the Microsoft ecosystem." Alex Lewis is focusing on Office Communications Server and related messaging issues (he asks what you'd think about Microsoft buying RIM). David Platt, designated by Microsoft Microsoft "a Software Legend," will be blogging on Microsoft issues. Michael J. Morris wonders what the oldest continuously operating Cisco device is (he reports one that had been up for 1,166 days in his data center). Brad Reese gives a failing grade to the new Cisco partner jobs portal. Jamey Heary takes a look at Cisco's integration of it NAC Appliance Server with its ISR router series (2800, 3800). James Gaskin gets earplugs ready for OS-upgrade hype. Greg Royal isn't optimistic about mobile VoIP. Susan Hanley unravels some of the mysteries of SharePoint Search. Should Microsoft get ISO approval for its OOXML proposal? Users debate the significance of the recent meltdown of the Microsoft system that identifies copies of Windows XP and Vista as "genuine," and discuss wireless jamming. Raymond Davey likes the idea of a site that lets US troops swap combat ideas. GDoC63 explains how one effort by Monster.com to deal with its data loss might not be such a good idea. How to Ron Nutter helps a user whose laptop suddenly can't see anything on her network. More news Vendor beware: this CTO knows - and will exploit - your weaknesses IT buyers often have a hard time finding a bargain - but not Dave Leonard. Find out how this savvy CTO analyzes the motivations of vendors and gets them to slash prices. Balancing Generation Y preferences with security Generation Y technologies may pose security threats to corporate networks, but security professionals should consider these technologies' value in attracting and keeping employees, and balance the two accordingly. HP telepresence upgrades include a less expensive version HP unveiled improvements to its telepresence technology that makes high-quality IP videoconferencing more affordable for business customers.

TODAY'S MOST-READ STORIES: 1. IBM stores data on an atom 2. Cisco plans to blend two NAC schemes 3. Cisco playing network defense 4. Microsoft blames human error for glitch 5. Airline puts Linux PC in every seat 6. MPLS proposal spawns IETF, ITU turf war 7. Citrix stock remains on Nasdaq pending review 8. Notes from OPNETWORK 2007 9. Hacks hit embassy, government e-mail worldwide 10. Psst... Wanna buy a data center? MOST-READ REVIEW: IBM Lotus Sametime tops corporate IM platform review

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