Cloud control: Microsoft vs. the Linux crowd; Two IE8 security secrets

Cloud control: Microsoft vs. the Linux crowd for cloud dominance Microsoft Alert NetworkWorld.com | Software Research Center | Update Your Profile Sponsored by APC Learn how to Sure Up your Virtual World Download this Executive Guide - Taking Virtualization Up a Notch - to get caught up-to-speed on virtualization issues you need to know about. Learn how to address management, application and security concerns as virtualization expands throughout the data center. Read this Guide today. Spotlight Story This is Network World's Microsoft Subnet news alert in which we focus on the top items from Microsoft Subnet, your daily source for Microsoft news, blogs, discussion items, security alerts, giveaways and more. Top pick of the week Cloud control: Microsoft vs. the Linux crowd for cloud dominance "Can Microsoft really win the battle against the Linux crowd for dominance of the cloud?" asks Converging on Microsoft blogger Mitchell Ashley. "It's a one-vs.-many proposition. The Cloud Manifesto developed by Sun, IBM, Red Hat, Amazon and Google, didn't include participation by Microsoft and Microsoft was miffed." Standards and interoperability are key to their cloud future, but if the Linux competition isn't letting Microsoft in, what can Redmond do? A lot. Microsoft has taken an interesting approach. It's less bullying and much more conciliatory and it doesn't have that same Microsoft arrogance. Related News: More top picks from the week: Two IE8 security secrets users should love Microsoft warns of PowerPoint attack found in the wild April 2: if every worm could be as mild-mannered Conficker PC makers may ditch Windows for Android on netbooks Windows Foundation Server: Not an April's Fool joke Microsoft to spend up to $100M advertising Kumo, its new search engine From our bloggers: Tyson Kopczynski: Hidden Microsoft Since when did cloud computing become/need a manifesto? When I hear the term manifesto, my mind instantly imagines the Unibomber holed up in a cabin making pipe bombs. The Open Cloud Manifesto wants to hammer out an open standard but there's a problem: it was developed in secret by a small subset of companies. Mitchell Ashley: Converging on Microsoft Conficker & Our "Cold War" View of Malware We've been conditioned to look for and expect the next "big attack." But massive attacks like Blaster, Sasser and Code Red don't happen much because we are prepared for them. Conficker is a new approach. Brian Egler: SQL Server Strategies Business Intelligence Security? Same old story. Previously, I talked about scaling out your Microsoft Business Intelligence solution to get the performance you need. But what about security? PerformancePoint Server, Sharepoint Server and Report Server are all Web-based products that support a multi-tier architecture. Ron Barrett: A Better Windows World ExMon: A free Exchange tool for monitoring individual users The newest administrative tool from Microsoft is a great utility for monitoring real-time usage, client patterns and capacity planning for Exchange Server. (Note: Ron Barrett will soon review his 200th tool! Drop him ideas on what he should test.) Glenn Weadock: Windows Server 2008 FontList Fills Another Windows Gap It seems a remarkable omission of Windows that the operating system does not provide a way to print out a listing of installed fonts, complete with sample text. A great utility called FontList solves this oversight. Alex Lewis: Windows into Silicon Valley Customizing Voice Prompts in OCS 2007 R2 Technically, the voice prompts and hold music for OCS 2007 R2 audio conferencing are not supposed to be configurable. Changing them can have some strange consequences throughout the system. However, if you absolutely HAVE TO change them, it is possible. Randy Muller: All About Microsoft Certifications Microsoft updates certification testing technology Microsoft has improved its test taking plug-ins so that online exams are reliable. Steve Johnson: Microsoft Office 2007 On Demand Using a Free Add-in to Find Office 2007 Commands The Ribbon menus in Office 2007 are hard to get used to. After using menus in previous versions, I find myself continually searching for commands. The free Search Commands add-in by Microsoft Office Labs is a utility that can help. Joe Schurman: Microsoft Voice and UC Reflecting on the Communications Renaissance at VoiceCon 2009 We have now seen the rise of software-based communications services with most of the major players in this space; Microsoft leading the way. So once every major communications provider has a software-based PBX series of softphone clients and other software-driven services, what becomes the differentiating factor? Hot discussions among Microsoft Subnet readers IBM Steps On American Workers - Future IT Managers Replace IBM Microsoft to Buy Sun Microsystems (spoof alert) Xobni: Give your Outlook the power it deserves! Job hunting: What kind of college degree do you need? Is a computer science degree necessary? Giveaways and goodies: 1) A Microsoft training course from Global Knowledge worth up to $2,995. 2) Fifteen copies of Microsoft Voice Unified Communications by Joe Schurman (a $39.99 value). 3) Fifteen copies of Microsoft Office 2007 On Demand by Steve Johnson (a $39.99 value). 4) Check out Microsoft Subnet’s library of chapter excerpts on all the hot Microsoft technologies. Deadline is April 30. Entry forms can be found on the Microsoft Subnet home page. App to no good A look at the top 10 iPhone apps that could get you into trouble. CEO payday breakdown A detailed account of how much tech chiefs made in 2008. Sponsored by APC Learn how to Sure Up your Virtual World Download this Executive Guide - Taking Virtualization Up a Notch - to get caught up-to-speed on virtualization issues you need to know about. Learn how to address management, application and security concerns as virtualization expands throughout the data center. Read this Guide today. Network World's IT Resource Library Whether you're looking to gear up on one specific topic or you're trying to stay current on several areas, Network World's resource library has what you're looking for. Our comprehensive collection of resources will make your job easier. Visit Now Everybody says "Do more with less!" But no one tells you how. We will and it costs nothing to find out at IT Roadmap Conference and Expo. Coming to 10 cities in 09 including New York in February, Denver in March, Chicago in April. Register now, attend free   04/07/09 Today's most-read stories: Netscape alums tackle cloud storage Afraid of losing your job to a younger, cheaper IT worker? Bill would give Obama power to shut down Internet IBM, Sun unable to reach a deal, report says Cries of protest, censorship greet news of cybersecurity bill Five best router and switch features you never use Top 10 technology skills Microsoft says phones are bad Cisco.com domain name about to expire soon Economy forcing 'spoiled' generation to grow up Students learn through robot battles Network World on Twitter: Get our tweets and stay plugged in to networking news Complimentary DNS newsletter Sign-up today and receive the latest DNS news and analysis. This newsletter provides deep insight into this murky area and offers ways to understand and mitigate risk with better management and control of your domain, email and DNS. 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