]> A weekly perspective addressing top governance and risk management issues en-us Copyright 2007 IBM Corporation smasuno@us.ibm.com cicerop@br.ibm.com http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/rss/ /software/tivoli/governance/servicemanagement/images/grm-in-action.jpg /software/tivoli/governance/action/current.html Data security is critical for organizations going forward...but also poses quite a challenge. IBM stands ready with a best-in-class portfolio of solutions and services designed to address every business and technological aspect of that challenge. Overall, the IBM Security Framework delivers on-demand protection to stay ahead of threats originating from both malicious external sources and trusted insiders. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/09042008.html?s_cmp=rss Those interested in disaster recovery should check out a recent IBM webcast on associated challenges, myths, and pitfalls. Delivered by Forrester Analyst Stephanie Balaouras and IBM Client Solution Executive Patrick Corcoran, this webcast discusses key information to consider in developing an effective disaster recovery solution—and how IBM can help. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/08282008.html?s_cmp=rss IT managers and other readers looking to combine abstract ITIL guidelines with practical guidance will be interested in Implementing ITIL Configuration Management by Larry Klosterboer. This book discusses the many complexities and challenges involved in developing, implementing and managing a change and configuration project in clear and informal language, providing many specific examples, tips and techniques. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/08142008.html?s_cmp=rss Looking to optimize IT service management, but not sure how to accomplish such a complex task? IBM’s Service Management Implementation Services offer a proven approach, based on quantified metrics, to achieve expected benefits and manage the process at every stage. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/08072008.html?s_cmp=rss Keeping track of the latest changes in service management can be a job in itself. IBM's Service Management World Tour helps by bringing technical experts-and key information in targeted areas-to many cities around the world for one-day events on leading strategies and solutions. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/07312008.html?s_cmp=rss In today’s complex and heterogeneous IT environments, protecting IT services, and the business services they support, requires end-to-end high availability and automation. Fortunately, IBM offers two new system automation solutions that provide high availability for applications running on a wide variety of distributed environments and tiered composite applications that span heterogeneous platforms. Both solutions provide policy-based automation based on leading best-practices frameworks such as ITIL. Pre-defined policies can be obtained for free from OPAL and modified and managed using the powerful new GUI editor. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/07242008.html?s_cmp=rss Pulse 2008, the premiere service management event of the year, was a tremendous success for IBM, its clients and Business Partners. IBM’s innovative vision of more simplified and powerful service management, empowered by automation and implemented through integrated new solutions, took the spotlight. To extend the experience, users are invited to participate in the Pulse community. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/07172008.html?s_cmp=rss IBM’s ongoing commitment to mid-market, growing customers is clearer than ever. With new solutions, online resources, and a new accreditation initiative, IBM helps empower these customers with the information and tools they need to get the most business value from IBM Tivoli solutions. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/07102008.html?s_cmp=rss It's critical to keep IT services, applications and composite business applications as available as possible. Toward this end, IBM introduces two new solutions: IBM Tivoli System Automation for Multiplatforms 3.1 and IBM Tivoli System Automation Application Manager 3.1. Together, they help organizations optimize continuity strategies through targeted features and intelligent automation. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/06262008.html?s_cmp=rss Maximizing business resilience is a fundamental goal for virtually any organization. Many complexities, however, make that hard to achieve. For this reason, IBM offers six free webcasts on the subject to anyone interested in minimizing business disruption through a holistic resilience strategy—and how IBM solutions and services can play a part. Watch them all or pick and choose to match your interests! http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/06192008.html?s_cmp=rss Getting core services running again, and connecting geographically disparate employees, is key to achieving business continuity in the event disaster strikes. Helpful in this context is the IBM Virtual Workplace Continuity Service, which leverages the Web to connect remote employees to the applications and data they require. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/06122008.html?s_cmp=rss Optimizing a complex organizational continuity plan is no simple task. One best-in-class tool designed to help is IBM Tivoli Business Continuity Process Manager, which can be used to improve business results at every stage of the continuity plan—from initial plan development to testing to real-world execution. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/06052008.html?s_cmp=rss Service management strategies can help organizations improve service levels by aligning business needs with the service infrastructure. But where to get started? IBM has identified five common entry points, each with relevant projects, through which organizations can achieve measurable improvement in service levels—fast. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/05292008.html?s_cmp=rss Those attending Pulse, IBM's service management event in Florida this month, should consider registering as a member of the new IBM Pulse community. Here, members can extend their show experience online—connecting with colleagues, exchanging ideas, and fostering new business relationships, quickly and easily. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/05152008.html?s_cmp=rss Physical security is ultimately as important to the organization as logical security. Organizations looking to achieve best-in-class physical security through digital video would do well to consider IBM Smart Surveillance Solution, which utilizes intelligent analysis built on an open framework to detect threats in real time and respond in a customizable manner that maps to organizational strategies and requirements. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/05082008.html?s_cmp=rss Organizational success requires optimized service management, but many complexities make that a challenging proposition. Toward improving service management to generate business value, IBM suggests a six-step process to deliver improved visibility, control, and automation, thus linking business and technological information with overall goals and strategies. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/05012008.html?s_cmp=rss For professionals interested in staying abreast of the rapidly changing service management field, Pulse 2008—the premier service management event of the year—will offer some 60 compelling demos. Register for Pulse, attend the demos, and see how IBM solutions can help organizations better align business goals with business technologies. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/04242008.html?s_cmp=rss For many organizations, IT service management theory can help reduce costs, streamline operations, and achieve compliance. IBM can help implement that theory, as a recent deployment at McCarran International Airport demonstrates. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/04172008.html?s_cmp=rss Creating powerful, consistent security policies is key to IT operations and organizational success. Tivoli Access Manager for e-business 6.1, designed to support centralized security policies across disparate services and applications, boasts many new features which enhance its performance, reliability, and integration potential. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/04102008.html?s_cmp=rss To help you stay In Touch, In Tune, and In Sync with the service management industry, IBM Pulse 2008 comes to the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Florida this May 18-22. At this premiere event, professionals working in enterprise IT, plant management, or communications service can interact with peers, learn from technical gurus and IBM executives, build and extend business relationships, and even achieve technical certification in key areas. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/03202008.html?s_cmp=rss For organizations today, securing key business data is central to overall success—and one key educational resource in this area is the annual RSA Conference. IBM will be a major participant at this year's conference today, and attendees can expect to learn how IBM can be the single-source provider of solutions and services they need to achieve end-to-end, holistic information security. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/03132008.html?s_cmp=rss Fully realizing the business value of an ESB means securing its information flow. IBM Tivoli Federated Identity Manager helps by supplying scalable, robust federated identity management which can be tapped by all the services the ESB connects. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/03062008.html?s_cmp=rss Data is the lifeblood of any complex organization, and protecting that data is mission-critical. By acquiring Arsenal Digital, IBM now offers a leading solution for automated, off-site data storage and recovery that can help clients reduce costs, enhance operational efficiency, achieve compliance, and mitigate business risks. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/02282008.html?s_cmp=rss Getting a grip on the many complexities of IT service management may seem difficult. IBM simplifies this task with the IBM Systems Journal, which offers 15 different perspectives on service management ranging from the abstract to the specific—all freely available on the Web. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/02212008.html?s_cmp=rss Improving business resilience is a key goal for virtually all enterprises going forward. However, complexities in the area of data center energy management must be included in the overall resilience strategy. IBM can help with targeted solutions, services, and self-assessment tests. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/02142008.html?s_cmp=rss Monitoring your security infrastructure to optimize compliance and auditing is no trivial undertaking. IBM solutions and managed services simplify the task through best-in-class features and performance. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/02072008.html?s_cmp=rss Pulse 2008, in Orlando, Florida, will be the leading service management event worldwide for IT professionals, communication service providers, plant operations personnel, business leaders and partners. If you're looking for the latest and greatest information on IBM solutions as a vehicle of service management theory, Pulse is the answer. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/01312008.html?s_cmp=rss Achieving holistic security is more challenging than ever. Fortunately, IBM's offerings have recently been extended via new solutions, new services, and collaborative efforts to ensure that security is as comprehensive and seamless as possible. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/01242008.html?s_cmp=rss Minimizing business disruption is absolutely critical to today's enterprises. Once achieved, though, a holistic resilience strategy not only enhances continuity and operations, it enables new business opportunities. IBM offers both abstract methodologies and concrete solutions and services to help the enterprise achieve that strategy. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/01172008.html?s_cmp=rss The service provider market requires best-in-class management solutions to leverage multimedia services delivered via converged networks. The new IBM Tivoli Netcool IP Multimedia Subsystem Manager provides just such management through consolidated fault and performance management, real-time and historical tracking and reporting, automated installation and problem diagnosis as well as seamless integration with other solutions already in place in the infrastructure. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/01102008.html?s_cmp=rss Evaluating the security vulnerabilities of Web applications requires preemptive, intelligent tools. IBM provides them in the Rational AppScan family of products, which adaptively assesses Web applications for potential security breaches, simulates hacker attacks, generates results in real time, and leverages the results in compliance reports and QA integration. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/01032008.html?s_cmp=rss Getting a grip on the many complexities of IT service management may seem difficult. IBM simplifies this task with the IBM Systems Journal, which offers 15 different perspectives on service management ranging from the abstract to the specific—all freely available on the Web. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/12202007.html?s_cmp=rss Enterprises worldwide are experiencing rapid growth of core data—and that situation is only expected to continue. By working with IBM, today’s organizations can optimize their data management strategies to reduce business risks and costs, optimize operations, and get a competitive edge. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/12132007.html?s_cmp=rss IBM Tivoli Identity Manager is already a best-in-class identity management solution capable of delivering high-end access control via automation. TIM 5.0 will improve on it in many key respects, including a new interface for both managers and end users, enhanced compliance features, and simplified deployment and management. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/11292007.html?s_cmp=rss For those looking to learn more about governance and risk management in the enterprise IT space, IBM’s new G&RM portal is an ideal resource. Blogs from industry leaders, user forums, extended articles, educational videos, and growing news feeds collect the best G&RM ideas and information in a central, open forum anyone can use. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/11082007.html?s_cmp=rss Optimizing IT in both development and operations is a challenging proposition. For IT managers in the pursuit of that goal, IBM solutions offer many competitive advantages when compared to HP solutions. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/11082007.html?s_cmp=rss Getting best business results from enterprise IT requires high IT service availability. IBM's hardware and software solutions, together with IBM services and expertise, can help today's enterprises achieve it. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/11012007.html?s_cmp=rss Does your IT division spend most of its time and money putting out fires? With IBM solutions and services, you can improve code quality, operational responsiveness, and overall prioritization and response time through a proactive strategy. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/10252007.html?s_cmp=rss Holistic security means more than just IT solutions. It also means aggregating and analyzing security information, establishing security policies, verifying their compliance, and achieving compliance with government regulations as well. IBM's solutions and managed services can be the key to making your enterprise-class security strategy more consistent, automatic, effective, and compliant. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/10182007.html?s_cmp=rss As your business moves through changes, it creates business risks. IBM change management solutions and services can help minimize that risk with a seamless change delivery process for both IT software development and IT operations. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/10112007.html?s_cmp=rss Translating the idea of improved governance and risk management into concrete reality is quite a challenge in today's enterprise IT divisions. Fortunately, IBM delivers with a unified process, and key IT solutions and services, to accomplish exactly that. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/10102007.html?s_cmp=rss Maximizing business resilience means anticipating the possibility of a devastating crisis. IBM's Crisis Management Services can help you develop a customized, comprehensive crisis response plan. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/09272007.html?s_cmp=rss User identity management is a complex area that comes into play in many areas, ranging from security to IT efficiency to regulation compliance. With IBM solutions and services, today's organizations can optimize their identity management strategy to make identity management more secure, more scalable, and more effective. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/09202007.html?s_cmp=rss Business interested in deploying next-generation technology paradigms will want to consider IBM. With best-of-class services and solutions, IBM can help integrate virtualization, grid computing, and SOA solutions in accordance with service management ideals for best results. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/09062007.html?s_cmp=rss Maximizing data continuity is more complex – and more mission-critical – than ever. Fortunately, IBM can work with you to develop a custom data continuity strategy that pairs solutions, processes, and priorities to deliver the highest possible business value over time. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/08302007.html?s_cmp=rss Accelerated IPSec functionality, enhanced SSL/TSL transactions, tamper-resistant key management, and self-encrypting tape drives all make System z mainframes the ideal security hub for the Enterprise. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/08162007.html?s_cmp=rss Getting the most from IT requires aligning your business goals with your business technology—ideally, as guided by best practices frameworks. Toward that end, IBM can be an essential partner by delivering the services and solutions required to tune your IT division and deliver maximum business value. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/08032007.html?s_cmp=rss How quickly, and how well, would your business recover if a major disaster threatened its primary base of operations? Fortunately, IBM provides the logical human resources framework, as well as the technical solutions, work areas, and services you'll need to cope with a time of tremendous crisis. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/07192007.html?s_cmp=rss In a recent business consulting survey by IBM, 43% of CFOs said that improving governance was their top challenge. It's not difficult to see why; governance is, at a fundamental level, the process of balancing risks and optimizing resources to steer the best possible course and achieve the optimal overall business bottom line. And for a CFO, the overall business bottom line is the most important single consideration. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/07122007.html?s_cmp=rss Business data is the lifeblood of enterprise operations, and safeguarding it is essential. Every enterprise must protect its data to the fullest extent possible in order to achieve both business continuity and compliance with government and industry regulations, yet threats to that data are evolving faster than ever. In the new millennium, network managers face a perfect storm of automated attacks, targeted attacks, and internal breaches committed by privileged users; the enterprise, in response, must shield itself from that storm as comprehensively as it can. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/06282007.html?s_cmp=rss In today's increasingly demanding enterprise IT environment, insight into the health of your IT environment is essential to meet business expectations. Next-generation monitoring and planning at every stage is essential to gain this insight to increase predictability, prevent disruptions to current business services, and ensure on-time delivery of next-generation services. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/06212007.html?s_cmp=rss Governance and risk management is on the minds of today's IT professionals more than ever before. While IT has emerged as the fundamental service for enterprise business, that service has also brought with it a host of new challenges and risks. To achieve best results, the enterprise must detect, anticipate, and preclude those risks through a comprehensive governance strategy designed to deliver optimum business value. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/06142007.html?s_cmp=rss Enterprise continuity is more mission-critical than ever before. As business operations and services have diversified and expanded, business has, in turn, become more dependent on more types of services. With that dependence comes an increasing vulnerability and a corresponding focus on robust processes and technology that can survive interruptions. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/06072007.html?s_cmp=rss Security has become a primary concern for enterprise IT. Digital threats, ranging from simple attack scripts to more sophisticated malware such as worms and viruses, are paired with hackers of increasing sophistication whose motives range from simple curiosity to deliberate sabotage and theft. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/05312007.html?s_cmp=rss One of the most mission-critical areas of modern IT is also one of the most complex: governance and risk management. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/05242007.html?s_cmp=rss Service management begins with a simple premise: paying customers should receive good service. http://www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/governance/action/05172007.html?s_cmp=rss