The UltraTech Zone

Starting a new position is always an interesting challenge, especially if you have a leadership role.  It should go without saying that it is very important to start things off on the right foot.  While it is possible to recover from all but the most egregious of mistakes in the early going, you really want to take advantage of whatever honeymoon ...

Online communities are an excellent way for people to interact with other individuals who they can help or who can help them.  For business and technology professionals, they also represent a way keep an eye on trends and thought leadership within ones industry that can help solve a company’s issues. They also provide one element of career ...

Yes, you heard me correctly… We still think about personal and corporate security only as an afterthought. Despite all the regulatory and industry compliance that has been created and updated in the past 15 years, as we close out this decade, we are hardly any closer to proactively applying security guidelines in our personal or professional ...

Yes, you heard me correctly… We still think about personal and corporate security only as an afterthought. Despite all the regulatory and industry compliance that has been created and updated in the past 15 years, as we close out this decade, we are hardly...(read more)

Earlier this month, I came across a provocative article in ComputerWorld that outlined some of the reasons why many organizations get inconsistent results from their Information Technology departments.  Later, this article was made the source of discussion on a LinkedIn CIO group, where many different points of view were presented. As is ...

Earlier this month, I came across a provocative article in ComputerWorld that outlined some of the reasons why many organizations get inconsistent results from their Information Technology departments.  Later, this article was made the source of...(read more)

The prevailing wisdom says that technology is supposed to be getting simpler all the time.  This belief appears to be pervasive with many corporate leaders who insist that there should be less of a need for expensive technology experts in an organization over time, since technology is becoming simpler and less error prone. I touched on this ...

The prevailing wisdom says that technology is supposed to be getting simpler all the time.  This belief appears to be pervasive with many corporate leaders who insist that there should be less of a need for expensive technology experts in an organization...(read more)

There are several major challenges to the successful implementation of good information security in many organizations today.  It is not because business owners do not think that security is important.  No, the issues exist because they do not grasp the complexities that embody the Information Security profession, and thus make decisions ...

There are several major challenges to the successful implementation of good information security in many organizations today.  It is not because business owners do not think that security is important.  No, the issues exist because they do not...(read more)

Exodus 20:18-20 KJV (18)  And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. (19)  And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. ...

Lately, I’ve been getting lots of good ideas for blog entries from my participation in various LinkedIn group discussions.   One recent topic was about what IT should focus on in any organization.   Another was about whether we should be working harder or smarter. The title I have selected for this post also happens to be ...

For many years, there’s been an interesting joke that the CIO position is a dead-end role.  Some have even suggested that the acronym means Career Is Over. Recently, I have even seen several LinkedIn discussions that have insinuated that if a CIO does not eventually make it into a COO or CEO role, that they have somehow failed.  I could ...

Everyone wants to see the economy recover, and they’re suggesting all sorts of ways that it can get back on track.  As I read the following article from MSN about the fizzled stock market rally, it occurred to me that there are two key points about an economic recovery, particularly in the USA. The actual state of the economy is largely ...

All too often, we fail to value the power of seemingly little gestures and acknowledgements.  As a result, we lose much of what brings joy to relationships. This past week, I rejoined the NTSYSADMIN mailing list (sponsored by Sunbelt Software) after a long hiatus (at least 2-3 years).  I first joined that list back in 1996 or 1997, and ...