Reading this on a mobile device? Try our optimized mobile version here: http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/sNoMhMrCDsmhzhpnla

November 16, 2009 Sign up Forward Archive Advertise News for the IT Industry   Industry Update  Dell channel chief underlines trust factor in VAR program Dell Global Channel Chief Greg Davis responded to skeptics of the company's channel program by underlining its increasing efforts to build trust with its Trusted Business Advisor program. Davis said Dell's roughly 50,000 worldwide channel partners are benefitting from deal registration and a focus on providing added value such as services to its customers. eChannelLine USA Daily News (11/15) IBM harnesses internal data for petabyte-sized cloud IBM says it is giving sales and development teams access to about a petabyte of data through its newly launched Blue Insight cloud. The company says the internal information, the equivalent of about 20 million four-door filing cabinets, was gathered through business relationships over several decades and is spread across about 100 physical locations. eWeek.com (11/16) Ingram Micro-Cisco deal streamlines global distribution Ingram Micro and Cisco have signed a deal that will give resellers in more than 150 countries access to identical terms and conditions for Cisco products. Ingram Micro says the agreement will give vendors a leg up in markets throughout the world and offer customers increased access to its dedicated Cisco support. eChannelLine USA Daily News (11/15) Other News Cyber-Ark updates Privileged Identity Management Suite for Windows, Unix managers Computerworld (11/13) WSO2 targets services with Cloud Platform launch InfoWorld (11/13)   Technology & Trends  Venture funds eye SSD as demand grows Startups such as XtremIO and SandForce have succeeded in attracting venture capital to support their efforts to develop solid-state technology. Investors are revving up support for solid-state makers as data centers increasingly turn to the high-cost drives for energy efficiency and improved performance. NYTimes.com/GigaOm (11/14) Analysts seek trends for signs of new U.S. tech boom Mastek Chairman Sudhakar Ram says he believes the U.S. government's focus on health care and banking reform will result in a multibillion-dollar boom in technology spending. Meanwhile, Forrester Research projects the U.S. tech sector is set to grow nearly 8% as better conditions in the credit market allow companies to increase IT investments and undertake planned upgrades. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model)/Digits blog (11/13) D&H program to help VARs target small businesses D&H Distributing said it plans to launch a program in the next year that will help VARs better understand the needs and restrictions of small businesses. The company reports it has seen a jump in small-business orders driven by factors such as the launch of Windows 7 and an increasing number of government contracts directed at small businesses. eChannelLine USA Daily News (11/15) Using remote managed services to avert rogue user behavior IT users sometimes take matters into their own hands when an IT department can't keep up with their needs -- a phenomenon known as "organic IT." Some companies are trying to avert this behavior by turning to remote managed services. Business Technology Roundtable (11/13) CIOs offer perspectives on next year's IT trends The chief information officers of firms including Amtrak, Sunoco and Microsoft offer their insights into upcoming trends in information technology, including cloud computing and open-source technology, in a video with this blog post. TechRepublic/Tech Sanity Check blog (11/11) Other News Cloud rumors fade as reliability, benefits grow InformationWeek (11/14)   Education and Training  Design a peer-coaching plan that pays off While some companies are using peer-to-peer coaching as a way to boost employee performance at minimal cost, the approach might be ineffective if goals are not clearly defined, experts say. "Not everyone likes the idea of metrics, but knowing that there's some metric out there waiting for them keeps the participants on task," says Holly Tompson, senior research analyst at the Institute for Corporate Productivity. Human Resource Executive (11/11)   Policy Watch  New Intel counsel to bolster antitrust efforts Intel is expected to hire A. Douglas Melamed, a veteran antitrust attorney, as its general counsel, according to sources. Melamed, who helped prosecute Microsoft as a lawyer for the Justice Department, will lead Intel's efforts to combat antitrust charges, including a pending $1.45 billion fine in Europe. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (11/13) Exclusive Advertising Opportunity! Reach 48,700 IT professionals as the sole sponsor of the CompTIA SmartBrief Year-End Report. This great branding opportunity includes 12 ad placements and detailed campaign reporting. Interested? Contact Natalie Costa at (202) 737-5500 ext. 293.   Featured Content    Marketing and Baking Through the Recession Joseph Friedrichs Seven Savvy & Affordable Holiday Gifts to Impress Clients and Bosses Shira Levine 4 Ways to Boost Productivity by Slowing Down Behance Team Before You Go Online: Talk to Your Customers Offline Josh Catone Do Payment Plans Give You Street Creds? Elizabeth Walker   CompTIA News  CompTIA IT Security Executive Forum meets Thursday CompTIA will hold its IT Security Executive Forum on Thursday in Torrance, Calif. During this one-day meeting, security-minded solution providers and vendors will come together to make a difference in the IT industry through new research programs, educational efforts, promotional campaigns and networking opportunities. This meeting follows the CompTIA MSP Business Simulation Experience in Torrance on Wednesday. It is open to CompTIA members and guests. Find out more. Learn more about CompTIA -> About CompTIA  |  Donate  |  Programs and Initiatives Events  |  Join CompTIA   SmartQuote  Nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm." --Samuel Taylor Coleridge, English poet, critic and philosopher     Subscriber Tools       Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy Advertise Account Director:  Mark Lasser (202) 470-1144 Download Media Kit   Read more at SmartBrief.com A powerful website for SmartBrief readers including: Industry Home Readers' Choice Search Archive Grab our News Widget Get this RSS Feed Publish your Press Release       Recent CompTIA SmartBrief Issues: Friday, November 13, 2009 Thursday, November 12, 2009 Wednesday, November 11, 2009 Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Monday, November 09, 2009     Lead Editor:  Susan Rush       Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005     © 1999-2011 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information