Thursday, 17 May 2012
How Cisco deals with the BYOD revolution
How Cisco deals with the BYOD revolution
By Howard Solomon, Network World Canada | Feb 15, 2012
0 comments
Digg
PrintCisco Systems Inc. is one of the biggest IT companies in the world, with a disciplined organization.
But even after it standardized on Windows for its desktops earlier this decade, staff stubbornly brought in devices running other operating systems.
The lesson, attendees at a Toronto telecommunications conference learned Thursday, is that even Cisco couldn't resist the bring-your-own device movement.
Ian Gallagher, Cisco Canada's director of collaboration engineering, said that in 1999 the network equipment maker standardized on Windows, but three years later there was "a grass roots movement" within software development teams who wanted to use some variety of Unix because they compile emulators for Cisco's Unix-based IOS routers and switches.
So, without IT approval, there was an "explosion" of SUSE Linux and Apple Macintosh-bases PCs. These users were self-supported, but eventually the company's IT department agreed to support new platforms.
Similarly, despite designating the Palm Treo as Cisco's official smart phone, users brought in other handsets.
"But," Gallagher added, "they (IT) has been very careful to simplify what they support. They say this is the functionality we support on this device -- whether it's a smart phone or a tablet or a non-Windows-based laptop. We'll provide you with a virtual desktop interface, with certain key software capabilities [such as Cisco's Jabber softphone], but as an end user you've got to support other stuff." Anything corporate the company supports.
Similar
Add comment
knowledge_central_tab
Knowledge Central
Trusted Mobility Index
The mobile ecosystem of devices, services and networks is at a critical inflection point.While the mobile revolution is unleashing massive opportunities in both emerging and mature economies, it is also increasing in complexity and confusion. The reality is the lightning-fast adoption of powerful, smart devices is outpacing society’s ability to secure them. Today, trust in mobility hangs in the balance.
The state of the Internet, Q4, 2011
Geography appears to play a role in frequency of observed attacks on specific ports. For example, Port 23 (Telnet) is a favorite target for attacks observed to be originating from South Korea and Turkey, where it accounted for more than five times the number of attacks targeting the next most popular port (445 in both countries). Other instances of geography-based port targeting include observed attacks centered on Port 1433 (Microsoft SQL Server) in China and on Port 80 (WWW/HTTP) in Indonesia.
HID Global deploys a centralized, web-based IP access control solution at Fuxi Power Plant
Unable to meet the needs for real-time monitoring with its traditional patrol system, China's Fuxi Power Plant has deployed HID Global's VertX V2000.
StubHub: How to spot fraud before it happens
Whenever a list of log-on credentials is dumped onto the Web, retailers get hit with waves of automated attacks. Here's how ticket marketplace StubHub fights the threat.
