Tips

Tips

• How to diagnose disk array controller performance problems

  Learn about the components in a disk array controller and find out how to determine whether a customer’s performance problem originates with the controller as well as what’s causing the problem.  Continue Reading

• IT solution providers look for electronic waste management opportunities

  IT solution providers look at stepping up to customers facing electronic waste disposal needs by promoting end-of-lifecycle services as a good value-add.  Continue Reading

• Providing customers value with JBoss managed services

  While there are more well-known middleware products out there, VARs can help their customers save money by offering JBoss managed services and moving applications to JBoss.  Continue Reading

• Opportunities abound for providing HIPAA compliance services

  Recent HIPAA updates mean many firms -- not just health care firms -- must now become HIPAA compliant. Kevin McDonald explains where to find them.  Continue Reading

• Book chapter: Software test methods for the CISSP exam

  Software test methods and testing levels for secure application development are covered in this excerpt from Elsevier’s CISSP Study Guide.  Continue Reading

• Chapter excerpt: Information security models for the CISSP exam

  Read about information security models in this excerpt from CISSP Study Guide, Domain 5: Security architecture and design.  Continue Reading

• Six steps to a great information security risk assessment report

  Reporting the results of a risk assessment can be tricky. One wrong step can dilute all your hard work. Here are six steps in the right direction.  Continue Reading

• Using layering for a customer's Windows 7 deployment

  VARs can save their customers from headaches and gain margins by layering Windows 7 configurations and applications on top of a single machine image, and offer automation services.  Continue Reading

• How to perform storage network performance analysis and fix storage network problems

  Learn how to conduct storage network performance analysis to troubleshoot and fix storage network problems relating to network capacity, adapters, cabling and switches.  Continue Reading

• Developing your cloud business model: A primer for cloud providers

  Cloud business models are numerous, but providers must weigh the benefits, risks and ROI of the cloud services they roll out, from SaaS, PaaS and IaaS to combo models.  Continue Reading

• How to do penetration testing: Overcoming problems and concerns

  A lot can go wrong with pen testing. Dave Shackleford discusses potential problems and how to fix them, or avoid them altogether.  Continue Reading

• Automated storage tiering for VARs: Intra-array vs. inter-array

  Learn about the differences between intra-array and inter-array automated storage tiering products and find out which one holds more opportunity for VARs.  Continue Reading

• Wow your client with a winning penetration testing report

  Dave Shackleford lists the pitfalls to avoid and the best steps to take to produce a penetration test report that will wow your clients.  Continue Reading

• Seven questions for backup and disaster recovery customers

  To determine whether your customers need to outsource their backup and disaster recovery services, they need to answer these questions, such as when was their most recent backup test, and allow you to explain the value you can provide in each area.  Continue Reading

• Best practices for physical environment tests before setting up virtualization

  Performing physical environment tests in a thorough manner, determining what you should and shouldn’t virtualize, will smooth the process of setting up virtualization on customers’ servers.  Continue Reading

• Ensuring NAS access from Windows and Unix clients

  In many large and complex computing environments, administrators need to supply access to a NAS device from both Windows and Unix clients. Find out how to configure your systems for this requirement.  Continue Reading

• Selling your customers on a private cloud computing environment

  The challenges of public clouds and the appeal of business continuity during Internet outages make the idea of private cloud computing compelling to your customers eyeing the cloud.  Continue Reading

• Tackle your client's security issues with cloud computing in 10 steps

  So your client wants to move to the cloud? Your job just got harder. Kevin McDonald lists 10 steps to protect your client (and yourself).  Continue Reading

• Practicing defense-in-depth: Implementing a defense-in-depth strategy

  Implementing a defense-in-depth strategy can protect your customers’ Web applications from attack. Take a layered approach with intrusion prevention, encryption and code review.  Continue Reading

• Guide to PCI documents: PCI levels, assessments and reports

  There are a myriad of different documents for understanding, assessing and reporting PCI DSS compliance. This guide explains which documents to use and where to find them.  Continue Reading

• VDI security advice: Not as safe and easy as it seems

  Combining Windows 7 and virtual desktops can improve security, but Brien Posey explains there are still many security issues that must be managed.  Continue Reading

• Improving software licensing management with application metering

  Solution providers can augment their relationship with customers by using application metering to save them money on unneeded software licensing costs.  Continue Reading

• Quick steps for implementing Master Data Services

  VARs can follow a few basic steps to implement Master Data Services for their customers. Learn the different ways to migrate customer data into the model.  Continue Reading

• How Storage vMotion works and what it can be used for

  Learn how to use Storage vMotion to solve customers’ virtualization-related problems with migration, performance load balancing, RAID rebuilds and VM sprawl.  Continue Reading

• The importance of a vSphere health check to VARs

  Performing a vSphere health check for your customer not only ensures their environment is performing well, but also gives you opportunities for value-adds such as tools and applications.  Continue Reading

• XenServer Workload Balancing setup and configuration steps

  Workload Balancing can help VARs ensure their customer's VMs are placed on placed in the best-available hosts. Read here how set up and configure this feature to save your customers money.  Continue Reading

• Reviewing applications for security: Code review best practices

  Developing secure application code isn’t easy. David Jacobs outlines best practices for keeping customers’ applications secure.  Continue Reading

• Securing employee smartphones: iPhone security settings, deployments

  The iPhone Configuration Utility is useful for securing multiple iPhones. In this tip, Mike Chapple recommends specific security settings and deployment methods.  Continue Reading

• Powerful trio: BitLocker settings plus EFS and NTFS file encryption

  Start with BitLocker, then layer on NTFS and EFS, and you’ll have a powerful trio of tools to protect customer data. Phil Cox shows you how.  Continue Reading

• Storage management and maintenance: Virtual servers vs. physical servers

  There are multiple differences when it comes to storage management of virtual servers vs. physical servers. Learn which areas could or should be handled differently.  Continue Reading

• Using MLC flash memory in enterprise arrays

  Find out how enterprise MLC flash can be the right solid-state storage option for customers looking for a measurable increase in performance without the cost of SLC-based flash.  Continue Reading

• The RAID rebuild process and its impact on customers

  Read up on the RAID rebuild process and how data protection drops during a RAID rebuild, to help customers decide whether to plan around the limitations of traditional RAID.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-V R2 migration tricks for solution providers

  To smoothly transition customers to Hyper-V R2, you’ll need to become familiar with the best ways to relocate, import and export virtual machines.  Continue Reading

• Storage array-based automated tiered storage products: Pros and cons

  Find out how implementing an automated tiered storage system in a storage arrays can cut costs, how it works and what the advantages and disadvantages are.  Continue Reading

• How to use BitLocker as part of a customer data protection program

  BitLocker can be an effective tool in your data protection services. Phil Cox gives specific recommendations for implementing BitLocker to protect your client's data.  Continue Reading

• Windows 7 migration options for enterprise VARs

  Learn the factors to consider, such as application library volume, when making recommendations for Windows XP-to-Windows 7 migration tools for your enterprise customer.  Continue Reading

• Vendor/reseller agreement: Avoid midproject partner conflict

  Find out how to construct a vendor/reseller agreement document to delineate rules of engagement around margins, types of services/support, marketing and training with your storage vendors.  Continue Reading

• Windows 7 audit object access categories, user permissions

  Solution providers can configure Windows 7 audit object access and user logon and logoff settings to achieve optimal security levels in their customer's environment.  Continue Reading

• Configuring Windows 7 audit, group policy settings

  Learn the ins and outs of Windows 7 audit and group policy settings, including account logon and management, and other factors to consider when configuring auditing controls.  Continue Reading

• Windows 7 audit policies, user privileges configuration

  Find out how to audit Windows 7 audit policies themselves and read what you need to know about configuring Windows 7 user privileges.  Continue Reading

• Using Citrix Xen Server Platinum trial software

  Before recommending that your customer upgrades to Citrix XenServer Platinum edition, you can demo the features and licensing by using Citrix's free evaluation software.  Continue Reading

• Cloud gateways for primary storage: Benefits and challenges

  Most IT shops that have ventured down the cloud storage road have restricted their use to backup or archiving. Now cloud gateways are making primary storage use cases feasible.  Continue Reading

• Utilizing vSphere features, resource controls for VM priority

  Solution providers can show customers the value of virtualization by configuring vSphere features and resource controls to prioritize VMs and give them proper access to resources.  Continue Reading

• Troubleshooting Hyper-V R2 VM import and export

  Completing a Hyper-V R2 VM import and export may be more complex than necessary, but this tip explains how to work around issues such as being unable to move VMs after an import.  Continue Reading

• Global deduplication implementation varies by product

  Find out about the different types of global deduplication – in software and in hardware -- and why its definition and functionality vary from product to product.  Continue Reading

• PCI and virtualization: Enabling VMs with PCI compliance services

  The new PCI DSS security standard allows merchants to run a virtualized environment and still be compliant. David Jacobs explains they will need your help with tools and processes.  Continue Reading

• Using XenConvert for XenServer 5.6 workload, machine conversions

  Solution providers using XenConvert to convert XenServer 5.6 physical machines and workloads to a virtual environment should also know best practices for troubleshooting issues during conversion.  Continue Reading

• How to sell security by focusing on return on security investment

  Here security solution providers will receive advice on selling information security, including how to focus on return on security investment (ROSI).  Continue Reading

• High-availability solutions for SQL Server 2008 R2

  Find out how to implement SQL Server 2008 R2 high-availability solutions, including failover clustering, database mirroring and log shipping, and learn how they affect a database.  Continue Reading

• NAS services: Standalone NAS system vs. NAS gateway vs. virtual NAS

  Read up on the pros and cons of three options that customers have when adding NAS services to their storage environment: installing a standalone NAS system or a NAS gateway or creating a virtual NAS on the SAN.  Continue Reading

• Managing virtual machines in vSphere

  When modifying and managing virtual machines in vSphere, solution providers should make sure to know how to use other tools and methods besides the vSphere Client.  Continue Reading

• Windows 7 administrative tools, part 1

  Get an overview of seven of the 14 Windows 7 administrative tools, including Event Viewer and Performance Monitor, in part one of this two-part series.  Continue Reading

• Configuring XenServer 5.6 alerts for hosts and VMs

  By configuring XenServer 5.6 alerts in your customers' environments, you'll ensure that you automatically receive notifications when problems occur on hosts and virtual machines.  Continue Reading

• Common application compatibility issues for Windows 7

  There are quite a few ways to solve Windows 7 legacy application compatibility issues, and knowing them can save you time during the deployment process.  Continue Reading

• Application performance management as a service: What does it take?

  Traditional network monitoring is fast morphing into application performance management, a growing market segment targeting enterprise users that has service possibilities for the telecom carrier, but only if the right vendor partnerships and ...  Continue Reading

• Selling SIEM: Security information event management for solution providers

  Customers usually lack the knowhow to implement and manage a SIEM product on their own, which creates an opportunity for VARs and solution providers. Ben Rothke explains how to make SIEM products work for customers.  Continue Reading

• Selecting the top Windows 7 command-line utilities

  There are hundreds of Windows 7 command-line utilities to choose from but the utilities detailed in this tip are especially useful to solution providers for managing Windows 7.  Continue Reading

• Object storage: Object-based storage devices challenge file systems for unstructured data sets

  For large unstructured data sets, object storage and object-based storage devices carry several advantages over a traditional file system architecture. Learn about the scalability and data protection characteristics of object storage.  Continue Reading

• Managing a XenServer environment with the Xen command line

  The Xen command line offers options such as the xe command to perform difficult tasks in a XenServer environment, but the XenCenter interface may work best for easy tasks.  Continue Reading

• Exploring vSphere HA features for failure protection

  vSphere HA provides protection for areas in your customer's virtual environment where failures may occur, such as guest OSes and the network.  Continue Reading

• Using Microsoft Upgrade Advisor for SQL Server 2008 R2

  A solution provider can use the Microsoft Upgrade Advisor to analyze SQL Server and highlight issues that may arise during a SQL Server 2008 R2 upgrade.  Continue Reading

• PCIe SSD pros and cons, use cases, and VAR recommendations

  Learn the pros and cons of PCIe SSD, how NAND flash works, typical use cases for PCIe SSD, as well as the vendors and products in this space. Plus, get recommendations for VARs interested in selling PCIe-based SSD to customers.  Continue Reading

• Implementing network access control products: How to prep your clients

  There's a reason why NAC projects are so often abandoned. Your clients are not making the right preparations before they launch network access control products.  Continue Reading

• Assigning vSphere security access controls

  Even with vCenter Server's centralized capabilities, securing customers' vSphere environments can be a hurdle. An expert outlines how to assign vSphere security access controls.  Continue Reading

• Data encryption methods: Lay out the options for your customer

  Rich Mogull of Securosis explains why partners need to live up their name and team up with customers on encryption implemenation and integration.  Continue Reading

• SAN vs. NAS storage and virtualization: Three recommendations for VARs

  Learn the advantages and disadvantages of SAN vs. NAS storage when addressing the issue of storage and virtualization environments with customers.  Continue Reading

• The elements of a regulatory compliance program

  In this video, Richard E. Mackey Jr. reviews a compliance program structure that will incorporate any of the regulations and guidelines that your customers will need to comply with.  Continue Reading

• Network troubleshooting to fix storage performance problems

  Learn about three storage performance problems -- including with NAS replication, with an EMC array and in an Exchange server environment -- that were fixed with network troubleshooting.  Continue Reading

• Network convergence services: Bringing storage onto the network

  With data center infrastructures converging, knowledge of converged network services would benefit any networking solution provider. In this tip, you'll learn about storage protocols, convergence configuration and other best practices related to ...  Continue Reading

• Windows 7 system files clean-up tools

  Windows 7 system files can clog up your customers' PCs and drag performance down. Luckily, tools and commands are available to help you gain more administrative control.  Continue Reading

• Citrix XenServer 5.5 resource pools: Requirements, creation process

  This tip teaches solutions providers the benefits of using resource pools in Citrix XenServer 5.5, as well as how to create and manage the pools.  Continue Reading

• Third-party tools for Microsoft Hyper-V R2: Top 5 must-haves

  Check out this list of top the five third-party tools for Microsoft Hyper-V R2 that can help solutions providers improve Hyper-V management, monitoring, backup and recovery.  Continue Reading

• Your Massachusetts 201 CMR 17 checklist of security controls

  In this video, John Moynihan of Minuteman Governance reviews the technical, administrative and physical security controls that organizations need and often don't have.  Continue Reading

• Open source Xen vs. Citrix XenServer

  Our expert compares the three major open source Xen contenders with Citrix XenServer to help you determine which Xen management product is best for your customers.  Continue Reading

• Big vSphere features that don't get much attention

  The Virtual Machine Communication Interface and Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling are two big vSphere features that provide great benefits but are often overlooked.  Continue Reading

• Hypervisor comparison: Weighing hybrid environments

  Last year, a hypervisor comparison meant choosing one hypervisor to suit a particular environment. Now, solutions providers must consider the hybrid approach.  Continue Reading

• One-time password (OTP) token tips for a heterogeneous environment

  Many stumbling blocks can torpedo your one-time password token deployment. Learn how to secure your clients' ever accelerating OTP implementations.  Continue Reading

• NAS server sizing and configuration factors

  Find out what questions to ask customers when helping them configure a NAS server, including the number and speed of disk drives that the hardware will support, whether SSD will be used and user I/O demands.  Continue Reading

• SQL Server 2008 R2 system requirements: Hardware and software

  SQL Server 2008 R2 system requirements vary depending on a few factors. Learn the hardware, software and disk space requirements, which can differ based on individual components.  Continue Reading

• Introduction to NERC CIP 004 compliance standards: Training personnel

  Ernie Hayden explains how to comply with NERC CIP 004, an electric utility standard that focuses on the insider threat.  Continue Reading

• How to choose the right iSCSI initiator type

  Find out how to choose the right iSCSI initiator type for your customers: a software iSCSI initiator or a hardware iSCSI initiator. In addition, find out which use cases are most suitable for each type of initiator.  Continue Reading

• Using an incremental backup strategy to save your customers money

  An incremental backup strategy can save customers money by reducing the demands on backup targets and infrastructure, yet many are still doing full backups. Educate them on the reasons why incremental backups make more sense than full backups.  Continue Reading

• Traffic Talk: Pcapr.net -- where Web 2.0 meets network packet analysis

  Solution providers can better customer networks with network packet analysis collaboration from Pcapr.net, a free packet collaboration site hosted by Mu Dynamics. Learn how to use Pcapr.net in this tip from Richard Bejtlich.  Continue Reading

• Citrix XenServer license considerations

  Sure, XenServer is available for free now. But your customers still have to obtain a XenServer license for certain XenServer components.  Continue Reading

• SSD vs. HDD when fixing performance problems

  Learn about using SSD vs. HDD to address customers' application performance problems and find out how to evaluate CPU utilization, queue depth and disk latency to determine if your customers can benefit from SSD.  Continue Reading

• VMware's standard and distributed virtual switches: What resellers need to know

  Understanding VMware's standard and distributed virtual switches is an important step for resellers planning to offer their customers network virtualization services and VMware virtual switches. Get a reseller-level explanation of the vSphere ...  Continue Reading

• NERC CIP training: Understanding 'critical cyber asset identification'

  To pass Critical Infrastructure Protection standards, utilities must ensure that all critical assets and cyber assets are both properly identified and protected. Ernie Hayden explains how to get the process done right the first time.  Continue Reading

• Social networking security still a gray area for some customers

  While there are many companies today that have embraced the use of social networking sites, there are still some that are skeptical. No matter how customers view social networking, there are some inherent security issues that need to be addressed. ...  Continue Reading

• Traffic Talk: Testing Snort with Metasploit

  Are your customers' network security solutions working as expected? Learn about testing Snort with Metasploit in this detailed tip from Richard Bejtlich, complete with code examples and step-by-step instructions.  Continue Reading

• Using Cisco Nexus 1000V to help network managers and VMware admins

  With network virtualization becoming more common across enterprise networks, the roles of server managers and network managers begin to collide and cause conflict. In this tip, solution providers will learn about helping server managers and network ...  Continue Reading

• Creating a virtual machine and VM configuration in VMware vSphere

  In VMware vSphere, creating a virtual machine is pretty easy. By selecting the correct VM configuration and virtual hardware options, solutions providers can really benefit.  Continue Reading

• Virtual systems and server resource management best practices

  The recommended utilization rates and virtual system management tools outlined in this tip will help you with server resource management and optimization.  Continue Reading

• Need-to-know mobile device authentication methods

  Mark Diodati reviews how VARs, consultants and systems integrators can help customers implement SMS one-time passwords and other authentication methods that use mobile devices.  Continue Reading

• Comparing Hyper-V R2, vSphere and XenServer 5.5 pros and cons

  Comparing the pros and cons of Hyper-V R2, vSphere and XenServer 5.5 will not only help you recommend the right product, it'll also help you to optimize their virtual environments.  Continue Reading

• Installing Citrix XenServer 5.5 and XenCenter

  Solutions providers that are looking for alternatives to Microsoft Hyper-V R2 and VMware ESX or vSphere will find that installing Citrix's XenServer 5.5 is a painless process.  Continue Reading

• Top three Windows 7 system monitoring tools

  When troubleshooting a Windows 7 system, it isn't always easy to diagnose problems. These system monitoring tools make it a relatively painless process.  Continue Reading

• Manage Windows 7 hardware with Device Manager

  Updating driver components and troubleshooting dicey devices gets easier with Windows 7 Device Manager, which helps solutions providers manage hardware, processors and disk drives.  Continue Reading

• New SQL Server 2008 R2 editions, features and licensing

  Become an expert on the features, functions, pricing and licensing models of the four new SQL Server 2008 R2 editions.  Continue Reading

• Best practices for EMR storage services

  If you're interested in getting in on the burgeoning market around EMR storage services, find out the four areas in which you cannot afford to fall short, for successful EMR storage services.  Continue Reading

• How to use user-agent strings as a network monitoring tool

  User-agent strings, elements of HTTP headers, can be used as a network monitoring tool to reveal information about client networks without affecting network performance or privacy. Learn more in this tip by Richard Bejtlich.  Continue Reading