By Jeremy Morris, Associate Editor, US Daily Review.

For the tenth consecutive year, Verizon Wireless is being recognized as one of the top workplaces for information technology (IT) professionals.  This year, Verizon Wireless places sixth on IDG’s Computerworld “2012 Best Places to Work in IT” list and is once again the highest ranked wireless provider.

By US Daily Review Staff.

You can hear the critics now.  Microsoft’s move into the tablet arena was “too little too late.” They waited until everyone including their dogs jumped in. Nonetheless, Microsoft’s new efforts seems to have potential, as well as a niche (with its keypad) to make it attractive to many who simply cannot live without such. Below is the official announcement from Microsoft.

Today at an event in Hollywood, Microsoft unveiled Surface: PCs built to be the ultimate stage for Windows. Company executives showed two Windows tablets and accessories that feature significant advances in industrial design and attention to detail. Surface is designed to seamlessly transition between consumption and creation, without compromise. It delivers the power of amazing software with Windows and the feel of premium hardware in one exciting experience.

Surface: A New Family of PCs for Windows

June 19, 2012

Conceived, designed and engineered entirely by Microsoft employees, and building on the company’s 30-year history manufacturing hardware, Surface is designed to seamlessly transition between consumption and creation, without compromise.

Download: Web | Print

See also: Surface Website

Advances in Industrial Design

Conceived, designed and engineered entirely by Microsoft employees, and building on the company’s 30-year history manufacturing hardware, Surface represents a unique vision for the seamless expression of entertainment and creativity. Extensive investment in industrial design and real user experience includes the following highlights:

• Software takes center stage: Surface sports a full-sized USB port and a 16:9 aspect ratio – the industry standard for HD. It has edges angled at 22 degrees, a natural position for the PC at rest or in active use, letting the hardware fade into the background and the software stand out.
• VaporMg: The casing of Surface is created using a unique approach called VaporMg (pronounced Vapor-Mag), a combination of material selection and process to mold metal and deposit particles that creates a finish akin to a luxury watch. Starting with magnesium, parts can be molded as thin as .65 mm, thinner than the typical credit card, to create a product that is thin, light and rigid/strong.
• Integrated Kickstand: The unique VaporMg approach also enables a built-in kickstand that lets you transition Surface from active use to passive consumption – watching a movie or even using the HD front- or rear-facing video cameras. The kickstand is there when needed, and disappears when not in use, with no extra weight or thickness.
• Touch Cover: The 3 mm Touch Cover represents a step forward in human-computer interface. Using a unique pressure-sensitive technology, Touch Cover senses keystrokes as gestures, enabling you to touch type significantly faster than with an on-screen keyboard. It will be available in a selection of vibrant colors. Touch Cover clicks into Surface via a built-in magnetic connector, forming a natural spine like you find on a book, and works as a protective cover. You can also click in a 5 mm-thin Type Cover that adds moving keys for a more traditional typing feel.

An Amazing Windows Experience

Two models of Surface will be available: one running an ARM processor featuring Windows RT, and one with a third-generation Intel Core processor featuring Windows 8 Pro. From the fast and fluid interface, to the ease of connecting you to the people, information and apps that users care about most, Surface will be a premium way to experience all that Windows has to offer. Surface for Windows RT will release with the general availability of Windows 8, and the Windows 8 Pro model will be available about 90 days later. Both will be sold in the Microsoft Store locations in the U.S. and available through select online Microsoft Stores.

Contributing to an Expanded Ecosystem

One of the strengths of Windows is its extensive ecosystem of software and hardware partners, delivering selection and choice that makes a customer’s Windows experience uniquely their own. This continues with Surface. Microsoft is delivering a unique contribution to an already strong and growing ecosystem of functional and stylish devices delivered by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to bring the experience of Windows to consumers and businesses around the globe.

By Jeremy Morris, Associate Business Editor, US Daily Review.

Shred-it, an information security company providing document and data destruction services, commissioned an independent survey with Ipsos Reid across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom to gain insight on information security policies and procedures amongst small business owners and C-suite executives. The below results are specific to the United States.

By the Price of Business, Radio Partners of US Daily Review. Sponsored content*

By US Daily Review Staff.

CompTIA, the non-profit association for the information technology (IT) industry, today renewed its call for greater attention and action by lawmakers and regulators to the needs of the nation’s small businesses.

“Small- and medium-sized businesses are the lifeblood of the national economy, employing more than 50 percent of the country’s private sector workforce,” said Todd Thibodeaux, president and chief executive officer, CompTIA. “Yet, too often, when national policy is debated, their interests are ignored or misunderstood. SMB voices must be heard in Washington and throughout the country.

“Small technology companies account for 40 percent of all U.S. IT jobs and 98 percent of the nation’s IT firms; employ millions of Americans; and contribute billions of dollars to the nation’s economy,” Thibodeaux continued. “They are vital contributors to the nation’s economic strength and technology leadership. Their contributions can be even more impactful with a few common sense actions.”

During National Small Business Week, CompTIA spotlighted four of its small business members and the issues affecting their ability grow their businesses. Here is some of what they said:

“We could not participate in the government’s Women-Owned Small Business program unless there was another female competitor. Procurement officers required that at least two women-owned small businesses compete for the contracts, even in the IT field, where women-owned businesses are underrepresented. Involving yourself in these political issues, right now, can make great changes that improve your business.” – Wendy Frank, Accell Security, Inc., Birdsboro, Pa.,

“The cost of tax compliance is a huge issue that impacts our ability to focus on our core businesses and, as a result, new business opportunities. It just makes sense to allow small businesses to move to an annual payroll tax return filing. This will free up time and money for us to spend on growing our business and contributing to job creation and economic growth.” – MJ Shoer, Jenaly Technology Group, Portsmouth, N.H.

“The key to driving continued growth and profitability across the technology sector is through innovative and disruptive products and solutions. Empowering fledgling and growing organizations with the flexibility of crowdfunding will enable a new wave of innovators, market challengers and thought leaders.” – Jacob K. Braun, Waka Digital Media Corporation, Boston.

“The cloud has created a frictionless market for us to deliver high value services at an affordable price point. Because everything we do is in the cloud we can serve our customers regardless of location. Government regulation and additional taxation would negatively impact our ability to service clients and would limit our growth and ability to expand globally.” – Dan Shapero, ClikCloud, Laguna Beach, Calif.

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1cKzr)

By Alexia Mccormick, Special for US Daily Review.

As cloud computing applications and cloud storage become increasingly common, both privacy and data security are taking on a new importance. The cloud computing model offers some major benefits when it comes to catering to clients’ needs, including increased mobility and streamlined communications, but it also carries significant security risks.

Organizations need to be aware of potential threats to private information and take steps to mitigate these through increased vigilance and security solutions that work. Whether you’ve already made the move to the cloud or you’re on the road to doing so, you should take the time to examine the risks to your data.

Potential Security Issues in the Cloud

Customers want to be sure that their data is safe right now, and that it will continue to be safe in the future. To that end, when selecting or building a cloud service to host your or your clients’ data, it’s important to ask yourself some questions:

• Is the cloud computing infrastructure (servers, applications, etc.) secure?
• Is there a robust privacy policy in place? Does it specifically outline how the data will be used and under what circumstances?
• Does the owner of the data maintain control of how their information is used?
• What steps or actions does the service plan to take in the event of a security breach?

Whether you are contracting with an external cloud computing service or developing a cloud application of your own, these are issues that need to be addressed. Your clients need to know that you have a commitment to helping them maintain both the security and the privacy of their personal information.

Solutions for Maintaining Security and Privacy

For maximum data security, cloud services providers need to ensure that customers’ information is secure at three different points during the data lifecycle: 1) when a client logs in or out, 2) when it is being transferred to or from the service, and 3) when it is resting in storage on the cloud. If steps are not taken at each of these three touch points to keep data secure, it is at risk of being stolen or corrupted.

• Authentication is usually the preferred method of maintaining customer privacy. Clients are asked to provide a username and password that is then passed to the server to ensure that the user is authorized to access specific information.
• Data should be transferred using a secure connection to and from the servers. This makes it difficult for outsiders to see and capture information.
• Data needs to be encrypted while stored on the servers themselves. This provides an added layer of security in case of data loss. Encryption keys should be stored on a separate server from the data itself.

If your cloud computing service is lacking in any of these areas, you may consider going with a different service or storing the data in house until a suitable solution can be provided.

What steps are you taking to ensure the integrity of your data in the cloud?

Alexia Mccormick is a writer for Netop. When Alexia is not writing, she enjoys sewing and learning about advancements in education. Netop is a leader in classroom management, live chat software solutions and secure remote access for business and educational institutions for almost three decades.