Daily Report Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Daily Highlights

The Paducah Sun reports nationwide, transmission systems and power plants aren't being built fast enough to meet America's increasing demand for electricity, potentially threatening the risk of supply disruptions. (See item 4)
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The Ithaca Journal reports security concerns have changed how schools are built, and in an increasing number of schools, security drives decisions about everything from where to place
the principal's office to what kinds of locks and windows are selected. (See item 32)

Information Technology and Telecommunications Sector

35. November 14, eWeek — Microsoft forms interoperability vendor alliance. Microsoft has formed a new group, the Interoperability Vendor Alliance, to enhance interoperability between Microsoft and non−Microsoft systems across workflows and operational processes. The initial members of the vendor alliance are SugarCRM, Citrix Systems, Kernel Networks, Network Appliance and Siemens Networks, but membership will be open to others that want to join. The initial areas of focus will include common interoperability challenges like cross−platform systems management, single sign−on, data presentation, portal integration, storage and identity management.
Source: http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2058133,00.asp

36. November 14, IDG News Service — Motorola to acquire Netopia for $208 million. Motorola plans to acquire Netopia, the maker of Digital Subscriber Line user equipment, for $208
million, the companies announced on Tuesday, November 14. With Netopia's products, Motorola plans to offer a full suite of connected home products, including media hubs, voice gateways and Internet Protocol set tops. The acquisition will also help Motorola pursue IPTV opportunities.
Source: http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/11/14/HNmotorolanetopia_ 1.html

37. November 13, Federal Computer Week — Feds more confident in agency security. Federal decision−makers seem to be more confident about their agencies’ security than they were two years ago, according to a survey released Monday, November 13, by Cisco Systems. The new survey found that decision−makers, especially those in the defense sector, were spending more time on mandated security requirements than they did last year. They report, however, that funding remains the biggest barrier to improving security capabilities. Another change this year is that most respondents now give more importance to linking budgets to program performance, the report states. The survey, a follow−up to one conducted in November 2005, polled federal information technology decision−makers from more than 45 civilian and military agencies involved in network security solutions. Nearly half the respondents said they believe software automation tools will address most of their agencies’ security issues in the future. Moreover, a large majority said the automation tools will handle network intrusion detection, firewalls and server security.
Cisco news release: http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2006/prod_111306c.html
Source: http://www.fcw.com/article96809−11−13−06−Web