Enterprise India on Security Solutions

Sometime in January, I had the opportunity to attend a meeting with Vice President of Symantec in India – Shantanu Ghosh (he also has an interesting food & travel blog). We discussed the emerging challenges of security landscape in India. What was surprising is apart from viruses, spamming and phishing were equally troublesome for security professionals.

An interesting discussion revolved around the declining margins for security solutions. With plenty of FREE security solutions available in the market (including Microsoft Security Essentials), Symantec would be looking for new revenue models. That’s when it came to my attention that Symantec is a big player in the online archive and enterprise security solutions as well.

Since then, I had been looking to understand the challenges corporate India faces in the field of security? Recently, I discovered this abstrusely named report by Microsoft – Make Noise Check Noise. The report represents a wide variety of industries including software, telecom & engineering and included a wide variety of professionals (IT professionals, Business Decision Makers, End users and Developers). This report is based on a survey of over 1200 users in Nov 2009. So what does the report say?

1. The key drivers identified for security spending in India were driven by:
1. Data Security and Privacy
2. Protecting IT Infrastructure
2. Users voted multiple security vendors in an IT environment as one of the biggest headaches for them followed by Multiple Passwords for authentication.
   This is understandable as multiple vendors bring their own update policies, license agreements and different quality of support to the enterprise making their management most difficult. The hoops one has to skip when one forgets a password for an enterprise service are hidden from no one. The ones troubled by this most were the ones who create this complexity – the IT administrators.

The report does end with recommendations on what could security vendors focus on:

• Make Security solutions simple
• Simplify the management of the security solution
• Help customer understand vendor consolidation and its benefits

And now with Cloud services gaining ground in enterprises, there would be new challenges that the security vendors will need to start thinking about..

Indian Mobile Users still Far Away from Internet

Here’s a question that I have been asking whenever I have had more than a handful of people around me - “How many of you use internet on your mobile phone?” And invariably the response were horribly negative. We frequently hear the great number of mobile phones that Indian consumers have been lapping up.. will this communication revolution lead to information revolution? The answer reflects in the recently released report by IAMAI.

Here’s a quick snapshot of how the mobile usage in India looks like:

From the hugely touted Indian mobile penetration, only 0.4% users actively use Internet. And here is what my worry is: Mobile adoption in India is leading to telecom revolution while the larger information revolution is still far away.

The future of the mobile internet seems to hold some promise though. The young generation of school going and college going kids constitute around 68% of this mobile online population. When this generation grows up (probably in 10 years) they will grow this usage of theirs.

So, do we wait till then?

There are two main challenges I see in internet usage on mobile devices:

1. Availability of affordable mobile handsets. Only 27% of all Indian mobile users have internet capable devices.
2. Internet Usage rates on mobile devices are still too high. TRAI had helped reduce tariffs on mobile telephone usage leading to this explosion. It needs to take the next step and recommend lower tariffs for internet usage.

The potential of mobile computing can only come true if these last two last issues are successfully mitigated by policy intervention.

What do you think?

Saving your computer from Virus for FREE

For years, you have relied on ratings of various FREE anti-virus software to choose the one you want for your home PC. the choice has been mostly between AVG or Avira. If you were me, you would believe that one should pay for minimum 2 softwares on your PC:

1. Your Operating System i.e. Windows
2. Your Anti-Virus i.e. Norton/ McAfee

Now, Microsoft wants you to keep your computer safe for you. After including a world class firewall since Windows XP, Microsoft has now made available a FREE antivirus for your PC. This antivirus is called Microsoft Security Essentials. The antivirus is available as a FREE download from the link above. It is 4.28 MB of download for Win Vista/ Win 7.

Microsoft Security Essentials provides real-time protection for home PC and counters viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. The software runs in the background and silently monitors the files for all the malware. It schedules scans when the PC is most likely idle and interrupts the user only when there is an action required to keep their PC secure. The software updates itself automatically with the latest definitions without any user intervention. Many of the antivirus behaviours are configurable via the “Settings” tab including scheduled scans, turning real time protections on/ off, excluded file/ file types and many more. MSE is backed up by a series of web services, including telemetry data through the SpyNet service, Microsoft Update, and a separate signature update service.

The antivirus uses the same technology as the Forefront product family (meant for enterprise use). It employs practices like active memory swapping and CPU throttling to limit the impact on your PC performance, even on older or less powerful PCs. On my Windows 7 PC, the process (msseces.exe) takes zero CPU and 1.2 Mb RAM (small, fast and light).

You can install Security Essentials on Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 (both x86 and x64 machines). The minimum requirement for the PC though is 1 GB RAM. It does though require a “Genuine” PC check when you install the same. If you have any questions on installation or usage, a support forum is also available to post your queries. In case you discover viruses, spyware, Trojans, worms or other malicious software that were undetected by Microsoft Security Essentials you can send these files to Malware protection Center for analysis.

So take the guesswork out and install the MS Security Essentials TODAY!

P.S.: If you were running a BETA of the product earlier, please make sure that you update the same to the release build. The build no. is (1.0.1611.0) for the released product.

Gaming monster comes to India – Dell Alienware range

For all you PC gamers out there, there is reason to rejoice. The internationally acclaimed Alienware range is here in India!

Dell has launched its Alienware M17x and this represents premium performance in the Dell consumer product portfolio.  On to some specs of the the 17” monster:

• Up to Dual 1GB NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 280M graphics processing units (GPUs)2 with SLI™ technology
• Configurable with Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme Quad-core overclockable Mobile Processor1
• Up to 8GB DDR32 1333MHz Memory
• 1TB3 7200RPM or 512GB of Solid State Storage Capacity (Raid 0)
• Optional Beyond HD resolution with a WUXGA 1200p (1920 x 1200) Edge-to-Edge LCD design
• Internal Wireless a/g/draft-n with MIMO (2x2) Technology
• AlienFX Illuminated Keyboard
• NVIDIA GeForce® 9400M G1 GPU with HybridPower™ technology
• Microsoft Windows Vista® (64 bit) [and free upgrade to Win 7 on availability]

My first impression of the machine was – it looks intimidating and big. With its alien face logo, front illuminated “bonnet” and lighted keyboard it reeks of aggression that gamers would dig. The size of the machine is not small either and it easily beats my Lenovo T61p in thickness. The machine is not light either. It is definitely something that you can’t be carrying around anywhere (i think this beast weighs over 5 kgs). So this fits more into desktop replacement category rather than portables.

The machine I got to play with had Vista Home Premium (64 bit) and scored a rating of 5.7 out of a max of 7.9. My existing workhorse T61p scores 5.1. The limiting factor in the rating was the hard disk score. So, my recommendation would be to go for 500GB SSD if you are going to buy this m/c.

If there is anything that I found lacking on the machine, it was the track pad on the device that wasn’t as responsive as one would expect it to be. Also, the body of the machine could have been given a better feel. currently it feels “plastic” like.

So, if you are enamored by this powerhouse you will need to shell out INR 1,40,000 + taxes. OK. I never said this was going to be cheap either! At this rate, it is only affordable for a serious gamer..

Alienware is the ferrari (on second thoughts – ford mustang) of the gaming world. Blazing with muscles second to none, it is a device that gets you the look!

Microsoft India launches Online Services

Cloud based services have been in focus for a few years now. From FREE online email services (e.g. hotmail, gmail) to paid online services (e.g. Google Apps, Office Online, Yahoo Premium emails), the adoption of these services has been steadily rising. The safety of these applications have been questioned (as exposed by recent Twitter docs leak)..

While Microsoft had launched its service in US way back, it has now launched these services in India. These services follow the initial launch of Hosted Exchange and Hosted Dynamics. These pay as you go/ subscription based services are meant for companies who want to avoid internally maintaining these basic IT services.

The service is being launched as Microsoft Business Productivity Online Standard Suite. This suite includes Microsoft Exchange Online, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Office Live Meeting and Microsoft Office Communications Online.

Exchange Online provides email, calendaring and contact management. Sharepoint Online is a collaboration suite for managing content and workflows. Office Live Meeting is a online conference solution to host real-time meetings, training session and events. Office Communications Online provides Instant messaging and presence awareness to facilitate rapid connections between people.

Currently, the Productivity Online Standard Suite (that includes all the above) is priced at USD 180/ per user per month. Individual applications can also be bought individually. The service is providing FREE trails right now. The commercial launch will be in Oct 09.

Google the other player in this space provides the service at USD 50/ per user per year. However, this doesn’t include any conferencing facilities.

The service details can be accessed at: http://www.microsoft.com/india/onlineservices 

Technorati Tags: online,services,microsoft

My Election Wish 2009 #indiavotes

India is going to be voting soon. I have been thinking on how we can improve the whole political process and quality of candidates. The systemic issue with our voting process has been that educated people have stayed away from voting. IMHO, the reason being they don’t want to sweat out standing in a line or going to the nearest booth for lack of simple amenities.

I think there is a simple solution to the above available via technology. EC should make available voting via internet. If this made available, educated people who have access to internet and feel unmotivated to visit the election booth can vote via a very personal device – their computer. this would reduce burden on the voting booths and hence the expenditure for EC. also, the chances of fradulent/ bogus voting would be reduced as it will be difficult for anti-social elements to reach everyone’s home (rather than the voting booth).

I have heard people say that internet is not available for everyone. I agree and I am proposing this as an additional channel that people can vote through. I am NOT suggesting rooting out our traditional voting booths.

the next issue is that of verifying identity of people who vote via internet. until the National Social Security No. (NSSN) is not implemented, one could use PAN ID for this. A large section of people in India, who are educated, already posses their PAN ID. I already submitted my tax returns online last year. So, our income tax infrastructure is already ready for online usage. EC could simply link up the PAN IDs and make it available for voting.
to avoid duplicacy, EC would still need to link up Voter’s ID with PAN ID. or it could bring out a notification mentioning people without voter’s ID could self-declare and use PAN ID to vote online.

to me the challenge for implementing the above solution is political rather than technical. there exists little to NO political will to get this system implemented.

This is my election wish for the year!

What do you think?

Microsoft makes its Web Design tool FREE

Today, everyone has a blog. Everyone knows how to design a website (atleast with the right tools).

To support this new era, Microsoft is making available its web design tool FREE for everyone. This free tool (called Sharepoint Designer 2007 or SPD) has been made available at http://www.microsoft.com/spd to download. Sharepoint Designer is successor of the FrontPage tools that many of the people  are already aware of. In addition, this tool has excellent support for customizing the FREE SharePoint Services app that comes with Windows Server.

One might think that by releasing this software for free, Microsoft may be abandoning Sharepoint Designer. However, that’s not true. Sharepoint Designer will continue its development and next version will be released in the future.

While SPD is free, Microsoft also has a professional suite of web design tools available – Expression Web.

Lately Microsoft has been making available many of its tools available for FREE e.g. SQL Server Express, Visual Studio 2008 Express, Live Essentials, PhotoSynth, Accounting Express, Virtual PC, WW Telescope, Windows Defender, Windows Sysinternals and many more. IMHO, you can run your complete business with the above set of free products from Microsoft – NOT a penny to spend on MS software…

New Version of Windows Live Mobile released

Today Microsoft has released a new version of Windows Live client for Windows Mobile devices. If you are using any of the Live services – Live search, Messenger or hotmail, you want this locally installed on your Windows Phone as well.

the download can be accessed from: http://wl.windowsmobile.com.  The version currently available is v10.6.0046.0800.

the exciting addition to this suite has been inclusion of Live Messenger that was earlier taken out of the Live Mobile suite. so, now u can be on IM even when you are on the move. Live Messenger works well over GPRS networks and let’s u have text conversations with your Live Messenger contacts.

If you don’t want the client on your mobile, you can access Live services with web browser at: http://mobile.live.com

Technorati Tags: live,mobile,windows

Windows Phones gets a lot of Bling

 Today the twitterverse is occupied with news of skype releasing apps for iphone. Well, that is old news for Windows Phone users: http://skype.com/download/skype/windowsmobile/

But today, Microsoft Phones are getting a lot of bling.. Here’s some of the bling it is getting:

1. MySpace now enables use of Silverlight on their site
   With its rich media capability is going to be a big help to all the musicians and actors on myspace :).. Tomorrow, the SDK to develop this application will be released on the CodePlex Open Source site.
   In addition, Windows Phone will also be getting an app for Myspace users soon. In fact, plan is to enable Windows Phone users to experience other  social networks right from their Windows phone, including Facebook and Windows Live.
2. Windows Marketplace for Mobile
   Windows Marketplace had been announced earlier (to be available later in the year) and today they talked about few additional things. Marketplace will be available as an Windows Phone application on Win Mobile 6.5. Customers will have the option to purchase applications on Windows Marketplace for Mobile with a credit card or have charges appear directly on their phone bill. In addition, people will be able to return an application after purchase within 24 hours for a full refund. Microsoft also announced today that developers will now be able to deliver updates to their applications for free throughout the application lifecycle.
   It costs USD 99 for developers to onboard an app in the Marketplace and they get to keep 70% of the revenue generated from their apps. 
   Microsoft announced it partnership with a lot of companies (representing the top-selling categories of mobile applications) who will be onboarding their apps to Marketplace including EA mobile, Accuweather, Resco, Spb Software
3. New Themes from professional designers
   Microsoft has announced new partnerships with the Design Museum London and Council of Fashion Designers of America to will offer a variety of free designer themes for Windows phones.
4. Make your own theme
   A new Theme Generator will be made available to personalize Windows phone. The Theme Generator will be available at http://www.windowsmobile.com later this year. The theme generator will enable Windows phone users to select pictures from their PC to set as background images, as well as choose colors to personalize their navigation bar, scroll bar and highlighted text. Once finished, their personal theme will be sent to their phone.
5. Windows Live for Mobile and Hotmail
   A new version of Windows Live for Mobile will be available for free download this week for customers in 25 languages. Windows Live for Mobile includes mobile versions of Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Contacts, Windows Live Spaces, Microsoft Live Search and enhanced photo upload capabilities.
   This will be available for Windows Mobile 6.x phones at http://wl.windowsmobile.com on April 2.

Come to think of it, Microsoft is embracing all the good things it has learnt from the mobile developments in the past and incorporating them at a rapid pace. However, lack of low end phones still continue to hinder its wide scale adoption. Now would someone offer me a Rs. 10,000 Windows Phone?

To see a browser – Take off its clothes

This is from a recent trip that I took and met few people who were Firefox users. Most of them were using FireFox at home and IE at work.. and most of them felt that FireFox was “faster” –meaning it would load websites faster and FF itself would load faster..

So, I devised this test and called it the “Naked Browser” challenge. Are you upto taking this? Here is what were are trying to do – kill most of the add-ons in IE and then test it against FF. Here are some step by step instructions -

1. Make sure you are running the IE8 Release Candidate 1. To make sure that you are on this version, just go to IE Help menu and click on “About Internet Explorer”. you should see Release Candidate 1 mentioned as follows:
2. Go to Tools –> Manage Add-Ons. In the Manage Add-Ons window, click on each Application and disable the add-on. You can can disable the add-on by clicking on the “Disable” button located at bottom right, once you have selected the application in the upper window.
3. Next, change the home page for both browsers to the same website of your choice.
4. Finally, close all the browser windows on your machine. You are all set for the challenge to start.
5. Browser load test: Start both the browsers by clicking on the shortcuts on the taskbar one after the another. What browser did you see come up faster?
6. Browsing Speed test: Type your favourite website address in notepad and copy it in memory (Ctrl + C). then in each browser, paste the URL (Ctrl+v) and press go button. Watch for the status bar at the bottom of browser window to say “Done”. Which browser completed loading the website first?

Do let me know what you observed on your machine?

In my experience, IE 8 WAS faster than FireFox in most of the cases for browsing speed and load test. I am using Vista SP2 RC. I will soon be sharing the screen recording of what i experienced shortly here.

also, Microsoft seems to have just released a study that validates what i just mentioned. A Microsoft video has also been released to demo the same. The study has detailed steps on how to test the browsers yourself (much detailed than the one detailed above by me).. in the report, out of 25 websites IE was the fastest for 12. FireFox was fastest in only 4 and in remaining cases Chrome was the fastest.

Take my “Naked Browser” challenge now and tell me what you see!

Technorati Tags: naked browser,IE