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Quick Takes
Good IT governance requires accountability and some form of measurement to ensure compliance and effectiveness. The IT Balanced Scorecard, an effective tool, should be part of any IT governance initiative.
When they peer into the knowledge management abyss, IT execs may see an initiative that is long on evangelical fervor -- but short on specifics that translate into a project plan. Ask these six questions to focus on solving a specific business problem.
IBM's recent enhancements to its BladeCenter Ethernet and Fibre Channel capabilities answer customer concerns regarding Cisco's and Brocade's compatibility with IBM blade servers. There is some period of exclusivity in the IBM/Cisco relationship, but Brocade is free to engineer versions for other blade products, most likely HP. We expect that IBM's advantage here will be transitory.
WAFSes offer benefits in data synchronicity, reduced backup load, improved disaster recovery processes, and hardware savings through data consolidation. However, bandwidth costs increase. Here are five key aspects to consider in choosing.
Insurance carriers use data warehouse applications to reduce risk in a number of areas, including customer relationships, insurance agent networks, and employer-pays group insurance. Opportunities abound - see examples here.
Modern portal servers provide advanced functionality -- like user-driven customization, collaboration, and process automation -- that other legacy technologies leave out. Merge multiple, separate intranet and extranet sites that serve similar needs in distinct audiences and create enterprise portals that replace aging infrastructure.
According to our recent survey of 35 European companies, only 11% of business executives support open source adoption within their firms, and surprisingly, just 26% of project managers do. But IT architects and programmers back open source adoption. And 57% of IT strategists promote open source due to its cost savings and advantages like openness, flexibility, and hardware platform independence.
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Quick Takes -- Get To The Point Fast
Forrester's Quick Takes provide a brief nugget of information designed for timeliness, relevance, or simply in response to a frequently asked question from our clients. Less formal in their approach, Quick Takes may not be based on survey data or feature complex models, but they focus on highly specific issues that make a difference. Some examples appear at left, from management to technical issues, and including industry-specific perspectives (insurance this time.) Set up a Research Alert on your favorite topics and analysts so you will always see when Quick Takes are written.
Merv Adrian
Senior Vice President
mervadrian@forrester.com
Evaluating RFID Middleware
In response to urgent user demand, RFID middleware vendors are crawling out of the woodwork, with RFID pure plays, platform giants, supply chain application vendors, and integration specialists making a play. To stand the test of time, RFID middleware must include a balanced combination of core infrastructure and packaged application features, including device management, integration, data management, and packaged business logic. Products from vendors like Manhattan Associates and OATSystems that include some packaged application functionality are best suited for meeting the needs of time-strapped early adopters. But Forrester expects platform giants like Oracle and IBM to become more dominant in this space as firms build out broader RFID architectures.
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Forrester interviewed 13 vendors and has published a series of vendor profiles (see below.) This report features two Forrester Waves™ -- one for early adopters, weighting criteria best suited for their needs, and one shown here, tuned to the needs of those with large-scale RFID deployment plans. This includes early adopters looking to add to their RFID architecture as well as more mainstream RFID adopters looking to ramp up quickly. They should place a heavier emphasis on scalable infrastructure and integration features. Specifically, these buyers should look for a flexible, multitiered architecture that supports high-volume data and process integration scenarios.
To see and hear Sharyn Leaver discuss this report, click the links below. Evaluating RFID Middleware
  
RFID Middleware Vendor Profiles:
Microsoft
TIBCO Software
Sun Microsystems
GlobeRanger
SAP
OATSystems
IBM
Manhattan Associates
Oracle
Savi Technology
webMethods
RF Code
ConnecTerra
Managing And Securing Mobile Devices
The risk of information loss or theft from laptops, PDAs, phones, converged devices, and tablets is increasing rapidly, but few companies have invested in technology to manage and protect them. Password enforcement, remote device "kill" capability, virus protection, and secure connectivity capability are readily available and can reduce mobile security risks. But companies should base decisions about mobile security on overall risks to the enterprise, rather than simply a perceived need for security. Clear deployment and usage policies, coupled with user training on security and an annual review of the company's mobile security policies, can help companies make intelligent investment decisions and limit risks. Balance the growing requirement for mobility with sensible policies on mobile usage and security, along with technology to enforce the policies.
The State Of The Corporate PC
Forrester surveyed 146 IT managers responsible for enterprise PC procurement, management, and support to learn about their PC hardware and client operating system strategies. Dell is the leading supplier of desktop and laptop hardware, but in the enterprise segment -- the gap between IBM and Dell is narrow. Windows XP migrations are in full swing at more than three-quarters of firms surveyed, with aggressive plans to deploy Longhorn when it is released. More than half of the firms we surveyed will not replace any Windows-based systems with Linux, but for those that do, lower costs are the prime motivator.
Upcoming ForrTels
ForrTels are live, interactive, hourlong audio teleconferences incorporating a simultaneous WebEx slide presentation by a Forrester analyst, followed by an open forum for questions and discussion.
Composite Applications: What's Coming And How To Prepare
August 31, 2004, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Eastern time
When Are Open Source Databases Viable?
August 31, 2004, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Eastern time
Left Brain Marketing
September 1, 2004, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Eastern time
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