Week 14: Clear Virtualization

Virtualization: What a sweet concept


What an efficient and unique way to use computers. Virtualization is an abstract concept that uses one host computer to run multiple computers on that same computer, but each virtual computer views itself as a separate entity. It thinks it's physical therefore it can run it's own apps and operating systems. That is so neat. To use abstraction of computers, their full capacity, instead of limiting the power of a computer to some physical piece of "gear" (as mentioned in the lectures.)

Businesses can use virtualization to cut down on cost, portability, faster times, etc. It's obviously the better choice to use for businesses that need more room, faster speed and flexibility in large businesses. Virtualization seems like a concept made specifically for business, and I could also see it coming to use in the scientific and mathematical world.



This Website breaks down virtualization. Why you should use it, the benefits (featuring snapshots), the challenges, hardware used and the much appreciated humor. Businesses can benefit from this site along with learning and implementing virtualization. It would improve their work space which computes to an increased profit.

Secure Email Project

Secure Your E-mail

• I actually liked this project. It was a little difficult due to the fact that the step-by-step instructions were for PC users, but I was grateful for the conversion of commands listed in the discussion by the professor. It was really neat to send encrypted messages, use keys and secure the e-mail from everyone else. Sort of spy-ish!
• It's very useful in a business to keep records confidential. Secure information so it is not leaked. In searching for an article I came across a press release about a company in Brazil that decided to use secure e-mail for exchanging documents within the Board because information had been leaked that could have affected their stock value.

However, the article that I chose was about Germany. The article posted on The Wall Street Journal on Nov. 17, 2010 and on Big News Now, which summarizes it, because WSJ online is a subscription service, says that Germany moved their national postage mail to secure email. A person still has to pay for each letter being delivered through secure email by Deutche Post, but they can pay a flat rate of $87 per year. Germans are climbing on board with about 1 million already signed up. About 100 companies have signed up for the service as well. I assume that secure mail has the feature of encryption and digitally signed e-mails, but it did not say so in Big News Now. It could have in the WSJ.

I think that this is fascinating with a whole country moving to email for regular mail. It uses less trees, is probably more secure for people and it is moving the country/ businesses forward in this "digital age."

Week 13: Clear Security

Business Security



Security for your computer is like taking care of your home or family. Essentially it is taking care of yourself. You send and receive so much information through your computer, such as e-mail, documents, the Web sites you go on and the passwords you store. The risks of identity theft, hacking, viruses, worms (programs that do not require humans to copy themselves and which take up your computers resources), wireless interception with faulty wifi networks are serious to the safety of your information and your personal life.
Protect yourself by:

1. Getting a firewall
   
2. Change the default settings on your wireless network
3. Don't jump on anyone's network because it is open
4. Password protect your data (maybe use 1password to store it all)
5. encrypt emails to ensure documents are safe
6. Be aware that your information and hardware can be hacked, stolen

Most businesses thrive on computers. Their budgets, supplier lists, payroll, government documents, fiscal year reports, customer identifications, etc. are all listed within their databases. It is crucial for businesses to take precautions to ensure that their company is not at risk for being hacked and their customers information is safe. If the customers find out that their info is being freely handed out to call lists or other sources, the companies credibility and business will decrease. People value privacy above all in their lives. It is in the company's best interest to understand security risks and deal with them efficiently and effectively.

This Brazilian company had information leaked when sending emails to its board members. Although it didn't directly effect their market stock value, they realized how important it was that information stay within their board members and company. So, they started to use a secure email service to ensure privacy and that their information stays safe. This is a link to the article.

Week 11, Muddy: Systems

Systems:

The overall concept of a system makes sense. But I will have to review each video lecture to understand the smaller components. I liked that the lectures were broken down into steps:

1. Planning and Analysis
2. Analysis and Design - I would say this is where things got a little muddy. Including process modeling, object modeling and deliverables.
   
3. Implementation

What made sense the most was the system analyst interview. It was interesting to see this "in the real world" sense.
She basically demonstrated how all of this applies to the business world. How juggling projects, managing people, knowing their needs, meeting deadlines and making it all flow together is feasible and needed as a system analyst. Information systems development is important because it helps businesses run. System analysts can create a tool specifically for the business to function properly or an event, like the SEC event that the interviewed analyst mentioned.

This web site uses a table to clear deliverables up for me: copied below

	Systems Analysis Phase	System Design Phase
Work performed by/ deliverables written by	Systems Analyst	Chief programmer (or Software architect or Lead developer)
Deliverables	System Specification: everything about what the proposed system will do, nothing about how it is to be be built	System Architecture: platform choice, database design, program design, user interface design, etc.
Audiences who read, understand, and accept the deliverables	1. Sponsoring users 2. Chief programmer (or Software Architect or Lead developer	Programmers and technical specialists

This article may go against some of the teachings in this lesson. It's interesting to get different perspectives.

Microsoft Access Project Break Down

Assess Access: Success!

What did I learn about Access you say?

I learned how a database functions at the basic levels. It's like a web of information intertwining at all types of different levels and different ways.

I learned the basics of 4 functions: Tables, Forms, Queries and Reports.

It was hard to do the query actually because the data provided in the file we were supposed to use did not match the initial table we used, therefore a lot of modifying had to happen. I eventually just cut out some parts of the address because the instructions said edit it to your table. I figured for this project it was not a big deal, but for a business the full US postal address would be essential. I'm glad I learned how to deal with Access on a basic level. It helps in understanding businesses that you know have databases. Conceptually it is very useful. Forms and reports concentrate more on the design aspect while table and queries have raw, specific data. They both intertwine to enhance customer service and profits of companies. It's a neat and useful tool.

Enhancing the functionality of the database:

I think this database could be broken down better. Maybe two different tables for Family and Individual. These could have different categories that are catered to family or individual. If they have kids that go to a day care center at the gym or if the individual works out longer. You could also run different queries comparing the family and individual to see which category is more likely to stay longer as a member. I think there are many options to enhance the functionality of this database because the information doesn't necessarily flow together and it could have other categories in it. However, I do think it was simple enough for this project's purpose.

Muddy: Databases

Learning a new program : Access


It's prretty difficult the first go-around for a new program. Especially if you have never worked with databases or anything even like that.
The concepts were pretty easy to understand, but I think this video puts it in plain English.
In the lecture, the program was not put in the simplest language possible.

In business, it's important to fully understand a program. Or at least what you need to do on that program. Software like Photoshop is so vast that most users only use about 1% of it. I am guessing Access is similar. It seems complex, but once you start making reports, forms and relating tables together, I'm sure it get's easier.

About.com has a plethora of tutorials to choose from and walks you step-by-step.
Tutorialized.com has many tutorials that actually refer you back to YouTube videos but does not navigate you away from the page.
Finally, on Functionx.com there is an extensive list on the left side that brings you to a great text and graphic breakdown of table, forms and everything in between.

Web 2.0 Project

This is my project

Self critique:
I set up my project so it would flow logically from one topic (photos, video, etc.) to the other smoothly. I took a couple slides at the beginning to prepare y audience for what was ahead.
I didn't do a voice over, which was a big flaw in the presentation. I should have done one because some of the bullet points (which are pretty clear) could sometimes use an explanation or I could enhance my overall presentation with some more info.
I didn't ask the audience questions because it was more of a straight-forward thing. These are my skills..one, two and three.
I tried to grab my audiences attention with some slides, music and compelling photos. I hope it worked!
I also tried to avoid clutter with big photos, big text and simple layouts.

Another critique:
The presentation I critiqued didn't really help me. It showed very little of what I could have improved on unfortunately. It's great to see someone show you a new way to do something or a cool idea for a presentation, but I didn't see this.

What I learned:
I learned a little more Powerpoint. One of the most useful things I learned was organization. I organized before I started the project and it really paid off. It's so easy when you create a storyboard. It's just like fitting the pieces of the puzzle together once you have grouped them together. I think sharing presentations online is completely easy because it is easilya ccessible for future employers. It is also easier to share with colleagues and use really neat tools to share information, which is what we do in today's world. I will definitely share my presentations online from now on, because e-mailing it is too big and takes too long. In the clouds, it's more efficient.