Enterprise Briefing
welcome to Enterprise Briefing
September 2007
One of the recurring stories over this summer was that the Internet may collapse under the rapidly increasing weight of video downloads. Video has been one of the successes of Web 2.0, and with sites such as YouTube already transmitting as much data in a single month as the whole Internet did in the year 2000, the fear is that it could overload the infrastructure and cause Internet brownouts. However, ISPs are taking action by upgrading their networks and deploying new technology that can help manage traffic better on the Internet.
Also in Enterprise Briefing, we look at the increasing importance of risk management to organizations that rely on global supply chains. Properly managed information technology can help companies mitigate their exposure to risk. We also examine the growing importance of biometric technology in secure applications and take a look at developments in contactless hand recognition in Orange Labs. Finally, we outline the basics of WiMAX and how the market for the technology is developing.
We hope you enjoy this month’s edition of Enterprise Briefing.
news
selected news...
shaping of things to come
Rumors of the Internet’s demise are greatly exaggerated. Internet service providers now have the tools to deal with the insatiable demand for video downloads and MP3 file sharing.
risk management: hedging your bets
Global sourcing strategies with increasingly complex supplier relationships are forcing risk management to the top of the corporate agenda. Many firms are turning to technology to help them mitigate their increased exposure to risk through the supply chain.
keeping security in hand
In this age of security breaches and identity theft, being able to accurately confirm your identity is essential. Individuals have long verified their identity with ‘something that they have’, such as a passport, which may be augmented with ‘something that they know’, such as a PIN.
WiMAX
WiMAX has rarely been out of the news since it burst onto the scene in 2001, offering the promise of mobile broadband speeds over wireless connections. Given the volume of hype, the backlash was almost inevitable, ...
Cirque du Soleil: a dazzling connection
Cirque du Soleil entertains audiences across North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia with elaborate, uniquely themed productions. Six of its shows have permanent locations while the other six move to new locations up to eight times a year, resulting in constant redeployments and site builds. Each show is connected by an Orange Business Services IP VPN to the Cirque du Soleil data center in Montreal. When a show is scheduled to move, Orange Business Services works with local carriers to disconnect the old site and provision the new access line to go live on the day that Cirque du Soleil arrives.
outsourcing survey highlights skills shortage
Orange Business Services has published the results of a survey held during the first quarter of 2007 that assessed outsourcing trends with multinational companies. The study found that access to critical skills was the largest driver in outsourcing deals, even more important than the expected cost reductions. In terms of the services to be outsourced, it appears that most companies have already largely started to outsource data networks, but outsourcing of fixed voice will lead the way over the coming years. Read details on all the results in the following survey.
