Computerworld UK's How To Articles

Ten tips to win security programme funding

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Dominic Nessi) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:30:00 GMT

Ask any cyber security specialist what their biggest challenge is, and you will get a variety of answers -- ranging from strengthening network security, to managing internal threats, to protecting against cyber espionage. But upon further investigation, you may be surprised to learn that for manythe biggest challenge is simply getting the funding necessary to carry out a security programme.

Windows 8 picture passwords: Their great untapped potential

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Alex Wawro and Marco Chiappetta) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:07:00 GMT

Love it or hate it, Windows 8 is the bellwether for PCs. Where Microsoft goes, PCs follow. And now Microsoft is making a grab for the mobile market, too. The latest version of Windows is designed with touchscreens in mind, and one bright side of that evolution is the addition of features that make Windows more intuitive and easier to use on all devices.

How to pick a CPU when buying servers

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Henry Newman) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:51:00 GMT

As 2013 rolls in and the economy stabilises, many IT organisations are looking to upgrade their computational and storage systems. Like any IT purchasing decision, there are tradeoffs to consider and choices to make regarding hardware features and the technology available. When it comes to storage servers, the first step is understanding your CPU options.

How a private cloud can save money and the environment

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Stephanie Overby) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:27:00 GMT

When Ricoh Europe realized its IT environment was both spiraling out of control and environmentally unfriendly, it turned to a IT services provider for help. Working with Infosys, Ricoh developed a private cloud that helped it consolidate nine data centers into two, cutting infrastructure costs and reducing carbon dioxide emissions significantly.

How IT departments can prepare for a software licence audit

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Stephanie Overby) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:41:00 GMT

Facing a trying economy and decreasing new license revenue, enterprise software vendors are turning to more frequent license audits to turn up missing revenue.

10 CRM mistakes and how to avoid making them

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Jennifer Lonoff Schiff) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 16:56:00 GMT

Customer relationship management experts and seasoned users discuss how to avoid the most common mistakes, so you can get the most out of your CRM software or service with the least amount of hassle.

7 outsourcing nightmares - here's how to avoid them

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Bob Violino) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:17:00 GMT

Poor communication, shortsighted contracts - don't get derailed by an IT outsourcing agreement gone awry

How to use social media to create business value

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Kristin Burnham) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:08:00 GMT

What makes your business a top business? According to a new report from the IBM Institute for Business Value, it could be how well your company implements social business.

How to secure Big Data in Hadoop

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Thor Olavsrud) — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 16:15:00 GMT

The promise of big data is enormous, but it can also become an albatross around your neck if you don't make security of both your data and your infrastructure a key part of your big data project from the beginning. Here are some steps you can take to avoid big data pitfalls.

How your company can avoid cyber espionage attacks

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Righard Zwienenberg) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:57:00 GMT

Malware continues to change at a rapid pace, as evidenced by new types of high-tech, military-grade malicious code grabbing headlines such as Stuxnet, Duqu and Flame.

Surface tablet's high profit margin reveals Microsoft strategy

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Gregg Keizer) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 15:13:00 GMT

Microsoft makes more than $300 on each Surface RT tablet it sells, showing that the company has adopted the business model of its rival, Apple, analysts said yesterday.

How to make sure Facebook Page posts you want to see aren't hidden

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Kristin Burnham) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:07:00 GMT

A change to Facebook's algorithm means you're probably not seeing posts from businesses and brand pages you've liked. Here are step-by-step instructions for changing these settings.

How to prepare your business for digital disaster

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Christopher Null) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 17:31:00 GMT

You don't have to look hard to find tales of technological disaster. The Gauss virus infiltrated thousands of Middle Eastern PCs, where it could intercept online banking credentials. Apple iPhones were revealed to be vulnerable to spoofed SMS messages. Floods all but demolished Western Digital's hard drive production facilities in Thailand.

How to make an SAP enhancement pack upgrade 'silent'

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Chris Kanaracus) — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:31:00 GMT

Several years ago, SAP introduced enhancement packs, which were supposed to provide a much easier and less painful way to upgrade its ERP (enterprise resource planning) software. Executives extolled how customers could add new functionality without committing to a full-blown upgrade.

How to get the most out of project management software

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Jennifer Lonoff Schiff) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 17:21:00 GMT

IT executives and project management experts share their tips on how to choose the right PM software for your organisation and how to get your employees to use it effectively.

How IT pros should gear up for corporate leadership

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Sheila Lam — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 17:43:00 GMT

A global study commissioned by CA Technologies indicates that organisations in Hong Kong have the highest recognition of IT in Asia Pacific. The study interviewed 685 CIOs from organisations with over 500 employees and found 50 percent of the Hong Kong respondents said their management views IT as fundamental to the organisations' success - the highest rate in the Asia-Pacific region.

How to prepare for IT service delivery of the future

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Glenn O'Donnell — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 14:00:00 GMT

The majority of organisations have adopted IT service management practices (ITSM) to manage business and technological change. But gone are the days ruled by the technology Illuminati. The future will require customer-obsession, relentless focus on the portfolio of services, automation, and expansion far beyond the walls of the organisation.

How to secure data by addressing the human element

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Thor Olavsrud — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 17:45:00 GMT

Your sensitive data is only as secure as the weakest link in your organisation, and in many cases the weak link is your employees. A properly established security awareness and training program can pay huge dividends.

10 ways to ease public cloud security concerns

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Nari Kannan — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 17:24:00 GMT

Security is always a concern when organizations contemplate a move to the public cloud. However, a combination of third-party tools and careful reading of your service level agreement can give you the peace of mind you need to move mission-critical applications to the public cloud.

How to hire a social media specialist

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Kristin Burnham — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 14:59:00 GMT

As more businesses continue to increase their presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and other social networks, social media jobs, too, are predicted to rise. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, social media jobs will jump by 21% i 2013. That's a lot of hiring.

How to secure sensitive files and documents

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Thor Olavsrud — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 09:49:00 GMT

Are you doing enough to secure your organisation's sensitive information? If all your security measures are focused on the volume level rather than the file or document level, chances are the answer is 'no.'

How to optimise public cloud applications

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Nari Kannan — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 17:40:00 GMT

Moving to the public cloud can be as easy as migrating your applications and paying your monthly bill. But are you spending more than you should? These five public cloud application optimization techniques will help you save money and improve performance to boot.

How to make Outlook easier to live with

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Rick Broida — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 09:39:00 GMT

I dislike Microsoft Outlook. But it's a required piece of software for a lot of business users - and even a desirable one for some.

How to improve your application security practices

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Thor Olavsrud — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 11:47:00 GMT

Organisations talk a good game when it comes to security, but many still focus the majority of their security resources on the network rather than their applications - the vector for most data breaches. Many organisations dedicate less than 10% o their IT security budget to application security, according to a study by research firm the Ponemon Institute released earlier this year.

How IT companies can attract (and retain) Generation Y employees

cwukfeedback@idg.co.uk (Thor Olavsrud — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Most millennials (Generation Y or young adults in their 20s) believe the workplace should be social and enjoyable, and they want flexible hours and less governance over the projects to which they are assigned.