NAED Technology Informer

There are two new sites trying to make a name for themselves in the online world. Luckily, those names are fairly easy to remember, as far as brands go: GroupMe and Fast Society both roll off the tongue. In addition to their similar skill with naming, they have similar premises as well. They offer iPhone users the chance to create a unique group and invite people by phone number in order to offer fast and efficient text messaging. GroupMe groups last indefinitely; Fast Society groups last for up to three days (this is necessary as a user can only be in on Fast Society group at a time).These companies will attract users who want to see instant results when communicating with their friends. Regular social media sites like Facebook and Twitter aim at a slower-paced audience base: those that don’t require immediate feedback on their communications. The technology has been adopted by everyone from hunters to ultimate Frisbee playersanyone who needs to communicate with large groups at once. (more…)

On November 2, 2010, the Center for Internet Security (CIS) announced an update for its CIS Metrics, the first metrics for the information security industry. The update will add eight new metrics for a total of 28 definitions. New definitions include Incident Impact and Configuration Compliance. The metrics are intended to aid security professionals in justifying their investment decisions, by clearly showing what will work and what won’t. More than 150 experts from the corporate, government, and academic worlds contributed to the new system.However, even with new technology, you might not be as protected as you think. TechNewsWorld identified four e-commerce issues that still plague many online companies, despite advances in technology and security. That’s not to say these problems don’t have solutionsrather, that many people are unaware that they exist. With e-commerce continuing to grow worldwide (5.5 in 2009), it’s imperative that companies are aware of these dangers so that they and their customers can be protected. (more…)

There must be something in the air. Two tech giants will be growing over the next year due to recent acquisitions. Oracle will be acquiring Art Technology Group (ATG) for 1 billion, and Dell will be adding Boomi to its stable for an undisclosed amount.Oracle, founded in California in 1977, is a leader in database management systems, and boasts the third largest software revenue behind Microsoft and IBM. Your company may use the Oracle Database for its database computing needs. Starting in 2011, Oracle will be leveraging ATG’s e-commerce software to further entrench its role in the market. Founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1991, ATG started as a web design consulting firm, but moved into e-commerce software in the late 1990s. Before its own acquisition, ATG acquired Primus Knowledge Solutions (2004), eStara (2006), CleverSet (2008), and InstantService (2010). (more…)