Archive for June, 2010
Ipswitch File Transfer is going (more) global. We’re thrilled to announce the expansion of our already successful Ipswitch FT Partner Program. It now boasts a number of new benefits for our global partners, including a new Elite Partner Level and a deal registration program.
The Elite Level expansion was created for those partners looking for even greater association and support from Ipswitch File Transfer. A new deal registration program has also been introduced, which will incent resellers with additional discount points for registering qualified net new sales opportunities on the FT Partner Portal.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen “file transfer” as a headlining productivity problem for end users, but here it is making an appearance in an article about how hard it is to use the iPad in the context of an average end user’s collection of gear.
Prisoner of iTunes – the iPad file transfer horror
“The conflict between consumption and productivity”
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/06/07/ipad_file_transfer/
One of the interesting debates in the Managed File Transfer industry right now is how much file transformation really takes place between users and systems.
At one end of the spectrum, you have pure ad-hoc solutions (such as the modules for MOVEit DMZ and WS_FTP Server) that people often use to deliver Word documents, PDFs and engineering documents to each other for manual review. At the other end of the spectrum you have full EDI solutions that dictate and translate specific formats (e.g., ACH, HL7, etc.).
However, there is a great deal of territory in the B2B middle-ground that overlaps both MFT and EDI. For example:
- Word docs that need to automatically turn into PDFs.
- Messages that should be automatically retained for eDiscovery.
- Bulk sets of transactions that need to be split up and sent to a half-dozen mainframe applications.
- Text files that need to be PGP-encrypted.
- All of the above bundled into Zip files.
The truth is that most enterprise file transfer involves intelligent transformation or routing of one kind or another. If you agree, you might also agree that defining the line between MFT and EDI, EDI and B2B and MFT and B2B is very hard to do in practice.
Fortunately, Ipswitch has solutions that span ALL of these needs, from the pure ad-hoc through pure EDI, and they can be dialed up or down to meet tactical or strategic needs.
Here’s an interesting perspective on The Myth of Computer Security.
The myth: “With proper protection, your computer is immune to cyber attacks, viruses and other malware”.
The reality: “(We live in a world of) unprepared software. Microsoft and various security companies are doing their best against the bad guys, who are attacking faster and more creatively than the good guys can keep up”.
Unfortunately, I agree with the premise that computer attacks are becoming more organized, more advanced and more destructive. This is forcing vendors to come up with more complex solutions. As a result, we’re now seeing some extremely complex solutions do more damage themselves than good. The sad truth is that there is no perfect security solution out there and that they are all open to self-inflicted damage.
I think that commenter Red_Flag sums it up best by borrowing a line from author Max Brooks: “With computer security, as with zombie survival, ‘No place is safe, only safer’”.
Frank Kenney, VP of Global Strategy, Ipswitch File Transfer
Data loss is a growing risk, especially as professional consumers–prosumers–bring more and more of their personal technology into the workplace.
In fact, Ipswitch’s recent survey uncovered that over 90% of IT and security executives admitted to using thumb drives and other external devices to move data. And, nearly 70% said that they have no visibility into file outside of their organization.
Frank Kenney, former Research Director at Gartner and current VP of Global Strategy at Ipswitch File Transfer, will discuss keeping data secure with managed file transfer and the importance of enabling employee productivity through ad hoc, person-to-person file transfer in part one of our new Managed File Transfer Webcast Series, “Keeping Your Data Secure and Your Employees Productive.”
Event Details
What: Webcast: “Keeping Your Data Secure and Your Employees Productive”
When: Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at 2:00PM ET
Who: Frank Kenney, VP of Global Strategy, Ipswitch File Transfer
