Jennifer Robinson
Oxford Expositions LLC
jen@oxfordexpos.com

The Broadband Expo Partners with Numerous Associations To Create a Diverse Coalition of Support

Oxford, MS, September 1, 2010 – Oxford Expositions, LLC announced the launch of The Broadband Expo in May and the activity surrounding this new trade event has been non-stop with the addition of twelve associations as 2010 partners. The show will provide a new forum in the marketplace and offer a specific focus on rural America with more than 30 educational sessions covering a broad range of topics relating to broadband as well as an exhibit hall showcasing the latest in products and services.

The 2010 Association Partners are CISPA, Connected Nation, FISPA, Massachusetts Broadband Institute, Native American Broadband Association, Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, Net Literacy, PCIA, Rural LISC, The Wireless Innovation Forum, USIIA and WISPA. The show will also host the 2010 WISPA National Meeting and Awards Dinner.

Jennifer Robinson, CEO of Oxford Expositions stated “Our goal is to create a niche show that will serve as a vehicle in the industry where common groups can come together at one time to network, learn and find invaluable resources to further the deployment of broadband in rural areas. We feel that the addition of all of our association partners will bring together insights, ideas, networking, and common goals which will be beneficial for everyone.”

“FISPA is excited about the convergence of the three major ISP associations in FISPA, WISPA and CISPA. The Broadband Expo will provide a source for Internet Service Providers from different organizations to come together and share ideas in rural deployment” said Jim Hollis, Executive Director of FISPA.

The Broadband Expo will be held November 1-3, 2010 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center. The show will cover other verticals in the wireless marketplace such as healthcare, education, environmental awareness, home entertainment and business as it grows. Robinson stated, “Broadband is very hot right now, with the allocation of $7.2 billion in funding from the Obama administration and we feel that the focus on rural America will create a one-of-a-kind event unlike any others currently being held.”

“WISPA is coming off a successful Regional Meeting in St. Louis and is excited about partnering with The Broadband Expo in Dallas to provide a clearinghouse of information, education and opportunities for our members and the Broadband Industry” said Rick Harnish, Executive Director of WISPA.

For more details, please visit the show’s website, www.thebroadbandexpo.com. For information on all of our 2010 Association Partners, please click on their link which goes directly to their websites.

Oxford Expositions, LLC primary focus is the development of trade shows, conferences and special events in various markets, both consumer and trade through new launches, acquisitions and joint ventures. The mission of OE is to foster buyer/seller opportunities by creating unique programs that fit within each industry represented. Oxford Expositions LLC is a privately held company with both domestic and international operations. Oxford Expositions, LLC – 303 West Jackson Avenue – Oxford, MS 38655 – 662.234.8655 – info@oxfordexpos.com

By Glenn Murer, Atlantel Inc.

Avaya’s customers and more especially those from Nortel Enterprise Solutions (NES) have been anxiously awaiting Avaya’s corporate integration plans. The good news is Avaya IP Office and Nortel BCM will continue to be sold while Avaya further develops plans to converge these systems into their hybrid IP offering, IP Office. Avaya states it will combine Nortel features, interfaces and phones with IP Office to “create a richer solution with strong investment protection benefits”.

Avaya has quickly laid out a comprehensive investment protection plan for legacy Nortel customers ensuring six years of support following the date a system is sold. The swiftness of completing these tasks is commendable and demonstrates that Avaya’s “Protect, Extend, Grow” strategy is not a bait and switch tactic. As announced at the Denver 2010 Global Connect Art of Evolution Conference, where for the first time Avaya and Nortel users from InAAU, INNUA and INSIGHT100 came together for official merger news, support will continue for current phones and clients, following normal lifecycles.

Rebranding of some Nortel technology is already in the works. Following are the details of Avaya’s plans for the future:

• Avaya IP Office and Aura products will stay in the current product lineup.
• Nortel CS1000 will continue with at least 2 more software releases.
• Nortel BCM will have one additional software release and will continue to be supported for 6 years.
• Nortel Meridian Option PBX has reached its end of life.
• Nortel I2002 and I2004 IP phones will be discontinued.
• Series 1100 & 1200 IP telephones will continue to be manufactured and will be supported by Avaya Aura Session Manager and Avaya IP Office (2011).
• Some Norstar Digital telephones will work with future IP Office releases (2010).
• Norstar MICS and CICS will no longer be manufactured after October 2010.

Avaya boasts of Global Market Leadership with 33% of the Unified Communications market share worldwide. Over 10 million business users leverage Avaya solutions everyday including 90% of the US Fortune 500 companies.

The competition is on their toes. Cisco and Siemens bid for Nortel NES last year only to be outbid by Avaya. The new combined Avaya / Nortel with its 20,000 worldwide employees and over 10,000 channel partners will be a force to be reckoned with. The post-merger Avaya will likely be better suited for a long term battle with Cisco Worldwide with the opportunity to increase their North American market share.

With the combined strengths of Avaya and Nortel, the new Avaya should be a compelling force never before seen in the telecom Industry. Collectively, they have a large and loyal customer base with a strong channel centric go-to-market model. With added expertise and the ability to increase investment, innovation announcements are expected to be forthcoming at an accelerated rate. Expect to see a model for growth including improved sales productivity, more market and product coverage and a promise of improved Customer Satisfaction. They are also planning on making SIP a core component of their new business model through their product line Aura Telephony Systems.

How does this directly affect you?

New but discontinued items will continue to be available through many suppliers who have stockpiled product, extending availability for several months after the last manufacture date. If history repeats, secondary market suppliers will meet all of the needs of end-users by providing discontinued items with refurbished gear. Nortel and Avaya users should not fear any lack of product availability or support. While many customers may prefer to buy new, there’s not really a sacrifice when buying refurbished gear if bought from a quality vendor. The word “refurbished” has many different interpretations with quality variations from reseller to reseller so find one you know and trust. Warranty and technical support are almost always a factor in the price you’ll pay. Bargain suppliers generally offer little or no support along with inferior warranties. Atlantel will continue to refurbish, sell, repair and technically support these discontinued Avaya and Nortel products for many years to come. With 19 years history as an industry leader, we’ll be there for you.

Food for Thought . . .

Over the past decade, Nortel has manufactured products superior to Avaya in both reliability and quality. Many readers will recall major issues with certain Partner ACS control unit releases as well as the Partner Series II telephones plagued with a switch-hook problem. Nortel sets are more rugged, look and feel more substantial and are considered bulletproof by many. Avaya sets, while somewhat flimsy, are better styled with a more appealing ergonomic design. Let’s hope Avaya’s design team uses Nortel’s manufacturing resources. Let’s also hope for more user-friendly functionality. As a user on a BCM 400, it’s frustrating when, while on a call and another comes in, the caller ID shows the new caller ID for a few seconds and then reverts to display the original caller’s ID, as if I again need to be shown with whom I am speaking. It’s dozens of little conveniences like these, or the lack thereof, that makes a system well-loved or much-disliked. For Avaya to maintain market share long-term, they would be well advised to apply common sense when designing features and also to understand the way users access and interface these features. Focus groups comprised of Avaya / Nortel salespeople and installers along with business owners could no doubt provide invaluable feedback – because engineers don’t always think like the rest of us. Avaya, why don’t you “reach out and touch someone”. You’ll be rewarded with the feedback.

Glenn Murer is the owner of Atlantel, Inc. http://atlantel.net

By David Mayberry, Go Communications System Ltd

Go Communications Systems Ltd’s (www.gocomsys.com) CEO David Mayberry provides us with tip #20 in his series to help network managers and others save money on your networking infrastructure.

Canny purchasing in difficult times
The economic downturn resulting from the global debt crisis of 2008 has made itself felt in all corners of the market, and its impact is on-going. For network managers it has meant slashed budgets as businesses and other organisations seek to make significant financial savings. For some network managers, the cuts have already hit. For other network managers they are still filtering down through the financial system. For almost all, though, it’s just a matter of time: few businesses are likely to escape unaffected.

Such cuts put IT and network managers in an unenviable position. Network managers must, of course, operate within the finances available, but network managers, better than almost anyone else, know how dependent modern businesses are on their networks. Every network manager must defend their network (and especially their core network) not least because, if it is compromised, they will be first in the dock when the stewards’ enquiry begins. There is a substantial financial circle to be squared.

Buy less?
Let’s take a good hard look at the situation you could be facing. Cuts in your network budget are either with you now, or on the way. If you are one of those network managers looking at substantial cuts, you could be forgiven for thinking that your options are strictly limited to a drastic reduction in what you will buy, across the board. That’s not necessarily the case, though. Instead, consider reducing the amount of new equipment that you buy.

You may normally buy all or most of your network equipment brand new. When budgets are generous, such a strategy can be ideal, for various excellent reasons. Adopting a policy of buying refurbished equipment can save you thousands, though. And these savings can be taken further. To maximise them, canny network managers don’t simply specify product X refurbished instead of product X brand new. They pay very close attention to exactly what device is specified for each network requirement.

Supply and demand
With a well-rounded understanding of the market, careful device selection by network managers can pay significant further dividends. For example, many large networks are currently decommissioning 10/100 speed kit in favour of gigabit and ten gigabit devices. As a result, the market is awash with 10/100 product, and the immutable law of supply and demand is making prices rather attractive. Predictably, 10/100/1000 is following suit. By specifying refurbished 10/100 devices for network segments that will run happily at these speeds, you can retain as much of your reduced budget as possible for your core network while minimising degradation of your peripheral network performance.

That brings us to the heart of the matter. In harsh times, all these money-saving tactics should have one goal: the protection of your core network. Virtually all businesses today are utterly reliant on a robust core network. Cuts to that core network will almost inevitably impact bottom line business performance – possibly seriously, or even disastrously. Network managers must protect it at almost any cost. Buy refurbished devices in preference to new, specify lower performance where you can get away with it, and even cut peripheral network services if necessary, but use the savings, which can be substantial indeed, to maintain your core network.

Then, when easier times come, you’ll have a solid, up to date and robust foundation on which to build up additional network services and performance.

Data Security doesn’t end with network firewalls and anti-virus software

Data security doesn’t end with network firewalls and anti-virus software. A report from Imperva, WhiteHat Security, and the Ponemon Institute found that insecure web applications pose the greatest threat to data. However, according to other industry findings, 30% of all data leakage occurs from idle and end-of-life assets. This type of data leakage goes virtually unnoticed until the data is exposed. Physical data protection policies and procedures are not on the radar screen for most corporations and organizations. The lack of attention to the security of the appliance holding the data is the cause of most leakages. Most companies do not realize the risk that they are exposing themselves to until it is too late. Protecting the network with firewall and anti-virus software is only fighting half the battle; the same protection must be in place for the back end of the data life cycle. Data remaining on the hard drives of equipment coming off lease, or deemed for remarketing or end-of-life is a huge exposure and a risk that companies cannot afford.

This data leakage occurs from the improper handling of idle, off lease, or end-of-life assets with live data. Returning or shipping equipment with live data is like shipping a bomb. You never know when it will explode and whose hands that data will end up in. Properly erasing or destroying the hard drive before exiting the environment is critical in preventing data leakage. The in-transit risk of shipping the equipment with live data could result in serious consequences.

Guardian Data Destruction is the first company to provide a mobile on site solution to this risk. Our mobile IT lab can come to your place of business and sanitize over 300 hard drives, or shred up to 3000 hard drives, in a single day. Our On Site Hard Drive Erasure and Hard Drive Destruction services eliminate all risk of in-transit and end-of-life data leakage. This is the highest level of security you can have for your data on off lease or end-of-life assets. In addition to best in class data destruction services, Guardian also offers a wide range of transportation services and e-waste disposal solutions.

GUARDIAN SERVICE DETAILS

ON SITE HARD-DRIVE DESTRUCTION
Guardian offers two cost effective destruction solutions that provide absolute destruction of hard drives. Our shredding process is the most secure and most cost effective hard drive destruction process in the industry. The mobile shredder will arrive at your client’s site where the hard drives are scanned, then placed in a tamper-proof bin and escorted into our Mobile IT Lab. In the lab the hard drives are shredded into ½ inch pieces, resulting in the ultimate destruction at the client’s site. The pinning mutilation process takes security to another level. When the customer security policy will not allow the hard drives to leave their office environment, we can provide the pinning mutilation process right in their office. After the hard drives have been pinned, they are loaded into a tamper-proof box and shredded off-site. Both services will ensure that all data is absolutely destroyed and never falls into the wrong hands. These services are also compliant with HIPPA, SOA, GLBA and PCI, as well as local and government privacy laws.

• Services Included:
  Serial Number Capturing with Audit Report
  Certificate of Destruction and Recycling

ON SITE HARD-DRIVE DATA ERASURE
Our bonded staff will escort all CPU’s and/or loose hard drives to our Mobile IT Lab located at the customer’s place of business. A certified technician will power up each CPU or hard drive and perform the appropriate level DOD overwrite or Secure Erase cleansing certified by the NIST and Department of Defense. All items can be returned to the customer or tendered to Guardian for packing and shipping to any destination in the US or Canada.

• Services Included:
  Real Time Serial Number Capturing with audit report
  Onboard Camera for Customer Monitoring
  Erase Verification Report
  Compliant with HIPPA, SOA, GLBA, PCI and Basel II

ON SITE ENTERPRISE DATA ERASURE
This is a non-intrusive on site solution for the absolute erasure of data from storage arrays or entire frames in data centers. The mobile erasure unit can be delivered to any location within the US. Upon arrival, the Guardian Data Destruction technician will roll the unit into the building where we can erase 48 drives at once. This unit also has the ability to plug into the array’s fiber connection and erase the entire array. The drives are sanitized with Enterprise Data Erasure software with the following options: DoD Clear (1 Pass), DoD Sanitize (3 Pass), NIST Clear (1 Pass), NAVSO Purge (3 Pass), or Secure Erase.

• Services Included:
  No upfront investment in equipment
  Contractual Arrangements available
  Certificates of Data Destruction with erase verification report
  Compliant with HIPPA, SOA, GLBA, PCI and Basel II

ASSET REMOVAL AND RECYCLING SERVICES
Guardian’s experienced team will provide packing, removal, transportation, and facilitate the recycling of all IT Equipment and E-Waste. Our 28 locations throughout the US allow us to reduce shipping costs as well as the carbon footprint this process creates. From a single server to a full floor of equipment, Guardian will pickup IT equipment from any location within the US and transport it to the nearest processing facility for recycling.

• Services Included:
  Nationwide E Waste Solution
  EPA-Compliant, 100% Zero Landfill-Recycling
  Asset transfer form, and Certificate of Destruction and Recycling
  Serial Number Capture and Reporting

ASSET TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS
Timely deliveries and timely pickups are one of the defining qualities of the service Guardian has been providing for years. Our experienced team will provide packing, removing and transportation services of IT Equipment anywhere in the US and Canada. Within a 48 hour response time, Guardian can assist clients with their IT Transportation needs. Throughout this process our clients are in the know with services such as controlling cost, full accountability of your equipment, online scheduling, full visibility from the time of pickup, and web tracking and tracing. Guardian is your single source solution.

• Services Included:
  On Site Packing Options
  Data Center Relocations
  Any Size – Any Location
  Asset Transfer Form issued to ensure Chain of Custody

It is our goal to be the premier provider of complete IT asset disposition services, chain of custody documentation, asset transportation, and the disposal / recycling of e-waste. We strive not only meet, but exceed, industry standards for data elimination.

To inquire further about the services Guardian provides, please call 888-556-WIPE (9473) or send an email to info@guardiandatadestruction.com. You can also visit Guardian’s website at http://guardiandatadestruction.com

By: Ashir Aziz, Fire Eye Inc
Foreword By: Robert F Lentz

Foreword

In the last ten years, malicious software, or “malware”, has become increasingly sophisticated, both in terms of how it is used and what it can do. This rapid modernization of malware is essentially a cyber “arms race” run by organizations with geopolitical agendas and profit motives. The resulting losses for victims have run to billions of dollars. The global move to digitize personal and sensitive information as well as to computerize and interconnect critical infrastructure has far outpaced the capabilities of the security measures that have been put into place. As a result, cyber criminals can act with near impunity as they break into networks to steal data and hijack resources. It is difficult to stop their criminal malware and nearly impossible to track them down after an attack has been perpetrated.

This series shines a light on the dark corners of “modern malware”, both to educate as well as to spark renewed efforts against these advanced and persistent threats. By understanding the tools being used by criminals, we can better defend our nations, our critical infrastructures, and our citizens. The recent “Operation Aurora” incident represents an example of how the threats have escalated, revealing how modern malware is now being used in a systematic, coordinated fashion to achieve nation-state objectives. Meanwhile, organized crime’s use of malware has already created a multi-billion dollar industry in which identities, computing resources, and intellectual property are stolen and traded to the highest bidder. Now, more than ever, we must protect against the cyber attacks of those seeking to steal, compromise, alter, or completely destroy sensitive information.

It is clear that organizations must better integrate information security into enterprise architectures to protect data as well as to unify operations. Integrated, enterprise-wide, risk-based protection strategies should enable the agile deployment of innovative security technologies. A range of companies, including those within the financial services, healthcare, energy, and the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) sectors, deserve and should demand security technologies that can adapt to ever evolving modern malware and form the basis of a more resilient, penetration-resistant information system.

The Internet has spawned entirely new ways of doing business, both legitimate and illegal, and this story is only beginning. The steady stream of news about data breaches and lost identities will only be the tip of the iceberg—unless we invest the time, money, and effort to re-think IT security. In the battle against a well-funded, sophisticated adversary, IT security professionals continue to lead the way. With education and investment, we can cut the puppet strings being used to seize control of our networks. It is certainly my hope that this book will provide readers with a new understanding of the rapidly developing cyber threat landscape and practical insights into how they can protect their data and computing infrastructures.

By understanding the tools being used by criminals, we can better defend our nations, our critical infrastructures, and our citizens. The recent “Operation Aurora” incident represents an example of how the threats have escalated, revealing how modern malware is now being used in a systematic, coordinated fashion to achieve nation-state objectives. — Robert F. Lentz, President and CEO, Cyber Security Strategies, LLC; Former CISO for the DoD; and the first DoD Official to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber, Identity and Information Assurance

Part 1: Why Today’s Network Defenses Fail

Take a look at any technology news site and you’ll see regular stories about successful network attacks and the continued discovery of new vulnerabilities. Not long ago, the “Operation Aurora” incident targeted about 20 of the world’s largest firms, including Google, Adobe, and Dow Chemical. Industry analysts estimate that, on any given day, anywhere from 5% to 10% of all PCs are infected with modern, remotely controlled malware. This translates to 50 to 100 million compromised PCs worldwide. One thing is clear: Today’s network security defenses are not working against modern malware. The chart below plots the effectiveness of current defenses in guarding against malware.

What you see is that today’s network defenses are overrun when faced with malware that is even remotely modern. Why is this? In order to answer this question, we first have to define modern malware. The chart below describes four key characteristics to explore in classifying malware.

Characterizing Malware

Stealth Level: Ranges from high to low. Does the malware actively hide or cloak itself using techniques like polymorphism or code obfuscation?

Targeted Vulnerability: Malware can range from code that targets known, unpatched vulnerabilities to those that target unknown vulnerabilities, known as “zero-hour” attacks.

Intended victim(s): Malware can attack indiscriminately, or it can target specific victims.

Objectives: Malware can be used to cause mischief or as a tool for organized theft and cyber crime.

Based on these characteristics, we can now profile specific malware. The following chart illustrates the characteristics that separate modern from conventional malware. It also specifies where Operation Aurora fits in each of the four areas.

Aurora was highly stealthy malware, attacking a previously unknown vulnerability in Internet Explorer. Further, the criminals behind Aurora targeted a well-defined set of organizations and had a clear goal: The theft of email archives and other information. When it comes to the definitions of modern malware, Aurora clearly meets all the criteria. The scary part is that Aurora isn’t even the most advanced example of modern malware.

Why is it then, at a high level, when confronted with modern malware like Aurora, that today’s network defenses fail? For many organizations, network security is largely comprised of intrusion prevention systems (IPS) and antivirus software, which is deployed both in network gateways and desktops. Today, there are many variations of these technologies, including cloud-based alternatives. These solutions are built on two fundamental protection technologies: Lists and signatures. The following chart depicts the categories and interrelations of today’s network defense alternatives

It is by comparing the malware characteristics and the available network defense mechanisms that the shortcomings become clear. As shown in the chart below, modern malware is at the top of the malware chart, while the current generation of network defenses operates at the bottom. For example, signature-based mechanisms fail against unknown and stealthy attacks. Further, reputation and other correlating techniques can’t guard against targeted attacks, because, given the nature of these attacks, there is no existing data to correlate.

Quite simply, we are using outdated, conventional defenses to guard against modern malware. We are no more prepared to do this than a 19th century army trying to defend itself against today’s modern weaponry. We must find defense mechanisms that address the characteristics of both modern and conventional malware, or attacks like Aurora will only be the tip of a very large iceberg.

See next months issue of PowerSource Online Industry guide for Part 2 of the Modern Malware Report where we will discuss Firewalls, Antivirus, IPS, and Web Gateways: Fighting Yesterday’s Threats..

By The Broadband Expo

The Broadband Expo, a new conference devoted to expanding broadband Internet access in rural areas of the US will be held November 1-3 in Dallas, Texas.

In the sometimes heated discussions about broadband Internet connectivity in the US, the discussion, and the focus, typically centers on connectivity options in urban areas. In urban areas, there are almost always multiple connectivity options from a number of providers – always a local “landline” telephone company such as AT&T, always a cable television “cable modem” company such as Comcast, and often a third option such as Clearwire, or a second cable television company.

Discussions about broadband Internet connectivity in secondary, or rural areas is often an afterthought at best, or worse, ignored. Unfortunately the reality is that there is often little or no competition of broadband Internet access, and comparatively lower investment in deploying broadband Internet access in rural areas. Reasons cited by broadband Internet service providers are that rural area’s lower population density equates to lower profitability and higher capital expenses compared to urban areas.

Yet, those who live in such rural areas arguably benefit more from broadband Internet access than those who live in urban areas. One example is the growing use of online education, where a degree can be earned from prestigious universities entirely online… if you have broadband Internet access. Another example is tele-medicine where a patient’s health can be monitored, and even diagnosed, remotely. X-Rays can now be transmitted in full resolution equivalent to film to an expert in an urban area… if you have broadband Internet access. Businesses located in rural areas can conduct meetings or participate in conferences or seminars without the necessity of costly travel…if you have broadband Internet access.

The above examples aren’t to say that there isn’t any, or sufficient broadband Internet access in rural areas. Some rural areas enjoy excellent, competitive, and low-priced broadband Internet access fully equivalent to the best US urban areas. The US government has targeted various programs at expanding broadband Internet access in rural areas, but many of these programs are little understood. The vast majority of US rural areas are crying out for better, more competitive, less expensive broadband Internet access because they recognize that broadband Internet access has become a quality of life issue, and an absolute requirement for their area’s businesses to operate in the global economy.

The lack of a trade show which specifically addressed the issues of rural broadband Internet access was noted by Oxford Expositions LLC, a new trade show company started in early 2010. For their first conference, Oxford Expositions decided to create a new trade show called The Broadband Expo to bring together vendors, local government personnel, federal officials, and various trade organizations to learn from each other about how cost-effective, competitive, ubiquitous broadband Internet access can reach rural areas of the US. “Our goal is to provide a vehicle for all common groups to come together one place at one time and build the bridge to help further the education of deployment of broadband to rural America” said Jen Robinson, CEO of Oxford Expositions.

A key issue in the discussion of how broadband Internet access should be deployed in rural areas of the US is what technologies should be used, such as fiber optic, or wireless. Other conferences focus on one technology or the other, or the target audience is enormous companies such as AT&T that have little interest in deploying additional infrastructure in rural areas, or ignore the realities of rural broadband Internet access altogether. The Broadband Expo (TBE) will showcase both fiber and wireless options by bringing together disparate groups such as three major Internet Service Provider (ISP) associations:

• FISPA (Federation of Internet Solution Providers of the Americas)
• WISPA (Wireless Internet Service Providers Association)
• CISPA (California Internet Service Providers Association)

It has been some time since these three organizations have co-sponsored a conference of mutual interests. “FISPA is excited about the convergence of the three major ISP associations in FISPA, WISPA and CISPA. The Broadband Expo will provide a source for Internet Service Providers from different organizations to come together and share ideas in rural deployment” said Jim Hollis, Executive Director of FISPA. WISPA is similarly enthusiastic – “WISPA is coming off a successful Regional Meeting in St. Louis and is excited about partnering with The Broadband Expo in Dallas to provide a clearinghouse of information, education and opportunities for our members and the Broadband Industry” said Rick Harnish, Executive Director of WISPA. These are only three of eleven (at present) organizations, including PowerSource Online Magazine, that have partnered with TBE.

A targeted conference such as TBE works best when there are both “strategic” and “deep” speakers, and TBE doesn’t disappoint with a full slate of speakers ranging from Charlie Ergen, CEO of Dish Networks to “Alaska Rural Broadband” by Rob Needham of Rivada Networks. The Broadband Expo offers attendees a full palette of diverse learning opportunities. “Our goal is to create a niche show that will offer in-depth education and certification training, showcase products and services and provide a networking opportunity for those in the rural segments of the market” said Jen Robinson.

There will also be a number of equipment and service vendors that focus on providing products or services specifically for use in deploying broadband Internet access in rural areas (list of vendors unavailable at this writing).

The venue for The Broadband Expo is the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. Dallas was chosen for its central location in the US and being near a major US airline hub, and the quality of the venue which includes being located near Lake Grapevine, and an impressive 4.5 acre glass atrium.

The Broadband Expo will be held Monday, November 1st through Wednesday November 3rd, 2010.

Full details on The Broadband Expo, including registration information, travel and lodging discounts, and a full list of currently confirmed speakers can be found at the conference’s website: http://www.thebroadbandexpo.com.

By Joylyn Tanner, UBM Techweb

The largest and most important business technology event is coming to New York this October. Off the heels of a successful Interop Las Vegas, which reflected a resurging economy with paid conference attendance up by 30 percent, UBM TechWeb’s upcoming Interop New York, happening at the Javits Convention Center, is on pace to further the conference’s reputation as the leading business technology event. As a trusted conference platform, Interop helps attendees garner knowledge and insight, drives technology adoption and helps IT and corporate decision-makers achieve business success. Featuring an exhibit hall packed with the leading vendors showcasing the latest IT solutions, Interop New York’s expo floor offers a unique opportunity to see over 150 exhibitors in one place, providing a comprehensive overview of today’s available technology innovations.

Lenny Heymann, the Interop General Manager said, “Interop’s position as the most wide-ranging business technology event makes it a must-attend for organizations looking to capture a competitive edge during this time of furious technology innovation and adoption.”

This year, Interop New York features even more conference tracks than previous years, focused on the key technologies that every IT organization should be thinking about in 2010 including virtualization, mobility, cloud computing, data centers, green IT and security. Interop provides a 360 degree view of the tools and technologies that are part of a solid information technology strategy.

Recognizing that cloud computing has gone from a fringe idea for startups to a mainstream tool within IT; Interop New York welcomes the return of Enterprise Cloud Summit to the program this year. Enterprise Cloud Summit will compel conversation around private and public clouds with two days of discussion dedicated to vetting out practical cloud computing designs, standards, and infrastructure decisions. Plus, the program includes an entire Virtualization Management Day and Desktop Virtualization Day, to drive discussion around successful deployment and management of desktop and application virtualization.

Interop New York hosts a number of free programs and special events throughout the week that all Interop attendees have access to. These programs include sponsor sessions which will cover key IT topics, access to the keynotes and expo floor, a tour of InteropNet, which is a volunteer-built network that powers the entire event, and the booth crawl, where attendees can enjoy vendor-hosted beverages with peers, while connecting with experts and exploring the latest business technology innovations showcased on the expo floor.

To date, Interop New York brings together the following industry leading keynote speakers:

• Ben Gibson, VP Data Center/Virtualization Marketing, Cisco
• Dario Zamarian, Networking Platform VP & General Manager, Dell
• Jeff Benck, President & COO, Emulex
• Andy Schroepfer, VP Enterprise Strategy, Rackspace Hosting
• Jim Whitehurst, President & CEO, Red Hat
• Randy Rowland, SVP Product Development, Terremark Worldwide, Inc.
• Dirk I. Gates, CEO & Founder, Xirrus

In addition to keynote presentations, Interop New York offers a multi-track conference, a major expo show floor, workshops, and many networking opportunities. Each of these program pieces extend Interop’s influence as IT industry’s most comprehensive and far reaching event providing the strategies and tools needed to drive business value and cut costs for organizations, with resources and education impossible to find anywhere else.

Interop New York will take place October 18-22, 2010 at the Javits Convention Center in New York. For more information visit: http://www.interop.com/newyork/.

By Kim Cullen

PowerSource Online launched its new Wanted Services Broadcasts in August 2010. Wanted Services allows companies to request Industry Services from over 500 IT and Telecom Industry Services companies. Users are requesting quotes for a Service need and receiving multiple bids for that service within the same day.

Wanted Services Broadcast
Broadcasting your Wanted Service is simple and does not cost your company anything! Your wanted service requirements will be sent out to companies who match your needed criteria. Before sending your Wanted Service Broadcast, you must choose the Service Type of your required service.

Wanted Service types offered by PowerSource Online Service Providers include:

• Asset Recovery
• Authorized Repair Centers
• Certified Technicians
• Data Recover
• Exchange/Trade-In
• Equipment and Bulk Freight/Shipping
• Installs and De-installs
• Equipment Leasing/Financing
• Maintenance Contracts
• Managed Print Services
• Managed IT Services
• Recycling
• Refurbishing
• System Integrators
• Equipment Testing
• IT & Telecom Training and Education
• Other Services

We suggest, however it is optional, to also include a budget for your wanted service request. Add a description of your requirements, full details of the project or service needed to get a more accurate quote. Your location is also an optional, yet key, requirement to write into your Wanted Service Broadcast.

Request a Service Quote
In addition to broadcasting out your Service Request to multiple Service Providers, you can also request a Service Quote from a specific company. Within the PowerSource Online Industry Services Directory, each company has a full Service Profile that outlines the types of services they provide, their location in which they provide service, payment information, warranty information, hours of operation and more.

Search & Browse the Industry Services Directory
Find local computer, IT & Telecom equipment and software service and repair companies with PowerSource Online’s Industry Service Directory. Browse PowerSource Online’s IT & Telecom Industry Service Directory by category or geographical area to find the recycler, asset recovery, data recovery, freight company, system integrator, testing facility, IT & Telecom training or computer equipment repair and installation company that best fits your needs. Within the Industry Services Directory you can also search and browse all of the Service Providers that meet your service needs.

Search or Browse by Location
Need a repair or install company in your area? Find companies by browsing via country, State or Providence or search for a specific service company in your area today!

Search or Browse by Equipment Category
CPU/Memory, Central Office, Copiers/Printers, Desktop/Tower, Laptops/Notebooks, VOIP, PBX/Key, Networking, Monitors, Power Equipment, Storage Equipment, Software, Fiber Optics, Satellite and more specialized service companies are listed by category in the Industry Services Directory.

Search by OEM Authorized & More
Search by Manufacturer and keywords to find the Repair or Installation Service Company that fits your needs.

The new Wanted Services and Request Services located within PowerSource Online’s Industry Services Directory is a great tool for any company looking for a specific service and/or service provider. Start receiving multiple Service bids today at www.PowerSourceOnline.com.

If you are a Service Provider interested in having your company listed within the Industry Services Directory, please contact support@powersourceonline.com.

PROSPECT PARTNERS AND MANAGEMENT ACQUIRE WORLD DATA PRODUCTS, LEADING PROVIDER OF REFURBISHED COMPUTER AND NETWORKING EQUIPMENT

Minnetonka, Minn. – August 30, 2010: World Data Products, Inc. (WDPI), a leading provider of refurbished computer and networking equipment and repair services, has been acquired by Prospect Partners, LLC, of Chicago, Ill., a leading private equity firm focused on building companies over time and committed to maximizing their values. Prospect Partners co-invested with World Data Products’ management team in the acquisition.

Founded in 1987, WDPI has become one of the largest independent resellers of refurbished servers, storage and networking equipment, including platforms such as Cisco Systems, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Sun Microsystems. The company sources, refurbishes, and sells used and new equipment to a diversified worldwide customer base of more than 4,000 wholesale broker/dealers and corporate end-users in markets that include technology, government, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and education.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to work with Prospect Partners,” said Neil Vill, Chief Executive Officer, World Data Products, Inc. “Prospect Partners specializes in niche companies of our size, and its investment team has an impressive history of helping portfolio companies pursue smart expansion strategies that achieve strong results.”

Prospect Partners builds companies through selective acquisitions and fostering internal growth. The company partners with management teams to acquire profitable niche leaders and growth-ready businesses. WDPI will continue to be led by its current management team.

“World Data is run by an exceptional management team that is well-known in the IT industry,” said Rick Tuttle, a Founding Principal at Prospect Partners. “They have built the company into a top player in the highly fragmented niche IT hardware services industry by developing extensive expertise across a number of leading platforms by servicing customers throughout the entire hardware ownership cycle with solutions that are high-quality, competitively priced and immediately available. Our success has come from partnering with great management and we think this is a terrific opportunity.”

Going forward, WDPI and Prospect Partners will consider select acquisitions of companies that provide related computer and networking equipment services.

About World Data Products, Inc.
WDPI delivers savings up to 50% or more on server, networking and storage hardware, maintenance, services and repair. Since 1987, thousands of customers have benefited from WDPI’s technical expertise, quality guarantees, immediate availability, no vendor lock-in and aggressive trade-in credit or cash for surplus equipment. Whether the goal is to stretch an IT budget or extend the life of equipment, WDPI is a trusted partner for buying, selling, leasing, maintaining, servicing and repairing IT hardware. For more information, visit www.wdpi.com.

About Prospect Partners, LLC
Prospect Partners, of Chicago, Ill., is a leading private equity firm managing $270 million in two funds. A highly experienced, active, and committed small-company investor, Prospect Partners focuses exclusively on management-led leveraged recapitalizations and acquisitions of niche market leaders. Since its inception in 1998, Prospect Partners has invested nationwide in nearly 80 companies within a broad range of niche manufacturing, distribution, and specialty service markets. For more information, visit www.prospect-partners.com.

Contact:
Jim Keister
952-249-3270
jim.keister@wdpi.com

GreatAmerica to Participate in the Imaging Channel Executive Summit

(Cedar Rapids, IA) – GreatAmerica Leasing Corporation announced today it will present at the general session of the Imaging Channel Executive Summit September 30 to October 1, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. A leader in on-boarding Dealers into Managed Print Services, GreatAmerica will cover the talent profiles needed for a successful MPS program.

The presentation will be on The Right Talent: Finding Leaders to Steer Your MPS Program Forward, which includes methods that measure objective criteria to help make the right hiring decisions. GreatAmerica will provide Executive Summit Dealers an advance opportunity to select a current or prospective employee to complete a behavioral assessment prior to the event. Executives will receive a personalized report at the GreatAmerica educational session and will leave more equipped to make successful MPS sales hires.

“GreatAmerica is pleased to offer our expertise at the Executive Summit event by featuring an MPS sales success profiling,” said Jennie Fisher, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Office Equipment Group. “We are committed to providing dealers the tools they need to be successful with MPS, including innovative financial solutions, hiring assistance, business planning and sales training through our Navigator program.”

Additional program and registration information for the Executive Summit is available at http://events.theimagingchannel.com.

About GreatAmerica

GreatAmerica Leasing Corporation was founded in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1992. GreatAmerica is a national commercial equipment finance company dedicated to helping manufacturers, vendors, and dealers be more successful and keep their customers for a lifetime. GreatAmerica provides financing and consulting services in all fifty states and some U.S. Territories. GreatAmerica has a staff of over 300 employees with offices in Iowa, Missouri and Georgia. www.greatamerica.com

Contact:
Sarah Henderson Director, Strategic Marketing
Office Equipment Group
GreatAmerica Leasing Corporation
shenderson@greatamerica.com
319.261.4087