NETWORK
WEEKLY -- Thursday 20 December 2007 -- Will ID
cards emerge from the data disaster ashes?
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Welcome to your weekly digest and analysis of strategic
security, networking, telecoms, and wireless news, along with upcoming
events.
We read the news, so you don't have to.
Network Weekly is a weekly round-up of networking, telecoms
and storage news, edited by Manek Dubash. Now available in podcast form.
Network Weekly has been in existence since 2001.
Editor Manek is a leading IT journalist, network and
infrastructure specialist, editor at Techworld (http://www.techworld.com/),
a regular
speaker and moderator at networking forums and events such as NetEvents
(http://www.netevents.org),
and a director
of Webster Buchanan Research, a global media and market intelligence
company (http://www.websterb.com/.
He also runs his own editorial services company to
undertake individual projects for clients.
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CONTENTS
1. Highlights: Top Headlines
2. Analysis: The Week in View
3. Hot Links: The week's headlines with story links
4. Events: Upcoming exhibitions and conferences
5. Situations Wanted
6. Furniture: Contact and subscription details
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1. HIGHLIGHTS: TOP HEADLINES
SECURITY
--------
Government loses 3m learner drivers' details
The Driving Standards Agency has admitted losing over three
million learner drivers' details
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39291581,00.htm?r=1
WIRELESS
--------
Milton Keynes backs Freedom4's WiMax
Milton Keynes council has backed the launch of a commercial
WiMax service in Milton Keynes
http://www.techworld.com/mobility/news/index.cfm?newsID=10966&pagtype=all
WEB
--------
Ofcom urged to get heavy with UK broadband laggers
An independent watchdog body has urged the UK telecoms
regulator to come up with a mandatory code of practice for UK broadband
ISPs
http://www.techworld.com/networking/news/index.cfm?newsID=10973&pagtype=all
TELECOMS
--------
T-Mobile and 3 to combine 3G networks
T-Mobile UK and 3 UK said on Tuesday they would combine
their 3G access networks, saving around £2bn over 10 years
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39291609,00.htm?r=1
INFRASTRUCTURE
--------
Intel primes Ethernet fibre channel efforts
Intel has announced software that it said will enable
developers to build and test Fibre Channel over Ethernet offerings on
Linux-based systems
http://www.techworld.com/storage/news/index.cfm?newsID=10972&pagtype=all
INDUSTRY
--------
Cisco to get API-happy
Putting the family jewels on display
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/17/cisco_ios_modules/
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2. ANALYSIS -- Will ID cards emerge from the data disaster
ashes?
The ability of the UK government to expose its citizens'
personal data to the rest of the world appears unbounded. This week
alone finds
us surveying the wreckage after the details of three million drivers
and
thousands of pensioners follow those of half the population -- those on
child
benefit -- and have gone walkies.
And what has been the government's response? Clearly, it
hasn't wanted to say too much in the light of a review or two that need
to draw
conclusions before remedies can be found. But chancellor of the
exchequer
Alistair Darling has stuck his neck out and come up a cunning analysis.
He says that the government needs to simplify
organisational structures in some departments and review
data-protection laws.
The various departments concerned need clearer lines of responsibility,
he
reckons.
It all sounds pretty good, doesn't it? There's a bit of
humble pie in there, along with a vague commitment to do something --
anything
-- to help avoid it all happening again. Although the odds are that it
will,
given the glacial speed of change within large organisations such as
the civil
service. I know: I've worked there.
So the chancellor continues that we need some form of
information Tsar to spot-check public sector organisations, and improve
the way
that data security practices are followed. So far, so flannelly.
But the civil service runs on data. Its job is about
processing data, and moving it about. How on earth is a high-profile
bod, no
matter how many staff he or she is blessed with, going to control
information
sloshing around inside the whole civil service?
What's needed is not spot checks but solid education in the
basics of data security -- for everyone, from the mandarins downwards.
They all
deal with our data, so they all need to be aware.
The other element of Alistair Darling's recipe is a sleight
of hand. He talks about simplification of organisational structures in
government. These are weasel words behind which hides the amalgamation
of
databases.
In other words, instead of having the child benefit
database moved to the audit office, or drivers' details ferried off to
the tax
office, the best thing is to bring all that data together. Fewer
chances of
breaches, would appear to be the thinking, if it's all in one place.
And which other pet project stands to gain if all your data
is housed in one place? Ah yes, ID cards.
Or is that just a step too Machiavellian?
Manek Dubash
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3. HOT LINKS
SECURITY
--------
Government loses 3m learner drivers' details
The Driving Standards Agency has admitted losing over three
million learner drivers' details
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39291581,00.htm?r=1
HMRC loses thousands of pensioners' details
Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs has admitted losing the
personal details of over 6,500 people claiming pensions
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39291613,00.htm?r=1
Public confidence shaken
The majority of UK citizens do not trust the government
with their data following the HM Revenue & Customs data breach
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39291486,00.htm?r=1
Watchdog: HMRC did breach data laws
The organisation responsible for administering the UK's
data-protection legislation has said the government has breached data
laws
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39291604,00.htm?r=1
MPs condemn government's data failures
MPs have condemned the government over the loss of the
personal information of more than three million learner drivers by the
Driving
Standards Agency
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39291620,00.htm?r=1
Darling: Greater accountability key to data security
The government needs to simplify organisational structures
in some departments and review data-protection laws
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39291579,00.htm?r=1
Ofcom urged to clamp down on broadband speed deceit
But 8Mbit/s could happen...theoretically
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/19/ofcom_panel_speed_code/
Major VoIP exploit predicted
The threats against VoIP are numerous and seem to be
growing
http://www.techworld.com/security/news/index.cfm?newsID=10959&pagtype=all
WIRELESS
--------
Milton Keynes backs Freedom4's WiMax
Milton Keynes council has backed the launch of a commercial
WiMax service in Milton Keynes
http://www.techworld.com/mobility/news/index.cfm?newsID=10966&pagtype=all
WEB
--------
Ofcom urged to get heavy with UK broadband laggers
An independent watchdog body has urged the UK telecoms
regulator to come up with a mandatory code of practice for UK broadband
ISPs
http://www.techworld.com/networking/news/index.cfm?newsID=10973&pagtype=all
TELECOMS
--------
T-Mobile and 3 to combine 3G networks
T-Mobile UK and 3 UK said on Tuesday they would combine
their 3G access networks, saving around £2bn over 10 years
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39291609,00.htm?r=1
Google tight-lipped on UK spectrum bid
Google has refused to comment on speculation that it might
bid for radio spectrum in the UK
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39291536,00.htm?r=1
INFRASTRUCTURE
--------
Intel primes Ethernet fibre channel efforts
Intel has announced software that it said will enable
developers to build and test Fibre Channel over Ethernet offerings on
Linux-based systems
http://www.techworld.com/storage/news/index.cfm?newsID=10972&pagtype=all
INDUSTRY
--------
Cisco to get API-happy
Putting the family jewels on display
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/17/cisco_ios_modules/
Vonage hit by Nortel law suit
Vonage has been sued by yet another company for patent
infringement
http://www.techworld.com/networking/news/index.cfm?newsID=10955&pagtype=all
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4. EVENTS
This section covers all the events we can find in coming
months. If you know of one that isn't here, please let us know.
Interop Moscow
23 - 24 April 2008, Moscow, Russia
http://www.interop.ru/
Cable
Congress
23 - 25 April 2008. Madrid, Spain
http://www.cablecongress.com/
Interop Las Vegas
27 April - 2 May 2008, Las Vegas, USA
http://www.interop.com/
Interop Moscow
11 - 13 June 2008, Tokyo, Japan
http://www.interop.jp/
Interop Saõ Paulo
12 - 14 August 2008, Saõ Paulo, Brazil
http://saopaulo.interop.com/
Interop New York
15 - 19 September 2008, New York, USA
http://www.interop.com/newyork/
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(c) Manek Dubash Associates 2001-2008
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Editor
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