How ready are you for the PARCC Technology guidelines?

We often stay busy thinking about the new technolgy that you are looking to invest in. In addition to notebooks you might have been considering iPads or Chromebooks. Did you know that the PARCC assessments "will require external keyboards for test takers using tablets so as not to limit or obscure the view."  On top of the keyboard requirement you will also need to provide headphones and a microphone, some may be able to use the integrated mic but that is likely to be cumbersome. Using a standalone mic on an iPad requires that you purchase an Apple iPad Camera kit to provide a USB port.

Over the last year digital signage has really taken off and we are starting to see creative digital signage applications. Digital signage is now being used to help enhance experiences. A hospital in the UK used a digital signage display wall to help cheer up children and brighten their mood.

There are significant differences between winning a bid from a commercial enterprise compared to a governmental entity. Both projects have the same types of physical structure requirements, infrastructure, and assets that they need to protect. The government bidding process however is a lot more secure. Government procedures must ensure that they follow specific guidelines with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).

In light of the recent tragic school shooting there is a great deal and well deserved talk on how we can make schools safer for students and their staff. As security professionals we have a duty to do everything in our power to make sure that our children are as safe as possible while in school. In the future there may be increases to school security based on National policies however what can schools do now in order to ensure their students and staff are safe?

Desktop Computer Technology Powers America's Next Fighter Plane 

What commonplace desktop computing and data storage solutions technology is being used in the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter plane? You might first think about potential computer aided engineering (CAE) systems such as in the Nexlink 7900 series workstation, for advanced modeling techniques used in the design phase. As a powerful CAE design workstation the Nexlink 7900 is a great choice for complex engineering projects such as aerospace engineering, however a more basic inclusion of advanced hardware is being implemented in the F-35’s network infrastructure.

Virtualization Perfect for Older XP PCs

Have you dabbled in virtualization? Maybe you have had customers ask you about a virtualized server for their office. Do you have clients with a large base of aging Windows XP based custom built PCs? Perhaps you have told these clients time and time again that they really need to upgrade their infrastructure. Given the uncertainty of today’s business climate they are not ready for an upgrade or do not have enough capital for a complete new roll out. What option can you recommend for them to get a current and functional business installation?

Small form factors are very attractive for the digital signage industry. Successful media player manufacturers are focusing on developing ultra small form factor media players with high performance capabilities. This style of media players are in demand for solutions such as kiosk, menu boards, and video walls. Intel just introduced an ultra small form factor media player that is ideal for this type of solutions called the NUC.

In my recent posting reviewing some of the new features of Windows 8 I highlighted some improvements to Bitlocker. While Bitlocker has been around since Windows Vista was introduced back in 2005, its general inclusion in Windows 8 Pro will make it more available than in past Windows releases. Choosing Windows 8 on your Nexlink PC will help to make your clients data secure.

You Lock your Car and Your Home, What About Your Data?

What are you doing to ensure that your data is encrypted? Or perhaps a better question altogether is: are you using encryption to keep your data or your client’s data safe at all? If your answer is that you are not using encryption because you just never got around to it or thought that is was too much of a hassle, think again.

The Time to Try Windows 8 is Here!

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past year, you have undoubtedly heard about the launch of Microsoft Windows 8. Over the past few years Microsoft achieved success by delivering a new operating system that is better than its predecessor. Windows 8 is no exception, as Windows 7 was an evolution of Vista, so is Windows 8 over Windows 7.