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• IT disaster recovery outsourcing: A planning guide for enterprise CIOs

  Planning for IT disaster recovery outsourcing requires CIOs to assess their DR needs, make the case for funding and select technologies. Learn more in this guide. Continue Reading

• FAQ: Understanding the ITIL framework

  The ITIL framework is a globally accepted standard for improving IT service quality. This FAQ reviews the ITIL definition, training options and costs and ITIL-compatible tools. Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery and business continuity planning templates

  Need help creating a formal disaster recovery plan or business continuity strategy? Get started with some free disaster recovery and business continuity planning templates. Continue Reading

• Using a gap analysis to reduce system downtime for business continuity

  The Real Niel takes a three-part approach to analyzing his IT processes. The result? Increased business continuity. Continue Reading

• Lean IT principles: A FAQ for CIOs

  Lean thinking is the process of incorporating Lean principles into an enterprise. This FAQ shows how Lean thinking works and how IT is benefiting from this improvement methodology. Continue Reading

• The real cost of cloud computing services

  Cloud computing services reallocate costs and save you money in the short term, but companies should keep in mind what the usage-based model will cost long term.Continue Reading

• Even with a PPM solution, IT project and portfolio challenges remain

  A PPM solution can help you allocate resources among IT projects and calculate ROI, but it's no panacea for organizational issues. Here's why.Continue Reading

• A CIO shares his lessons learned in project and portfolio management

  Our CIO columnist The Real Niel confides that everything he learned about IT governance and PPM he learned by failing. The good news: He finally figured out what works.Continue Reading

• FAQ: How does the Six Sigma methodology benefit IT?

  The Six Sigma methodology has helped companies improve customer service and eliminate errors for years. Learn how IT can reap the benefits of this service-driven methodology.Continue Reading

• IT insourcing trends: Weighing the pros and cons

  IT insourcing trends are on the rise in the midmarket, as companies realize benefits including cost savings and the ability to more quickly adapt to changing business needs.Continue Reading

• Business service management, ITIL improve IT performance at Carfax

  When Carfax automated data flows from 23,000 data sources, it needed better systems management. See how it used business service management and ITIL to meet that need.Continue Reading

• Val IT: A little-known IT governance framework that may save you money

  Take your project and portfolio management strategy to the next level with the Val IT governance framework from the IT Governance Institute.Continue Reading

• SOA governance: How and why to build it into your SOA initiative

  Service-oriented architecture governance prevents duplication of services and wins business buy-in. Here's how to start or improve your governance effort.Continue Reading

• Locking down security in the move to electronic medical records

  An IT pro shares security and project success tips gleaned from his two-year odyssey to move a group medical practice to electronic health records.Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery plans for remote, branch offices: A guide for CIOs

  Disaster recovery plans for remote and branch offices can be complex, difficult to manage and expensive. Learn how to develop a DR plan for your remote sites in this guide.Continue Reading

• Virtualization and the private cloud: A guide for enterprise CIOs

  This guide looks at the trends, best practices and critical criteria for building a true strategy around virtualization and the private cloud.Continue Reading

• Top five reasons to start using ITIL and ITSM today

  Looking for a reason to start following IT Service Management and ITIL frameworks? We have five. Learn how to get the most out of ITSM and ITIL initiatives.Continue Reading

• Cost reduction tips for your strategic sourcing contracts

  CIOs should revisit their strategic sourcing contracts and work closely with their suppliers to analyze current spending and achieve maximum cost reductions.Continue Reading

• Targeted IT communications key to ITIL implementation success

  Many companies are implementing ITIL without considering the importance of an IT communications plan. Get expert advice on ways to target your IT communications for ITIL success.Continue Reading

• IT Service Management: Best practices for improving IT efficiency

  IT Service Management (ITSM) implementations can increase ROI and improve IT efficiency -- all while following the best practices guidelines laid out by ITIL and other ITSM frameworks. Learn more about how ITSM can work for you.Continue Reading

• CIOs share SaaS contract advice on pricing, customization and more

  CIOs who have been down the SaaS road share what they wish they had done differently and what went right with licenses, code in escrow and more in their SaaS contracts.Continue Reading

• BI tools vs. Microsoft Excel spreadsheets

  In this podcast, our expert discusses the differences between BI tools and Excel spreadsheets and how they can be used together in the enterprise to gather and analyze data.Continue Reading

• BPM Platform as a Service turns IT shops into SaaS providers

  A business process management (BPM) project a minute? Pegasystems offers a twist on BPM, turning corporate IT shops into SaaS providers with a BPM Platform as a Service.Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery: Use simple plan to classify apps

  Classifying applications in order of importance is key to keeping disaster recovery in sync with revenue goals.Continue Reading

• How to perform a cost/benefit analysis: Build a model, not a number

  CIO Niel Nickolaisen recommends doing a cost/benefit analysis based on building a working model, not numbers.Continue Reading

• Database security: Who should have access?

  The only users who should be allowed full access to any data store should be your system administrators. What about everybody else?Continue Reading

• Rules for outsourcing IT services

  There is no single, one-size-fits-all approach to outsourcing. Rather, the best answer to all the "should I" and "how to" questions regarding outsourcing is this: It depends.Continue Reading

• How does transactional data lead to intelligent business intelligence?

  You've "captured" the data. But what exactly is it that you're looking for?Continue Reading

• The importance of IT staff training -- and cross-training

  You need to expand your IT team members' skill sets. But with a limited budget and maybe some resistance, where do you start?Continue Reading

• How to scope the liability clause in your software license agreement

  Standard limit of liability clauses favor the vendor. Here's how to modify them to protect your firm from IT risk.Continue Reading

• Computer recycling: Dangers for even the well intentioned

  Recycling computers involves more than just passing them off to another company for cleaning. Due diligence requires CIOs to go even further to make sure data is eradicated.Continue Reading

• CIO resume refresher best practices

  Martha Heller, president of Heller Search Associates, offers CIOs candid tips on hard topics and sensitive issues, as well as simple steps to crafting a winning resume.Continue Reading

• Facebook as a business tool? Really

  To all those CIOs who refuse to embrace Facebook on the grounds that it's not a business tool: look a little closer.Continue Reading

• Creating a strategic backup and recovery plan for remote employees

  Data backup and disaster recovery planning are difficult tasks in the best of circumstances -- mobile devices and remote employees can make things even more complicated. Learn how to manage critical data and get more tips in this SearchCIO.com ...Continue Reading

• Best practices for data warehouse mergers: Expert podcast

  This podcast offers expert advice for CIOs on data warehouse management with a merger or acquisition.Continue Reading

• Five ways to justify a CMDB implementation: Expert podcast

  A CMDB is essential to any large enterprise's IT Service Management plan. Here are five tried and true justifications for deploying a CMDB.Continue Reading

• Building a CMDB: A guide to management and deployment

  Building a CMDB and making service improvements is essential at most large organizations, but justifying costs is not easy. This guide offers CMDB management and deployment advice.Continue Reading

• Data warehouse management strategies for CIOs

  CIOs use data warehousing tools and technologies to capture and analyze data from various sources within the enterprise. This guide offers advice to manage your data warehouse.Continue Reading

• Information technology staffing and IT management for the midmarket

  IT careers can be difficult to navigate. Check out our updated IT management guide for the latest resources on IT staffing and careers for midmarket CIOs.Continue Reading

• Data warehouses: Tips for building a disaster recovery plan

  Data warehouses are more mission critical now. Read these tips to find out how to build them into a disaster recovery plan.Continue Reading

• ITIL vs. MOF: Find the best IT framework option for the midmarket

  The IT Infrastructure Library's increased complexity is difficult for midmarket CIOs to embrace, argues CIO Niel Nickolaisen. That's why he turned to the Microsoft Operations Framework.Continue Reading

• A converged network is risky business for an SMB

  With the promise of a single system for voice, data and video, converged networks offer SMBs a raft of benefits -- but they also expose them to increased security threats. SMBs need to identify these threats and create a policy to address them.Continue Reading

• VoIP vulnerabilities: Why firewall protection is not enough

  Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems need to be protected by more than just firewalls. Learn more in this podcast.Continue Reading

• VoIP rollout in 10 steps

  On the road to VoIP, many pitfalls await midmarket companies. Everything from unmet cost-savings expectations to phishers and spammers can derail a VoIP initiative. Here's a 10-point roadmap.Continue Reading

• Creating a Shared Services Organization

  InUnison Technology Services isn't your typical IT services organization. CIO Jeff Connery created it from the IT groups of two separate companies.Continue Reading

• ITIL Works, But I Prefer the Microsoft Operations Framework

  ITIL can give you great results. But the Microsoft Operations Framework is cheaper and less complex, and works just as well.Continue Reading

• Offshore outsourcing: A look at the security risks

  Offshore outsourcing can save money. Are the savings worth the security risks? Columnist Philip Alexander addresses security and data concerns CIOs should be aware of when sending work offshore.Continue Reading

• A Vendor Management Office Can Help Get Your Suppliers in Line

  Vendor management systems are just one way to ensure an organization's effective use of outside resources. CIOs share their best tactics.Continue Reading

• Roadmap to a Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plan

  Midmarket CIOs are as likely as not to have overlooked drawing up a business continuity plan. Before it's too late, get started with these six steps.Continue Reading

• Operational-level agreement: An IT game plan for CIOs

  Though underused, operational-level agreements can improve working relationships, minimize confusion and increase the successful delivery of critical IT services.Continue Reading

• IT budgeting and spending strategies guide for CIOs

  IT budgeting and spending is a balancing act between needs and wants even in a strong economy. Are you ready to figure out what your IT department will need? Check out this CIO Briefing for IT budgeting and spending strategies.Continue Reading

• Open source and website design: Caveat emptor

  Using open source software to redesign or create a website can be beneficial to resource-strapped SMBs, but caveat emptor -- there are hidden costs.Continue Reading

• IT cheat sheets for all

  They may seem like no-brainers to you, but some of your IT tricks and workarounds look magical to your peers. We've collected our favorite IT cheat sheets on topics ranging from AS/400 to HTML and Outlook so everyone can look like a whiz.Continue Reading

• Managing Global IT

  Globalization of IT brings challenges -- one expert offers up some tips.Continue Reading

• How Outrigger Bounced Back With New IT Systems, Business Processes

  How an island-based hotelier caught up with the industry, drove out cost and continues to expand globally with IT.Continue Reading

• Five ways to streamline your application development process

  An effective application development process requires project planning and requirements management. Learn more in this podcast.Continue Reading

• ITIL V3: Stakeholder coordination is key to success

  In his latest column, Brian Johnson offers tips and advice on how to coordinate the ITIL stakeholders in your organization to successfully meet business requirements by using an IT service design process.Continue Reading

• How to Provide IT Performance Appraisals That Matter

  Good management requires providing performance reviews that matter.Continue Reading

• Mitigate mobile security threats

  Mobile security threats aren't just a nuisance, they're also expensive. Find out how to reduce your risk with these steps.Continue Reading

• Business continuity and disaster recovery planning guide for CIOs

  Disaster recovery (DR) planning is key to business continuity and data integrity. In other words, if you're not prepared for the worst, that's what you just might get. This guide lays out the foundation for a solid DR plan.Continue Reading

• IT contract negotiation strategies

  Vendor contracts can save SMBs money -- if negotiated properly. Follow these four step to help your contract negotiations go smoothly.Continue Reading

• Laptop security best practices

  Laptops can free employees to work remotely, allowing them to telecommute and travel easily. But that freedom comes with security perils.Continue Reading

• Information security, risk management and compliance staffing guide

  Information security, risk management and compliance are serious issues for CIOs. This Executive Guide offers insights on how to recruit, manage and retain skilled IT staff members who can manage these complicated tasks.Continue Reading

• Product Lifecycle Management in Play

  Product lifecycle management (PLM) systems used to require the sort of commitment that only the largest companies could make. But now the benefits of PLM -- global collaboration and faster time to market -- are making their way into the midmarket.Continue Reading

• Self-service technology helps companies help themselves

  Self-service technology can help organizations reduce costs, but also improve the customer experience and let workers focus on what's important.Continue Reading

• IT leadership skills guide for CIOs

  Leadership skills are often just as important as technological ones for CIOs and your leadership style can mean the difference between connecting with your staff or not. Get some advice on establishing and improving your IT leadership skills in this...Continue Reading

• Business intelligence applications

  Read this excerpt from "Business Intelligence: The Savvy Manager's Guide" to learn about the various applications of business intelligence and how you can use information strategically to help your business.Continue Reading

• Blade servers: Check IT List

  Blade servers offer many benefits for space-challenged and energy-conscious SMBs. Before you invest in blades, know the basics on blade servers and blade centers.Continue Reading

• CMS proves its ROI mettle

  Once implemented successfully, a content management system not only improves organization and efficiency, but also pays for itself within a year and a half.Continue Reading

• ITIL training essential part of IT and business integration

  As IT functions become more fully integrated into an organization's business objectives, the need for training across IT disciplines has become more important. Investments in ITIL training and certification are helping IT organizations align ...Continue Reading

• Security awareness training for SMBs

  Security awareness training can be costly to SMBs, but there are alternatives to the traditional plans. Learn how to create a cost-effective, yet successful, training plan for your company.Continue Reading

• ITIL process success: Get people on your side

  Executive and employee support can be the biggest barriers to ITIL process adoption. In his latest column, Brian Johnson offers advice on how to secure executive support and appoint ITIL champions to lead your internal campaign.Continue Reading

• Bundled Services Lead to New IT Challenges for Telecoms

  Remember when phone and cable companies offered one service? Telecoms now face a new-age challenge: delivering new technologies through multiple channels.Continue Reading

• The Essential Lawyer: SaaS Contract Negotiation Tips

  Software as a Service is cool. Don't get burned when signing your contract.Continue Reading

• Medical Device Makers Tackle FDA Rules With PLM

  Medical device makers want to improve products' time to market while also complying with FDA rules. Product lifecycle management is helping to balance these sometimes conflicting goals.Continue Reading

• CIOs Recount the First 100 Days on the Job

  How do you make an impact during your first 100 days on the job? Ask critical questions, then focus on listening -- and learn all you can.Continue Reading

• SMB definition: How various vendors compare

  Everyone defines SMB differently. Some do it by employee count, others by revenue. Check out this list of vendor and analyst firm definitions to see where your business falls.Continue Reading

• Taking a Closer Look at the Limitation of Liability Clause

  When it comes to the limitation of liability clause, CIOs shouldn't forget to read the fine print.Continue Reading

• ERP and Inventory and Workforce Management Tools Help Bag Market Share

  Midsized supermarkets are feeling the squeeze from an explosion of channels that now sell food. To combat mounting competition, they're using ERP as well as inventory and workforce management technologies.Continue Reading

• NAC solutions help SMBs control network, costs

  Network access control, or NAC, offers a cost-effective way to protect an SMB network from unwanted visitors.Continue Reading

• Project Expert: Balancing Art and Science in Project Management

  Because project management is an art and a science, project managers need creativity and technical skills to keep projects on track.Continue Reading

• Look Who's Watching: Employee Monitoring Becoming Standard Practice

  Employee monitoring tools aren't just about increasing worker productivity or banning pornography from the office. Midmarket CIOs now use them to secure their networks from malware and bandwidth hogs.Continue Reading

• ROI success begins and ends with accountability

  Assigning accountability for ROI results can sometimes mean the difference between a successful project and a failed one. In this tip, learn why accountability is so important to ROI and how to use it your benefit.Continue Reading

• The CIO Guide to Overhauling Employee Morale

  If morale at your company is falling flat, rejuvenating your employees with a sense of purpose and accomplishment may be your most important priority for 2007.Continue Reading

• Making the Case for Outsourcing Call Centers

  Many firms can make a strong case for outsourcing their call centers, especially when they need to scale up. But farming out the work doesn't ensure that you can nip your problems in the bud.Continue Reading

• Speech Recognition Technology Improves Service at Lillian Vernon's

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• Where's the Beef? Health Clubs Fight Member Churn

  Health club CIOs determined to keep their businesses in shape use CRM and Web-based technology to bulk up membership.Continue Reading

• The Master Asset

  MasterCorp needed to clean up its mess of housekeeper schedules and piles of paperwork. So it built what is now the company's greatest asset: homegrown workforce management technology.Continue Reading

• How to Take Control When Negotiating Vendor Contracts

  When you're signing on the dotted line, vendors often have plenty of clout. But you can get control of the deal.Continue Reading

• Vendor management key to outsourcing success

  Vendor management is key to your outsourcing success. Better in-house contract management could help keep the rope from breaking completely.Continue Reading

• IT governance and legal compliance strategies for CIOs

  Between IT-related laws and governance regulations, IT executives today deal with more legal issues than ever before. These issues include compliance regulations, privacy rules and data protection. This Executive Guide provides resources to help ...Continue Reading

• Exit Signs: When to Bring an End to Your CIO Tenure

  How do you know when it's time to move on from your current job? Hear from five CIOs who've left the building.Continue Reading

• Five ways to improve your budgeting process

  The budgeting process is often a very stressful time for IT executives, especially as they face continuing cost pressures and a need to show business value for their technology investments. Columnist James Champy offers advice on how to make ...Continue Reading

• Justifying the costs of identity and access management to executives

  Identity and access management is easy to explain in qualitative terms, but difficult to quantify. Expert Joel Dubin offers tips on how to get buy-in from execs in this podcast.Continue Reading

• Linux or Unix: Pros and cons

  If you're in need of a reliable, scalable environment, Linux or Unix may be the answer. Discover the pros and cons of each and figure out which is the best fit for your needs.Continue Reading

• Project Expert: Taking the Measure of Project Complexity

  Good measurement can help navigate project complexity.Continue Reading

• Calling All Customer-Centric CIOs: Tips for Engaging Customers

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• Virtual Vault

  Happy State Bank in Texas built its business on old-fashioned customer service. Now it's tackling secure Web banking to keep its customers safe online.Continue Reading

• Vendor management key to maximizing ROI

  Vendor management is key to maximizing the ROI benefits throughout your project's lifecycle. Learn more in this month's ROI column.Continue Reading

• ASP model vs. SaaS: Whats the difference?

  ASPs and SaaS providers both offer customers application hosting options. But how are they different? This article explains the difference between these two models and how to effectively choose the best one for your hosting needs.Continue Reading