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• SharePoint tools help one CIO streamline ops, improve user experience

  Our CIO columnist shares how he uses SharePoint tools -- both homegrown and from third-parties -- to extend the platform's capabilities and streamline operational tasks. Continue Reading

• Best in IT leadership series: CIO advice on five IT topics

  Strong IT leadership can be an organization's lifeblood through thick and thin. Learn what it takes to be a good leader in these stories of peer success and expert advice. Continue Reading

• IT service provider consolidation tips: A CIO talks vendor management

  IT service provider consolidation can simplify enterprise IT vendor-management strategies, says our CIO columnist. Learn how to categorize IT services and ace vendor consolidation. Continue Reading

• Which virtualization licensing model is right for you?

  Virtualization licensing and pricing models can be complex. Learn how to cultivate contract terms that can save you money. Continue Reading

• IT outsourcing contracts FAQ: Establishing SLAs, flexibility and more

  IT outsourcing contracts are only as strong as the negotiations surrounding them. In this FAQ, learn how to establish service-level agreements, set contract lengths and maintain flexibility. Continue Reading

• Windows 7 migration ahead? What a CIO should know

  Operating system upgrades are not easy. But as IT shops consider moving away from XP, find out what makes a Windows 7 migration worth it (and how to plan for it).Continue Reading

• Windows 7: Your last desktop operating system deployment?

  Moving from XP to Windows 7 won't necessarily be easy -- but it may be your last desktop operating system deployment. Learn the seven technologies CIOs should consider.Continue Reading

• Moving from Windows XP to Windows 7? One CIO shares why he started now

  When is the best time to migrate to Windows 7? For one CIO, the time is now. Learn why he isn't waiting to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 -- and what his migration plan is.Continue Reading

• Implementing Lean methodologies promotes IT, business agility

  Implementing Lean methodologies helps IT organizations eliminate wasteful processes and promote IT and business agility, our CIO columnist says. Read more about implementing Lean.Continue Reading

• IT outsourcing strategy FAQ: Getting started on onshoring, offshoring

  An IT outsourcing strategy is crucial to enterprises looking to cut costs and globalize operations during a recession. In this guide, learn how to get started with IT outsourcing.Continue Reading

• IE8 kicks Web browser security up a notch, eases burden on IT

  Internet Explorer 8 has surpassed earlier versions of IE in Web browser security with new features that add protection and ease some of the burden on midsized IT shops.Continue Reading

• 2010 CIO and IT salaries and career survey: Read our special report

  CIO and IT salaries are bouncing back in 2010 after a tough 2009. In this special report, learn about IT salaries by industry, CIO job tenures and more.Continue Reading

• Business process management strategies ezine for CIOs

  CIO Decisions' ezine offers senior IT executives a package of articles focusing on the pressing technology and management issues facing CIOs, including business process management, virtualization management, project and portfolio management, IT ...Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery strategies for organizations on a budget

  Budgets tight? Our roundup of disaster recovery strategies includes cost-cutting tips, lists of affordable DR plans (some options as low as $100) and DR best practices.Continue Reading

• Motivation incentives for IT staff when salary increases not an option

  How can you provide motivation incentives for IT staff members when you can't increase salaries? Offer them meaningful work and IT job opportunities, advises our CIO columnist.Continue Reading

• Free change management templates

  If you forget change management when designing a project, you risk alienating users and wasting resources. Don't fall into that trap: uses these free change management templates to give your initiatives the best chance of success!Continue Reading

• IT salary survey: Salaries vary by industry, 2010 raises expected

  How much do your midmarket IT peers make? See salary averages by industry and title and learn which industry is expecting the highest pay increase.Continue Reading

• Trends in high availability and fault tolerance

  In this podcast, hear how high-availability and fault-tolerance solutions are helping midmarket companies achieve greater availability and performance on mission-critical systems.Continue Reading

• IT salary and careers survey: CIOs expect raises, despite gloomy mood

  SearchCIO.com's annual IT salary and careers survey indicates that IT execs expect pay increases in 2010, even though pessimism and tactical concerns linger. Read the stories here.Continue Reading

• Free IT change management templates, tips and resources

  Change management processes are important in all aspects of IT project planning and strategy implementation. Get started now with free change management templates and expert tips.Continue Reading

• IT salary survey: More pessimism than optimism in IT outlook for 2010

  The IT outlook in 2010 for many enterprises is one of pessimism, although, surprisingly, some hard-hit industries report optimism in their IT shops. Get a 2010 outlook with a breakdown by industry.Continue Reading

• County turns to business intelligence reporting as budget shrinks

  Business intelligence reporting and mapping changes the way one police department and surrounding cities are fighting crime.Continue Reading

• IT salary survey: How CIO, IT salaries vary by industry

  The results of our annual IT salary survey are in, and IT execs in some industries clearly earn more than others. Which industry do you think comes out on top?Continue Reading

• IT in 2009: Lessons learned in IT efficiency, productivity

  Lessons learned in IT In 2009 can be carried over to 2010 to increase IT efficiency and productivity -- and get a solid start on security, virtualization and more.Continue Reading

• The benefits of using collaboration tools in your organization

  Learn how collaboration tools can increase employee productivity and overall business efficiency, and how the business can benefit from collaboration tool implementations.Continue Reading

• FAQ: Next-generation business intelligence systems

  Find out how CIOs are taking their business intelligence strategies to the next level with new approaches to gathering, accessing, measuring, displaying and sharing information.Continue Reading

• Cost-effective Web application security testing options take SaaS form

  SaaS options for Web application security testing can help CIOs make a business case for vulnerability testing while not breaking the bank as hackers test website limits.Continue Reading

• FAQ: Implementing an IT service catalog

  An IT service catalog is a menu of services offered by an IT organization. Get the FAQs on how to implement an IT service catalog and automate the service request process.Continue Reading

• IT salary survey: Half of IT executives expect pay increases in 2010

  Here's who expects to get raises in 2010 -- and how much.Continue Reading

• Budgeting for virtualization solutions

  Although virtualization solutions offer many benefits, they come with a price. In this podcast, find out how to minimize the cost of virtualization and still reap the benefits.Continue Reading

• Microsoft SharePoint implementation tips, training and more

  Microsoft's SharePoint is a useful (and widely popular) tool in the midmarket. But are you getting the most out of it? Get tips on SharePoint implementation and training.Continue Reading

• CIO's guide to outsourcing application development and management

  Application outsourcing will lead enterprise CIO agendas again next year, with IT application development and management services in high demand. Learn more in this guide.Continue Reading

• Insourcing IT application development and management: A how-to guide

  Insourcing your IT application development and management can bring you closer to your mission-critical applications and data. Learn how to bring application work back in-house.Continue Reading

• Remote-location disaster recovery risks

  With multiple remote locations, there's often risk associated with disaster recovery policies and technologies. Learn about the challenges of remote-location disaster recovery.Continue Reading

• How to drive a successful Web 2.0 technology implementation

  Learn why one CIO has not been deterred from investigating Web 2.0 technologies in the business (despite the risks) by focusing on management and decision-making strategies.Continue Reading

• CIO resources: Top five technology topics of 2009

  What technology topics were top of mind this year? Our top five 2009 CIO resources cover a range of IT leadership topics important to CIO strategy planning this year.Continue Reading

• Four lessons in IT disaster recovery planning from an FAA outage

  Does the recent FAA outage contain lessons for CIOs? You bet, starting with the fact that most IT disasters are exactly like the one that hobbled the flight management system.Continue Reading

• Microsoft focuses BI strategy on SQL Server, SharePoint, Excel

  Microsoft's BI strategy for 2010 adds new products under the SQL Server business intelligence umbrella and retires some features from the lineup.Continue Reading

• Use business service management software and tools for better ITSM

  Learn how business service management software and tools can help better align IT with the business and improve governance and service delivery.Continue Reading

• FAQ: Agile practices and their role in software development

  Companies are increasingly using Agile practices to improve software project outcomes. Learn more about Agile here, from Scrum to Extreme Programming and more.Continue Reading

• Process intelligence tools reduce guesswork, increase payout of BPM

  Process modeling can be a challenging step in any business process management strategy, but process intelligence tools can remove the guesswork and some of the complexities.Continue Reading

• Best practices for a SOA implementation and application integration

  A service-oriented architecture (SOA) implementation and application integration allow information to be transferred and supported efficiently. Learn more about SOA best practices.Continue Reading

• SOA best practices from Amtrak

  Amtrak's chief SOA architect offers advice to CIOs on implementing SOA services, from creating a plan and choosing standards to governance and monitoring.Continue Reading

• Three ways Lean processes can improve your BPM effort

  By using Lean processes, such as minimizing waste and maximizing value, midmarket CIOs can get more out of their BPM tools and technologies. Learn three ways to make this happen.Continue Reading

• Guide to building and managing a business process management strategy

  Find out what it takes to implement a business process management strategy in your midmarket organization -- from BPM basics to business process tool selection.Continue Reading

• CIO: Don't attempt BPM system without mapping process flows

  Successful BPM system implementations and process automation efforts begin with mapping process flows and fixing bad processes, our CIO columnist says. Learn more here.Continue Reading

• Lean ITIL strategy in lean times

  As IT shops continue to look for ways to cut costs, increase efficiency and improve service, many turn to IT Service Management (ITSM) frameworks for guidance. Learn how to adopt or advance your ITSM strategy to streamline IT and build an efficient,...Continue Reading

• Next-generation business intelligence strategies

  Business intelligence is critical to many initiatives, but it's important that companies get the return on investment they expect from BI technology. Therefore, CIOs need to pay special attention to changes in the business. Learn more about the ...Continue Reading

• 7 steps to a workable business process management strategy

  Building a business process management strategy needn't be overly complex. Here's how to get started in seven steps that can scale with your business.Continue Reading

• Botched IT outsourcing contract shows need for governance, SLAs

  Virginia's $2 billion IT outsourcing contract has gone awry, with service interruptions and missed deadlines. Find out what lessons were learned on IT governance and clear SLAs.Continue Reading

• The Real Business of IT: Download a free chapter

  The book "The Real Business of IT" focuses on how CIOs can demonstrate the value of IT as a strategic partner. Download a free chapter on finding new value sources in IT.Continue Reading

• Seven tips for cutting vendor maintenance on business applications

  CIOs are cutting vendor maintenance contracts in the face of tight budgets. Locking down your apps before going off maintenance is key. Here are seven steps to take.Continue Reading

• BPM tool selection: Strategies for success

  Get the most out of your BPM tools. Learn how to assess your business and technical needs and choose the best vendor and tool to meet your BPM needs.Continue Reading

• Improving your business process management strategy: Chapter download

  Bogged down by business process management? A new book from industry veteran Terry Schurter provides tips for managing business processes. Read the first chapter here.Continue Reading

• Information security program revamp adds outsourcer oversight and more

  Read how one CIO used risk assessment, a dashboard, outsourcer oversight and one-on-one talks to build a robust security program.Continue Reading

• Why CIOs need to get real about identity and access management in 2010

  Changes in business, employee needs and regulatory mandates are reshaping identity and access management (IAM) and giving rise to service providers. Should you sign on with one?Continue Reading

• FAQ: IT and organizational change management

  The CIO's role in organizational and IT change management is to ensure service availability and business support. Learn more about IT's role in change management.Continue Reading

• How to decide if changing technology vendors is worth the time, risk

  The cost savings offered by a second-tier vendor may or may not be worth the risk and expense of migration. Here's how to decide when to make a switch.Continue Reading

• An IT governance model needs risk and communications components

  An IT governance model is critical to the success of any midmarket organization. Learn how risk assessments and communications are essential parts of any IT governance model.Continue Reading

• A guide to managing the risk assessment process

  Risk management assessments in IT take on many different forms -- from data risk to project risk. Learn more about managing the risk assessment processes in your IT organization.Continue Reading

• Email archiving solutions and strategies for enterprise CIOs

  Effective email archiving solutions and strategies are an important part of a CIO's job, as e-discovery, litigation and compliance regulations require detailed email policies.Continue Reading

• Application consolidation: Learning to let go of legacy systems

  Application consolidation can mean cost savings and increased efficiency, but first companies must let go of legacy systems and applications. Our CIO expert explains how.Continue Reading

• Information technology management e-book downloads for midmarket CIOs

  SearchCIO-Midmarket.com's e-books offer midmarket CIOs a package of articles focused on the pressing information technology and management issues facing CIOs, including salaries, business intelligence, data security and mobile technology. Download ...Continue Reading

• How to cut application maintenance fees without undue risk or hardship

  It's tough out there, and maintenance is expensive. These strategies will help you find ways to cut your application maintenance costs with upgrades and service in mind.Continue Reading

• CIOs taking risk of cutting vendor maintenance contracts to save money

  As CIOs continue to face budget pressures, they are increasingly dropping vendor maintenance. Here's how to weigh the risk vs. rewards of that move.Continue Reading

• Complementing your ITIL framework with other process methodologies

  ITIL can be more effective when used with other process methodologies, like Six Sigma, PPM and ISO 20000. Learn how to leverage mixed process methodologies.Continue Reading

• How to create and measure success of a SharePoint governance program

  SharePoint governance is a must once a SharePoint implementation takes off. Here's how to create a SharePoint governance program, measure its success and scale it as usage grows.Continue Reading

• 10 tips for renegotiating your virtualization licensing contracts

  The down economy is a perfect opportunity to renegotiate your virtualization licensing contracts. Get tips on how to work with your vendors to cut virtualization costs.Continue Reading

• Leadership tips from executive coaches: Best in IT Leadership Series

  Are you so busy you can't get to the strategic part of your job? Have a malfunctioning team? These expert tips will help you get past the rough spots.Continue Reading

• 10 must-have steps for an effective SMB information security program

  No information security program would be complete without these security tips from the NIST, which has compiled advice just as security threats to smaller businesses are on the rise.Continue Reading

• FAQ: Business process management defined

  Business process management (BPM) is top of mind for executives looking to cut costs and increase efficiency. Here, we answer FAQs like: What is BPM? How does it relate to SOA?Continue Reading

• Management tools for virtualized servers: A look at the options

  Virtualization management gaps are narrowing as traditional systems management vendors and third-party tools move in to work with virtualization vendors' tools.Continue Reading

• Managing a virtual server vs physical server: What’s the difference?

  Server management involves the same tasks, but a different approach when the servers are virtual instead of physical. Here's how managing the two environments compares.Continue Reading

• CIO advice: IT strategies in a bad economy

  CIOs should consider re-evaluating their IT strategies in this economy. Get advice on addressing ROI, innovating and achieving project success in this podcast.Continue Reading

• Swine flu preparedness: Business continuity during an H1N1 outbreak

  Swine flu preparedness will top enterprise CIO agendas this fall as offices create business continuity plans in case of widespread absenteeism. Learn more in this H1N1 flu guide.Continue Reading

• 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

• How IT can support business agility and drive competitive advantage

  CIO Niel Nickolaisen discusses how IT facilitates business agility and drives competitive advantage, from IT project prioritization to outsourcing of select functions.Continue Reading

• Recession squeezing IT disaster recovery budgets

  The recession is forcing CIOs to focus on risk assessments, processes and business resiliency to trim IT disaster recovery services. The result, say providers, is better decisions.Continue Reading

• Virtualization's next phase: DR, BC and cloud computing

  Virtualization in the midmarket is now used for mission-critical servers and services, disaster recovery and business continuity, and even cloud computing, says our CIO columnist.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

• Evaluating a business process management solutions vendor: What to ask

  More and more vendors are offering business process management solutions, resulting in hundreds of options. Here are five questions to ask your potential BPM vendor.Continue Reading

• At your peril, disaster recovery testing gets short shrift

  Without testing, a disaster recovery plan is just an idea, experts say, and one that could quickly be rendered useless. Here's how to get time and money for testing.Continue Reading

• Network access control: Security advice for enterprise CIOs

  Network access control (NAC) is a method of improving the security of a proprietary network by restricting network resources to endpoint devices. Learn more in this quick guide.Continue Reading

• Cloud computing defies one definition, so here are a few of the latest

  Ask what cloud computing is, and you quickly get acronyms like SaaS, PaaS and HIaaS. Here's what they all mean.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

• Managed IT services for disaster recovery and business continuity

  Finding the best business continuity services and disaster recovery plans can be a challenge. Learn more about managed IT services options and how they can work for you.Continue Reading

• PPM and IT governance in a recession: A guide for enterprise CIOs

  Project and portfolio management (PPM) and IT governance are increasingly important in this economic recession as CIOs prioritize projects and assess ROI. Learn more in this guide.Continue Reading

• Laying the groundwork for cloud computing services adoption in 6 steps

  The CIO of a growing business explains how he selected applications for outsourcing to the cloud then prepared the organization for change.Continue Reading

• Managing growth in midsized enterprises: Best in IT Leadership series

  Learn how CIOs are managing growth by creating an IT strategic plan, choosing scalable solutions and using leadership skills to manage change and keep up with their CEOs' strategies.Continue Reading

• IT outsourcing trends 2009: Latest deals for the recession and beyond

  IT outsourcing trends in 2009 are evolving rapidly. Learn how the recession, IT offshoring scandals and the drive for cost savings are changing contracts.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

• Business agility and IT project success factors: Book chapter download

  A sneak peek at CIO Niel Nickolaisen's book on business agility and project success using models to measure purpose and risk, then assign priority and resources accordingly.Continue Reading

• If cloud computing companies form ecosystems, users will benefit

  A partner network hosted by one provider, like Amazon's EC2, can mean cost and performance advantages for customers of those services. Here's how.Continue Reading

• Cloud computing tips for getting started with next-gen IT capabilities

  Cloud computing experts tackle applications to steer clear of in the cloud and how CIOs can start putting cloud initiatives in place.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

• High-end PPM software, not just MS Project, finds place in midmarket

  Though Microsoft Project predominates among midsized firms, hear why some IT shops have adopted higher-end PPM software.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

• Enterprise risk management solutions for CIOs

  Enterprise risk management programs buffer organizations from risky business practices. In this guide, learn how to employ enterprise risk management solutions in an organization.Continue Reading

• Get the most out of your lean BPM solution

  The demand for BPM solutions is up and budgets are down. Learn how specific lean BPM tools can help streamline your processes and reduce costs.Continue Reading