Web Headlines

Headlines from around the Web for Monday, Nov. 5, 2007

Compiled by Melanie Bender

Homeland Security Retreats From Facets of 'Real ID'

The Washington Post

The Bush administration is easing its demand for tough national standards for driver's licenses, acting at the behest of state officials who say the "Real ID" plan is unworkable and too costly, officials familiar with the new policy said.

Security Architecture Emerges for First Responders

Network World

Princeton University researchers say they have come up with a new way to securely transmit crucial rescue information to first responders to situations such as natural disasters and terrorist attacks.

San Francisco Quake Raises Question 'Can Cell Phone Network Overload be Prevented?'

Computer World

Within minutes of Tuesday's 5.6 magnitude earthquake that hit the San Francisco Bay Area, the number of cell phone calls on the Verizon Wireless network skyrocketed. Twenty minutes after the 8:04 p.m. quake, instead of the normal 300,000 calls made between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. in one area of Santa Clara County, the call volume soared to 2.3 million.

Reports Show PCs, Monitors Contribute to 40 Percent of IT Carbon Emissions

InformationWeek

When most IT professionals think about reducing energy consumption they pay attention to the data center, which after all is filled with power-hungry heat-generating servers. According to a Gartner report released in September, however, the real culprit when it comes to IT's carbon-emission footprint resides not in the data center but on every employee's desk: the PC.

The Second Decade of Offshore Outsourcing: Where We're Headed

InformationWeek

As companies head into this second decade of offshore IT outsourcing, globalization is starting to be more than a polite way to say "dirt cheap foreign coding." But businesses in North America and Western Europe, at least those with any track record of success with their offshore providers, are getting closer than ever to those vendors--for example, trying to help them deal with employee retention, treating those problems as their own.

NYC Announces Comprehensive Technology Strategy: PlanIT

Government Technology

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced Thursday the release of PlanIT: Better Government through Customer Service, New York City's first-ever comprehensive technology strategy for coordinated, effective and efficient citywide IT implementation. With an overarching theme of customer service, PlanIT outlines 32 technology initiatives, either planned or underway.

Panel Must Narrow Cybersecurity Scope

Federal Computer Week

A new blue-ribbon panel that will develop cybersecurity recommendations for the next president faces a compressed schedule and the challenge of agreeing on a cybersecurity agenda that it wants the next administration to address.

States Find IT Consolidation is Key to Staying Creative Amid Budget Shortfalls

Government Computer News

As an example, by consolidating the state government’s 25 data centers into three, Michigan has saved $9.5 million with an expected return on investment of $19.1 million.

Online Searches May Pose Security Threats

Washington Technology

Government agencies may be risking disclosure of sensitive data through desktop and Internet search functions, according to a report from the Civitas Group consulting firm in Washington, D.C.