Stories by Amy Schurr

RFID fact and fiction

In an effort to dispel some of the privacy concerns surrounding radio frequency identification technology (RFID), the Information Technology Association of America has issued a white paper covering what the technology is and is not capable of.

Sorting out security certs

Certification is on the mind of many security professionals, and the recent Computer Security Institute conference devoted much attention to the topic. In one session, Peter Stephenson of Eastern Michigan University's Center for Regional and National Security presented an overview of what certifications can do for you and which ones, if any, you should have.

A place for CCIEs to convene

Cisco last month officially launched a free resource to help your IT staffers do their jobs better- the Cisco Certifications Community. Exclusively for those who hold Cisco certifications, the portal is a place for users to network and share best practices with their peers.

Workplace satisfaction

Only 25 per cent of workers surveyed by CareerBuilder say they hold their dream jobs, while the rest are dissatisfied with the pay, workload, stress level or career advancement potential of their current positions.

Nortel expands telephony certification program

Nortel recently added several IP telephony certifications to its lineup, including two expert-level certifications and two certifications aimed at those who design networks that use the vendor's products.

Free fundamentals class

If you're new to IT or looking for an introduction for someone who wants to learn more about the field, check out Alcatel's free "Fundamentals of Communications" course available online. Experienced IT pros may even find this useful as a refresher on certain aspects of voice or data networking.

Character is crucial

What do employees look for in a leader? It's not the latest business book trends, but basic principles managers are more likely to have learned in elementary school. That's according to survey results from Right Management Consultants, a career transition and organizational consulting firm in the US.

Review time

The new calendar year usually brings performance reviews. If you haven't undergone one yet, your turn may be coming soon.

Shift circumstances

In companies that operate around the clock, there are likely IT pros pulling an evening or overnight shift to keep systems running. And if these people are anything like the respondents of a survey on shiftwork from Circadian Technologies, they're feeling overworked and undersupported.

Staffing software to take off

Recruiting and hiring via the Internet will become even more popular over the next few years, growing to a $4.5 billion market by 2004 and $10.3 billion by $2008. That's just one of the findings of a report from market analysis firm Aberdeen Group.

Study guide freebies

Need a little help studying for certification exams? You can find a treasure trove of free study guides for Cisco, Linux, Microsoft and Unix certifications at the Global Document Database.

Timely tips

We may have gained an hour when we changed our clocks in October, but the extra gift of time wasn't nearly enough for those of us who complain that there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done. Work demands, family life and social commitments all share space on our calendars.

Nortel to launch VoIP certs

In November, Nortel will introduce two enterprise voice-over-IP certifications targeted at those who support core VoIP technology and products. The two programs are "Support Specialist: VoIP Meridian 1 IP Enabled 25.40" and "Support Specialist: VoIP Succession CSE 1000 Release 2.0."

E-Government Costs Set to Explode

With tax deadline only days away, you may be wondering what the IRS is going to do with your money.