[Interview] Part 5: Barb Bowman - Critical Issues for Organizations; IT Pros Making a Difference

This is the next blog in the continuing series of interviews with leading professionals. In this series of blogs, I have an exclusive interview with Barb Bowman. Barb is an internationally acknowledged home networking and device authority; Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) - Windows Networking and Windows XP Media Center.

Enjoy!

Stephen Ibaraki, FCIPS, I.S.P., MVP

Stephen: What are the five critical issues facing organizations today?

Barb: Speaking for myself and not for my employer:

1. Rogue wireless access points in or near the workplace
2. The variety of consumer mp3 players, pda's, external USB flash keys/hard drives etc. that can also store data and can be connected to corporate computers that can be lost or used elsewhere.
3. Laptop theft
4. Data and IP theft by disgruntled/departing employees
5. Allowing visitors Internet access without compromising corp networks

Stephen: How can IT professionals get involved in making a difference and how can they make contributions?

Barb:The biggest need (if it isn't obvious from my responses) is education and awareness in the residential space of safety and security for residential wireless home networks. If professionals in various positions within the tech sector can become more involved in neighborhood (even casual awareness and conversation helps) and by speaking in schools, the foundations of sound and safe computing can spread. I've done this by engaging local teachers and asking for opportunities to speak to school computer classes and clubs.

Offer to speak to scouting groups, boys and girls clubs. See if your local newspaper or radio/TV station has a technology reporter that wants to interview you or use you as a resource.

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Look for more with Barb in the next blog.
I encourage you to share your thoughts here on these interviews or send me an e-mail at sibaraki@cips.ca.
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