Zementis and Software AG Team Up
March 18, 2015
I learned that Software AG (a digital business platform for enterprises) and Zementis (a company that empowers Big Data insights) have teamed up. According to “Zementis and Software AG Announce Joint Solution at CeBIT 2015”, the new solution is Apama, an analytics platform. It is:
designed to rapidly process streaming, fast-moving and real-time data sets at massive scale to support intelligent, automated actions and rapid, insightful business decisions. Its functionality comprises event processing, messaging, in-memory data management and visualization. The Apama platform allows businesses to analyze and act on high-volume business operations and customer interactions in real-time. It rapidly correlates, aggregates and detects patterns across large volumes of fast-moving data from multiple sources, so that business decision makers can take the right action at the right time.
The software allows the user to design and visualize real-time analytics, connect to streaming and static data, and detect and analyze patterns in real time.
The system can be used for multi channel fraud detection, risk based product pricing, and risk based capital management. No word about the system’s application to law enforcement and intelligence tasks.
Stephen E Arnold, March 18, 2015
Stephen E Arnold, Publisher of CyberOSINT at www.xenky.com
Index Engines: Search a Utility
March 18, 2015
Index Engines started life as a search system for archives. If my memory serves me, Index Engines was an appliance vendor. During a recent visit to the company’s Web site (www.indexengines.com), I learned that the firm has relegated search to a utility function. The company has a data sheets page that explains the company’s products and services. These range from “data profiling” to “preservation” and information governance.
I found this shift fascinating. Like the open source search vendor, Elastic (né Elasticsearch), search is no longer the main event. This trend has been evident in the cyber OSINT vendor landscape as well.
The shift underscores that the sales friction for “search and retrieval” is increasing. Savvy outfits are finding new ways to generate revenue with search a baked in component. “Information governance” is sufficiently general and important sounding to create an opportunity for a sales pitch. When many people consider themselves experts in “search,” different positioning is required.
Index Engines, for instance, offers “intelligent disposition,” “litigation readiness,” and “octane collection.”
Search? Too tough to sell. Watch for other vendors of search crafting ingenious ways to derive revenue from information retrieval and access.
Stephen E Arnold, March 18,2015.
Stephen E Arnold, Publisher of CyberOSINT at www.xenky.com
Akio Software Acquires Spotter
March 18, 2015
Short honk: Last year Akio software acquired Spotter, a business intelligence company. You can read the announcement at this link. Information about the pre-acquisition technology of Spotter appears in this Search Wizards Speak interview.
Stephen E Arnold, March 17, 2015
Stephen E Arnold, Publisher of CyberOSINT at www.xenky.com
IBM Hadoop
March 18, 2015
For anyone who sees setting up an instance of Hadoop as a huge challenge, Open Source Insider points to IBM’s efforts to help in, “Has IBM Made (Hard) Hadoop Easier?” Why do some folks consider Hadoop so difficult? Blogger Adrian Bridgwater elaborates:
“More specifically, it has been said that the Hadoop framework for distributed processing of large data sets across clusters of computers using simple programming models is tough to get to grips with because:
Hadoop is not a database
Hadoop is not an analytics environment
Hadoop is not a visualisation tool
Hadoop is not known for clusters that meet enterprise-grade security requirements
Foundation fixation
This is because Hadoop is a ‘foundational’ technology in many senses, so its route to ‘business usefulness’ is neither direct or clear cut in many cases.”
Hmm. So, perhaps one should understand what Hadoop is and what it does before trying to implement it. Still, the folks at IBM would prefer companies just pay them to handle it. The article cites a survey of “bit-data developers” (commissioned by IBM) that shows about a quarter of the respondents us IBM’s Hadoop. Bridgwater also mentions:
“IBM also recently conducted an independently audited benchmark, which was reviewed by third-party Infosizing, of three popular SQL-on-Hadoop implementations, and the results showed that IBM’s Big SQL was the only Hadoop solution tested that was able to run all 99 Hadoop-DS queries…. Smith says that this new report and benchmark are proof that customers can ask more complex questions of IBM when it comes to Hadoop implementation.”
I’m not sure that’s what those factors prove, but it is clear that many companies do turn to the tech giant for help with Hadoop. But is their assistance worth the cost? Unfortunately, this article includes no word on IBM’s Hadoop pricing.
Cynthia Murrell, March 18, 2015
Stephen E Arnold, Publisher of CyberOSINT at www.xenky.com
Duck Duck Jumbawumba?
March 18, 2015
Usually if you want a private search, free of targeted ads you head on over to DuckDuckGo.com. While DuckDuckGo holds its on against bigger search engines, because it is the nice guy of search, no one has really come out to challenge water fowl. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a story about another private-based search engine: “Hampton Entrepreneur Seeks To Launch Privacy-Friendly Search Engine,” but you cannot so much as call it a DuckDuckGo rival as another option.
Michael DeKort launched a $125,000 Kickstarter campaign to fund Jumbawumba, a search engine that uses Google’s prowess while retaining a user’s privacy. It also would create cohesive search results using video, images, news, and Web sites on one page, instead of four.
How does it work?
“Jumbawumba taps Google’s vast reach. To Google’s eyes, though, the queries come from Jumbawumba, not from the originating computer, Mr. DeKort said. And while Google, Bing and Yahoo! keep records of each computer’s searches, and use them to tailor advertising, Jumbawumba pledges not to store any data on one-time searches. (It would keep records of ongoing search queries, but wouldn’t sell them to marketing firms, Mr. DeKort said.) Jumbawumba’s computer server will ultimately be overseas, limiting government access, though the company would respect law enforcement subpoenas.”
While private search engines like Jumbawumba will probably never be able to compete with Google, it is good to know that Michael DeKort are fighting to protect online privacy. The more the merrier for private search!
Whitney Grace, March 18, 2015
Stephen E Arnold, Publisher of CyberOSINT at www.xenky.com
IDC and Forrester: New Partnership, New Confusion among Mid-Tier Consultants?
March 17, 2015
I received this interesting email this morning (March 16, 2015).
Notice the logo. The email is from IDG Connect based in Staines, Middlesex, UK. Now look at this headline:
Acquia Identified as a “Strong Performer” in The Forrester Wave™: Web Content Management Systems, Q1 2015
When I clicked on the hyperlink in the title of the email, look what I found:
This is a list of the promotions IDC seems to have done for its competitors. I thought that “real” consultants did not cross over into the pastures of other consulting firms. Obviously I am incorrect in this assumption.
That leaves me with the hypothesis that IDC is promoting Forrester’s “wave”—the me-too to Gartner’s Magic Boston Consulting Group Variant Quadrant without the Analytics—for content management.
Whoa, Nellie. I thought that IDC was one outfit, happily placed in Boston, America’s first city. Emerson, witch burning, Route 128, and the Big Dig. The marketing arm of IDG for this email comes from merrie old England. Is this content marketing and information shaping at a fairly interlocking level? What else do these mid tier consulting firms share? Client lists? Client problems? Content used without the permission of people like me who write stuff and then have it repurposed under a so-called expert’s name. (Yep, Dave Schubmehl again.)
Here’s what the email to me said:
We are pleased to announce that Acquia is a “Strong Performer” in The Forrester Wave™: Web Content Management Systems, Q1 2015. “Acquia’s standout features include the cloud strategy, solid content management and delivery functionality, and a strong developer community and component ecosystem.” Like Forrester, we believe that digital experience delivery is the strategic technology investment for every brand. Ready to see the results? Download your complimentary copy today.
As you may know, IDC’s Dave Schubmehl (remember him, the search wizard) sold my content on Amazon. Now it appears that I can get a free report via the IDC email for the ordinarily “real money” research from Forrester. Confused yet?
When I clicked on the Click Here button I received a copy of Ted Schadler’s “The Forrester Wave: Web Content Management Systems, Q1 2015 report. Here’s the link. Give it a while, but not promises: http://www.idgconnect-resources.com/rt.asp?I=5E892X4874X6&L=1627905
Who’s Forrester’s Ted Schadler? I have his photo.
A quick check online reveals that Ted Schadler has a Forrester blog called “Ted Schadler’s Blog.” He covers quite a few topics; for example, broadband, Web content management, Internet regulation, free Web publishing systems, and experience gaps. He is a bit of a Leonardo it seems, and he has some marketing in his DNA too.
Intrigued, I ran a query for his name and IDG/IDC. Mr. Schadler has been a speaker at IDG’s tony CIO conference. Mr. Schadler’s topic was described this way:
Collaboration across the C-suite and the challenge of transitioning to a digital enterprise will have a special focus at this year’s event, which also features opening keynotes by Tom Davenport, author of “big data @ work,” and Forrester Research’s Ted Schadler, author of “The Mobile Mind Shift.” The symposium concludes with an awards ceremony recognizing the 2014 CIO 100 winners.
I will try to keep track of what mid tier (what I call an azure chip) consulting firm is promoting other of the same ilk.
If I were paying for one consulting firm, would I check to make sure my firm’s private information does not leak? I sure would.
Stephen E Arnold, March 17, 2015
SharePoint User Resistance Rises
March 17, 2015
Only one in ten organizations feel that their use of SharePoint has been a true success. This and other hard truths come out in the latest research by AIIM. The Globe Newswire covers all the latest news in their article, “SharePoint Projects are ‘Stalling’ as User Resistance Rises Says New AIIM Report.”
The report begins:
“Nearly two-thirds of enterprises say that their SharePoint project has either stalled (26 percent) or isn’t meeting their original expectations (37 percent), according to new research by independent information management analysts, AIIM. Adoption of business social tool Yammer is slow too, with 18 percent of respondents saying it has been adopted in their organization, but only one in ten of those reporting widespread and regular use.”
It is no surprise that such a large and complicated infrastructure as SharePoint has a high failure rate. Yet, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the platform is without merit. Most satisfied companies find that customization and third-party add-ons allow for significant improvement in satisfaction numbers. Stephen E. Arnold has made a career out of all things search and often covers SharePoint on his Web site, ArnoldIT.com. His SharePoint feed is a great resource for organizations that are looking to make the most of out of their current implementation, or plan a new installation.
Emily Rae Aldridge, March 17, 2015
Qwant Develops Qwant Junior, the Search Engine for Children
March 17, 2015
The article on Telecompaper titled Qwant Tests Child-Friendly Search Engine discusses the French companies work. Qwant is focused on targeting 3 to 13 year olds with Qwant Junior, in partnership with the Education Ministry. Twenty percent of the company is owned by digital publishing powerhouse Axel Springer. The child-friendly search engine will attempt to limit the access to inappropriate content while encouraging children to use the search engine to learn. The article explains,
“The new version blocks or lists very far down in search results websites that show violence and pornography, as well as e-commerce sites. The version features an education tab separately from the general web search that offers simplified access to educational programme, said co-founder Eric Leandri. Qwant Junior’s video tab offers child-appropriate videos from YouTube, Dailymotion and Vimeo. After tests with the ministry, the search engine will be tested by several hundred schools.”
Teaching youngsters the ways of the search engine is important in our present age. The concept of listing pornography “very far down” on the list of results might unsettle some parents of young teens smart enough to just keep scrolling, but it is France! Perhaps the expectation of blocking all unsavory material is simply untenable. Qwant is planning on a major launch by September, and is in talks with Brazil for a similar program.
Chelsea Kerwin, March 17, 2014
Stephen E Arnold, Publisher of CyberOSINT at www.xenky.com
Vilocity 2.0 Released by Nuwave
March 17, 2015
The article on Virtual Strategy Magazine titled NuWave Enhances their Vilocity Analytic Framework with Release of Vilocity 2.0 Update promotes the upgraded framework as a mixture of Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition and Oracle Endeca Information Discovery. The ability to interface across both of these tools as well as include components from both in a single dashboard makes this a very useful program, with capabilities such as exporting to Microsoft to create slideshows, pre-filter and the ability to choose sections of a page and print across both frameworks. The article explains,
“The voices of our Vilocity customers were vital in the Vilocity 2.0 release and we value their input,” says Rob Castle, NuWave’s Chief Technology Officer… The most notable Vilocity deployment NuWave has done is for the U.S. Army EMDS Program. From deployment and through continuous support NuWave has worked closely with this client to communicate issues and identify tools that could improve Vilocity. The Vilocity 2.0 release is a culmination of NuWave’s desire for their clients to be successful.”
It looks like they have found a way to make Endeca useful. Users of the Vilocity Analytic framework will be able to find answers to the right questions as well as make new discoveries. The consistent look and feel of both systems should aid users in getting used to them, and making the most of their new platform.
Chelsea Kerwin, March 17, 2014
Stephen E Arnold, Publisher of CyberOSINT at www.xenky.com
Assessing SharePoint Content Security
March 17, 2015
With the volume of content housed in SharePoint implementations constantly growing, security threats are becoming an increasingly large problem as well. For organizations that are not sure how to measure the security of their SharePoint infrastructure, Metalogix may have a solution. CMS Wire covers the news in their article, “9 Metrics To Assess SharePoint Content Security.”
The article begins:
“Is your SharePoint content secure? More importantly, do you know how to assess your content security? Given the number of SharePoint environments, it’s likely that a lot of people would answer ‘no.’ Metalogix, however, has just released a new tool it claims will help. The new Insider Threat Index (ITI) offers SharePoint managers insight into their content security based on nine metrics.”
A lot of resources are devoted to helping organizations make the most of their SharePoint solution. Security is not the only concern, but also efficiency, structure, and user experience. To keep up with these and other topics, consider the SharePoint feed on ArnoldIT.com. Stephen E. Arnold has spent his career following all things search, including SharePoint. His expert-run Web site allows users to find lots of tips, tricks, and news pertaining to the enterprise.
Emily Rae Aldridge, March 17, 2015
Stephen E Arnold, Publisher of CyberOSINT at www.xenky.com
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