AddOns Secure SharePoint Cloud Data
October 10, 2013
As more and more information moves to the Cloud, questions arise about how to secure that data. CipherPoint has announced a new Cloud data security solution that hopes to help solve the problem. Read more in the EON article, “CipherPoint Announces Cloud Data Security Solution for SharePoint Online and Office365.”
The article begins:
“With CipherPoint Eclipse™ for SharePoint Online and Office365, organizations can now identify, secure and audit access to sensitive and regulated data stored in cloud collaboration platforms. This new solution provides customers with robust encryption, using industry standard encryption algorithms, access control, audit reporting and customer-controlled encryption keys to address real concerns that large enterprises have about cloud security.”
Stephen E. Arnold, a longtime expert in search and founder of Arnold IT, has frequently noted that while SharePoint is the most widely used enterprise solution, it is not necessarily the highest functioning. Key features are still lacking and it might not be much longer before even the biggest enterprises go looking for other solutions, including open source. Enterprises still using SharePoint often have to supplement with additional add-ons, such as the security solution that CipherPoint now offers.
Emily Rae Aldridge, October 10, 2013
What Is in Store for SharePoint 2013
October 9, 2013
Steve Arnold of Arnold IT, the leading expert in search and content management, turned my attention to the article, “SharePoint 2013 Not Supported On Windows Server 2012 R2 Until SP1-Whenever That Is” on Windows IT Pro. The new Windows Server 2012 is set for deployment on October 18, 2013 with Windows 8.1 and System Center R2. It is meant to fix many of the bugs that came along with Windows 8, but there is a problem with the upgrade: SharePoint 2013 will not be supported on the new server operating system.
Microsoft alerted its users in a blog post that it will eventually be supported in the SharePoint 2013 Service Pack. The problem is that no one knows when that is. Does that sound annoying? It is Microsoft, so it is not new.
Here is the likely explanation to why the SharePoint will not run on the new server OS:
“But, it makes sense when you remember that Microsoft recently proclaimed a “Cloud First” development plan. This means that unless a product update or support need has a Cloud-value focus for Microsoft, it gets pushed down the list of to-dos. Customers can easily utilize SharePoint 2013 in the Cloud instead of running it on-premise, which is just another example of Microsoft gently prodding Enterprises to the Microsoft Cloud.”
Ugh! Arnold recommends we stall the pitchforks and fire burning for now, but it never hurts to revaluate content management plans. Until then give Microsoft the evil eye and mean glares.
Whitney Grace, October 09, 2013
Should Microsoft Axe SharePoint
October 8, 2013
This article’s title should be taken more as a question than a statement, but you might think differently after reading Meme Burn’s article, “Should Microsoft Kill SharePoint?” It says that Microsoft will delete SharePoint soon and organizations should start planning to adopt a cloud-based system. This comes from Gartner analyst Jeffrey Mann, who spoke at the 2013 Gartner Symposium. He noted that that barely anyone likes using SharePoint, because content management needs to be babied and it is not easy migrating content from system to system. Search is probably not any easier.
Mann suggest that Microsoft should make SharePoint cloud-based platform (like we have not heard that before) and the Yammer partnership will help shape that future.
Mann has an idea for the future:
“He advises that company technologists should develop long-range plans for a post-SharePoint world now. ‘I would hold back on upgrades and new development and choose the cloud option whenever I need to add new functionality. Microsoft may or may not provide an easy way forward, but for anyone who’s invested heavily in customization it will never be painless.’”
We have heard that before too from Steve Arnold of Arnold IT who suggests whenever you need to make a search and content management change, that forming a long-range plan and implementing it in pieces is the surefire way to make new ideas work.
Whitney Grace, October 08, 2013
The SharePoint Network
October 7, 2013
SharePoint and Yammer are going to work together to bring social networking features as well as mobile to the collaborative content management program. CMS Wire has a recap on a webinar that details how the relationship is progressing: “Webinar Recap: Yammer + SharePoint + Mobile – Oh My!” During the webinar, Keith Long of ICF Interactive said that workers spend 61% of their time collaborating, but Yammer might not be the ideal solution because it is not as customizable as SharePoint. This is one the reasons why SharePoint’s Yammer deployment has been slowed.
Another topic was mobile and another interesting statistic is that 95% of workers bring their own device to work, which means it is a big business need. Cloud is taking control of IT budgets by over 70% said Long again, and it is shifting resources. SharePoint is a helpful tool for mobile management, but it is not ideal for smaller companies.
Gasification came up in the Q&A:
“Long noted many of the staples of gasification are available in SharePoint like badges and earning the rank of expert in a given field, for example. Besides onboarding people, gamification can help workers bond a bit more, Long said, something that can actually go a long way in retaining people. In a similar vein, a question came up about overall adoption trends, and Long pointed out that the companies who made the most effort in getting people to use SharePoint were the ones that were successful.”
Getting people to deploy SharePoint sounds like it is taking a bit of bribing. Steve Arnold of Arnold IT, leading expert in search and content management, would suggest forming a team who would issue deadlines and keep companies on task.
Whitney Grace, October 7, 2013
SharePoint Being Prepped For Rich Media Content
October 4, 2013
According to PR Newswire, a very important event will take place on September 26, 2013: “Equilibrium And Metalogix To Discuss How To Optimize SharePoint For Rich Media.” Executives from each of the above companies will host a webinar called,” “Enhancing SharePoint to Manage Large Files including Rich Media Content.” The presenters will be Sean Barger, Founder, and Laura Clemons, VP Product Management, from Equilibrium and Trevor Hellebuyck, CTO of Metalogix. The group will describe the newest solutions for making SharePoint capable to work with rich media, including scalability, management of large digital media asset libraries, mobility, audio, video, and CAT storage/distribution.
Here is a more detailed list of the topics:
“During the event, the presenters will discuss how the combination of Equilibrium’s MediaRich ECM for SharePoint and Metalogix StoragePoint can improve any Microsoft SharePoint deployment without requiring modifications. Attendees will also learn:
- Best practices for management of large files in SharePoint
- How to overcome common issues, such as slow uploads/downloads and time-outs
- How to optimize SharePoint for video playback”
Rich media is the next phase of content management as documentation moves away from basic paper replication. It is important to be able to search these content types, as Arnold IT’s Steve Arnold has mentioned, because as the content changes search needs to become richer and more thorough to meet the demands.
Whitney Grace, October 4, 2013
SharePoint Deployment Makes Users Angry
October 3, 2013
A simple rule of thumb is that when a program is hard to deploy it makes users angry. Bad news for Microsoft, says CBR Online, because “Users Struggle To Implement Microsoft’s SharePoint 2013.” What does SharePoint 2013 do differently than any of its other versions? It is not surprising that the issues deal with security and Cloud technology. It is the same old routine we have heard before. What is even more depressing are the numbers from an AIIM survey: 28% of SharePoint users have stalled their deployment, and one-third are having troubling implementing it. Even more depressing is that 43% will not even use the Cloud to store information and only 6% of users claim to have had success.
Does Microsoft feel the pain yet?
“AIIM President John Mancini said: ‘There are many benefits to tapping into the power of SharePoint 2013, specifically the mobile and social aspects, yet as our research indicates, many business and IT leaders are wary of security issues around cloud technology. While using SharePoint can help companies of any size, as a collaborative platform and even a records management tool, it’s clear from our research that, based on a variety of factors, deployments and adoption of the technology has not reached its original goals.’ “
Content management is only as useful as the program storing it, as Stephen Arnold of Arnold IT, has explained many times. If the software does not do what it is supposed to then it slows productivity and frustrates users. This does not come as a surprise from a Microsoft product. The advice that should be followed is to wait a few months, until Microsoft fixes the bugs.
Whitney Grace, October 3, 2013
Microsoft Decides It Is Time To Improve SharePoint Cloud
September 30, 2013
After a long while, Microsoft will update SharePoint Cloud. CRN tells us in the article, “Microsoft Beefs Up Cloud SharePoint With More Storage, Better Management,” that SharePoint Cloud’s upgrade comes as an investment on Microsoft’s part, because it is an important name on its sixteen-billon dollar business list. Microsoft is increasing the file upload size on the Cloud-based storage from 250 MB to 2 GB per file. Also users can now store .exe and .dll files on the Cloud just like they can on a server-based SharePoint installation. The goal is to eliminate sync problems SharePoint users have. Deleted items will stay in the recycle bin for a total of ninety days, instead of thirty.
“With all these changes, Microsoft is closing a gap between SharePoint Online and the on-premise version and opening up SharePoint Online to more users, Matt Scherocman, president of Interlink Cloud Advisors, a Cincinnati-based Microsoft, told CRN.”
Microsoft is giving its users more liberty and flexibility to work across multiple devices. To remain competitive this is the advantage it needs to remain a big league player. Stephen E Arnold of Arnold IT is curious how Microsoft will handle the search aspect of the Cloud. Will it be deployed across the server and the Cloud-based installation? What about security issues if that is the case? The updates are necessary, but it is important to not forget findability.
Whitney Grace, September 30, 2013
Improved SharePoint Migration with Metalogix
September 30, 2013
It is big business to improve on the SharePoint infrastructure, and countless companies specialize in add-ons and customization. Metalogix throws their name into the ring. Read more in the story, “Improved SharePoint Migration with Metalogix Content Matrix 6.2.”
The article begins:
“Metalogix has released Content Matrix 6.2, featuring a new tool for administrators to allow site and site collection owners, as well as power users, to tag, classify and organize SharePoint content. Metalogix says Content Matrix 6.2 offers an easier way for organizations to keep content organized as they migrate to SharePoint 2013 or Office 365.”
So organization and ease of migration are goals for the Metalogix product, but some say that these are problems that SharePoint users should not have to overcome. Stephen E. Arnold, one of the leading search expert with 30 years of experience, keeps an eye on SharePoint news on his Web presence, Beyond Search.
He asks the question:
“Does any of the enterprise software work without legions of technical experts applying bandages 24×7? Of the hundreds of thousands of apps, how many are in for the long haul?”
For now SharePoint augmentation and customization is big business, and there are plenty of options on the market. We will follow Arnold and see what comes down the pipe for SharePoint.
Emily Rae Aldridge, September 30, 2013
SharePoint Training Makes A Novice An Expert
September 29, 2013
Stephen Arnold, the noted search expert of Arnold IT, alerted me to PR Web’s news on trainings: “SharePoint Solutions Announces New SharePoint Training Classes In Nashville.” The different types of experience you have under your belt make all the difference between failure and success. Arnold notes that with the proper training the chances of success are increased, so it might be a good idea for those in or near the Nashville area to sign up for the classes. If one cannot make it to Nashville, the classes are offered live online.
SharePoint Solutions will be teaching the sessions, with the first beginning September 24. Training sessions have been scheduled for September, October, and November.
“ ‘Our courses provide students with practical hands-on training from instructors who are not only experts in SharePoint, but also experts in communicating technical information in a helpful, easy-to-understand manner,’ said Randy Moody, sales and marketing representative for SharePoint Solutions.”
The classes cover a variety of topics that include an introduction to SharePoint, basic business intelligence training, and trainings involving InfoPath. Becoming an expert in anything, such as Arnold with search, takes time to learn the fundamentals. SharePoint Solution’s courses are the basic tools to get you started on becoming a SharePoint expert.
Whitney Grace, September 29, 2013
Rethink SharePoint Authentications
September 27, 2013
Microsoft’s recent SharePoint security bulletin left a few developers shaking in their the code. According to Threat Post’s article, “SharePoint Fixes Priority For September 2013 Patch Tuesday,” online SharePoint installations are vulnerable to thirteen critical threats and Microsoft only patched ten of them. The threats lead to remote code execution on the collaboration server. Nearly all versions of SharePoint are affected and any installation that has disabled the user highest risk.
The CVE-2013-1330 bug is the worst threat. It is a remote code execution that gives the attacker privileges in the context of W3WP service account, but it requires authentication to gain access. If that feature is turned off, your SharePoint installation is a delightful smorgasbord of hacked information.
Some are surprised about Microsoft’s alarm and user ignorance:
“ ‘It’s interesting that Microsoft prioritized the SharePoint bulletin as highly as they did. In theory, the vulnerability requires authentication. Given the frequency with which people disable SharePoint authentication and the ease of access to documentation on that process, the priority needs to be that high,’ said Tyler Reguly, technical manager of security research and development at Tripwire. ‘People know their computers and email need good passwords. It boggles my mind that we see so many SharePoint deployments in anonymous mode. ‘”
I have been told multiple times by online expert Stephen E Arnold of Arnold IT to always take security risks seriously and find a solution quickly or private information will be stolen faster than a Google search.
Whitney Grace, September 27, 2013
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