John Savageau

A good indication any new technology or business model is starting to mature is the number of certifications popping up related to that product, framework, or service.   Cloud computing is certainly no exception, with vendors such as Microsoft, Google, VMWare, and IBM offering certification training for their own products, as well as organizations such CompTIA and Architura competing for industry neutral certifications. Is this all hype, or is it an essential part of the emerging cloud computing ecosystem?  Can we remember the days when entry level Cisco, Microsoft, or other vendor certifications were almost mocked by industry elitists? Much like the early Internet days of eEverything, cloud computing is at the point where most have heard the term, few understand the concepts, and marketing folk are exploiting every possible combination of the words to place their p... (more)

Big Data Skills – Opportunities and Threats

Big Data. There are few conversations in the IT community which do not start, address, or end on the topic.  Some conversations are visionary in nature, some critical, and many considering the challenges we’ll need to overcome in the process of understanding how to deal with Big Data. Definitions of Big Data almost parallel the 3 V's of Big Data, which are velocity, volume, and variety.  We may call it a byproduct of massive data growth, cheap technology, and our ability to save everything.  We may address the enormous volumes of data generated by social media, smart grids, and ... (more)

Counterintuity – Creative Internet Marketing in Burbank

Pacific-Tier Communications and Burbank N Beyond’s Innovators and Entrepreneurs had an opportunity to visit with Amy Kramer, President and Marketing Whiz, and Lee Wochner, CEO and Creative Strategist, at Counterintuity LLC, a Burbank-based agency focusing on Internet marketing.  Amy and Lee discussed a variety of topics ranging from taking the risk with a start up company, to their visions and ideas on Internet marketing and social media, as well as why Burbank is a great place to run a business. Counterintuity is a full-service marketing agency that has designed, launched and m... (more)

Protecting Evidence and Property with Robert Giles

“Without evidence, we don’t have a judicial system.” Law enforcement may be defined as any system by which designated members of society act in an organized manner to promote and enforce adherence to the law by discovering and punishing persons who violate the laws governing that society. In order to punish violators and offenders, law enforcement needs to collect and maintain facts and evidence.  Failure to do so correctly may result in the release of a guilty person, or possibly worse the arrest and incarceration of an innocent person. Robert Giles, past President and current ... (more)

ICT Modernization Planning

The current technology refresh cycle presents many opportunities, and challenges to both organizations and governments.  The potential of service-oriented architectures, interoperability, collaboration, and continuity of operations is an attractive outcome of technologies and business models available today.  The challenges are more related to business processes and human factors, both of which require organizational transformations to take best advantage of the collaborative environments enabled through use of cloud computing and access to broadband communications. Gaining th... (more)