This desk reference for IT professionals in the insurance industry provides information about the latest technologies to improve efficiency and prediction. Topics include: imaging modeling management systems customer systems Internet commerce Issues affecting all financial service sectors, such as the year 2000 problem The Insurance Technology Handbook is geared toward all levels of technology management and financial services management responsible for developing and implementing cutting-edge technology.

Windows Networking Tools: The Complete Guide to Management, Troubleshooting, and Security explains how to use built-in Windows networking tools and third-party networking products to diagnose network problems, address performance issues, and enhance the overall security of your system and network. It starts with a review of the major components of the TCP/IP protocol suite, as well as IP and MAC addressing, to provide a clear understanding of the various networking tools and how they are used in a LAN and a TCP/IP networking environment. Although the book focuses on built-in Windows networking tools, it also investigates a number of third-party products that can enhance the performance of your computer. It identifies tools to help you to understand the traffic flow and operational status of your network , illustrates the use of numerous tools, and shows you several methods to protect your computers from malicious software. It also examines one of the best programs for examining the flow of data on a network Wireshark and explains how to use this program to scan for open ports and discover vulnerability issues. In addition to helping you gain insight into existing problems, the text highlights built-in Windows networking tools that can help to determine if you can expect future bandwidth bottlenecks or other problems to occur under different growth scenarios. Placing the proven methods of an industry veteran at your fingertips, the book includes a chapter devoted to software programs that can enhance the security of your network. It explains how to negate the operation of unwanted advertisement trackers as well as how to minimize and alleviate the various types of hacking from keyboard loggers to network viruses. In the event your computational device is lost or stolen a cryptographic program is described that results in data becoming meaningless to the person or persons attempting to read your

Up to date with the third edition of PMI's Program Management Standard, The PgMP(R) Exam Challenge! contains more than 300 practice questions to help readers hone their knowledge and test their skills. It covers all five of the program management domains: Strategic Program Management, Program Management Life Cycle, Benefits Management, Stakeholder Management, and Governance. It also examines all of the sub domains of the lifecycle domain. With an easy-to-use format, this is an ideal resource for those preparing to take the PgMP exam.

Recognizing the importance of portfolio management, the Project Management Institute (PMI) has launched a new certification entitled the Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP). PfMP Exam Practice Tests and Study Guide is the most comprehensive resource available to help you prepare for and pass the PfMP certification exam. It provides coverage that is current with The Standard for Portfolio Management, Third Edition and the PfMP Examination Content Outline (ECO), 2013.The book consists of five sections, each of which corresponds to one of the five domains described in the ECO. Each section includes study hints, a list of major topics that may be encountered on the exam, and 20 multiple-choice practice questions that illustrate the applicable task from the ECO. Each section also includes an answer sheet and answer key with the rationale for each correct answer and references to the Standard. Supporting references are also listed at the end of the book for each of the domains covered on the exam.Written by Dr. Ginger Levin, co-author of best-selling PMP and PgMP study guides, the book includes two complete practice tests, each consisting of 170 questions that follow the blueprint of the actual PfMP exam as described in the ECO. For example 25 percent of the questions relate to Strategic Alignment 20 percent relate to Governance 25 percent relate to Portfolio Performance 15 percent relate to Portfolio Risk Management 15 percent relate to Communications Management The two accompanying online tests feature a proprietary scoring algorithm to help you determine if you are Proficient, Moderately Proficient, or Below Proficient in each domain. Earning the PfMP certification is a prestigious accomplishment. By study

Preparing for and passing the PMP(R) exam is no small feat. Although the number of certified PMP(R)s continues at a phenomenal rate, the exam failure rate remains uncommonly high. PMP(R) Exam Challenge! is designed to help you pass the exam by giving you an easy-to-use, highly portable publication, containing key relevant topics you are certain to encounter on your exam. Featuring 660 practice questions, this sixth edition completely reflects the PMBOK(R) Guide, Fifth Edition and covers the guide's ten knowledge areas.

Grounded in practicality, this book explains the procedures for running a successful project and highlights the finer points of managing and controlling the project. Written specifically for those responsible for the hands-on managing of projects, the book is also useful to overall program managers and senior executives. Project managers will gain the confidence that comes from following a good recipe for success. Program managers will gain a perspective on the myriad of activities their project managers must perform to achieve a well-disciplined project. Senior managers will gain a perspective of the approach necessary at the beginning of a project to reduce the number of ill-advised projects and the effort required to achieve successful projects.

Information Technology is applicable in all areas of life. As a result, computer science is essential to imagine the modern world. Recent advances in information technology represents only a small part of today's computing applications which were the subject of international cooperation between Kazakh, Ukrainian and Polish scientists. A wide range of issues and topics is addressed, from game theory to advanced control issues: - Application of new computational models and their security problems - The integro-differential game approach - Application of information technology for automated translation, from inflected languages to sign language - Mathematical problems of complex systems investigation under uncertainties Recent advances in information technology is of interest to academics and engineers, and to professionals involved in information technology and its applications.

Network science is a rapidly emerging field of study that encompasses mathematics, computer science, physics, and engineering. A key issue in the study of complex networks is to understand the collective behavior of the various elements of these networks. Although the results from graph theory have proven to be powerful in investigating the structures of complex networks, few books focus on the algorithmic aspects of complex network analysis. Filling this need, Complex Networks: An Algorithmic Perspective supplies the basic theoretical algorithmic and graph theoretic knowledge needed by every researcher and student of complex networks. This book is about specifying, classifying, designing, and implementing mostly sequential and also parallel and distributed algorithms that can be used to analyze the static properties of complex networks. Providing a focused scope which consists of graph theory and algorithms for complex networks, the book identifies and describes a repertoire of algorithms that may be useful for any complex network. Provides the basic background in terms of graph theory Supplies a survey of the key algorithms for the analysis of complex networks Presents case studies of complex networks that illustrate the implementation of algorithms in real-world networks, including protein interaction networks, social networks, and computer networks Requiring only a basic discrete mathematics and algorithms background, the book supplies guidance that is accessible to beginning researchers and students with little background in complex networks. To help beginners in the field, most of the algorithms are provided in ready-to-be-executed form. While not a primary textbook, the author has included pedagogical features such as learning objectives, end-of-chapter summaries, and review questions

Business-Driven IT-Wide Agile (Scrum) and Kanban (Lean) Implementation: An Action Guide for Business and IT Leaders explains how to increase IT delivery capabilities through the use of Agile and Kanban. Factoring in constant change, communication, a sense of urgency, clear and measurable goals, political realities, and infrastructure needs, it covers all the ingredients required for success. Using real-world examples, this practical guide illustrates how to implement Agile and Kanban in software project management and development across the entire IT department. To make things easier for busy IT leaders and executives, the text includes two case studies along with numerous templates to facilitate understanding and kick-start implementation. Explaining how IT and business management can work together to determine business goals that drive this IT-wide undertaking, the book arms you with actionable solutions that can be put to use immediately in any IT department, regardless of size.

Project Management covers the full range of issues of vital concern to IT managers working in today's hurry-up, budget-conscious business environment. The handbook provides valuable advice and guidance on how to get projects finished on-time, within budget, and to the complete satisfaction of users, whether a high-tech, low-tech, financial, manufacturing, or service organization. Project Management Handbook brings together contributions from an all-star team of more than 40 of experts working at leading enterprise organizations and consulting firms across America, and around the world. With the help of dozens of fascinating and instructive case studies and vignettes, reporting experiences in a wide range of business sectors, those experts share their insights and experience and extrapolate practicable guidelines and actions steps that project managers can put to work on their current projects.

Software testing is at a very important crossroad, where it is going back to the roots on certain fronts while moving inexorably forward. For instance, test automation is growing in prominence, but manual testing is becoming a niche; we are increasingly collaborating with the developers, breaking the bounds of unrealistic independence in testing, and bringing in true conscious quality. At such an important stage, it is important to take stock of the past, present, and future to define both the direction the discipline will take as well as the careers it will entail for testers. This book looks at a range of topics covering where we are in the product development landscape today, what are the varied disciplines at play, what are the influencing factors bringing in a change in software testing, why is such change important, what did the past look like, what is current decade turning out to be like, and where are we heading. As for future, it looks at it both from near-term and long-term perspectives. It also considers whether the testing fraternity is ready to take on such changes and are empowered enough to do so, or are there gaps that need to be filled. The book closes with perspectives from industry experts on what is in store for the software testing discipline and community in the coming years. After reading the book, you will be confident that you can take on what is in store for testers in the coming years. You will also be positioned to help the industry move to the next level, and influence change not just amongst testers but also in the product engineering industry level as a whole.

Within this context, big data analytics (BDA) can be an important tool given that many analytic techniques within the big data world have been created specifically to deal with complexity and rapidly changing conditions. The important task for public sector organizations is to liberate analytics from narrow scientific silos and expand it across internally to reap maximum benefit across their portfolios of programs. This book highlights contextual factors important to better situating the use of BDA within government organizations and demonstrates the wide range of applications of different BDA techniques. It emphasizes the importance of leadership and organizational practices that can improve performance. It explains that BDA initiatives should not be bolted on but should be integrated into the organization's performance management processes. Equally important, the book includes chapters that demonstrate the diversity of factors that need to be managed to launch and sustain BDA initiatives in public sector organizations.

This book's author, Byron Love, admits proudly to being an IT geek. However, he had found that being an IT geek was limiting his career path and his effectiveness. During a career of more than 31 years, he has made the transition from geek to geek leader. He hopes this book helps other geeks do the same. This book addresses leadership issues in the IT industry to help IT practitioners lead from the lowest level. Unlike other leadership books that provide a one-size-fits-all approach to leadership, this book focuses on the unique challenges that IT practitioners face. IT project managers may manage processes and technologies, but people must be led. The IT industry attracts people who think in logical ways analytical types who have a propensity to place more emphasis on tasks and technology than on people. This has led to leadership challenges such as poor communication, poor relationship management, and poor stakeholder engagement. Critical IT projects and programs have failed because IT leaders neglect the people component of "people, process, and technology." Communications skills are key to leadership. This book features an in-depth discussion of the communications cycle and emotional intelligence, providing geek leaders with tools to improve their understanding of others and to help others understand them. To transform a geek into a geek leader, this book also discusses: Self-leadership skills so geek leaders know how to lead others by leading themselves first Followership and how to cultivate it among team members How a geek leader's ability to navigate disparate social styles leads to greater credibility and influence Integrating leadership into project management processes The book concludes with a case study to show how to put leadership principles and practices into action and how a

Accounting for the rapid and often confusing changes currently underway in the information systems of organizations, such as the rush to replace mainframes with networks and the decentralization of data storage and processing, provides insights on the duties and challenges of a data center manager. Covers strategic planning, management practices, controls, systems and contingency planning, network technology, human resources, desktop computing, and future directions....

The instant access that hackers have to the latest tools and techniques demands that companies become more aggressive in defending the security of their networks. Conducting a network vulnerability assessment, a self-induced hack attack, identifies the network components and faults in policies, and procedures that expose a company to the damage caused by malicious network intruders. Managing a Network Vulnerability Assessment provides a formal framework for finding and eliminating network security threats, ensuring that no vulnerabilities are overlooked. This thorough overview focuses on the steps necessary to successfully manage an assessment, including the development of a scope statement, the understanding and proper use of assessment methodology, the creation of an expert assessment team, and the production of a valuable response report. The book also details what commercial, freeware, and shareware tools are available, how they work, and how to use them. By following the procedures outlined in this guide, a company can pinpoint what individual parts of their network need to be hardened, and avoid expensive and unnecessary purchases.

Governments, their agencies, and businesses are perpetually battling to protect valuable, classified, proprietary, or sensitive information but often find that the restrictions imposed upon them by information security policies and procedures have significant, negative impacts on their ability to function. These government and business entities are beginning to realize the value of information assurance (IA) as a tool to ensure that the right information gets to the right people, at the right time, with a reasonable expectation that it is timely, accurate, authentic, and uncompromised. Intended for those interested in the construction and operation of an IA or Information Security (InfoSec) program, Building a Global Information Assurance Program describes the key building blocks of an IA development effort including: Information Attributes System Attributes Infrastructure or Architecture Interoperability IA Tools Cognitive Hierarchies Decision Cycles Organizational Considerations Operational Concepts Because of their extensive and diverse backgrounds, the authors bring a unique perspective to current IT issues. The text presents their proprietary process based on the systems development life cycle (SDLC) methodology specifically tailored for an IA program. This process is a structured, cradle-to-grave approach to IA program development, from program planning and design to implementation, support, and phase out. Building a Global Information Assurance Program provides a proven series of steps and tasks that you can follow to build quality IA programs faster, at lower costs, and with less risk.

Your customers want innovation and value, and they want it now. How can you apply Lean principles and practices throughout your enterprise to drive operational excellence, reduce costs while improving quality, enable efficient growth, and accelerate idea-to-value innovation? Shingo Prize-winning author Steve Bell and other thought leaders show you how guiding you to more effectively align people and purpose, promote enterprise agility, and leverage transformative IT capabilities to create market-differentiating value for your customers. Combining research and insight with practical examples and in-depth case studies that can be put to immediate use, Run Grow Transform: Integrating Business and Lean IT is a must read for leaders and senior managers from all disciplines, showing you how to: Drive enterprise outcomes and strategy through adaptive Business/IT learning Maximize collaboration, leverage the knowledge and skills of your teams Overcome enterprise-wise obstacles commonly encountered by Agile development teams Improve infrastructure reliability and cost, learn how to get the best results from operations frameworks including ITIL, COBIT and ISO 20000 Apply Lean principles to Enterprise Architecture and Business Process Management disciplines Make informed, value-based choices about outsourcing Tap into big data and social media to listen to and interact with the virtual voice of your customers Streamline management, collaboration, and communication systems Identify and measure the right things that lead to customer value What readers are saying: This book focuses on the most critical and challenging issue for any aspect of the development or use of IT: creating a collaborative learning culture.Jeffrey K. Liker, Shingo Prize-winning Author of The

Making IT Lean: Applying Lean Practices to the Work of IT presents Lean concepts and techniques for improving processes and eliminating waste in IT operations and IT Service Management, in a manner that is easy to understand. The authors provide a context for discussing several areas of application within this domain, allowing you to quickly gain insight into IT processes and Lean principles.The text reviews IT Service Management, with reference to the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) as a framework for best practices explaining how to use it to accommodate Lean processes and operations. Filled with straightforward examples, it provides enough modeling tools so you can start your Lean journey right away. Examining the work of IT from an IT practitioner perspective, the book includes coverage of: The OM Perspective considers the work of IT from an Operations Management (OM) perspective, showing how many of the concepts that have been successfully applied within manufacturing can be applied to IT The Lean Improvement Model explains Lean concepts and practices and details the authors Lean improvement model Lean Problem-Solving (Identifying and Understanding Problems) considers operational work in IT and explains how to apply Lean practices related to problem identification and root cause analysis Lean Problem-Solving (Identifying and Managing Solutions) describes how to use good problem identification as the basis for identifying the right solutions Lean IT Service Management examines IT work from an IT Service Management perspective, using the ITIL framework as a guide Implementing and Sustaining Lean IT Improvements explains how to implement and sustain Lean IT improvements Throughout the book, the authors use a simple model for Lean Improvement as the framework

As hacker organizations surpass drug cartels in terms of revenue generation, it is clear that the good guys are doing something wrong in information security. Providing a simple foundational remedy for our security ills, Security De-Engineering: Solving the Problems in Information Risk Management is a definitive guide to the current problems impacting corporate information risk management. It explains what the problems are, how and why they have manifested, and outlines powerful solutions.Ian Tibble delves into more than a decade of experience working with close to 100 different Fortune 500s and multinationals to explain how a gradual erosion of skills has placed corporate information assets on a disastrous collision course with automated malware attacks and manual intrusions. Presenting a complete journal of hacking feats and how corporate networks can be compromised, the book covers the most critical aspects of corporate risk information risk management. Outlines six detrimental security changes that have occurred in the past decade Examines automated vulnerability scanners and rationalizes the differences between their perceived and actual value Considers security products including intrusion detection, security incident event management, and identity management The book provides a rare glimpse at the untold stories of what goes on behind the closed doors of private corporations. It details the tools and products that are used, typical behavioral traits, and the two types of security experts that have existed since the mid-nineties the hackers and the consultants that came later. Answering some of the most pressing questions about network penetration testing and cloud computing security, this book provides you with the understanding and tools needed to tackle today's risk management issues as well as those on the horizon.

The success of information backup systems does not rest on IT administrators alone. Rather, a well-designed backup system comes about only when several key factors coalesce business involvement, IT acceptance, best practice designs, enterprise software, and reliable hardware. Enterprise Systems Backup and Recovery: A Corporate Insurance Policy provides organizations with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and features involved in effective enterprise backups. Instead of focusing on any individual backup product, this book recommends corporate procedures and policies that need to be established for comprehensive data protection. It provides relevant information to any organization, regardless of which operating systems or applications are deployed, what backup system is in place, or what planning has been done for business continuity. It explains how backup must be included in every phase of system planning, development, operation, and maintenance. It also provides techniques for analyzing and improving current backup system performance. After reviewing the concepts in this book, organizations will be able to answer these questions with respect to their enterprise: What features and functionality should be expected in a backup environment? What terminology and concepts are unique to backup software, and what can be related to other areas? How can a backup system be monitored successfully? How can the performance of a backup system be improved? What features are just "window dressing" and should be ignored, as opposed to those features that are relevant? Backup and recovery systems touch on just about every system in an organization. Properly implemented, they can provide an enterprise with greater assurance that its information is safe. By utilizing the

Most information systems textbooks overwhelm business students with overly technical information they may not need in their careers. Information Systems: What Every Business Student Needs to Know takes a new approach to the required information systems course for business majors.For each topic covered, the text highlights key "Take-Aways" that alert students to material they will need to remember during their careers. Sections titled "Where You Fit In" and "Why This Chapter Matters" explain how the topics being covered will impact students once they are on the job. Review questions, discussion questions, and summaries are also included in each chapter to reinforce learning. The book is presented in four parts: About Information Systems: covers general information systems concepts that students need to know as they learn about real-world information systems Technology Fundamentals: supplies a foundation in information technology that fills the gaps most students have when they learn through trial and error Information Systems at Work: details the nitty-gritty of how actual companies use information systems in the real word Managing Information Systems: addresses the issues involved in selecting, developing, and managing information systems The text includes a running case study that follows two management information systems majors in college. As the two main characters study the information systems of a medical practice, students follow along and learn valuable lessons as they see how the case plays out. In addition to the running case study, each chapter also includes two mini cases that illustrate the concepts discussed in that chapter.Maintaining a focus on the essential concepts students must know before entering the business world, this book covers the subject of information systems in a manner that students will find accessible.

This is the story of an up-and-coming project manager that has been handed a large program to lead. Follow along as Susan Codwell, Program Manager for FitAtWork Inc., struggles, leads, stumbles, and grows into the role of program manager. Throughout this book you will gain a clear understanding of the core program management processes and components involved.An engaging story of what makes program management effective, From Projects to Programs: A Project Manager's Journey introduces key program management concepts in a manner that is easy to understand. It provides a backstage view into the workings of program management, program organization, team dynamics, and the skills required to manage programs. Presents new ideas on program organization and reporting Identifies the critical skills required of program managers Supplies helpful tips for managing project managers Includes reflections at the end of each chapter that reinforce key concepts Narrated through the eyes of a program manager, the book provides you with the opportunity to experience the ins and outs of real-world program management. Every project team member will find themselves somewhere in this story. Whether you are an aspiring program manager, a successful project manager, or a project team member, this book offers a fascinating glimpse into what it takes to run successful programs in today's business environment.

Companies understand that their ability to compete is tied directly to their ability to leverage the very latest technology advances. Fortunately, deploying new technology has never been easier, primarily due to early maturity and cloud delivery. One approach that is helping companies rapidly pilot and affordably deploy new technologies is ready technology, a new category of information technology (IT). This book explains the ready technology adoption process in detail, enabling companies to exploit new technology immediately and effectively. In this book, the author challenges the traditional "requirements-first/technology-second" approach to technology deployment. Espousing a "technology-first/requirements-second" approach, the author explains how business solutions are "discovered" by deploying not studying ready technology. The book covers the latest trends and processes in ready technology. It also describes the characteristics of ready companies and recommends ready technology pilots that should be launched by the following industries: higher education, retail, and healthcare.

If you want to be a successful project manager, you need to become a person of influence. Without influence, there can be no success as a project manager. And, although all key success criteria point to the importance of developing soft skills as a project manager, few books exist about how to develop the power of influence for achieving better project and business results. Filling this need, The Influential Project Manager: Winning Over Team Members and Stakeholders supplies detailed guidance on how to improve your influence skills to achieve better business results. It explains how to set and meet ambitious goals for you, your team, and your stakeholders. The book describes how to listen actively to influence others and details how you can build partnerships that can pay dividends for a lifetime. Each chapter highlights real-world scenarios about a particular subject linked to the influencing skill being covered. Each chapter also includes practical forms, templates, helpful tips, and best practices to help you develop and refine your skills of influence. Details the ten keys to influencing others to support you and your ideas Outlines techniques for improving your listening skills Includes a trust assessment for determining your level of influence and if others see you as trustworthy Demonstrates how to build a network of informal alliances to achieve success Supplying you with the vision of influence from an experienced project manager's perspective, this book will help you procure the informal power required to become a successful influencer. After reading the text and performing the trust assessment, you will gain the understanding required to lead project members down the path to project success.

Addressing the diminished understanding of the value of security on the executive side and a lack of good business processes on the security side, Security Strategy: From Requirements to Reality explains how to select, develop, and deploy the security strategy best suited to your organization. It clarifies the purpose and place of strategy in an information security program and arms security managers and practitioners with a set of security tactics to support the implementation of strategic planning initiatives, goals, and objectives. The book focuses on security strategy planning and execution to provide a clear and comprehensive look at the structures and tools needed to build a security program that enables and enhances business processes. Divided into two parts, the first part considers business strategy and the second part details specific tactics. The information in both sections will help security practitioners and mangers develop a viable synergy that will allow security to take its place as a valued partner and contributor to the success and profitability of the enterprise. Confusing strategies and tactics all too often keep organizations from properly implementing an effective information protection strategy. This versatile reference presents information in a way that makes it accessible and applicable to organizations of all sizes. Complete with checklists of the physical security requirements that organizations should consider when evaluating or designing facilities, it provides the tools and understanding to enable your company to achieve the operational efficiencies, cost reductions, and brand enhancements that are possible when an effective security strategy is put into action.