(re) blog: dialogue with Redemtech

European WEEE Recast Could Influence U.S. E-waste Legislation

Two equally groundbreaking and potentially earth-shattering regulations recently rocked Europe that will impact Redemtech’s customers in the U.S. and abroad in the coming years and have a profound influence on our industry. One regulation regards the proper disposal of electronic waste, which is one of Redemtech’s primary social and environmental causes, while the other affects data security and the privacy of customer information.

What’s Powering Your Electronics (and everything else)? (UGLY REALITY #1)

Hidden behind America’s irreversible addiction to gadgetry and all things electronic lie ugly realities our frenzied lives effectively mask. When you turn on your computer, do you envision the coal mines?

Wyoming Coal Mines. Source: Wikipedia Common Photos

B is for Breach

After my last blog, “A is for Asset,”   I decided to stay on track with the ABC’s of technology lifecycle management.   My original thought for the letter “B” was Budget – but due to recent events, Breach has become the new “B” word (In more ways than one).

Keep It Simple to Keep It Safe

Recently, I listened to comments from Ron Ross, a Senior Computer Scientist with NIST.  In this roundtable discussion, Ross connects the dots between risk management and complexity.  Ross is the chief author of Special Publication 800-53, NIST’s security controls guidance; so he ought to know a thing or two about mitigating risk.

Fighting Crime as Part of the E-Stewards Promotions Commitee

Since I first discovered Redemtech in my research for Green IT For Dummies in the fall of 2008, my life has taken a different course. Researching e-waste and my conversations with Redemtech President Bob Houghton gave me something truly tangible and relevant I could do something about. In probing into the origins of IT, I learned that the technology that enables worlds where “knowledge workers” never get their hands dirty, not only has a long and sullied history, but also is rife with contemporary crime. “Crime?,” you ask? Crime. Crime in which, if you don’t pay careful attention, you’ll find yourself participating.

A is for Asset

The Bing dictionary offers the following definition:
as•set [ á sèt
1. somebody or something useful: somebody or something that is useful and contributes to the success of something

Looking Back...To Look Ahead

It's been an action-packed year, with riots, public protests, strikes, national scandals and, most notably, global economic turmoil. Technology leaders and IT asset managers--with the advent of cloud computing, big data and BYOD--are also living in tumultuous times.

Bringing Feng Shui Harmony to Our ITAM Efforts

Being the feng shui kind of gal that I am, I found the title of Carol Baroudi's blog, "Feng Shui..." particularly interesting. After reading the post--all of which I believe is completely valid--I remembered the gifts I had received during the holiday season and decided to evaluate whether or not I had adhered to the three rules she describes:

Feng Shui, Sustainability and the After Christmas Blues

The presents are open,
The gifts are unwrapped,
Oh goodness gracious,
Whadda we do with this, uh, stuff?

The Not-so-New Digital Divide and Really New Remedies

The November 27th New York Times Sunday Review article, “The New Digital Divide,” by Law Professor Susan Crawford, proclaims the “emerging division” that puts millions “at risk of being left behind.” Although I’m delighted for any and all attention being brought to the severe gulf that is today’s digital divide, the divide is not new. Even Dr. Crawford admits that the divide dates back to the mid 90’s when what we now call “the Web” began an unalterable change to how our society functions. In the early 90’s, technologies that had previously been under the governance of the Department of Defense, made their way into the public domain as “The Internet”.