Windows IT Pro Storage UPDATE--Flash Memory Gets More Secure--October 3, 2005

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Meeting Enterprise Management Needs: The Integration of Microsoft SMS 2003 and Afaria
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Eliminating Overlooked System Vulnerabilities
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1. Commentary
- SanDisk Innovation Bolsters DRM on Flash Memory

2. From the Community
- NTBackup Might Hang When Restoring a Second Backup Set

3. New and Improved
- Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager Goes GA
- Tell Us About a Hot Product and Get a T-Shirt!

4. Windows IT Pro Resources

==== Sponsor: Meeting Enterprise Management Needs: The Integration of Microsoft SMS 2003 and Afaria ====

Learn about the capabilities offered by the integration of Microsoft SMS 2003 and Afaria. In this free white paper, you'll learn about new functionality and benefits of Microsoft SMS specifically targeted to improving management of remote and mobile devices, challenges of managing frontline systems, how the combined solution creates value around the successful use of technology at the front lines of business, and more.
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==== 1. Commentary: SanDisk Innovation Bolsters DRM on Flash Memory ====
by David Chernicoff, [email protected]

Digital Rights Management (DRM) and storage are intimately connected technologies. The ability to protect, yet easily transfer and manage copyrighted data, is one that every business at some point finds itself dealing with, either as a consumer or producer of that content. As ever-expanding amounts of data are stored on mobile devices and vendors look to build technologies that allow secure mobile transactions, the technology to maintain the security of data and transactions is an area attracting a great deal of interest.

Last week, SanDisk introduced its solution to the mobile DRM problem: TrustedFlash technology. Initially, TrustedFlash OEMs will be making media content, such as music, games, and movies, available on SanDisk miniSD, microSD, and standard Secure Digital (SD) format cards.

These memory cards contain more than just the flash memory previously found on such devices. They also contain an on-board processor with a high-performance cryptographic engine that enables the data on the cards to be secured from unauthorized copying or use without affecting an authorized user's ability to play back the data.

Initial consumer use of the TrustedFlash technology will be in the release of a major artist's next album on a microSD TrustedFlash card, under the "gruvi" trade name. The card will contain the album, additional artist content specific to this distribution format, plus additional albums that a user who buys the rights to those additional tracks can unlock. Plans are afoot to let customers download additional secure content to TrustedFlash cards on demand, which will let users customize their storage, so that they're not limited to having only prepackaged content from providers.

Remember that the key difference here is that unlike computer-based DRM solutions, the rights to the content are specific to the storage card and not to the device that permits access to the content. This means that you can move the card to any device that supports the card format and access the content from that device.

The TrustedFlash cards can support a full suite of DRM technologies, and SanDisk is planning to let OEMs use their own DRM solutions as an option to those that SanDisk provides. The TrustedFlash cards' security, which is significantly more stringent than any other memory-card storage-security option, provides a compelling solution for businesses looking for a portable DRM strategy.

SanDisk has announced that the second phase of the TrustedFlash rollout, scheduled for 2006, will include support for mobile e-commerce applications and will enable TrustedFlash-enabled communications devices, such as smart phones and wireless PDAs, to perform secure online financial transactions. This support will let OEMs develop applications that let users pay for services or products directly from their PDAs or cell phones, for example, by using stored data such as credit card information or banking data, instead of the limited "bill to my cell phone account" services commonly found today.

Consumers will determine whether the TrustedFlash format is an acceptable DRM methodology by simply choosing to buy or not buy media content provided on TrustedFlash cards. Business adoption, outside of the media industry, is likely to drive greater acceptance. The controversies surrounding DRM and media don't exist in the business-transaction world, where even end-user consumers of data want the most stringent security possible.

==== Sponsor: Eliminating Overlooked System Vulnerabilities ====

You have all the security bases covered to safeguard your company’s digital assets, but do your systems and storage management practices still leave you vulnerable to attack and downtime? In this free white paper, learn how complete protection of your IT operations requires an approach that incorporates systems and storage management into your security management efforts. Download your free copy today, and learn how systems and storage management are critical in your security efforts. You'll learn a better, smarter, and more efficient way to combat attacks, eliminate vulnerabilities, and respond to and recover from disruptive events in less time and with greater success.
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==== 2. From the Community ====

NTBackup Might Hang When Restoring a Second Backup Set

In Windows 2000, when you use NTBackup to restore the second backup set from a tape that contains two backup sets, NTBackup might stop responding and you might get any of several errors. To learn more about the problem and its solution, go to http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=328936.

==== 3. New and Improved ====
by Anne Grubb, [email protected]

Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager Goes GA

At Storage Decisions last week, Microsoft announced the general availability of its disk-based backup product, Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM). The release of DPM is a key part of Microsoft's Universal Distributed Storage strategy, which itself is one of the five pillars of Microsoft's Windows Server vision. According to benchmark statistics from VeriTest, an independent testing firm, DPM performs file recovery 11.6 times faster and incremental backups 3.7 times faster than the leading tape backup and recovery product. "DPM is designed from ground level to take advantage of disk," says Ben Matheson, group product manager for DPM. He explains that DPM is faster than tape because "\[DPM\] works at the byte level, whereas tape backup works at the file level." DPM is priced at about $950 retail, which includes one server license and the management licenses to protect three file servers. For more information about DPM, go to http://www.microsoft.com/dpm.

Tell Us About a Hot Product and Get a T-Shirt!

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==== 4. Windows IT Pro Resources ====

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==== Resources and Events ====
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Windows Connections 2005 Conference - October 31 - November 3, 2005

At the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, Microsoft and Windows experts present more than 40 in-depth sessions with real-world solutions you can take back and apply today. Register now and attend two conferences for the price on one!
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Deploy VoIP and FoIP Technologies

Voice over IP (VoIP) is the future of telecommunications, and many companies are already enjoying the benefits of using VoIP networks to significantly reduce telephone and facsimile costs. Join industry expert David Chernicoff for this free Web seminar to learn the 'ins and outs' of boardless fax in IP environments, tips for rolling out fax and integrating fax with telephony technologies, and more!
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Microsoft IT Forum 2005 November 15-17, Barcelona, Spain

Microsoft's European conference for IT professionals on planning, deploying, and managing the secure connected enterprise. Three days of learning, one year of solutions. With a choice of 325+ Technical Learning Sessions, increase your productivity and support your business with new opportunities and ideas. See the Web site for registration information.
http://www.microsoft.com/europe/msitforum/

ManageFusion .05 Orlando

Register today for ManageFusion .05, the premier IT systems management user conference that brings together individuals, vendors, and customers to share and learn about the latest developments and best practices in IT lifecycle management. For details, visit
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