Given its many promises of increased productivity, videoconferencing continues to gain popularity in the workplace, both in enterprise-grade systems and simple desktop video apps like Skype. But these benefits come at a cost, with networks becoming clogged with high-bandwidth video traffic. Monitoring the flow of traffic on the network is the first step in solving video-based bandwidth issues. [ + ]

Across the internet, distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks continue to increase in size and intensity. Businesses can minimise the damage from a DDoS with a well rehearsed DDoS mitigation plan, or 'playbook'. [ + ]

Dave Buckmaster embarked on a career in IT following a chance encounter with some Microsoft books, which led to positions at Toyota, AMP and McDonald’s. Now the Technology Services Manager for Medibank Health Solutions, he speaks to Merri Mack about the importance of uptime to a business that operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year. [ + ]

Fujitsu today reopened its Melbourne data centre, which the company recently upgraded in a $60 million program. According to the company, the upgrade has improved the centre’s security, connectivity and availability, to provide its 2000 Australian enterprise and government customers with increased access to secure hosting services. [ + ]

What happens when a well-meaning employee inadvertently shares your company’s financial records with the world? That’s a reality organisations could face if they ignore their employees’ use of consumer cloud storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox. [ + ]

Huawei Australia is cheering on the cyclists riding in the sixth annual Tour de Cure. Huawei’s Corporate Relations and Programs Manager, Lisa Connors, has committed to complete the 11-day, 1656 km ride from Brisbane to Mission Beach in Queensland and will ride alongside Sunrise Sports Presenter Mark Beretta and 90 other cyclists from corporate partners including Optus, Commonwealth Bank, Lexus, Harvey Norman and more. [ + ]

Unified communications vendor Polycom has appointed Gary Denman as managing director of its Australian and New Zealand operations. [ + ]

Having successfully visited nine major hubs across Asia since November last year, the Asia Cloud Conference series comes to Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland in May. [ + ]

Around the globe, the role of CIO is changing. Once upon a time, the CIO was responsible for IT infrastructure, IT systems and their management. Now, CIOs are required have a deeper understanding of business strategy. Merri Mack talks to several IT executive officers about these changes. [ + ]

Virtual private networks (VPNs) offer a way to allow mobile devices to securely access the corporate network from locations with suspect security outside of the firewall - like cafes and hotels offering free public Wi-Fi. But if misused, these VPN tunnels can act as back doors for virulent material. Keeping the VPN clean is of utmost importance. SonicWALL’s Country Manager, Sandeep Joshi, explains. [ + ]

Research In Motion (RIM) has appointed Ray Gillenwater as Managing Director of its Australia and New Zealand operations. Gillenwater will oversee all functions of RIM’s business in Australia and New Zealand, including operations, sales, marketing, retail, distribution and partner relations. [ + ]

Google’s Android is fast becoming the most popular mobile OS in the world. But the operating system’s security profile does not match its popularity - its open architecture and its ability to install applications from third party sources make it a target for malicious minds. Google’s recently announced ‘Bouncer’ program will increase Android security somewhat - but does it go far enough? Bitdefender's Alexandru Balan weighs in on the topic. [ + ]

Implementing any kind of company-wide system has the potential to be a dramatic success or a dismal failure, and unified communications is no exception. Taking a structured approach can mean the difference between a dream deployment and a communications calamity. Graeme Gherbaz, Managing Director of Plantronics Australia and NZ, explains how to employ such a structured approach. [ + ]

The proliferation of mobile devices - company-owned and BYOD - is boosting corporate productivity. But it also presents a new management issue to IT, which needs straightforward ways to ensure these devices are appropriately and securely configured and to oversee compliance with usage policies. Stephen Withers explains how mobile device management (MDM) tools can help. [ + ]

SAS has appointed new Australian leadership, with David Bowie taking the role of Managing Director of the Australian and New Zealand division of the company. Bowie was promoted from his previous position as the company’s marketing and services director. [ + ]