While JPMorgan Chase & Co. certainly isn’t the first bank to do this — USAA has allowed its members to deposit checks by snapspot for just under a year now — it’s definitely the first major public bank to bring this stuff to the mainstream. A recent update to the Chase Mobile iPhone app enables customers to photograph the front and back of checks made out to them and then have it deposited directly into whatever Chase account (with their name on it, obviously) they choose. Better still, the service is completely free of charge, though it’s limited to Apple’s platform at the moment. Too bad you can’t just cut checks to yourself and live the life those goofy TV ads push so hard, but hey, at least you’re one step closer to pretending.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Chase Mobile iPhone app update: picture your paycheck deposited, and it’s there originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I’ve been involved in many discussions on IT security applications over the years, but today’s conference call with the IT Security Special Interest Group truly hit home on the business issues many channel providers face.  Many VARs and MSPs offer security applications to their clients, but could use help developing this expertise and in transitioning from a reactive focus on security to a proactive approach.

During the call, Fernando Quintero, VP of Channel Operations for McAfee and chair of the CompTIA IT Security group, outlined some of the issues facing channel providers, including their need to differentiate themselves from competitors. Just as much of the IT industry is transitioning from a strict reseller model to a solution and service model, VARs want to become the security experts for their clients. The end goal is to show customers how to mature in protecting their systems, moving them from calling when they have a breach or virus issue (reactive) to allowing them to design and implement solutions to prevent these issues from ever causing a system issue (proactive).

With some partners reselling eight to ten security solutions, consolidation to a few key vendors is another activity to consider. If a provider reduces that number to two or three comprehensive offerings, and can invest time in training and partnering with those companies, they can grow their expertise and product knowledge exponentially. Just because providers have a quantity of solutions to offer doesn’t mean holes won’t exist in their clients’ security– expertise in the topic and products is typically more important.

The rapid growth in virtualization and cloud/SaaS computing is also creating concerns for the business community, and security concerns related to these technologies need to be addressed. The CompTIA IT security community looks to develop tools and resources, possibly in conjunction with other groups in the association, to help providers address their customers’ questions and problems.

Both the strategic and tactical goals of this group will focus on helping channel providers build their IT security practices, and enhance the business with tools and best practices. Those objectives include creating technical and security business education resources, such as the upcoming video-on demand series. Training is needed to help providers educate both their employees and customers on security, as well as how to build the business around it (ensuring profitability from the expertise).

The IT Security group will expand the discussion in their breakout session during CompTIA’s Annual Members Meeting next month, particularly around the education, programs and tools channel providers need to develop a more consultative practice. The Chicago event, April 7-8 2010, is intended to build partnerships, share best practices, and address specific issues important to the association members’ businesses.

Read more here:
Building a Business Model for IT Security

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I was at the RSA Conference in San Francisco last week and was amazed to see the seemingly infinite number of vendors in the security space. Of course, all the usual companies were there, like McAfee, Symantec, Microsoft, CA, Cisco, Trend Micro, Kaspersky, Sophos and ESET, with  nonstop demonstrations and, of course, tchotchkes.  You can always use another t-shirt or keychain, right?

I had the opportunity to interact with a wide range of folks while walking the show floor, working the booth, attending vendor sessions, hosting our hospitality event, and just plain networking. The conversation was always engaging and revolved around CompTIA, whether it involved certifications such as the CompTIA Security +, accreditations like the CompTIA Security Trustmark, our newly refreshed IT Pro community for certification holders, participation in our rapidly growing Communities, or attendance and/or sponsorship at the AMM or Breakaway 2010.

With more and more technology moving to “the cloud,” it only makes sense to see vendors focusing their marketing messages on how they can bring peace of mind as well as their security expertise to the ever increasing software as a service (SaaS) delivery method. It seemed as though every booth at the show was promoting their SaaS expertise…the outlook for the security sector is certainly no longer “partly cloudy,” instead it is fast becoming a ray of sunshine and business opportunity in this economy.

The same optimistic outlook can be seen in the security marketplace as we strive to grow our IT Security Special Interest Group. We are now pulling together the final components of our next meeting agenda and it looks great. Our early morning session for IT Security will include an ongoing discussion pertaining to the code of ethics, additional development of the continued educational program, and the creation of working groups for new industry focused initiatives. The security keynote session will involve a panel moderated by Channel Insider’s Larry Walsh, with Randy Cochran (Symantec), Fernando Quintero (McAfee), Chris Doggett (Sophos), Steve Barrone (Creative Breakthroughs), and Mark Sollazo (SynerComm) as participants.

See you in Chicago on April 7-8th…….

Read more here:
RSA Conference Topics Show CompTIA Communities on the Right Path

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Google’s certainly made some enterprise inroads with Google Apps, and now it’s opened the door for other cloud-based service providers to build on that success: it’s launching Google Apps Marketplace to sell third-party web apps that integrate with the Apps suite. The apps are sold as a subscription, with both monthly and annual pricing, and the billing is all handled by Google. Since it’s all targeted at the enterprise, the apps themselves are pretty dry — we’re talking notables like Intuit Online Payroll, eFax, and TripIt — but it’s pretty easy to see how Google could build a similar consumer-level marketplace into Gmail and Google Calendar sometime in the future. And then? Skynet. Video after the break.

Continue reading Google Apps Marketplace opens for business, for business

Google Apps Marketplace opens for business, for business originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There has been a lot of talk lately about the cloud….pick up just about any tech journal, business publication, or even the newspaper (online or even the old print format!) and there are articles and analysis discussing everything moving to “the cloud.”  What does that really mean?  Is the end of the desktop/laptop, as we know it today, coming sooner than we thought?  Is it all about being connected 24/7 so that no applications reside locally anymore?

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Cloud Computing: The Call for Standardization, Definitions, and the Need for Certification

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The SaaS program is designed to attract more VARs to Kaseya’s new K2 platform announced earlier this year.

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Kaseya’s SaaS Program Adds First Channel Partners

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As mentioned in previous articles, managed IT services and managed print services are moving beyond the adoption cycle to become readily accepted by both providers and end users.

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Customer Demand Driving Managed IT Services and Managed Print Services Growth

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As mentioned in previous articles, managed IT services and managed print services are moving beyond the adoption cycle to become readily accepted by both providers and end users.

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Customer Demand Driving Managed IT Services and Managed Print Services Growth

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It’s been a busy day so far at the IT Services and Support Executive Forum meeting in Toronto, as the group shifted into discussions on certification and initiatives updates, as well as a review of the new CompTIA Communities.

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Canadian IT Services Group Drives Key Industry Initiatives

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It’s been a busy day so far at the IT Services and Support Executive Forum meeting in Toronto, as the group shifted into discussions on certification and initiatives updates, as well as a review of the new CompTIA Communities.

Read the original post:
Canadian IT Services Group Drives Key Industry Initiatives

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