It's ASPE's goal to provide our customers with tools, resources, and “toys” that make it easier to be a technology professional.
Check out this page every few weeks to discover the new white papers, free subscriptions, job aids, gizmos, and gadgets we're offering.
It's fundamental: the world of technology continues to get more complex, from planning and design to administration and operations. It's the nature of technology itself. But that complexity breeds opportunities as well as challenges, and that's one of the pillars our business has been built on. ASPE strives to help you tap the opportunities and meet the challenges through our curriculum of advanced technology training, as well as through these special offers. These freebies are about fun, but they're also about giving you tools and information to help you be successful.
DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS:To receive one or more of our free offers, click on a fee offer link and complete the appropriate form. Upon completion of the appropriate form, you will be immediately taken to a download page where you can download the offers you wish to obtain.
Information Technology offers:
Application Development
Database and Business Intelligence
Microsoft
Networking
Fine grain password policies
fine-grained password policies offer a level of flexibility not found in previous version of the operating system. For those administrators that had specific needs for this type of functionality, they will find the policies easy to work with and flexible once they get a chance to experiment and learn all of the settings.
Complete the short form to download the quick tips
Utilizing SharePoint to Automate a Paperless Office
Implementing a green strategy can be accomplished in many ways and Microsoft SharePoint Server 2007 can be a very useful tool for many organizations wanting to help. This paper will explore several ways that SharePoint Server 2007 can help you reduce the amounts of waste that your company generates.
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The Importance of Contextual Design in Reducing Project Costs and Increasing Customer Satisfaction
Contextual Design is a scientific method for determining how software should be developed based on the users' actions and not their words Contextual Design (C.D.) utilizes three distinct steps to help determine and prioritize software requirements. 1. Contextual Inquiry - Gather data from observing multiple different users doing their work 2. Work Modeling - Use standard modeling methods to model the individual user's work 3. Consolidation - Consolidate all of the individual work models to create a complete view of the users' work practices.
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Using Automated Tests to Document Software Architectures
When comparing real examples of automated tests to the architectural solution described in Essential Software Architecture, it becomes clear that source code (written in Java) alone is not expressive enough to replace every aspect of an architecture specification. In this article, UML models are used to document context information that cannot be easily described using source code alone. In keeping with the agile style of automated testing, all models were created using Agile Modeling.
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Top 5 Pitfalls for SOA
SOA is one of the most important developments in recent IT history. Everyone has something to say about SOA, and a huge industry has grown up around tools, languages, platforms, and frameworks for SOA. There are, however, several pitfalls that can seriously delay or completely derail an effort to implement an SOA.
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Story Driven Acceptance Testing
Story-driven acceptance testing starts with stores that can provide a near-term business value to a customer. Agile development cycles are driven by stories customers would like to have added to an application. When the time comes to implement something described by a story, the story customer and a developer talk about what the story means and how it should be implemented.
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Writing Music in JAVA
Music software enables expressing musical ideas that must be both human-readable and computer-readable. This white paper examines two open source Java libraries that use two different notations, which express musical information in computer-friendly ASCII formats.
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White Paper: Independent vs. Certified Product Training
Generally speaking, good product training provides trainees with clear instructions on how to use the product based on need, but also provides a detailed understanding of what the system cannot do within the context of that need. When done properly, total cost of ownership goes down. If done wrong, ownership costs go up significantly.
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An SI, Inc. White Paper: Perspectives: Straw House
Programs like Capabilities Maturity Model (CMM) aim to measure repeatability and how well a software development effort documents its process. Unfortunately, there is no correlation between CMM level and the security of the code produced - whether it's good or bad, the only thing you can be confident in is that it will be consistently good or bad.
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”
An SI, Inc. White Paper: Scan Your Source Code To Locate Weak Spots Early
Whitebox testing is notoriously difficult to do. Without automatic code-scanning tools, it takes a keen eye, concentration and an enormous amount of time to scan each line of source code for security vulnerabilities. And as hackers become more sophisticated at finding these chinks in your armor and writing exploitative code, it becomes more necessary to take every precaution before shipping software. The necessary protection can range from security training throughout the security development life cycle (SDLC) to using tools such as source code scanners and vulnerability scanners.
Complete the short form to download “Scan Your Source Code To Locate Weak Spots Early”
An SI, Inc. White Paper: Designing Security in a Five-Step Action Plan to More Secure Software
For years,consumers have accepted security flaws in software. The IT industry has responded by creating defences at the perimeters of the networks – firewalls,routers,antivirus software,patch update tools,e-mail filters,and other products designed to protect systems from attackers. The key problem is that, at the network level, data used to exploit security flaws is often indistinguishable from legitimate application data. Our only hope is to tackle vulnerabilities at their root – in the applications themselves.
Complete the short form to download “Designing Security in a Five-Step Action Plan to More Secure Software
”
White Paper: Windows Server 2008 - The Read Only Domain Controller
In Windows Server 2008, a new type of domain controller has been created called the read only domain controller (RODC). Although it appears to be somewhat circular in reverting back to the NT days of a BDC, there are security benefits and many more options available with RODC’s.
Complete the short form to download “Windows Server 2008 - The Read Only Domain Controller”
White Paper: Windows Vista Security - Bit Locker
BitLocker is EFS but for full partitions/volumes, instead of files and folders. When used, the entire drive becomes inaccessible to anyone trying to access the drive, either by network, other operating system, or other boot files/disks. This is especially useful for drives being discarded or ones lost from theft, as you cannot bypass the encryption without the original hardware.
Complete the short form to download “Windows Vista Security - Bit Locker”
An SI, Inc. White Paper: 19 Attacks for Exploiting (all) Applications
The security experts at SI, Inc. give you 19 examples of attacks that could compromise virtually any system you work with.
Complete the short form to download “19 Attacks for Exploiting (all) Applications”
An SI, Inc. White Paper: Application Security by Design
The best way to ensure security in your applications is to plan for it from the very start. Get details on how you can make this part of your method in this in-depth white paper from SI, Inc.
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The SI, Inc. and ASPE joint Application Security Curriculum
You may suspect that your organization can't manage software security issues because it just doesn't know how. Worse yet, you may know it for sure. Either way, trying to decide how to pursue training in these areas can be an overwhelming task. This document clearly defines needs and outlines solutions - a good place to start.
Complete the short form to download “The Application Security Curriculum”
Networking Fundamentals Reference Manual
Get your free Networking Fundamentals information guide. This 300+ page manual gives you precise information on the OSI model, network hardware, bridges and switches, data flow through a router, WAN technologies, costs and implementation considerations,TCP/IP details, Security overview and much more.
Please fill out our short form to download “Networking Fundamentals Reference Manual”
Controlling Outbound Internet Access Through Use of a Proxy and Firewall
Network Security is critical. Firewall and Proxy technologies are the leading way companies are keeping their internal networks safe. In this white paper, learn how Proxy and Firewalls are used, where in your network they are placed and types of configurations use.
Please fill out our short form to download “Controlling Outbound Internet Access Through Use of a Proxy and Firewall”
Internetworking with Bridges
Bridges are still used within networks. This is a brief but useful new white paper from our archive on how to extend your Local Area Networks with Bridges.
Please fill out our short form to download “Internetworking with Bridges”
IP Subnetting
TCP/IP is the standard for Internet connectivity. IP address subnetting is a very critical skill in extending the number of addresses you have available. It is also the must difficult part of TCP/IP and is very confusing to the vast majority of system and network administrators. In this white paper, Networking Fundamentals course director Scott Smith provides a unique and simple approach to subnetting.
Please fill out our short form to download “IP Subnetting”
LAN Addressing
In order to successfully set up a Local Area Network, you must have an understanding of TCP/IP. The Transmission Control Protocol over the Internet Protocol is the defect solution for networking in today's communication environment. TCP/IP is a suite of protocols and standards, including ARP, PING, SMTP, URL, and HTTP to name a few. All are powerful tools that make today's network-to-network communication happen so effortlessly. To use TCP/IP you must understand the protocols and how the protocol works to transport voice, video, and data. This white paper uses clear, easy to understand language to teach all the details around TCP/IP.
Please fill out our short form to download “ LAN Addressing”
ITIL v3 Introduction
Information Technology is the world’s best success story. No industry has grown as quickly or changed with such lightning speed. Yet in spite of all the major progress and achievements, IT service has also suffered a lingering perception of unreliability, poor communication, and even poor self-management. Since the 1980’s a set of principles and processes have been refined by ITIL® (IT Infrastructure Library) to guide IT Service Management in adding value to the business needs.
Please fill out our short form to download “ ITIL v3 Introduction”
What is SharePoint & What Can It Do For Your Business?
So you've been thinking about using SharePoint after hearing about all the amazing stuff it can do, right? Or you might be saying to yourself, "Yeah, I've heard of SharePoint...but what exactly is it?" In our newest white paper we'll explain what SharePoint is, what it does, and most importantly what it can do for your business. If you're new to the idea of collaboration, we will introduce the concept and show you why SharePoint is one of the premier collaboration server applications on the market today.
Please fill out our short form to download “What is SharePoint & What Can It Do For Your Business”
Why Windows 7 is Better Than Vista
Windows Vista has not been well-received in the IT community. Problems have prevented many IT groups from moving to the Vista OS, while in the consumer marketplace it has become wildly popular because it's nearly impossible to buy a computer with Windows XP. Enter Windows 7 as a corporate solution. In this white paper, you are introduced to three core areas where Windows 7 improves on the Vista operating system, including: application compatibility, hardware compatibility and the user interface learning curve. The aim of the paper is to show that Windows 7 is more corporate friendly and more user friendly. The position of the author is simple: Windows 7 is far better than Vista.
Please fill out our short form to download “Why Windows 7 is Better Than Vista ”
Using Microsoft SharePoint for Project Management
A modern Project Management Information System (PMIS) is a collaborative solution that allows for the management of projects and the documentation and processes associated with them. Dozens of solutions exist, however, if you have implemented Microsoft SharePoint or plan to implement it, you may already have one of the best PMIS solutions available today.
Please fill out our short form to download “Using Microsoft SharePoint for Project Management”
Hyper-V R2: What’s New?
This white paper provides an overview of the new features in Hyper-V R2 and how they may benefit
implementing organizations. Hyper-V R2, which ships with Windows Server 2008 R2, adds several new
and important features to Microsoft’s virtualization solution.
Please fill out our short form to download “Hyper-V R2: What’s New?”
SQL Server Performance Tuning for DBAs
DBAs are often tasked with improving the performance of the databases that they manage. While you can improve the performance of a database or database server by upgrading the server hardware, this method is not always the best method. In this white paper, you will learn what is required to tune up your SQL Servers without the need for costly upgrades. The topic will be addressed from four perspectives: 1) Why Performance Tuning Matters, 2) Myths of Performance Tuning, 3) The Performance Tuning Process, 4) Performance Tuning Tools.
Please fill out our short form to download “SQL Server Performance Tuning for DBAs”
SharePoint 2010: A Preview of Microsoft’s Premier Collaboration Tool
Scheduled for the first half of 2010, Microsoft plans on debuting the next generation of SharePoint technologies, simply called SharePoint 2010. Yes, SharePoint has kept most of the functionality of the previous version; however, the implementation of this functionality has been greatly improved and many new features have been added. While some of the changes may be obvious to many users and administrators, other changes are not quite as easy to spot with the naked eye.
Please fill out our short form to download “SharePoint 2010: A Preview”
Training in the Virtual Environment
Economic pressures make increased worker productivity imperative, and while additional
training can help you achieve this increased productivity, highly constrained travel
budgets keep many people out of the classroom. Collaborative training tools can
be used to avoid travel and its costs, but effectively utilizing these tools creates
new challenges. Learn the basics of how to train in a virtual environment, including
8 quick tips to increase interaction, effectiveness, and overall participant satisfaction.
Please fill out our short form to download “Training in the Virtual Environment”
Desktop Computer Security
This is a guide that explains how to secure your desktop computer. The guide and the resource
list are primarily written for the Windows OS environment, but also apply to other operating
systems. The steps include: anti-virus software, OS patches and software updates, anti-malware,
system utilities, software and hardware firewalls, system and file backups, safe computing
practices and encryption.
Please fill out our short form to download “Desktop Computer Security”
Introduction to Server 2008: Group Policy Preferences
Microsoft provides a centralized management solution built into Windows called Group Policy.
Group Policy has a built in, easy to use interface and is a powerful tool, allowing you to
centrally control the configuration of desktops and servers. The intuitive interface allows
even a novice administrator to be successful in performing a myriad of operations, which
required complex scripting knowledge in the past.
Please fill out our short form to download “Introduction to Server 2008: Group Policy Preferences”
Setting Up a Secure Wireless Network
With the rise of identity theft and the increasing number of viruses circulating the web,
it is more important than ever that your business or home office network be made as secure
as possible. A wired network is, by its very nature, secure. With wireless networks,
however, anyone that can pick up your wireless signal can gain access to your network
unless you take steps to prevent it. This white paper gives you those steps in detail.
Please fill out our short form to download “Setting Up a Secure Wireless Network”
Microsoft Exchange Server 2010: New Features
Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 brings a little more peace of mind in the form of higher
performance and reliability compared to its previous incarnations. It offers features that
protect your communications as well as make administration easier. The end user experiences
some of the improvements in the form of greater business mobility. With new options for
deployment and storage, improved capabilities for inbox management, and built-in email
archiving, Exchange Server 2010 helps lower cost and improve business outcomes.
Please fill out our short form to download “Microsoft Exchange Server 2010: New Features”
Understanding the Windows 7 Deployment Tools
This white paper will explain the purpose and functionality of the free Windows 7 deployment tools available from Microsoft.
The reader will understand the proper use of each tool and the migration phases within which tools operate. The paper begins
by reviewing the basic phases of a Windows 7 deployment and then exploring the tools used in each phase
Please fill out our short form to download “Understanding the Windows 7 Deployment Tools”
Troubleshooting Wireless Networks
Troubleshooting wireless networks is as much an art as a science. Signal connectivity can be lost due to any number of things, such as poor router positioning, poor DLS or cable strength coming into the house, or even an older router that is starting to get flaky. Lack of internet connectivity altogether is often a separate, physical matter. In this whitepaper, get troubleshooting suggestions on various common issues that cause connectivity issues with wireless networks.
Please fill out our short form to download “Troubleshooting Wireless Networks”
Social Engineering
Social Engineering is an attack method in which an attacker tries to manipulate people into doing something for them, including, but not limited to, divulging confidential information. This term usually refers to misleading a victim by persuasion, being aggressive, or using other interpersonal skills to obtain authentication information or access to a computer system. In this whitepaper, learn about common attacks and how to protect yourself and your organization.
Please fill out our short form to download “Social Engineering”
Best Practices for VPN Security
VPN security relies heavily on authentication and encryption. It is considered best practice to always use the best authentication possible.
Learn how to understand VPN functions and the importance of restricting physical access, using strong authentication and encryption, assigning IP
addresses, real-time end-point monitoring and more in this white paper.
Please fill out our short form to download “Best Practices for VPN Security”
Comparing Free Virtualization Products
Use this reference to compare free virtualization products that are available. Products featured include VMware Player, Microsoft Virtual PC
2007, Oracle VM, Xen and many more. Learn the specifics you need to know about system and other requirements for some of the most popular free
virtualization products around.
Please fill out our short form to download “Comparing Free Virtualization Products”
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