The Hindu Business Line : The proof of the pudding...

... is in the eating. Much the same could be said of IT. This book seeks to demonstrate the actual productivity gains from using technology as against just theory. Are you ready to be persuaded?

NOT theory, but demonstration of productivity gains from combining e-communication, e-training, and e-assessment. That's what Tom Kelly and Nader Nanjiani attempt in The Business Case for E-Learning, published by Cisco Systems (www.ciscopress.com) .

The intro begins with a direct message: "E-learning equals productivity." How? "Cisco internal analysis shows that every dollar spent on an e-learning portal for reseller development during fiscal year 2003 yielded $16 in earnings contribution." Achieved "not by throwing technology at the problem," write the authors, but by "an integrated productivity proposition using e-learning components and best practices."

Improvements in online reservation throughput, and such, are often talked about. Off beat, the authors speak of how apparently trivial tasks such as "requesting reimbursement of expenses online" can improve "timeliness of filing, reviewing, auditing, and disbursement," saving employees from frustration caused by delays. More relevant where knowledge workers abound.

E-learning can be delivered in two formats, explains the book. First is the modular approach that enables an individual to learn in `most relevant' chunks, delivering to employees' desktops "practice exercises, virtual mentoring, online lectures, and remote labs and simulations". And, second is `blended' where both traditional instruction and electronic self-paced learning are integrated. More than adopting e-learning, what is important is to convert learning into "measurable organisational success".

At the bottom of the e-learning pyramid is e-communication, "offering the access that a work force needs for empowerment and knowledge sharing." At the middle is e-training, for "development of skills" where "the level of use is less widespread and more specific and structured." Top tier is e-assessment, to validate retention and performance against benchmarks, using "exam, online tests, and certifications."

Avoid the pitfall of allowing technology to determine the nature of the program, is a caution from the authors. "Technology must address the instructional needs of learners before it can fit a learning environment." Another piece of wisdom is to be learner-driven rather than `learner-centric'. Don't count the hours that employees spend on e-learning, because such a micromanaging of learning activity doesn't help. Instead, focus on objectives and environment.

One of the cases included in the book is about the University of Toyota, where just-in-time learning helps solve business problems: "When they hit an impasse, associates have the option to access an electronic learning tool that enables them to perform a specific task - ranging from creating project plans to preparing a presentation - through self-driven modules." There's also an on-demand tutor!

Easy read on e-learning, that ye shall not miss.

Are you losing sleep over security?

ANKIT Fadia needs no introduction to IT people. He shot into fame even before he finished school, has authored books on computer security, and is recognised as a `cyber terrorism expert'. His new book is The Ethical Hacking Guide to Corporate Security, published by Macmillan (www.macmillanindia.com) .

Trust IT, but not too much, advises Fadia, because "humans are the weakest link in the security of a network." Thus, first comes e-mail security. The most common attacks are abusive mails, forging, and spam. NeoTracePro is a tool you can deploy "to geographically trace an IP address or hostname graphically on the world map." E-mail forging can make a mail look as if it were from someone else, and is "very easy to execute", with a basic knowledge of Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.

Instant Messengers or IMs are another threat. "The biggest problem with IM is that it is extremely difficult to completely block its usage," warns Fadia. "Most IM systems have the ability to tunnel through the average corporate firewall setups." IM imps!

High on threat level is `intellectual property theft' where Trojans are the frequent culprits. "It is quite easy to detect the presence of a Trojan on your system," guides the author. "The server part of a Trojan automatically binds itself to a pre-determined port number and listens for connections on it."

So, simply type netstat - n on the command prompt to display "a list of open ports on your system." Something to help you when at sea!

Computer users depend heavily on passwords. Cracking these can lead to serious consequences. On systems using Windows NT, passwords lie in a file called `security accounts manager' or the SAM file, informs the book.

Then, there is the problem of identity theft, using proxy servers, proxy bouncing, IP spoofing, and onion routing. A dangerous type of attack is `buffer overflow' arising from "lazy programming or poor memory management by the application developers."

The last chapter is on `social engineering' that banks on trust or fear in the victim's mind. You may find that the social engineer who conned you is gone even before you know what hit you.

Firewalls can fail against this, because the attacker is confident, smooth talking, good at manipulating expressions and tones, and in the know of how things work in your company.

Secure the book.

Tailpiece

"All of a sudden, the milkshake glass tilted onto my keyboard and spilled all over!"

"Oh, then you swabbed the mess?"

"No, I waited till everybody left and then swapped the thing with another computer's!"

Books2Byte@TheHindu.co.in

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