IT Manager's Journal

Geekonomics:The Real Cost of Insecure Software - Author David Rice, director of The Monterey Group, says insecure software is costing businesses billions of dollars a year and lays out some startling facts to back up his assertions. For example, the 1996 crash of a Boeing jetliner that killed 70 people has been attributed to software defects; and more than 23,000 Toyota Priuses were recalled in 2005 due to insecure software that could cause the vehicles to shut down unexpectedly.

Rice points to studies that show at least 75% of Internet-accessible computers have been surreptitiously accessed, hacked, or used without the owner's knowledge. He says that the threat of cyber-terrorism isn't going to go away -- and, indeed, is expected to increase -- there are steps businesses can take to become part of the solution and avoid being part of the problem. (Available from Amazon, $29.99)

Using Moodle, Second Edition Do you use Moodle as the Content Management System (CMS) of choice in your classroom, school, or college? If so, you'll want to have a look at this book from O'Reilly Media. Written for teachers, it's provides a toolkit to help Moodle users wring every last drop of functionality from this popular client.

Authors Jason Cole and Helen Foster include case studies, practical how-to applications, and best practices in this manual cum reference guide.Cole oversees a Moodle implementation that accommodates over 15,000 users and Foster is the documentation steward for Moodle.org. Together, they take readers into practically every corner of this robust application. (Available from O'Reilly, $39.99)

Zimbra: Implement, Administer and Manage - Zimbra is a popular open source email and calendaring client recently acquired by Yahoo!. Its cross-platform functionality combined with the ability to use it offline or on mobile devices make Zimbra particularly useful for companies struggling to network a variety of computers or a large base of employees who travel.

This 11-chapter book delves into nearly every aspect of Zimbra, from an overview of the product to installation, maintenance, and modification tips that will make the application run smoothly in virtually any environment. (Available from >Packt Publishing, $35.99)

Linux Networking Cookbook - Linux is wonderful for many, many things but -- let's face it -- networking isn't always a piece of cake. Linux and Windows sysadmin Carla Schroder has written a reference book that address many common problems encountered by IT staff trying to keep connectivity running smoothly.

The book includes "recipes" for coping with several common Linux networking scenarios including: sys admin via serial console, secure remote admin with SSH, and creating a VoIP with Asterisk. It also touches on several additional networking and connectivity topics such as creating gateway and access points on a Linux network, and working with Virtual Private Networks. (Available from O'Reilly, $44.99)

Head First SQL: Your Brain on SQL -- A Learner's Guide - If you need to brush up your SQL skills, or have an IT team member ready to learn a new skill, pick up a copy of this book. Aimed at beginners, it explains the intricacies of this common computer language used to create database management systems. Unlike similar books that require a reader to have a working knowledge of other programming languages in order to create effective databases, Head First SQL assumes the reader has no prior knowledge or understanding.

Although the book takes readers through the basics and fundamentals of SQL (using the free MySQL package as the hands-on tool) it's also a valuable resource as a reference or refresher. The books first edition is on sale now, however an updated reprint is expected to be available December 2. (Available from Amazon, $29.69)