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Welcome to B & M Bulletin, produced specifically for users of contract IT services. In this issue:
• Professionalism in IT
• Tech View: IBM Security Standards
• 10 qualities to seek in an IT contractor
• B & M staff member profile - Account Manager Amanda Spencer
• Profiles shop window
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Professionalism in IT
Jerry Smart is a keen proponent of increased professionalism in the IT industry
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"..beards and sandals are long gone.."
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As IT professionals struggle to improve their reputation with customers, there is an increasing call by businesses and IT suppliers alike to establish a recognised IT profession.
Attitudes have improved over the years (beards and sandals are long gone) but for some there is still a lack of common standards on which to assess skills. Furthermore, for many contractors working at customer sites, there is little time for classroom training and often no appraisal of skills or work assessment.
In the 1970s, the British Computer Society (BCS) strongly promoted its qualifications, with the aim of giving them similar standing in the IT industry to, for example, a qualification from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in the accountancy profession. These qualifications were not universally taken up and the BCS later chose to recognise experience, as well as qualification, in order to boost its membership.
Now the BCS is aiming once again to promote professionalism in IT with its Chartered IT Professional (CITP) qualification. The National Computing Centre (NCC), with the support of the BCS, the IT industry trade association Intellect and the sector skills organisation e-Skills UK, is working towards introducing a new framework for IT Professionalism (www.itprofessionalism.org). The programme is designed, amongst other things, to combat the negative image surrounding IT in business and government, to improve the skills, performance and recognition of IT people and to increase the attractiveness of IT employers in the marketplace.
But will a customer place the same emphasis on qualifications as they do on experience? After all, if you can find a candidate who has good skills allied with excellent experience, who is communicative and who can engender trust, then you are doing very well. Many contractors do have technical certifications and these certainly add value to the proposal but do these matter as much as experience?
In the end it is all about quality. A good contractor will do all they can to invest in their credentials and demonstrate these to the customer.
For access to highly experienced IT professionals, please contact sales@bmeurope.com
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Tech View: IBM Security Standards
B & M's Technical Manager Paul Smith looks at the implications of IBM's security standards for large organisations
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The huge rise of e-business has ensured that Internet security and cryptography in IBM environments have received a much needed review. But why are they so important? Estimates of the total amount of business data held on z/OS systems vary, but authoritative commentators including Yahoo, Xcalia and IBM's own marketing department agree that IBM mainframe systems hold about 70% of data worldwide. Thats a lot of sensitive information!
IBM has kept pace with security requirements decreed by leading international organisations including ITSEC, ICSA, NIST and ANSI over the years. System/390 hardware has been tested at Evaluation Assurance Levels (EAL) 4 in 2003 and zSeries hardware achieved EAL 5 in 2004. zSeries cryptographic modules have been rated at a high level (level 4) within the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) developed by the US government. Software that is commonly run on zSeries systems has also been rated, including:
WebSphere components from EAL2 up to EAL4
DB2 at EAL4
z/OS 1.7 at EAL4
z/VM at EAL3
AIX at EAL4+.
As encryption has become a key security tool, standards are being set at high levels. For example, the US Government requires FIPS 140-1 level 4 for its security and German digital certificate law requires E4 certification.
These levels of certification are designed to give businesses confidence that their encryption keys cannot be captured by a hacker - or indeed a rogue internal systems programmer. However it is important that organisations secure all gateways to their systems - using the support of IT security professionals. As we have noted in previous articles, there is no point in implementing all these secured platforms if you (metaphorically) leave the front door open.
For support from IT specialists skilled in IBM security, contact sales@bmeurope.com.
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Top 10 qualities of a professional IT contractor
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The debate on what constitutes a 'professional' IT consultant continues to wage in the IT industry. Nonetheless it is clear that - whatever their qualifications - there are certain attributes which define a true professional:
1. The ability to demonstrate a set of highly developed technical skills
2. Diligence in their attitude to work
3. The possession of valued qualifications, relevant to their skills
4. Effective communication skills
5. The possession of recognised certifications
6. Well-developed diplomatic skills
7. A desire to continue to learn
8. A willingness to be accountable for their actions
9. Total commitment to the project in hand
10. Strong business ethics.
To secure the services of IT professionals with these attributes and more, contact the B & M
account team at sales@bmeurope.com
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Real Skills. Real People - B & M's Amanda Spencer
We find out more about Account Manager Amanda Spencer
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Account Manager Amanda Spencer began working in IT some 15 years ago, having originally trained as a weaver. She realised that to succeed in any business she needed a better grounding in the commercial world and, after testing the water in a variety of industries, found her true forte in the IT sector.
Her career took off when she began working for a niche value added reseller, providing system utilities and support for DEC PDP-11s, soon moving from an administrative role to providing system support and undertaking installations. The company also grew to encompass provision of Unix systems and Amanda revealed new talents in a more customer-facing role, and began selling the technology, later being appointed a Director of the company.
With the dot com boom, in 2000 she joined an Application Service Provider (ASP) as Strategic Account Manager to develop relationships with the prime vendors. She worked closely with Microsoft, Compaq, Cisco and Citrix to build the platform, and with major application software vendors such as CA, Navision and BMC for the product. Amanda later transferred to the distribution arm of the company as a Business Development Manager and subsequently took a position with one of its System Integrator customers selling networked solutions.
Amanda joined B & M as an Account Manager in spring 2004 and now applies her technical knowledge and interpersonal skills looking after customers and specialists alike.
Out of the office, Amanda will jump at any opportunity involving fast cars and racetracks - although it will be hard to beat her current zenith of the quarter mile in 8.5 seconds at the wheel of a dragster. She also continues to work toward her ultimate goal of spending her life underwater as a SCUBA Diving Instructor and helping with marine research and conservation projects in far flung - preferably warm and exotic locations, having achieved her Master SCUBA Diver Trainer status in 2006. She is even considering getting back to a spot of weaving in the evenings.
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B & M offers you the opportunity to view the credentials of some of our most senior IT contract specialists before you get in touch with us. We have active relationships with some of Europe's most experienced IT specialists for z/OS, Unix and network communication systems, including notable technicians skilled as:
WebSphere Specialist
Unix Systems Administrator
DB2 Systems Programmer and Database Administrator
MVS Systems Programmer
MQSeries Specialist
Network Specialist
CICS Systems Programmer
For more details, go to www.bmeurope.com/profiles.html or call us on +44 (0)118 981 1880.
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B & M has specialised in delivering skilled ICT specialists to meet the needs of leading organisations throughout Europe since 1992. We focus exclusively on providing consultancy, technical services and support for z/OS, UNIX and Linux enterprise systems, including third-party systems software, open systems and networking connectivity. We add real value for HR and IT professionals by taking the time to understand their needs and applying best practice methods to deliver results. To find out more about our approach to providing the best skills for each business, go to www.bmeurope.com B & M Europe Limited
www.bmeurope.com
+44 (0)118 981 1880
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