Not rendering correctly? View this email as a web page here.
The NET(net) Newsletter: February 2020
mountain hike

Pictured above:View from Mount Monadnock, New Hampshire, USA.  Taken by NET(net) staff.

February 2020 - In This Issue:

Steven Zolman on IBM and Ginny Rometty:
Shrinking Value, Shrinking Sales, Sinking Ship: The Story of IBM's Ginny Rometty (article #4 in our long running series)

NET(net) Launches Savings Cloud:
Savings Cloud & Cloud Capacity Calculator

Dave Young on Security Operations Center (SOC) Outsourcing: 
Security Operations Center: Insource or Outsource to an MSSP?

Welcome to NET(net):
Chris Hirst, SVP Client Services, South Region

Steven Zolman on the New IBM CEO:
Breaking Dawn for IBM: Meet the New CEO, Mr. Arvind Krishna

C-Suite on the Move in February:
Thomson Reuters, Under Armor, Ford, Hillman, Marriott and more

ICYMI - Oracle eBook:
eBook Download: Oracle's 12 Most Egregious Terms and Conditions

shipwreck v3 small final

Shrinking Values, Shrinking Sales, Sinking Ship: The Story of IBM's Ginny Rometty (article #4 in our series)

By: Steven Zolman, NET(net)

Virginia “Ginni” Rometty has agreed to step down at IBM, and it’s without a doubt the best thing she has done for the company in her 8+ year tenure as its CEO

The news sent the markets reeling and IBM stock soaring; up 5%.  The market clearly agrees that this is a long overdue and much needed move.  Ginni plans to step down as CEO in early April and retire officially by the end of the year with nearly 40 years of experience at IBM.

To read the entire article and see the others in our IBM series, please click 'read more' below:

readmore
savings CLoud Graphic

NET(net) Launches Savings Cloud

By: Dexter Siglin, NET(net)

January 2020 marked a new era for Technology Supply Chain Optimization with our launch of Savings Cloud.  What is Savings Cloud?

Savings Cloud represents a paradigm shift in the way clients optimize their technology supply chain agreements, investments, and relationships.  Like most 'as a service' programs, Savings Cloud enables organizations to simply, 1) purchase the 'savings capacity' they need (i.e. how much they want to save on IT spend) and 2) let NET(net) work on supplier optimizations and savings, then 3) when savings capacity is reached, simply stop there or purchase more capacity and keep going!  All the options are yours. 

To see what Savings Cloud capacity might be right for you, try our Savings Cloud Calculator here: Savings Calculator

If you would like to learn more about the program by watching a short video or trying our cloud capacity tool, click 'Read More' below:

readmore 

Savings Cloud Press Release

Security Operations Center- small

Security Operations Center: Insource or Outsource to MSSP?

By: Dave Young, NET(net)

As technology marches ever forward, the threats to Enterprise Security have seemingly multiplied exponentially.  Our ability as organizations to stay ahead of the risks that technological advancements have brought to the forefront are challenged daily.  Literally.  They are challenged everyday by threats from:

  • Foreign governments trying to access data and networks
  • Cloud security as more and more corporate data is stored outside proprietary networks
  • Shadow IT
  • Ransomware
  • Phishing attacks on unaware employees
  • Internal bad actors (i.e. employees who wish to do harm)
  • Malware installed on endpoints surreptitiously by external bad actors

There are many more of course, the list could be much longer.  In the end however, the real question is, do you have a SOC (security operations center) that will not only manage the existing threats but anticipate and manage the unknown risks that are just beyond the horizon. 

Click 'Read More' below for full article:

readmore
sunrise 2020

Breaking Dawn for IBM: Meet Their New CEO, Arvind Krishna

By: Steven Zolman, NET(net)

Leave it to IBM to bring in 'fresh new' blood, after nearly 40 years at IBM.  Ginni Rometty steps down and Arvind steps forward; someone with only 30 years in at IBMso we can expect a radical departure from the past, right?  Jokes!!  Of course, we are jesting, but maybe (just maybe) this guy is different. 

IBM’s new CEO (who currently heads up IBM’s Cloud and Cognitive Division), is credited with being the primary architect of IBM’s acquisition of Red Hat.  Certainly, he will be measured by how well IBM becomes more like Red Hat, rather than Red Hat becoming at all like IBM.  If Arvind is to be successful, IBM will need to become the de facto industry standard solution for Hybrid Cloud (if not a whole lot more), as this is his fundamental vision.

Click 'Read More' below to see entire article:

readmore


Welcome to NET(net): Chris Hirst

          Please join us in welcoming the newest member of the NET(net) team, Chris Hirst!  Chris will be joining the Client Services team based out of Atlanta, Georgia.  To learn more and connect with Chris, click below to read his bio and contact details.  Welcome aboard, Chris!
 

CxO's On the Move in January

  • Thomson Reuters says Steve Hasker will become its new CEO, succeeding Jim Smith
  • Colin Browne has been appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Under Armour
  • Dassault Systèmes announced that Pascal Daloz, 50, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer
  • Ford has appointed Jim Farley its new Chief Operating Officer
  • General Mills Inc. hired Jaime Montemayor as chief digital and technology officer
  • Marriott International announced the appointment of Jim Scholefield as Chief Information and Digital Officer (CIDO)
  • Blue Shield of California has appointed Lisa Davis as the CIO
  • Steve Brunker has been named Hillman’s Chief Information Officer
  • Christina Kramer has been appointed by CIBC Senior Executive Vice-President, Technology, Infrastructure and Innovation


ICYMI: Oracle eBook Download 'Oracle's Most Egregious Terms and Conditions' 

Throughout 2019 and 2020, NET(net) wrote a guide to Oracle's Most Egregious Terms and Conditions to look out for.  Now you can download all 12 articles in one consolidated eBook!  Oracle's fiscal year end is coming in a few short months, so now is the time to be prepared for their aggressive renewal tactics!

Click 'Read More' below to download the ebook:

readmore


 
 
Click below to talk to us!
Schedule Your Consultation