New Features of Outlook Web App 2010

1: Conversation view

OWA 2010 provides the same conversation view and experience as Outlook 2010: By default, messages are displayed in threads so that all the messages on a particular topic are grouped. No more searching for a previous message to check what the response is referring to. When a new message in a thread comes in, the whole thread gets moved chronologically to the date/time of the new message. Conversation view has its benefits and drawbacks, but if you don't like it, you can turn it off. Just right-click Arrange By, scroll down to Conversations, and deselect Show Messages In Conversations.

2: Ignore option

If you belong to mailing lists, you'll appreciate this new feature in Outlook 2010, which you also get with OWA 2010. Sometimes, the group will engage in discussions that don't interest you at all. Now you don't even have to see them. Just select Ignore Conversation from the action menu and any further messages in that conversation will be automatically deleted. This can be a real time-saver.

3: Forward as an attachment

It's a little thing, but sometimes it's the little things that matter most. With OWA 2010, you can forward an email message as an attachment. This can come in handy if you need to forward a message to someone but don't necessarily want the person to open it immediately. You can create an original message where you can tell the person about the attachment — or example, you might forward a message that possibly contains a virus to someone who provides technical support for you.

4: Delivery report

Another new option on the action menu is Open Delivery Report. If you've ever sent an important email and then agonized over whether it got to the recipient, this feature will be one of your favorites. You can search for messages you've sent to a specified recipient, messages you've received from a specified recipient, or messages with specific words in the subject line. The delivery report will show you on what date and at what time the message was submitted and when it was successfully delivered.

5: Same premium experience without IE

One of my pet peeves about previous versions of OWA was that to get the best experience, you had to use IE. It didn't work the same in other browsers, such as a Firefox. You got a "light" version of OWA instead. And if the only computer available to log on to the Internet was a Mac with just Safari as the browser choice, it was no fun at all. OWA 2010 supports the complete, premium experience on Mac OS X with Safari as well as with Firefox.

6: Integrated IM/presence information

OWA 2010 integrates directly with Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 R2, allowing you to see the presence status (available, busy, away, etc.) of other users within your organization and even engage in a chat with them. You can also engage in multiple chat sessions with different people at the same time.

7: Opening another user's mailbox

With Exchange 2003, you couldn't open another user's mailbox from OWA. With Exchange 2007, you could — but it opened in a new IE window and you couldn't select the mailbox from the Global Address List (GAL). With Exchange 2010, you can select a mailbox to open from the GAL, and it "nests" into the left pane along with your default mailbox. OWA also remembers which mailboxes you opened and displays them when you log on the next time.

8: Side-by-side calendars

Another feature that's been on the OWA wish list of many Outlook users is the ability to open up a shared calendar and view it side by side with your own calendar. This is invaluable if you need to make plans that include coordinating your schedule with someone else's. You can share your calendar with other users of your Exchange 2010 server.

9: Exchange Control Panel (ECP)

In OWA 2010, the Exchange Control Panel replaces the Options page in OWA 2007. Users can do more with the ECP, such as creating and managing distribution groups, tracking their own messages, setting up retention policies for their messages, and updating the property fields information in their Active Directory user accounts.

10: Access to mailbox archives

OWA 2010 allows users to access archived mailboxes from within the OWA interface so that you can get access to the archived messages no matter where you are.

Exchange 2010 with SP1Offline Help File (CHM)

This download contains a compiled help file (chm) of all the available Exchange Server 2010 IT professional documentation on the Technical Library.  Check back often as it is updated regularly.

Click here to download…

Lync 2010 Offline Help File (CHM)

This download contains a compiled help file (chm) of all the available Lync Server 2010 IT professional documentation on the Technical Library.  Check back often as it is updated regularly.

Click here to download…

Lync (OCS Wave 14) Server 2010

Microsoft has finally launched the Release Candidate of the much awaited OCS wave 14 with a new name LYNC Server 2010. At the first instance it looks very interesting to have some new features. Some of the features include (as posted on the Microsoft website http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/lync/extensible-platform.aspx )

Unified Experience

• Get easy access to presence, instant messaging, voice, and audio, video, and Web conferencing—all from the new Microsoft Lync 2010.
  
• Use one set of contacts across Microsoft Lync 2010 and Office applications.
  
• Communicate with context from within the applications you use most, including Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft SharePoint.
  
• Deliver access to presence, instant messaging, and other capabilities for workers on the go via PCs, browsers, and mobile phones.
  

Connect and Collaborate

• Find the right people, make connections, and communicate more effectively with new rich presence features including pictures and location.
  
• Leverage internal expertise more effectively with Microsoft SharePoint-based Skill Search.
  

Simple, Essential, Reliable Conferencing

• Collaborate more effectively with built-in desktop and application sharing, PowerPoint upload, and rich white boarding, including the ability to copy and paste images and other content.
  
• Schedule and join meetings with a single click in Microsoft Outlook or the meeting reminder.
  
• Place attendees in a virtual lobby for greater security and control over who can attend.
  

Complete Enterprise Voice Features

• Delight your users with the features they need, a wide range of IP and USB devices, and the ability to work in the office, at home, or on the road.
  
• Architect your deployment for high availability using data center resiliency and survivable branch appliances.
  
• Manage bandwidth utilization and increase Quality of Experience with Call Admission Control, QoS markings, and an adaptive media stack that works well even on unmanaged networks like the Internet.
  

Powerful Deployment and Management Tools

• Work with a PowerShell-based foundation for administration consistent with Exchange Server, Active Directory, and other Microsoft server products.
  
• Get consolidated management tasks in one location with dramatically improved navigation through the new Silverlight-based, scenario -driven unified graphical management tool.
  
• Improve security and administrative productivity with Role-based Access Control (RBAC) with built-in and customer-defined roles.
  
• Get support for server virtualization of most OCS roles.
  

Extensibility

• Easily embed Microsoft Lync UI elements in your applications, build your own client experience in .NET with open and documented APIs, and enhance contextual collaboration by launching applications right from Microsoft Lync.
  
• Get platform support for sophisticated contact center and help desk scenarios, enable access to all UC-enabled services from any phone, and deliver state-of-the-art speech technology in 26 languages.
  
• Significantly simplify deployment, operations, and interoperability with added features that improve provisioning, load-balancing, fail-over, and draining.
  

In the coming days I will be downloading the RC of LyncServer 2010 from http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/lync/try-it_lync.aspx and get my hands dirty.

Project Management Processes

Cloud Computing

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is a way to increase capacity or add capabilities on a fly without the investment in new Infrastructure, training personnel for supporting the new Infrastructure or licensing new software. Cloud computing encompasses any subscription based or pay-per-use service that is available in real time over Internet. Cloud computing can deliver cloud based solution from full-blown applications to storage services. After some goggling I am able to collect a rough breakdown of what cloud computing is all about.

1. SaaS (Software as a Service)
   

   Saas delivers a single application through the browser to thousands of customers using a multi-tenant architecture. On the customer side, it means no upfront investment in servers or software licensing; on the provider side, with just one app to maintain, costs are low compared to conventional hosting.
   

2. Utility Computing
   

   Utility computing offers storage and virtual servers or even virtual datacenters that IT can use on demand. Some players offering this service are Sun, IBM and Amazon. Utility computing is currently used for supplemental and non-mission critical use, but soon it will replace few components from the Datacenter.
   

3. Web services in the Cloud
   

   Closely related to SaaS, Web service providers offer APIs that enable developers to exploit functionality over the Internet, rather than delivering full-blown applications
   

4. Platform as a service
   

   It is another variant of SaaS and it provides development environment as a service. Developers can build their own applications that run on the provider's infrastructure and are delivered to their users via the Internet from the provider's servers. You don't get complete freedom because these services are constrained by the vendor's design and capabilities.
   

5. Managed Service Provider (MSP)
   

   A Managed service is basically an application exposed to IT rather than to the end user. The MSP's may provide applications such as virus scanning, email or any other application monitoring service or desktop management service.
   

6. Service Commerce Platforms (SCP)
   

   A hybrid of SaaS and MSP, this cloud computing service offers a service hub that users interact with. They're most common in trading environments, such as expense management systems that allow users to order travel or secretarial services from a common platform that then coordinates the service delivery and pricing within the specifications set by the user.
   

Today for IT decision makers it is a challenge to decide which service they should be opting from Cloud due to security or control on data as some of the risk. In any case Cloud computing is a good solution for Small Organization who can leverage on the Private Cloud infrastructure instead of investing on the physical datacenter and maintaining it. It is also a good option for Medium Organization which can utilize the virtual datacenter on demand in Hybrid Cloud scenario for application testing or non mission critical applications.

PMP® Formula Pocket Guide

Earned Value
CV = EV - AC CPI = EV / AC
SV = EV - PV
SPI = EV / PV
EAC 'no variances' = BAC / CPI
EAC 'fundamentally flawed' = AC + ETC EAC 'atypical' = AC + BAC - EV
EAC 'typical' = AC + ((BAC - EV) / CPI) ETC = EAC - AC
ETC 'atypical' = BAC - EV
ETC 'typical' = (BAC - EV) / CPI ETC 'flawed' = new estimate
Percent Complete = EV / BAC * 100
VAC = BAC - EAC
EV = % complete * BAC

PERT
PERT 3-point = (Pessimistic+(4*Most Likely)+Optimistic)/6
PERT σ = (Pessimistic - Optimistic) / 6
PERT Activity Variance = ((Pessimistic - Optimistic) / 6)^2
PERT Variance all activities = √sum((Pessimistic - Optimistic) / 6)^2

Network Diagram
Activity Duration = EF - ES + 1 or Activity Duration = LF - LS + 1
Total Float = LS - ES or Total Float = LF – EF
Free Float = ES of Following - ES of Present - DUR of Present
EF = ES + duration - 1
ES = EF of predecessor + 1
LF = LS of successor - 1
LS = LF - duration + 1


Project Selection
PV = FV / (1+r)^n
FV = PV * (1+r)^n
NPV = Formula not required. Select biggest number. ROI = Formula not required. Select biggest number. IRR = Formula not required. Select biggest number.
Payback Period = Add up the projected cash inflow minus expenses
until you reach the initial investment. BCR = Benefit / Cost
CBR = Cost / Benefit
Opportunity Cost = The value of the project not chosen.

Communications
Communication Channels = n * (n-1) / 2

Probability
EMV = Probability * Impact in currency

Procurement
PTA = ((Ceiling Price - Target Price) / Buyer's Share Ratio) + Target
Cost

Depreciation
Straight-line Depreciation:
Depr. Expense = Asset Cost / Useful Life
Depr. Rate = 100% / Useful Life Double Declining Balance Method: Depr. Rate = 2 * (100% / Useful Life)
Depr. Expense = Depreciation Rate * Book Value at Beginning of Year Book Value = Book Value at beginning of year - Depreciation Expense Sum-of-Years' Digits Method:
Sum of digits = Useful Life + (Useful Life - 1) + (Useful Life - 2) + etc. Depr. rate = fraction of years left and sum of the digits (i.e. 4/15th)
Mathematical Basics
Average (Mean) = Sum of all members divided by the number of items. Median = Arrange values from lowest value to highest. Pick the middle
one. If there is an even number of values, calculate the mean of the
two middle values.
Mode = Find the value in a data set that occurs most often.

Values
1 sigma = 68.26%
2 sigma = 95.46%
3 sigma = 99.73%
6 sigma = 99.99%
Control Limits = 3 sigma from mean
Control Specifications = Defined by customer; looser than the control limits
Order of Magnitude estimate = -25% to +75% Preliminary estimate = -15% to + 50%
Budget estimate = -10% to +25% Definitive estimate = -5% to +10% Final estimate = 0%
Float on the critical path = 0 days
Pareto Diagram = 80/20
Time a PM spends communicating = 90%
Crashing a project = Crash least expensive tasks on critical path.
JIT inventory = 0% (or very close to 0%.) Minus 100 = (100) or -100


Acronyms
AC Actual Cost
BAC Budget at Completion BCR Benefit Cost Ratio CBR Cost Benefit Ratio
CPI Cost Performance Index
CV Cost Variance
DUR Duration
EAC Estimate at Completion
EF Early Finish
EMV Expected Monetary Value
ES Early Start
ETC Estimate to Complete
EV Earned Value
FV Future Value
IRR Internal Rate of Return
LF Late Finish
LS Late Start
NPV Net Present Value
PERT Program Evaluation and Review Technique
PTA Point of Total Assumption
PV Planned Value
PV Present Value
ROI Return on Investment
SPI Schedule Performance Index
SV Schedule Variance
VAC Variance at Completion
σ Sigma / Standard Deviation
^ "To the power of" (2^3 = 2*2*2 = 8

Group Policy Guide

Group Policy settings worksheet

The policy settings for computer and user configurations included in the Administrative template files delivered with the Windows operating systems specified. You can configure these policy settings when you edit Group Policy objects (GPOs).

• PolicySettings Spreadsheets from Microsoft
  
• PolicySettings Spreadsheet from Microsoft for IE 8
  

Administrative Templates

Administrative Templates are custom ADM templates that can be imported for specific purpose (ADMX/ADML for Windows Vista/7/2008/R2). Below are the references for pre-generated templates you can download and use immediately.

Office 2007 Administrative Templates -This includes ADM, ADMX, and ADML templates for you to use

Office 2003 Administrative Templates -This includes ADM templates for Office 2003

Windows Powershell - Controls for Powershell via Group Policy

App-V (Application Virtualization) - The Microsoft Application Virtualization ADM template configures client settings for the App-V Windows Desktop Client and for the Terminal Services client

ADMX Migrator - Allows for migration from your ADM to ADMX/ADML file format

Group Policy Demos

• Troubleshooting Group Policy
  
• Using Group Policy with Windows and Windows Server 2008
  
• Group Policy Management updates in Vista/7 and 2008
  
• Windows 7 features such as Group Policy, BitLocker To Go, DirectAccess, BranchCache, and AppLocker
  
• Advanced Group Policy Management (AGPM)
  
• Group Policy Preferences
  
• Advanced Auditing in Group Policy
  
• AppLocker
  
• BitLocker ToGo

Business Continuity Planning / Disaster Recovery Planning

Disaster

A disaster is the tragedy of a natural or human-made hazard that affects negatively and cause irrecoverable losses. Proper Business continuous planning is required to avoid and lessening losses during disaster. The BCP may consist of Hot, Cold or Warm DR Site depending on the Organizational needs. The DR site may be operated at a different location by the Organization or contracted to a vendor who specializes in DR services.

Cold Sites

A cold site is the most inexpensive type of backup site for an organization to operate. It does not include backed up copies of data and information from the original location of the organization, nor does it include hardware already set up. The lack of hardware contributes to the minimal startup costs of the cold site, but requires additional time following the disaster to have the operation running at a capacity close to that prior to the disaster.

Hot Sites

A hot site is a duplicate of the original site of the organization, with full computer systems as well as near-complete backups of user data. Real time synchronization between the two sites may be used to completely mirror the data environment of the original site using wide area network links and specialized software. Following a disruption to the original site, the hot site exists so that the organization can relocate with minimal losses to normal operations. Ideally, a hot site will be up and running within a matter of hours or even less. Personnel may still have to be moved to the hot site so it is possible that the hot site may be operational from a data processing perspective before staff has relocated. The capacity of the hot site may or may not match the capacity of the original site depending on the organization's requirements. This type of backup site is the most expensive to operate. Hot sites are popular with organizations that operate real time processes such as financial institutions, government agencies and ecommerce providers

Warm Sites

A warm site is, quite logically, a compromise between hot and cold. These sites will have hardware and connectivity already established, though on a smaller scale than the original production site or even a hot site. Warm sites will have backups on hand, but they may not be complete and may be between several days and a week old. An example would be backup tapes sent to the warm site by courier.

General steps to follow while creating BCP/DRP

1. Identify the scope and boundaries of business continuity plan. It provides an idea for limitations and boundaries of plan. It also includes audit and risk analysis reports for institution's assets.
   
2. Conduct a business impact analysis (BIA). Business impact analysis is the study and assessment of effects to the organization in the event of the loss or degradation of business/mission functions resulting from a destructive event. Such loss may be financial, or less tangible but nevertheless essential (e.g. human resources, shareholder liaison)
   
3. Sell the concept of BCP to upper management and obtain organizational and financial commitment. Convincing senior management to approve BCP/DRP is key task. It is very important for security professionals to get approval for plan from upper management to bring it to effect.
   
4. Each department will need to understand its role in plan and support to maintain it. In case of disaster, each department has to be prepared for the action. To recover and to protect the critical functions, each department has to understand the plan and follow it accordingly. It is also important for each department to help in the creation and maintenance of its portion of the plan.
   
5. The BCP project team must implement the plan. After approval from upper management plan should be maintained and implemented. Implementation team should follow the guidelines procedures in plan.
   
6. NIST tool set can be used for doing BCP. National Institute of Standards and Technologies has published tools which can help in creating BCP.
   

With the increasing importance of information technology for the continuation of business critical functions, combined with a transition to an around-the-clock economy, the importance of protecting an organization's data and IT infrastructure in the event of a disruptive situation has become an increasing and more visible business priority in recent years.

Control measures in recovery plan

Control measures are steps or mechanisms that can reduce or eliminate computer security threats. Different types of measures can be included in BCP/DRP. Disaster recovery planning is a subset of a larger process known as business continuity planning and should include planning for resumption of applications, data, hardware, communications (such as networking) and other IT infrastructure. A business continuity plan (BCP) includes planning for non-IT related aspects such as key personnel, facilities, crisis communication and reputation protection, and should refer to the disaster recovery plan (DRP) for IT related infrastructure recovery / continuity. This article focuses on disaster recovery planning as related to IT infrastructure. Types of measures:

1. Preventive measures - These controls are aimed at preventing an event from occurring.
   
2. Detective measures - These controls are aimed at detecting or discovering unwanted events.
   
3. Corrective measures - These controls are aimed at correcting or restoring the system after disaster or event.
   

These controls should be always documented and tested regularly.

Further reading

• "A Guide to Business Continuity Planning" by James C. Barnes
  
• "Business Continuity Planning", A Step-by-Step Guide with Planning Forms on CDROM by Kenneth L Fulmer
  
• "Disaster Survival Planning: A Practical Guide for Businesses" by Judy Bell
  
• ICE Data Management (In Case of Emergency) made simple - by MyriadOptima.com
  
• Harney, J.(2004). Business continuity and disaster recovery: Back up or shut down.
  
• AIIM E-Doc Magazine, 18(4), 42-48.
  
• Dimattia, S. (November 15, 2001).Planning for Continuity. Library Journal,32-34.
  

Project Management

What is a Project?
Project is a temporary assignment which has a definitive start and end date. Project can be considered successful when it meets the objectives of the Stakeholders. Project can be ended on successful closure, or when its objective can't be met, or when the need no longer exists.

What is Project Management?
Project Management is the application of knowledge, tools, skills and techniques to Project activities to meet Project requirements. Project management consists of 5 process groups, these are

• Initiating – it is the process of determining if a Project is valid and can be delivered successfully
  
• Planning – it produces how a plan for Project delivery by defining WBS with Schedule.
  
• Executing – it is the actual delivery of project which is conducted using Project processes.
  
• Monitoring and Control – It is where Project Manager and Project Management team ensures that the project is delivered on time, on budget, with required resources and the Project is delivered as initiated.
  
• Closing – it is gaining final acceptance of the Project and ensuring that the Project is successfully delivered.
  

What is Project Process?
Project process is defined for the Project delivery team. It consists of

• Analysis
  
• Design
  
• Development
  
• Implementation
  

What is Project Lifecycle?
Project management processes and Project processes together form the Project Life Cycle. The relationship of Project management and project processes are illustrated in the chart below

Monitoring and Control	Initiating
	Executing	Analysis
		Design
		Development
		Implementation
	Closing

 

What is Project Management Office?
Project Management Office (PMO) is an Organization body or entity which is assigned with various responsibilities of centralized and coordinated management of project sunder its domain. The responsibilities can vary from Project management support function to directly managing the projects.