Aberdeen Publishes IT Security, Networking/Application Performance, and Customer Management Research

Research Examines Virtual Patching, Network Performance, Network Optimization, Real-Time Performance Monitoring, Multi-Channel Call Center Strategy


BOSTON, MA--(Marketwire - Nov 14, 2012) - Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS), today announced the publication of new research reports from its IT Security, Networking and Application Performance, and Customer Management research practices.

In "The Virtues of Virtual Patching" Derek Brink Vice President and Research Fellow for the Aberdeen Group's IT Security research practice writes about approaches for managing vulnerabilities and threats to IT infrastructure -- which for many organizations consumes a significant portion of limited IT resources, and painfully distracts from projects aimed at innovation and growth. The strategic deployment of selected compensating controls, such as virtual patching, can provide a kind of protective shield that effectively buys the organization more time to assess, plan, test and remediate vulnerabilities and threats -- a potentially attractive alternative to the value-sucking activities of Patch Tuesdays, emergency patches and workarounds, endless testing, and unplanned downtime. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report, visit: http://aberdeen.com/Aberdeen-Library/8249/AI-virtual-patch-management.aspx.  

"Real-Time Approaches to Defusing Ticking Performance Time-bombs," authored by Jim Rapoza, Senior Research Analyst for the Aberdeen Networking and Application Performance research practice, looks at the steps companies are taking to address performance in real-time, the benefits they are gaining from this approach, and makes recommendations on the steps that other organizations can take in order to start dealing with application performance problems as they happen. A focus on real-time performance management can mean the difference between an application being down or performing poorly for hours (or days) or having the issue addressed immediately. By looking at performance from a real-time perspective, businesses are able to not only ensure higher levels of application uptime and performance; they are also able to more effectively leverage other leading capabilities of performance management. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report, visit: http://aberdeen.com/Aberdeen-Library/8252/AI-application-network-performance.aspx.

Next by Rapoza, "The Need for End-to-End Application Performance Management and Monitoring" analyzes the challenge of end-to-end performance management and monitoring and how companies are working to take advantage of end-to-end capabilities. In the lifecycle of an application, many different systems and network infrastructures can impact performance. From back-end storage and database systems to the company network to WAN and internet connections to last mile broadband, the performance of an application can be adversely affected by any of these. With performance management and monitoring systems designed to look at the complete end-to-end infrastructure, organizations can potentially see this entire ecosystem and understand exactly where performance issues occur. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report, made available in part by Exinda and ExtraHop, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=8248&camp=2.

Also authored by Rapoza, "The Changing Face of Network Performance" reports on how businesses that succeed in managing and optimizing network performance in these changing times have the best combination of network and application visibility and high levels of control over their management infrastructure. Networks and the applications that run on them are currently seeing an extremely high rate of innovations and changes that are impacting how these networks and applications are managed and optimized. Cloud computing is changing how applications are created and deployed. Businesses that succeed in managing and optimizing network performance in these changing times will have the best combination of network and application visibility and control in their management infrastructure. To obtain a complimentary copy of this report, visit: http://aberdeen.com/Aberdeen-Library/8218/RB-application-network-performance.aspx.

The "Multi-Channel Contact Center: Delight Customers where they Live" research study by Omer Minkara, Research Analyst, Customer Management/Contact Center, details how Best-in-Class contact centers improve their customer satisfaction results by 19.8% year-over-year by deploying a seamless customer care strategy that spans multiple channels. This report highlights the key business activities and technology enablers that help top performing multi-channel contact centers address customer needs across numerous channels in a consistent and timely manner. To obtain a complimentary copy of the report visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=7006&camp=2

About Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company

Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company (NYSE: HHS), is a global, full-service, multi-channel marketing services firm with deep expertise in developing research-based technology marketing content. Enabled by its team of 40 analysts covering 17 industry-sector categories, Aberdeen provides B2B marketers with relevant content assets available in multiple formats that target each stage of the customer buying cycle. 

Aberdeen has offices in Boston and London. Harte-Hanks operates 25 offices in the United States, and has locations throughout Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Latin America.

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