Business Survival Lessons Learned From the Rubble
On January 17, the Great Hanshin Earthquake devastated large areas of Kobe, killing over 5,000 persons and damaging or destroying 300,000 buildings. For businesses lacking adequate precautions and contingency plans, though, the earthquake was only the start of the dis aster: the destruction of their information systems and loss of transaction data has driven many unprepared firms out of business. Freelance journalist Thomas Caldwell (who went to Kobe to talk with some of the affected business managers), and Computing Japan associate editor Robert Lemos survey the damage and offer some advice that all businesses, whether large or small, would be wise to heed.
by R.A. Lemos and Thomas Caldwell
Computer Viruses: The Infection Spreads to Japan
Japan once considered itself almost immune to computer viruses, in
part because proprietary systems kept foreign viruses at bay. The number
of officially reported viruses, though, has mushroomed - growing nearly
20 times in just three years. This article takes a look into the world
of computer viruses, with a focus on recent viral outbreaks and
countermeasures in Japan.
by Steven Myers
Government Procurements: Do Foreign Computer
Vendors Get a Fair Deal?
When it comes to public sector computer procurements, are foreign
vendors playing on a leveled field thanks to the government's 1992 action
program to promote open and fair competition? The answer - and the
supporting statistics - depends on who you ask.
by John Boyd
Interview: Success Through Partnerships -
Sybase KK
Yoshimi Ogawa, president of Sybase KK, discusses his company's
success, what it takes to compete in the Japan
ese market, and why Japan lags behind the US in writing software. In a
sidebar, VP Skip Glass of Sybase Inc. talks about Sybase's interoperability
lead, and how the Powersoft acquisition will contribute.
by William Auckerman
Disaster-Recovery Planning for
Telecommunications Security
Proper disaster-recovery planning is essential in any location - not
just earthquake prone areas. In the wake of the Great Hanshin Earthquake,
however, Japan-based IT managers are in a better position than ever to
convince the corporate hierarchy that "Be Prepared" is more
than just a Boy Scout motto.
by Thomas Giuffre
