Editor's Note: New Tools For Fighting BackEditor's Note: New Tools For Fighting Back

What's the difference between intrusion-prevention and intrusion-detection software? I like to think of it as the difference between Darcey, my terrier mix, and Max, my late springer spaniel. Max barked up a storm when strangers approached the front door-that's intrusion detection. Darcey barks too, but anyone trying to get in without proper introduction risks losing whatever body part Darcey comes into contact with first. That's intrusion prevention.

It's a difference more business-technology execs will become familiar with, especially on the heels of the Slammer worm. Intrusion-prevention tools also may offer some relief to companies when it comes to managing software patches. Cisco thinks this is a trend that's going somewhere-just hours before Slammer hit, it put up $154 million to buy intrusion-prevention vendor Okena.

Managing software patches is only one challenge for IT professionals. Another big one is managing storage. Businesses' quest to have more real-time data to run operations, to be able to quickly restore systems after a disturbance or disaster, and to make better use of existing storage space increases the challenge. Our cover story shows how vendors are responding with more sophisticated storage-management products. While much of the activity is on the software front, hardware vendors are upping the ante, too, as EMC delivers a major update to its flagship Symmetrix enterprise storage platform.

Speaking of updates, we've made some enhancements to Front End, including an Analyst Watch box that will highlight a business-technology report you'll want to know about.

Jennifer Zaino
Executive Editor, New
[email protected]

Stephanie Stahl is on vacation and will return next week.

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