Crash of Virginia Computer Network

A look at the week of September 7, 2010, in public advocacy for the IT channel

This week, a failure in Virginia computer networks points to huge system-wide vulnerabilities in every major company and government in the country.  The U.S. has fallen short in awarding contracts to small businesses.  Slow improvements in tech-sector hiring raise questions about the sustainability of future job growth in America. 

Broad Implications for Crash of Va. Computer Network – The failed data storage unit that wreaked havoc in the computer networks of Virginia agencies for over a week is a ubiquitous  technology used by virtually every major company and government in the country, reports The Washington Post.  The crash – still baffling to state officials – exposes the vulnerability of modern and complex interconnected computer networks, and is being closely watched by IT pros across the country.

U.S. Falls Short in Awarding Small-Business Contracts – A record number of federal dollars went to small businesses in 2009, although the federal government once again fell short of reaching its annual goal, according to a report from the Small Business Administration.  The government has missed its target in recent years in part because some contracts, such as those for weapons systems or massive construction projects, are more suited to larger firms, says The Wall Street Journal. 

Once Promising, Tech Sector Is Slow to Hire – For years the technology sector has been considered the most dynamic, promising and globally envied industry in the United States. But as the nation struggles to put people back to work, even high-tech companies have been slow to hire, a sign of just how difficult it will be to address persistently high joblessness, according to The New York Times. The disappointing trend raises questions about whether the tech industry can help power a recovery and sustain American job growth in the next decade and beyond.

However CompTIA also notes that more than 360,000 IT job postings appeared last month on Indeed.com – a 61 percent increase over August 2009. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says jobs in “computer systems design and related services” were added in each of the past three months. The change is small, but trending in the right direction.