You may recall that we held a Security Techfast last year which covered security basics like identifying a Phishing email and using strong passwords. This year’s Techfast is going to concentrate on tips, tricks, and applications that you can use to secure your online life immediately. Barry Wilson and Scott McNulty will demo some of their favorite security tools and teach you how you can navigate your online world both securely and conveniently.

The Cyber Security Awareness Month Techfast takes place on Friday, October 5th in JMHH F85 from 10am to 11am. Please register if you intend on joining us.

Attention Wharton affiliated iPad users: now you can use your favorite tablet and show off some school pride. Wharton branded 32 GB Wi-Fi iPads are now available for purchase at the Computer Connection (you must have a valid PennCard to purchase an iPad at the Computer Connection). In addition to the engraved Wharton logo each iPad come preloaded with a Wharton background and a number of hand selected apps.

The Wharton iPad is the first officially branded iPad available for sale and has garnered attention from TUAW and Macworld.

Picture from the Wharton Flickr account.

Enter the Wharton Computing Current Projects page. This page, to be updated quarterly, highlights a number of ongoing and completed projects involving teams across Wharton Computing and the School. If you’ve ever wanted a glimpse into all the interesting things we’re up to, this is your chance (and you can meet some of the folks behind these projects at our 2012 Tech Expo).

Date & Time: Friday, June 1, 2012 from 3:00-6:00PM

Location: Hoover and Zellen Lounge and Vance Hall Lower Level

Enjoy food and drink as you experience:

• The new Vance Hall Classrooms
• Telepresence demos
• Vendor demos in Hoover Lounge
• Wharton Computing projects
• Speak with Wharton Computing staff and offer suggestions for projects and future events

Please register by Wednesday 5/30/12 at noon.

The Virtual Desktop project here at Wharton Computing is collaborative effort between several main groups: Administrative Support, Public Technology, Executive Education, and Core Systems. After a limited pilot was successful we’ve transitioned many staff users to Virtual Desktops with plans to migrate even more by the end of next year.

Why are we bothering with Desktop virtualization? The embedded presentation gives an overview to other the technology itself, and why we’re implementing here at Wharton. Basically Desktop virtualization allows us to transfer the computing power and data storage of a standard desktop PC that is sitting on someone’s desk to a group of servers in our data center. By locating all of these resources centrally, Wharton Computing staff can efficiently deliver a robust selection of software to users, save on licensing costs by switching from individual installs to concurrent models, and have the stability and scalability of a datacenter to protect the organization’s data. The best part is most users can’t tell the difference between using a desktop versus using a virtual Desktop, that is until they log into their virtual desktop from an iPad for the first time.

Search the directory based on location, tag, and work history with just a few taps. You can even find fellow alums that are near your current location. The app also lists all alumni events and news in one location.

The Daily Pennsylvanian recently spoke with a number of people involved with the development of the app to get more details. We’ll post more when the app is available on the App Store.

Deirdre highlights four lessons Wharton Computing learned during the process:

• Stay close to your core competencies
• Support your own user base
• Make investments
• Expand your skills

Read the whole post for more details about WRDS and some of the challenges that were faced as the product was brought to market.

The Women in Tech Summit, part of Philly Tech Week, is taking place on April 21st at Jon Huntsman Hall. The event has a great mix of sessions and workshops focused on helping women in technology learn new skills, network, and support each other.

Deirdre Woods, Wharton Computing’s CIO, will be moderating the opening panel titled “Getting IN” where she will explore how to break into the technology business with panelists Pam Selle, Yasmine Mustafa, Lauren Schwartz, Tristin Hightower, and Patricia Tawadros.

Check out the full Women in Tech Summit schedule to see the other sessions and workshops that will be offered.

Our new home for Wharton | San Francisco features plenty of technology, wide open spaces, and natural light. Now you can see it for yourself, via video, thanks to this tour CNET recently took of the space. Bernadette Brit, Wharton | San Francisco COO, showed the CNET crew the common areas and the classrooms while explaining how Wharton plans to use the space.

Check out the interview here, and read the entire white paper for some insights from other industry leaders.