Executive Briefing: Jan. 4, 2008

In one of its biggest restructurings in years, IBM's Systems and Technology Group (STG) is reorganizing its server and storage system sales and marketing efforts around types of customers rather than platforms. Thursday an IBM executive said the new customer-focused business units created in the restructuring will provide solution providers with more "customer-facing resources" to help drive channel partner opportunities. [READ MORE]

Microsoft has modified its Web server licensing terms for Windows Server 2008 in what looks like an attempt to compete more effectively with open source alternatives, ChannelWeb has learned. According to an internal Microsoft document, Microsoft will not require a client access license (CAL) for the Windows Web Server 2008 SKU, and will allow users to run any type of database software with no limit on the number of users, provided they deploy it as an Internet-facing front-end server. Solution providers expect these changes to go a long way toward making Windows Web Server 2008 more competitive with the LAMP stack. [READ MORE]

That C in CES may stand for consumer, but this show is not just about televisions anymore. Major IT vendors from Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo and Dell to Intel and Hitachi all will be there showing wares for business, home and the ever-smaller gap in between. Plus, there will be some pretty cool TVs. [READ MORE]

Security researchers uncovered 18 new attacks over instant messaging in December alone, bringing the total up to 346 for 2007. Unlike the simple viruses of years past, the IM threats in the past 12 months have evolved into multistaged attacks that have the potential to cause significant harm to users' PCs, experts say. Attackers will entice users to click on a link to a malicious URL with a socially engineered message that looks like it comes from a friend. The malicious site then downloads a Trojan or a worm onto the users' PC and propagates through the infected person's buddy list. [READ MORE]

Rauline Ochs, the Oracle channel executive widely credited with transforming the software giant into a channel-friendly company, is leaving to take a job with Seattle-based Safeco Insurance, Ochs said Friday. Oracle was reported to be interviewing candidates to fill Ochs' position of senior vice president of the company's North America Alliance and Channels organization, but has not yet named a successor. [READ MORE]