The seventh annual US Cost of a Data Breach report, conducted by Ponemon Institute and Symantec Research, shows that the cost of individual data breaches is actually decreasing. And, not just by a small amount.

The average cost of a breach dropped a whopping 24% from $7.2 million in 2010 to $5.5 million in 2011

This is the first time that researchers have ever seen a decline.

Our friends over at Lemon.ly created a great infographic to help celebrate World Backup Day on March 31. With the ever-expanding role of data in our lives, it is important to remember to back up that data. SDN recently built a 25,000 square foot data center facility for backing up its own data and creating redundant systems. What is your business doing to protect its most valuable asset?

  Click Read More to view the complete infographic.

The Global Language Monitor recently released a list of the top buzzwords of the decade. The terms on this list not only have the distinction of being the most widely used in print and online media, but they also are listed amongst the most confusing words. While tech words make their way into popular culture, it is important to remember that while widely used, they are not always widely understood.

Top terms include:

With the insane growth of data and all things web, demand for data centers is growing at an exponential rate. A recent survey outlines the demand for the next two years.

Highlights of the study include:

• 92% of respondents will definitely or probably expand [data center real estate] in 2012
• Of those respondents, 38% expect to expand in three or more locations. 54% will look for spaces of 15,000 square feet or more in size.
• 82% of respondents expect server density in their facilities to increase in 2012.

IBM researchers have developed a prototype optical chip that can transfer data at 1Tbps (terabit per second). That's the equivalent of downloading 500 high-definition movies. Read the full article from NetworkWorld/IDG News Service here. Anything that technologically advanced, not to mention fast, gets SDN's attention.

The main run of the 2012 South Dakota Legislative session is over. Every year, I marvel at the ability of our state legislators to do the business of the state in an efficient and prudent manner. Some will tell you that the legislative process is anything but efficient (reference the old saying about sausage and laws—both are good but you don’t want to know how either is made), but I have always viewed our process in South Dakota superior to other states, mainly due to the fact that our legislators set key deadlines and then adhere to them. That is how 105 legislators with significant advice from the Governor and his staff are able to work their way through nearly 500 bills, numerous resolutions, untold floor votes and (sometimes) lengthy speeches to get all of their work done in just 32 legislative days.