FREE DOWNLOADS: ASPE SPECIAL OFFERS
(last update: 7 October 2007)
It's ASPE Technology's goal to provide our customers with tools, resources, and “toys” that make it easier to be a technology professional.
Check out this page every few weeks to discover the new white papers, free subscriptions, job aids, gizmos, and gadgets we're offering.
It's fundamental: the world of technology continues to get more complex, from planning and design to administration and operations. It's the nature of technology itself. But that complexity breeds opportunities as well as challenges, and that's one of the pillars our business has been built on. ASPE Technology strives to help you tap the opportunities and meet the challenges through our curriculum of advanced technology training, as well as through these special offers. These freebies are about fun, but they're also about giving you tools and information to help you be successful.
DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS: Our free offers are split into two curriculums: 1) Software Development Life Cycle and 2) Information Technology. To receive them, click on a fee offer link and complete the appropriate form. If you are interested in offers in both curriculums, you will need to complete two forms. Upon completion of the appropriate form, you will be immediately taken to a download page where you can download the offers you wish to obtain.
Software Development Life Cycle offers:
Agile Methods
Business Analyst/Requirements
Project Management/Professional Skills
Software Testing
Information Technology offers:
Application Development
Database and Business Intelligence
Microsoft
Networking
Global Star Certification (GSC) - Measuring Outsourcing Viability
Before there was such a thing as outsourcing, client companies utilized “service providers”, companies who delivered specific information technology services. Clients often applied inconsistent review and examination methods that lead to numerous issues that often culminated in project failures. It became apparent in later years that these shortcomings resulted in catastrophic results that centered around the viability and delivery capacity of the service provider.
Complete the short form to download the quick tips
The Importance of Contextual Design in Reducing Project Costs and Increasing Customer Satisfaction
Contextual Design is a scientific method for determining how software should be developed based on the users' actions and not their words Contextual Design (C.D.) utilizes three distinct steps to help determine and prioritize software requirements. 1. Contextual Inquiry - Gather data from observing multiple different users doing their work 2. Work Modeling - Use standard modeling methods to model the individual user's work 3. Consolidation - Consolidate all of the individual work models to create a complete view of the users' work practices.
Complete the short form to download the quick tips
Using Automated Tests to Document Software Architectures
When comparing real examples of automated tests to the architectural solution described in Essential Software Architecture, it becomes clear that source code (written in Java) alone is not expressive enough to replace every aspect of an architecture specification. In this article, UML models are used to document context information that cannot be easily described using source code alone. In keeping with the agile style of automated testing, all models were created using Agile Modeling.
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Top 5 Pitfalls for SOA
SOA is one of the most important developments in recent IT history. Everyone has something to say about SOA, and a huge industry has grown up around tools, languages, platforms, and frameworks for SOA. There are, however, several pitfalls that can seriously delay or completely derail an effort to implement an SOA.
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Story Driven Acceptance Testing
Story-driven acceptance testing starts with stores that can provide a near-term business value to a customer. Agile development cycles are driven by stories customers would like to have added to an application. When the time comes to implement something described by a story, the story customer and a developer talk about what the story means and how it should be implemented.
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Writing Music in JAVA
Music software enables expressing musical ideas that must be both human-readable and computer-readable. This white paper examines two open source Java libraries that use two different notations, which express musical information in computer-friendly ASCII formats.
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Lean Meets Agile Software Development and Project Management
This white paper discusses the roots of agile thinking in terms of the modern quality evolution, which has been exemplified in the Toyota Production System (TPS). In viewing TSP as the ultimate Lean implementation, we see similarities to Toyota’s TPS, the Agile Manifesto, and Agile Principles. This will explore why agile approaches will become the primary method for developing software and managing projects within the next five years.
Complete the short form to download the quick tips
Catalog Quick Tips
The ASPE 2007/2008 catalog is full to the brim with great tips in every curriculum area! Why not get them all in one convenient location, so you have them at your disposal when you hand the catalog to your manager or technical staff.
Complete the short form to download the quick tips
White Paper: Measuring Business Analyst Impact
Currently, most business analysis positions lack standard metrics that enable value measurement. If the BA position is to gain and maintain the foothold necessary for solid IT/business alignment, standard metrics must be defined.
Complete the short form to download “Measuring Business Analyst Impact”
White Paper: Independent vs. Certified Product Training
Generally speaking, good product training provides trainees with clear instructions on how to use the product based on need, but also provides a detailed understanding of what the system cannot do within the context of that need. When done properly, total cost of ownership goes down. If done wrong, ownership costs go up significantly.
Complete the short form to download “Independent vs. Certified Product Training”
White Paper: Improving Customer Satisfaction
Customers must receive professional quality, service and support. This combination will help ensure your recognition and success as the leader in your industry. Customer “problems” can be managed more efficiently when your employees have the proper tools.
Complete the short form to download “Improving Customer Satisfaction”
White Paper: Virtual Teams / Virtual Meetings
An overview of remote meeting benefits, issues, and disadvantages, with links to free resources and tools.
Complete the short form to download “Virtual Teams / Virtual Meetings”
An SI, Inc. White Paper: Perspectives: Straw House
Programs like Capabilities Maturity Model (CMM) aim to measure repeatability and how well a software development effort documents its process. Unfortunately, there is no correlation between CMM level and the security of the code produced - whether it's good or bad, the only thing you can be confident in is that it will be consistently good or bad.
Complete the short form to download “Perspectives: Straw House
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An SI, Inc. White Paper: Scan Your Source Code To Locate Weak Spots Early
Whitebox testing is notoriously difficult to do. Without automatic code-scanning tools, it takes a keen eye, concentration and an enormous amount of time to scan each line of source code for security vulnerabilities. And as hackers become more sophisticated at finding these chinks in your armor and writing exploitative code, it becomes more necessary to take every precaution before shipping software. The necessary protection can range from security training throughout the security development life cycle (SDLC) to using tools such as source code scanners and vulnerability scanners.
Complete the short form to download “Scan Your Source Code To Locate Weak Spots Early”
An SI, Inc. White Paper: Designing Security in a Five-Step Action Plan to More Secure Software
For years,consumers have accepted security flaws in software. The IT industry has responded by creating defences at the perimeters of the networks – firewalls,routers,antivirus software,patch update tools,e-mail filters,and other products designed to protect systems from attackers. The key problem is that, at the network level, data used to exploit security flaws is often indistinguishable from legitimate application data. Our only hope is to tackle vulnerabilities at their root – in the applications themselves.
Complete the short form to download “Designing Security in a Five-Step Action Plan to More Secure Software
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An SI, Inc. White Paper: Whitebox Security Testing Using Code Scanning
Whitebox testing is notoriously difficult to do. Without automatic code scanning tools, scanning the source code requires a keen eye, concentration and an enormous amount of time to scan each line for security vulnerabilities. As hackers become more sophisticated at finding security vulnerabilities and writing exploitative code, it becomes more necessary to take every precaution before shipping software.These precautions can range from security training throughout the security development lifecycle (SDLC) to using tools such as source code scanners and vulnerability scanners.
Complete the short form to download “Whitebox Security Testing Using Code Scanning”
An SI, Inc. White Paper: Secure Software Begins in the Development Process
Deployed software is continuously under misuse or attack. Whether it’s an internal application or a public-facing website, software vulnerabilities cause headaches for both the teams that build applications and the teams that manage them. Though there are many risk mitigation options for the software management lifecycle (firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, etc.) these don’t address the root cause of the problem– a software development lifecycle that is not integrating security at each phase.
Complete the short form to download “Secure Software Begins in the Development Process”
An SI, Inc. White Paper: Duct Tape, Band-Aids and Bubble Gum Shouldn’t Be Used to Build Security
When software development teams begin to think about security early in the SDLC, it reforms our ideas of what our software will look like and gives us flexibility to address the concerns of not only security, but performance, usability, reliability, maintainability and many other important metrics. It’s only when we attempt to tack on security three weeks before the ship date that it becomes impossible.
Complete the short form to download “Duct Tape, Band-Aids and Bubble Gum Shouldn’t Be Used to Build Security”
An SI, Inc. White Paper: Future Test: Making Security More than Just an Afterthought
Enrollment in Computer Science as a major has declined in the US to only 1.1% of all majors last year, down from 3.7 the year before. This is largely because of all our outsourcing to other countries, a fine trend; however, it does necessitate the retention of qualified testing and assessment capabilities for companies who outsource development. And unlike functionality or performance, security is a critical component to software testing – if you ship with a product that’s difficult to use or has poor performance, your users may get annoyed; however, if you ship without mind to security you are putting your entire business at risk: you lose profit, customer loyalty, market share, and your executives or company might get sued by someone like the FTC
Complete the short form to download “Future Test: Making Security More than Just an Afterthought”
White Paper: Windows Server 2008 - The Read Only Domain Controller
In Windows Server 2008, a new type of domain controller has been created called the read only domain controller (RODC). Although it appears to be somewhat circular in reverting back to the NT days of a BDC, there are security benefits and many more options available with RODC’s.
Complete the short form to download “Windows Server 2008 - The Read Only Domain Controller”
White Paper: Windows Vista Security - Bit Locker
BitLocker is EFS but for full partitions/volumes, instead of files and folders. When used, the entire drive becomes inaccessible to anyone trying to access the drive, either by network, other operating system, or other boot files/disks. This is especially useful for drives being discarded or ones lost from theft, as you cannot bypass the encryption without the original hardware.
Complete the short form to download “Windows Vista Security - Bit Locker”
“Holodeck” from Security Innovation: a tool for comprehensive simulation, testing, and tuning
ASPE has partnered with SI to provide you with a 15-day trial of “Holodeck.” Holodeck is a unique testing tool that uses fault simulation to emulate real-world application and system errors. This allows testers and developers to work in a controlled, repeatable environment to analyze and debug error-handling code in hostile environments — ideal for adept testers that need to understand the underpinnings of their applications for reliability testing. You can cover more code, hit more error conditions, and gain confidence in the reliability of your code. Applications that stand up to Holodeck attacks are by definition not fragile. For more information, visit SI’s Holodeck data sheet.
Complete the short form to download the “Holodeck” 15-Day Trial
An SI, Inc. White Paper: 19 Attacks for Exploiting (all) Applications
The security experts at SI, Inc. give you 19 examples of attacks that could compromise virtually any system you work with.
Complete the short form to download “19 Attacks for Exploiting (all) Applications”
An SI, Inc. White Paper: Application Security by Design
The best way to ensure security in your applications is to plan for it from the very start. Get details on how you can make this part of your method in this in-depth white paper from SI, Inc.
Complete the short form to download “Application Security by Design”
The SI, Inc. and ASPE Technology joint Application Security Curriculum
You may suspect that your organization can't manage software security issues because it just doesn't know how. Worse yet, you may know it for sure. Either way, trying to decide how to pursue training in these areas can be an overwhelming task. This document clearly defines needs and outlines solutions - a good place to start.
Complete the short form to download “The Application Security Curriculum”
White Paper: The Top 10 Automation Scripting Mistakes
As he pinpoints and gives remedies for the top 10 automation scripting pitfalls, Jerry Durant shows us that the top 10 actually include a few more besides.
Complete the short form to download “The Top 10 Automation Scripting Mistakes”
White Paper: Deploying Scrum - From Zero to 18 in Six Weeks
Get an in-depth white paper on how you can successfully deploy Scrum by Certified ScrumMaster and Certified ScrumMaster Instructor Peter Borsella.
Please fill out our short form to download “From Zero to 18 in Six Weeks”
Scrum Introduction, Overview, and Training Preparation
The Scrum methodology name, which is a based on Agile principals, comes from Rugby. Scrum is taking Software/Application Development departments by storm but do you even know what it is. This article gives you a very clear and concise picture of Scrum and gives you the necessary information to prep to take the Scrum Master Certification course.
Please fill out our short form to download “Scrum Introduction, Overview, and Training Preparation”
“Agile Requirements” — a white paper prepared for ASPE Technology by Kenneth Pugh
Agile Software Development is a high-octane, high-efficiency model for building the applications your users require as quickly as possible without compromising quality. ASPE Technology has partnered with JOLT award winning author and Agile Alliance member Ken Pugh to bring you the following exclusive white paper on Agile Requirements.
Please fill out our short form to download “Agile Requirements”
Use Case Documentation
Get your free use case documentation. Included in this set of documentation is a white paper introducing you to use cases, and another discussing the dangers of employing use cases as test cases. You'll also get a list of common mistakes in use case development AND a step-by-step procedure for building use cases.
Please fill out our short form to download “Use Case Documentation”
Documentation on Requirements-Gathering in Software Development
For every $1 NOT spent to gather correct requirements, up to $200 must be spent to fix the resulting errors. Gathering and executing on the requirements for your software development projects is a critical success factor. Get this free set of documentation on business requirements and start building a successful requirements process for your projects
Please fill out our short form to download “Documentation on Requirements-Gathering in Software Development”
An Analyst's Requirements Toolkit — what every analyst must have to successfully elicit requirements
Discover this useful introduction to samples of the tools, techniques, and strategies available to analysts who must elicit requirements from business stakeholders. You'll see overall strategies analysts can use during a project. You'll examine a variety of tools and techniques, understand when it's appropriate to use which tool, and learn the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Please fill out our short form to download “An Analyst's Requirements Toolkit”
The Business of Learning — tips for demonstrating solid, sustainable value through training
Skills = revenue. But professionals in HR and corporate training continually have difficulty with management's failure to understand the value of training and workforce development. We asked Doug Harward, CEO of the Exceleration Group and founder of TrainingOutsourcing.com, to put together this package of specific methods you can use to demonstrate how tangible corporate value is gained through your effort and skills acquisition.
Please fill out our short form to download “The Business of Learning”
The Project Template Mini-Handbook
This is a collection of core tools to assist anyone involved in project management. Compiled by one of ASPE Technology's PMI experts, this document contains tracking tools, documentation forms for stakeholders, organizational templates, and more.
Please fill out our short form to download “The Project Template Mini-Handbook”
Networking Fundamentals Reference Manual
Get your free Networking Fundamentals information guide. This 300+ page manual gives you precise information on the OSI model, network hardware, bridges and switches, data flow through a router, WAN technologies, costs and implementation considerations,TCP/IP details, Security overview and much more.
Please fill out our short form to download “Networking Fundamentals Reference Manual”
Controlling Outbound Internet Access Through Use of a Proxy and Firewall
Network Security is critical. Firewall and Proxy technologies are the leading way companies are keeping their internal networks safe. In this white paper, learn how Proxy and Firewalls are used, where in your network they are placed and types of configurations use.
Please fill out our short form to download “Controlling Outbound Internet Access Through Use of a Proxy and Firewall”
Internetworking with Bridges
Bridges are still used within networks. This is a brief but useful new white paper from our archive on how to extend your Local Area Networks with Bridges.
Please fill out our short form to download “Internetworking with Bridges”
IP Subnetting
TCP/IP is the standard for Internet connectivity. IP address subnetting is a very critical skill in extending the number of addresses you have available. It is also the must difficult part of TCP/IP and is very confusing to the vast majority of system and network administrators. In this white paper, Networking Fundamentals course director Scott Smith provides a unique and simple approach to subnetting.
Please fill out our short form to download “IP Subnetting”
LAN Addressing
In order to successfully set up a Local Area Network, you must have an understanding of TCP/IP. The Transmission Control Protocol over the Internet Protocol is the defect solution for networking in today's communication environment. TCP/IP is a suite of protocols and standards, including ARP, PING, SMTP, URL, and HTTP to name a few. All are powerful tools that make today's network-to-network communication happen so effortlessly. To use TCP/IP you must understand the protocols and how the protocol works to transport voice, video, and data. This white paper uses clear, easy to understand language to teach all the details around TCP/IP.
Please fill out our short form to download “ LAN Addressing”
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