Shark Tank: Update time

This company uses Microsoft Access for much of its database needs -- and database changes often require this pilot fish to get several users out of Access so he can update the applications.

"Somebody told me I'm grumpy when I do the updates," says fish. "But this is the time line of how the last update went."

10 a.m.: Fish sends out a companywide e-mail asking everyone to be out of several Access databases at 4 p.m. that afternoon so he can perform an update. He reminds all users that the databases will not be available for about 15 minutes after 4 p.m.

10:05 a.m.: Fish begins receiving sarcastic e-mails from co-workers, intended either to mock him or to critique his grammar, spelling and attitude.

11:15 a.m.: Despite the fact that fish clearly identified which databases would not be available during the update, somebody calls him to ask if he can use one of them during the update. The day passes...

4 p.m.: Fish starts asking users to get out of the databases. Users claim they either didn't get the message, never check their e-mail, were too busy and forgot, or just don't care. One user asks for five more minutes to finish entering something.

4:10 p.m.: Everybody's finally out.

4:12 p.m.: Fish tries to start the update, but a user has started using the database again. He tells fish he "didn't get the message."

4:15 p.m.: Fish finally begins the update, which is supposed to be complete by now.

4:18 p.m.: User calls fish with an unrelated, non-urgent question, even though he knows fish has his hands full with the update.

4:19 p.m.: Another user calls to find out if he can get back into the database yet.

4:25 p.m.: Five-minute update is finally done after nearly half an hour.

4:30 p.m.: User who didn't get out of Access when requested complains that the update took longer than it was supposed to. Fish explains that if everyone had cooperated and closed out of Access when he asked, it would have been done on time. User gives fish a blank stare.

"I give up and go home," fish reports. "5 p.m.: I arrive home and have a beer. Or two. Or three..."

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Shark Tank: Update time

This company uses Microsoft Access for much of its database needs -- and database changes often require this pilot fish to get several users out of Access so he can update the applications."Somebody told me I'm grumpy when I do the updates," says fish. "But this is the time line of how the last update went."

Shark Tank: Update time

This company uses Microsoft Access for much of its database needs -- and database changes often require this pilot fish to get several users out of Access so he can update the applications."Somebody told me I'm grumpy when I do the updates," says fish. "But this is the time line of how the last update went."

Another security figurehead - what a tragedy

I have talked about security figureheads before and how much it gripes me. It bothers me for a few different reasons. One is because it is wrong when a company puts someone in a postition so the execs can check a box on a list and simultaneously have someone to blame when things go wrong, even when they haven't given that person the resources to do the job. I also rail against it because I have been just such a person, and the sense of impotence was maddening. Yet I had managed to push those old feelings away and actually enjoy my career after I left that job. Well, now a very good friend of mine has been put in the same position, and all of those feelings came flooding back. I just get enraged when management simply refuses to implement security except for putting someone in a security position and calling it good (BTW, my friend is the security manager, but he answers to the IT Director and got no raise in salary for the promotion - a situation eerily similar to my last job, except I did get a raise). This company is publicly traded, and they are buying other companies left and right, yet they refuse to do any meaningful infrastructure and security upgrades. However, they just recently purchased their third corporate jet. Hmmmm, can you say "priorities"???

Another security figurehead -- what a tragedy

I have talked about security figureheads before and how much it gripes me. It bothers me for a few different reasons. One is because it is wrong when a company puts someone in a postition so the execs can check a box on a list and simultaneously have someone to blame when things go wrong, even when they haven't given that person the resources to do the job. I also rail against it because I have been just such a person, and the sense of impotence was maddening. Yet I had managed to push those old feelings away and actually enjoy my career after I left that job.

Another security figurehead -- what a tragedy

I have talked about security figureheads before and how much it gripes me. It bothers me for a few different reasons. One is because it is wrong when a company puts someone in a postition so the execs can check a box on a list and simultaneously have someone to blame when things go wrong, even when they haven't given that person the resources to do the job. I also rail against it because I have been just such a person, and the sense of impotence was maddening. Yet I had managed to push those old feelings away and actually enjoy my career after I left that job.