In Episode 11 of IT SPARC Cast, John and Lou unpack high-stakes lawsuits and investigations shaking the IT industry. They cover AT&T’s clash with Broadcom over VMWare support costs, Delta’s lawsuit against CrowdStrike after a massive flight disruption, and Ernst & Young’s exit as Super Micro’s auditor. Join us for insights on how these cases impact IT decision-makers, plus our CVE of the Week and security tips for handling layoffs.

Show Notes:

News Bytes:

Return to Office Programs Losing Steam:

•New data shows that 80% of companies have return-to-office policies, but only 17% enforce them. Lou and John discuss how “quiet covering” by managers is keeping remote work alive and the risks of enforcing in-office requirements.

•https://www.yahoo.com/news/back-office-orders-become-common-100031656.html 

AT&T Sues Broadcom Over VMWare Support Costs:

•AT&T claims Broadcom violated a VMWare support agreement, raising fees by 1,000% after switching to a subscription model. The New York Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order to maintain AT&T’s support during negotiations.

•https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/16/att_broadcom_vmware_settlement_possible/ 

•https://www.techtarget.com/searchVMware/news/366614302/Court-asks-ATT-Broadcom-to-resolve-VMware-dispute 

•https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/10/a-year-after-broadcoms-vmware-buy-customers-eye-exit-strategies/ 

Delta Airlines vs. CrowdStrike:

•Delta is suing CrowdStrike over a botched update that caused a $500 million impact on operations, affecting 1.3 million passengers. Lou breaks down how the lawsuit may shape the future of endpoint security.

•https://www.reuters.com/legal/delta-sues-crowdstrike-over-software-update-that-prompted-mass-flight-2024-10-25/ 

Super Micro Under Federal Investigation:

•Ernst & Young resigned as Super Micro’s auditor, citing internal control issues. Super Micro’s shares plummeted 33%, leading IT leaders to consider alternative hardware providers or renegotiate for better pricing.

•https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/30/super-micro-auditor-resigns-after-raising-concerns-months-earlier.html

CVE of the Week:

Reflecting on CVE’s 25 Years of Service:

•Instead of a specific CVE, John and Lou honor the CVE system’s contribution to cybersecurity. They discuss its origins with MITRE and its essential role in keeping systems secure.

Insider Threat Spotlight: 

•Lou shares a story about a former Disney employee who hacked internal systems to disrupt menu displays, demonstrating the need for stricter access management during terminations.

•https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/30/fired_disney_employee_hacks_menu/ 

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