A Tender Farewell to 2010

Welcome to 2011, and it’s already looking frenetic. Enex TestLab finished 2010 with a flurry of tenders and 2011 has started much the same. Governments and Commercials are ramping up contracts and Enex TestLab is right in the thick of them all. “The end of the year has been all about tenders, tenders and more tenders,” says Matt Tett, Director, Enex TestLab. Of particular note has been a contract signed between Enex TestLab and the Department from Broadband, Communcations and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) establishing a standing agreement for Enex TestLab to provide technical advice and support to the department. This is a critical alignment, Enex TestLab’s vast technical experience and independent perspective will provide continued valuable support for the department’s decision making process.

2011 also welcomes the prospect of the first major project for Enex TestLab to be undertaken with its China-based affiliate. Digital broadcasting is an exciting emerging area for us to be working in – more news will follow.

In a string of announcements, we are also proud to confirm our affiliation in Australia with well known vendors Compuware and MicroFocus. In the UK, Enex TestLab and MicroFocus already has a strong ongoing relationship. In future we expect to extend these agreements into other regions such as China.

Enex TestLab Gaming, Wagering, Lotteries and Casino Testing Division has been a major source of activity through 2010. We have recently completed our ISO 17025 gaming accreditation, meaning that Enex TestLab can now be an Accredited Test Facility (ATF) for the UK Gambling Commission, adding this jurisdiction to an already impressive list of licences held by Enex TestLab including all of Australia, New Zealand and Macau. Enex TestLab had a significant presence at the AGE (Australian Gaming Expo) held in Sydney in Q4 2010, and marks our aggressive growth in this market. Enex TestLab is bringing a welcome increase in choice, value and independence to this industry. You will see an ongoing ramping up of our presence and activity in this sector for 2011.

As we mentioned briefly last newsletter Matthew Hackling has joined Enex TestLab as General Manager of our Australian Security testing division. Matt is the first of what will be a number of management announcements for Enex TestLab. We look forward to revealing a number of new additions in 2011. With the expansion of our physical and materials testing division, and our ever growing work in media and communications, new additions to these will see Enex TestLab’s local senior headcount rise significantly.

Finally, a new year also marks the return of the Internet Industry Associations (IIA) annual Gala dinner. Enex TestLab is once again sponsoring the entertainment for the event and we look forward to seeing our clients and friends there again in February.

Telling the Enex TestLab Value Story

Enex TestLab has always been prepared to walk the walk. We’re comfortable letting the value we deliver to customers, be the face of our business.

Nevertheless, Enex TestLab is a rapidly growing business – one of the fastest in Victoria and Australia. We’ve been growing year on year for some time now and reflecting this, as well as the increasing complexity and capacity of our services, Enex TestLab is refining its marketing and communications products. We’re working to ensure clear and relevant information is available to our customers, highlighting the value of Enex TestLab’s diverse portfolio of testing services and products.

In addition to a suite of engagement products, revised global websites will offer an increasing level of insight into our work, our value proposition and more detail about the innovative ways we’ve worked with customers. Enex TestLab delivers independent testing into so many different and exciting technologies and industry sectors that our website is becoming a major channel for customers to understand our business.

Our work for Q3 2010 certainly reflects a growing level of innovation and the application of testing by customers. We’ve recently completed an interesting project for an importer of car audio units. The results enabled the retailer to select the best value product to add to its range with confidence that the product had sufficient quality to add their own branding and reputation to; it would impact positively on its bottom line, and have confidence in the warranty and support they would offer.

Interestingly, during testing of the car audio devices, Enex TestLab was pleased to discover that the units achieved an impressive standard of audio quality and shock protection. You’ll hear them on streets around the country soon.

Our work for a number of government departments procurement continues, we’ve been busy evaluating desktops, notebooks, monitors, projectors and even smart tables and interactive whiteboards to ensure that product value is maximised. We’ve also completed WLAN load and performance testing for a government agency.

The AGE (Australian Gaming Expo) was held in Sydney during August. Enex TestLab hosted an exhibit, introducing a number of new clients to Enex TestLab’s range of services dedicated to the gaming and wagering sector. We’re an ATF in quite a number of global gaming jurisdictions seeing a lot of growth in our business in this sector.

As we continue to build our headcount, Enex TestLab is pleased to announce Matthew Hackling as our new Divisional Head of Security Testing in Australia. Matthew brings a wealth of security experience and will be a key part of our security market expansion.

The value story Enex TestLab has to tell has never been better, but the number of ways we need to tell it just keeps growing. With our revised website and marketing collateral, this becomes a far more integrated and well coordinated proposition. You’ll see how our activities relate right across our portfolio of services and how innovative companies across the globe are using Enex TestLab’s products and services in unique ways to reduce risk and make money.

Bigger is Better, Digital TV, Gaming, and an Electric Bus

Bigger is Better: In recent newsletters Enex TestLab has made announcements about its growth; and this quarter is no different. We’re getting bigger and we’re getting better. Enex has been aggressively growing its headcount and expanding into new territories for over four years now. On the back of expansion in the UK and China, we’re delighted to be formalising our operations in Hong Kong. In June, Enex registered its business and offices in Fo Tan, and this is already providing useful support to operations throughout the region, including Macau and southern mainland China.

In Europe, Enex UK operations have finished an impressive year. Software testing and security testing were delivered for some high profile clients. The UK is a mature market in terms of testing services and many organisations engage Enex TestLab for highly strategic purposes - seeking assurance and value from vast investments in their applications and systems. As a result, we’ve been actively building out our operations in the UK to service this market. We have also conducted testing in several European countries this past quarter.

In Australia, for many of the same reasons as in the UK, we’ve continued to take on more staff, with particular focus on providing these highly integrated services. Many of our customers (for example) are seeking independent testing that evaluates their software applications and security infrastructure in a more seamless and holistic way. Industries such as financial services are quite enthusiastic about this kind of service. The market appetite for more sophisticated and cross category testing has enabled us to create a key sales role around this, in both Sydney and Melbourne.

Only Enex TestLab can deliver to this level of sophistication. Due to our experience, size and diversity we’re able to provide a far more integrated and cross-organisational evaluation. It’s a key part of Enex’s go-to-market offering, and a great competitive differentiator for our business - complete, professional, supported and managed testing services.

Digital TV: Enex has taken a proactive role in the growth of digital television services across Australia. In the past we’ve tested many TVs and digital tuners, and have written numerous media articles and reviews on the products available. It seems logical then that we support the Department of Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy by sitting on the supplier evaluation panel for digital TV products. Through this Enex TestLab provides independent assessments for the certification of products and services introduced to the Australian market. It will help regulate the industry and provide consumers with constancy and assurance when purchasing their digital TV products.

Gaming: Enex Gaming, Wagering, Lotteries and Casinos Testing division has had a huge year already. We’ve had an active presence in many of the global gaming hot spots, and as part of our commitment to the gaming industry Enex TestLab will host a stand at the Australasian Gaming Expo in August. This is a key event on the international gaming industry calendar, attracting the world’s leading machine and gaming system vendors.

The Enex TestLab stand will not only provide a detailed insight into our gaming systems testing, certification and security services, but also provide a welcome opportunity to showcase our seven other testing divisions and enjoy the razzle-dazzle of the more glamorous side of technology.

Electric Bus: The sheer diversity of how Enex TestLab services are being used is as eye opening to us, as it is to anyone else. It serves as a reminder that extra value can be found anywhere, if you are prepared to evaluate the product carefully. Last year it was cranes, millions of dollars worth, and Enex was able to save our client a bundle as part of the process.

This quarter Enex is testing and evaluating electric buses in China. You’d be impressed to know what can be discovered about a bus when you put some solid testing behind the purchasing decision. We expect to save our client another bundle on this occasion as well. We can only imagine what product we’ll strike next.

With processors, speed cameras, car stereos, and more broadband testing all scheduled for the next few months, the diversity of Enex TestLab services looks likely to continue. Our focus, as always, remains as clear as ever –independence, rigor, and a high-quality scientific process.

Enex Turns 21: Crayons, Cranes and The Big Kahuna

A significant milestone was achieved in January, the TestLab turned 21! We think this is an impressive feat in such a cut-throat sector; we’ve outlasted some big names and helped some even bigger ones stay competitive. For over 21 years, Enex TestLab has independently and scientifically sifted through the hype, technicality, broken promises and complexity of the global ICT industry. Today, Enex is renowned for speaking the truth about technology – enabling our customers to make informed decisions, save money and deliver success.

Our founding member, Steve Turvey, is still with us as lab manager. For 21 years he’s been the cornerstone of the organisation (some say mascot as well). Back when Steve set up the lab it was the commercial testing arm of RMIT University, and there were just four staff. Today we have operations globally, cover 92 industry sectors with 8 separate specialist testing divisions. Enex has become one of the fastest growing businesses in Australia.

Over the years we have tested just about every conceivable technology and system, but it has been the more unconventional tests are the most memorable. For example;

· One of our Middle Eastern clients wished to purchase a number of 50 tonne cranes from a vendor in China. Enex was contracted to undertake testing to ensure they were in acceptable condition. Amazingly, Enex discovered that in most cases, the cranes were copies!

· Despite our suspicions that in the real world crayons would be eaten well before they ran out, one European manufacturer wanted to know absolutely, which of its colours would wear out first. So now it’s official, yellow is the most durable colour – but there is no accounting for taste.

· Recently, Enex tested a range of portable promotional bars. One of the criteria was to test its support for a 100kg person. Yep, a bar tested for dancing!

· In addition to testing their built-in security features, Enex batch tested passports for wear and tear. The test ran for over 12 months (exceeding 1 million page turns).

Considering all that’s happened so far, Enex is very excited about its next 21 years. And secretly, we’re all hoping we’ll get to test robots and jet packs sooner rather than later.

Back in the present, in addition to a huge birthday party, Q1 2010 was as busy as ever. Our eMetric products have been a major focus, with a number of broadband performance testing projects happening across metropolitan, regional and rural Australia. At the same time, Enex has been working closely with a group of network service providers and vendors to better develop the capabilities and functionality of the eMetric hardware device. We are also negotiating with a number of networking equipment vendors to embed eMetric code into their Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) enabling ubiquitous testing of broadband. The possibilities are looking very exciting.

Global expansion has also been a feature of the period. Enex is currently in the process of establishing Hong Kong operations in Fo Tan. This provides an ideal base to link with nearby geographies; Southern China, Macau, Singapore, and Southeast Asia. It will also support our existing operations in Shanghai.

European operations have had a great start to 2010. Increased local headcount will drive software testing for a number of large clients, as well as promoting broadband performance testing using eMetric.

Building on the last two years of gaining licences to operate as an Accredited Test Facility in key global jurisdictions. Enex has now been investing heavily in its domestic gaming, wagering, lotteries and casinos division human resources, with the core team now fully resourced. Enex is in a position to consolidate its place in the market, delivering experienced and cost effective services to this sector in a timely manner.

Enex media and communications is delighted to confirm the continuation of an 18 year relationship with CBS owned ZDNet (and its predecessors), and the consolidation of our 2009 relationship with Choice Magazine. A new publisher, IDG has also been added to our customer list. Our media business has come a long way over those 18 years. One of the most amusing anecdotes from our early years of publishing describes how Steve Turvey once announced the invention of the World Wide Worm in his monthly column. In fairness, that was many years ago – before the term Web had been coined.

Finally, and considering Enex has been celebrating, in February Enex TestLab sponsored the Internet Industry Associations (IIA) gala dinner entertainment, The Big Kahuna, whose members comprise Asia Pacific region executives from well known ICT enterprises such as Intel, Symantec, Verizon and Motorola. On this particular occasion, and perhaps for the best, Enex did not undertake any performance testing

The Internet Special: Media, Minister’s and Metrics.

The Internet Special: Media, Minister’s and Metrics.

The Internet dominated Q4. Enex TestLab were right in the thick of it – testing as always.

In December Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy announced that the Federal Government intends to pursue mandatory internet content filtering at the ISP level. The announcement quickly made headlines, not only in Australia, but across the UK and US – it seems considerable interest is taken in any Government exercising control over internet content.

Enex (in partnership with ISPs) conducted the content filtering technical trial for Department. Our wholly independent findings were considered in the Government’s assessment of feasibility for the program. Our report was detailed, scientific, and impartial. It provided a clear indication of the technical challenges and impacts such a policy would elicit.

Enex’s openly published results were subject to intense analysis and assessment by the world media – not to mention stakeholders, pundits, industry experts and analysts. Amid all of the controversy and the debate over the issue, Enex’s role, our report and results, our methodology, our transparency and our process were consistently recognised to be reliable and thorough. Whatever your views – Enex delivers facts! You can access the report at: http://www.dbcde.gov.au/.

The Internet Industry Association’s (IIA) Family Friendly Filter program continued on in the latter half of 09. Enex conducts all accreditation testing on behalf of the IIA. A good many Filters have now completed testing and amid all of the December Christmas parties, certificates were presented to successful filter vendors afloat on Sydney Harbour. For more information about getting your Filter accredited as Family Friendly, check our website.

December also was occasion for a new product (also highly relevant to the internet). For some time now Enex has been developing a tool known as eMetric – designed to measure and report on networking performance, and in particular broadband speeds. Through the latter half of 09, in partnership with the Department for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Enex has commenced an exciting pilot program to test a compact, hardware version of eMetric with 40 participating ISPs. This unit is the world’s first mass-producible, independent, broadband performance testing device, and it has been very positively received.

Enex is preparing to take eMetric further to market and has introduced the product to a number of organisations both locally and internationally. A number of major telecommunications companies in Korea, Japan and the UK have already expressed interest in the possibilities the units offer. As a result, eMetric is likely to be implemented in some interesting ways over the coming period. Stay tuned for more.

In the UK, despite more gloomy economic conditions, Enex has continued to grow a steady base of customers - adding IT security accreditation testing for the UK Government and penetration testing for a local authority. Also of note was ZDNet.uk publishing a review of SME malware/security products, which was very well received and highlighted another of Enex’s products - eThreatz. More fine articles can be expected out of our UK offices in 2010.

During Q4 ‘09 Enex UK has also been successful in gaining not one but two ISO accreditations: 17020 and 9001. This brings Enex UK in line with its sister lab in Australia and we are pleased to have gained both in such a short time since establishing operations in the UK.

Q1 ’10 is the start of an exciting phase for UK operations. As part of our growth in the UK, we are bringing on board a new manager who compliments our business with a strong focus on software and testing.

2010 is already looking busy and as we move through Q1, building our gaming/wagering team and expanding our software testing division remains a focus. Also worth noting is that by Q2 our long established media and communications division may also be making new noises, but more on that next time.

Tweeting through Windows, eThreatz and a Family Web.

Did you know Enex TestLab is tweeting? You can also stay up-to-date with Enex's operations and testing, including all of its products and services via Facebook. If you've already been following, you might have heard about Enex's work with Microsoft to perform compatibility testing for Windows7.

Enex TestLab Microsoft Windows7 Compatibility Testing and Microsoft Windows Logo Certification Packages are new cost saving services offer by Enex for managing application compatibility with Microsoft's upcoming Operating System - Windows7.

Significant changes made to Windows7 (particularly to the way third-party code is handled) mean there is no guarantee an application will be fully compatible, even if it installs successfully on the Windows7 Beta version.

Enex TestLab Microsoft Windows7 Compatibility Testing is a low-cost service that has attracted a lot of interest from businesses keen to keep costs down as they prepare for the new OS. The rapid turn-around test is proving to be a popular way for organisations to minimise the potential need for patches after release, as well as keeping developer resources focused.

Other customers are seizing the opportunity to use Enex to manage their product successfully through Microsoft Windows Logo certification. See microsoft.testlab.com.au

Enex publishing has continued to push out a steady flow of reading material this quarter with integrated security devices returning to focus. tinyurl.com/enexutm and the Cisco ISR891 router tinyurl.com/enexcisco Continue checking zdnet.com.au for regular Enex reviews.

This quarter Enex is also proud to release a new flagship product eThreatz. eThreatz is the world’s first fully automated malware testing service. Developed to be the most accurate, flexible and cost effective service available, eThreatz addresses the complete range of malware, including: spyware, worms, trojans, viruses, rootkits, adware, crimeware, and botnets.

Enex TestLab eThreatz malware testing is designed to be repeatable - automatically. This means that the same batch of malware can be used repeatedly in order to regressively test for a specific requirement. Or, (for example) Enex TestLab can run live, constantly updating tests in real-time to determine how effectively a product can defend against malware in the real world, at any given moment in time.

Using real-time, real-world, malware and testing conditions, eThreatz delivers the most accurate and most useful security testing in the world. It can be fully customised, and because it is automated, it is extremely cost effective. Reporting is also fully customisable, and is delivered – automatically. It’s amazing no-one’s done anything like this before! See ethreatz.com

Q3 2009 also saw increased activity with a number of tests conducted by Enex for the Internet Industry Association's (IIA) Family Friendly Content Filter Scheme.

Each year, accredited filters are put through rigorous compliance testing by Enex TestLab to provide a benchmarked assessment of each content filter’s capability, including its effectiveness in relation to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) blacklisted sites.
Accreditation through Enex offers formal certification that an Internet content filter complies with the Australian Internet Industry Association (IIA) codes for regulating online content. See testlab.com.au/web/guest/iia

Lastly for Q3, Enex capitalised on its membership on the Victorian Government eServices Panel. Enex has a long history of work with the Victorian Government. As a member of the panel, Enex can deliver testing, and performance and metrics consultancy services across the complete Government portfolio.

Ultimately, this means Enex will provide a really diverse range of services such as testing Government software development to minimise risk and contain costs; testing products during procurement evaluations; security testing; application performance testing; and even usability testing - ensuring applications or services are accessible to everyone who needs to use it. See testlab.com.au/web/guest/eservices

Lots more news to come in Q4 - or catch our musings and newsings as they happen with all the tweets, blogs and bleeps you could every wish for.

Introducing eThreatz

eThreatz Automated Malware Testing

eThreatz, by Enex TestLab, is the world's first fully automated, independent, malware testing service.

Developed at Enex TestLab to be the most accurate, flexible and cost effective service available, eThreatz addresses the complete range of malware, including: spyware, worms, trojans, viruses, rootkits, adware, crimeware, and botnets.

Enex TestLab eThreatz automated malware testing services include;

> Stand alone (one-off) product testing
> Contracted monthly testing
> Contracted continuous testing of a product with real-time reporting
> Multiple product testing and comparison. (This can be either a one-off or on a continuous basis.)
> Full product life cycle continuous testing including zero-day.
> Bespoke testing

The benefits of using the Enex TestLab eThreatz automated malware testing services include;

> Highly cost effective, competitively priced
> Fast service
> Uses current malware threats (not material that is months out of date)
> Automated testing means it is reliable, cost effective, and repeatable
> Open methodologies
> Full and detailed reporting
> A unique service: not matched anywhere else in the world!

For more information contact malcolm.higgins@enextestlab.co.uk or visit http://www.enextestlab.co.uk/web/guest/56

Gaming, Enex and the Einstein Factor

Quarter 2 2009 - Summary

In 1919, the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) launched an expedition to observe a total solar eclipse in order to prove or disprove Einstein's theory of general relativity. Yes, even Einstein's theories needed independent testing.

This quarter, our biggest news is that following four years of dedication and effort, Enex is now an accredited and licensed test facility for gaming jurisdictions across all Australian States and Territories as well as New Zealand and Macau. This is a major coupe for Enex, and will support our growth locally as well as internationally.

Q2 2009 has seen Enex TestLab operating solidly out of its international offices. In Australia, Enex has been as busy as ever. The Federal Government’s controversial trial of ISP based internet content filters continues to run, with Enex providing technical consultation, test methodologies, as well as performing the testing and reporting services. Enex has been independently testing the participating providers chosen filters across a number of criteria including accuracy performance and cost. In a similar vein Enex TestLab also maintains a relationship with the Internet Industry Association (IIA) as its Accredited Test Facility (ATF) for the IIA Family Friendly Filter Scheme, testing all participating vendors products.

Enex media and publishing has also been productive this quarter. We have dusted off blade servers for a comparative review (available shortly at zdnet.com.au) as well as putting a range of workstations, virtualisation products and firewall security devices under the microscope.

China has also been a major mover for Enex globally this past quarter. The Enex TestLab (China) "TESTED" quality certification branding scheme has been established in the southern region (Guangdong province). Q2 2009 also saw the completion of negotiations to establish a facility in Hong Kong and a laboratory in Shenzhen. An MOU is being drafted and should be signed during Q3.

Enex is also performing an informal introductory and advisory role for Victorian businesses seeking to access China. In partnership with the Victorian Department for Innovation Industry and Regional Development (DIIRD) Enex helps to support Victorian businesses, providing introductions and assistance. Enex hopes to formalise this partnership during Q3 with the aim of delivering a Victorian Trade Mission to East Asia in October of this year (dubbed V-TEAM).

Lastly, Enex began trading from its UK TestLab on 1 May 2009. Located in the Technium Springboard building in Cwmbran, South Wales, the office began testing for a number of contracts with major corporations and government agencies, including: The National Archives, Messagelabs (Symantec), Becrypt Data and Mimecast. Enex is now a fully accredited test laboratory authorised for the UK Government CCT Mark scheme for claims testing and certification of security products under CESG's administration for Critical National Infrastructure and Government eSecurity. There has been a healthy interest in evaluations under this scheme.

In the coming quarter Enex UK will look towards additional accreditation under the UK CHECK Scheme for Security and Penetration testing. This will enable Enex to leverage its vast experience in IT Security and partner with HMG to perform evaluations.

Enex is still waiting for its chance to test Einstein's theory of general relativity. We have'nt yet been asked to write a methodology for something quite so groundbreaking, but we are often asked to test strange products. In the past we've done one-way encryption devices, crayons, international passports and construction cranes. And just like Einstein's theory, each of these products' credibility has been proven by independent scientific evaluation. Your business can benefit from the same rigor.

Testing Einstein !

Celebrating a landmark experiment

http://tinyurl.com/qxm8bl14

"What was arguably the most important scientific experiment of the 20th Century, happened in a slave plantation on a remote African island."

"In 1919, the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) launched an expedition to observe a total solar eclipse from Principe, to prove or disprove Einstein's theory of general relativity."

So even Einstein's theories needed independent testing.

While we have not yet been asked to write a methodology to test a claim as groundbreaking as the theory of general relativity we are often asked to test some strange products and concepts, from one-way encryption devices, to crayons, international passports and cranes.

The best projects we work on start with the query ; "this may sound like a strange request but do you test .... ?"

Matt Tett
Enex TestLab
http://www.enextestlab.com/

Court Ordered - Code Reviews

Buggy breathalyzer code reflects importance of source review

http://tinyurl.com/raaklg

"Court-ordered source code reviews of the software that is used to power a breathalyzer found bugs and significant technical deficiencies. The results raise serious questions about the reliability of such devices and demonstrate the clear need for source code review."

"A court-ordered audit of the source code that powers a breathalyzer machine has uncovered serious bugs and technical deficiencies. The professional code reviewers contend that the software is far below industry standards for quality and that it contains programming errors. The results of this review have raised serious questions about the viability of such devices as a law enforcement tool."

Interesting to note that the plaintiff and defendent both commissioned seperate test labs to perform independent audits/review of the code used in this device and the results were quite varied. Apart from the individual labs being contracted by seperate sides in the case it appears that the brief/scope each was presented with differed. This demonstrates the importance of getting the product brief/scope correct via thorough requirements discovery. This is something Enex TestLab regularly runs across in many of our clients testing projects. Clients simply have not spent enough time or effort seeking the knowledge and capturing their requirements before proceeding to development. This causes confusion for their developers or integrators and ultimately angst for the client when it appears the project is going in the wrong direction.

At the end of the day the owner of the product under development needs to interact with their ultimate end-user of the technology, be it a website or a router!

Then to ensure that they are on track they need to have an independent party testing through each stage of the development lifecycle to ensure that the project is going down the right path and that the product will fit with the end-user when it goes to market.

The moral to this particular story is; If sufficient project planning and expenditure had been budgeted to allow for independent testing and code review prior to the device being released to market, and the advice contained in the test labs report heeded and acted upon, it would have saved to business significant future cost/expense in relation to the legal action which ultimately culminated in the need for the court to order this code review! Not to mention loss of goodwill and damage to the brand that inevitably resulted.

Matt Tett
Enex TestLab
http://www.enextestlab.com/