Tony Gialloreto: IT MANAGER, ALLEGHENY AIRPORT AUTHORITY, PITTSBURGH
Tony Gialloreto, 45, heads the IT department and communications group for the Allegheny Airport Authority, which runs Pittsburgh International Airport and Allegheny County Airport in Pennsylvania. He's responsible for managing the wired Ethernet LAN and wireless LAN infrastructures at both facilities, as well as for developing applications for the WLAN. Gialloreto has been with the Allegheny Airport Authority for 14 years and in IT for six. He holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from Point Park College in Pittsburgh.
Biggest surprise: A wireless LAN can be as secure as a wired one.
Biggest myth about WLAN security: You're wide open to hackers. With the appropriate security in place, there's no reason to worry.
Next time, I'll: Build and implement the wireless LAN sooner. But it was probably best that we took the time to think everything through.
Most memorable wireless breach: A "ping" virus was launched shortly after the wireless LAN went live last fall. But we disabled the pinging with Enterasys' NetSight Atlas Policy Manager.
How Wi-Fi is changing airport travel: It's making airports a stable work environment for business travelers.
Why airports have been behind the technology curve: They typically have a lack of IT resources. Most airports have a limited budget, and the major part of it goes to maintaining airfields.
Most ill-timed network outage: Weekday network outages are the worst, because work comes to a standstill.
Biggest IT mistake: Hesitance in going with new technologies.
Best advice: Don't overlook what may seem impossible.
Why he's not a betting man: I generally lose.
For fun: Playing golf.
Wheels: A 1993 Nissan Altima. It's practical.
