Would the Internet leave you in a state of shock? Yes. What would you do without Google Maps in a foreign city? Absolutely clueless. If you couldn’t pay for your lunch with your credit card? cannot even imagine that. Can you literally exist without playing games or freelancing to make tons of money at home with your favorite Wave broadband internet? A big no!

A digital detox of this kind might be helpful. Maybe. Who knows?! 

We would take our eyes off the screens and talk to each other face-to-face. Perhaps our smartphones would actually allow us to make phone calls. Fax machines would be brought back, and note-taking would again be done by hand.

The world would not come to an end. The vast majority of the world’s population would not notice the difference – in the short term – with almost 4 billion having no internet access. However, not you, incredible Internet user. That would be a big deal to you!

We would begin to call one another on the phone if the Internet suddenly went down, overloading telecommunications systems…

Provided there was no interruption of cell phone towers or telephone lines. You would then resume writing letters and posting them by mail. You would give up wireless file transfer. A physical cable would need to be used to connect two computers if there is no Wi-Fi. Or, you could use a CD.

Some people have almost turned this idea into an exercise in the Internet age. A www had to appear somewhere in web addresses when the World Wide Web was officially launched in 1991. In the following year, website-speak became popularized with expressions like “surfing the web.”

Would it be feasible to revive old habits and infrastructure?

Can they be revived? 

Thousands of websites were launched online in two years, including offerings from the White House and the United Nations. The Internet has evolved from these baby steps into something that is almost living, at least to certain people. However, what would happen if it disappeared?

A world without the Internet would have some consequences that some generations would feel more strongly about. A grandparent 85 years of age may still prefer to call their grandchild on the old-fashioned landline rather than text them – a practice that many people today participate in dozens (or even hundreds) of times daily.

Say goodbye to texting, browsing websites, and social media. I believe that you would not have tweeted that last tweet about Justin Timberlake’s outfit at the Super Bowl halftime show if you knew that was your last tweet… Now think about the state of the economy.

Banking services are largely reliant on the Internet since financial data is typically stored on a server. Electronic transfers would not be possible. Credit cards and debit cards would cease to exist.

Rethink your payment methods.

Cash would be the only option. 

Besides, those bitcoins you mined are going to waste. 85% of Americans, according to estimates, use the Internet at least semi-regularly. Online shopping and financial transactions have become an ever-increasing part of the global economy, not just for Facebook and Twitter.

The e-transfer system would be eliminated. Rent checks would need to be written by people to their landlords again. Many industries around the world would suffer billion-dollar losses.

The collapse of trade channels built around the online world would bring down less tech-savvy countries that rely heavily on the Internet.

In addition, Google, Facebook and Amazon would lose almost $5000 billion in combined revenue as a result of going out of business. The loss of Google’s 80,000 full-time employees would result in hundreds of thousands of job losses.

The Internet could even affect companies whose only method of advertising is through the Internet. Economic crisis would befall developed countries as a result of the loss of entire industries. Do those countries with little Internet presence have any hope?

We would consume more paper

Due to the Internet’s dependency on international trade, they would also be affected. Transit around the world is also a global phenomenon. We would have to use paper to track goods between planes, trains, ships ,and commercial trucks if we did not have Internet access.

Transporting goods to stores would become more complicated, which would increase their market value. It was at least possible for you to travel. The downside is that you will not be able to share your travel selfies on Instagram anymore. Have you ever wondered if it is even possible to shut down the Internet?

I wouldn’t say on a global scale. Internet and telephone communications have been intentionally shut down by some countries using a “kill switch.”

Although cutting off a few submarine cables is easier than killing the whole Internet, it is harder to kill the whole Internet. There are many different computer networks on the Internet, which is a global network. There is no single machine that depends on it. Regardless of whether one part of it went offline, other parts would continue to work.

Conclusion

In spite of the fact that the Internet isn’t the be-all and ends all of the human services, its disappearance would cause us to instantly change our way of living. The world wide web has become increasingly important to us in the 21st century, but as with all social developments, it comes with a dark side as well. It is not likely that we would be sleeping better, socializing more, or being more active if the web didn’t exist. A world without the internet would be free of cybercrime, cyberterrorism, and cyberbullying because the connectivity it produces is also exploited by those who wish to do us harm. In the end, Berners-Lee was right, the web has contributed to a better world. A beast of such magnitude will, however, only grow more difficult to tame.

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Hiring workers is a vital part of growing a company, but it’s not easy. You’ll need a more hands-on deck to develop and build your company, and you’ll want those new hires to be talented and fit in with your current team. Usually, this entails recruiting in-house staff members, but the employer still has the possibility of outsourcing tasks, which makes hiring a bit smoother when culture compatibility isn’t as crucial as it is for a full-time employee. It also matters, but on a different basis, and it’s easier to fire outsourced employees than it is to fire a full-time in-house employee.

You should be able to predict when to outsource and when to hold responsibilities in-house. “Can I outsource or hire?” is a frequent concern among small business owners. It’s not as straightforward as you would imagine, so there are a few main aspects to consider before considering whether to recruit someone full-time or use freelancers.

In-house creation, also known as insourcing, is the method of developing software inside the business. It requires the use of on-site full-time local developers who are employed on a daily or fixed basis and earn other job benefits. In-house software creation necessitates the construction of an office or infrastructure with all of the necessary amenities (hardware and software).

Outsourcing, on the other hand, refers to the practice of recruiting a team or a particular skill set to satisfy tech needs. Your tech team will be operating remotely or from an overseas location in this situation (country). You can employ overseas employees on an hourly, fixed-salary, or project-based basis while outsourcing.

The Benefits of Recruiting in-House

When you can deliver a wage and space for promotion, in-house employees are less likely to depart. These staff could also be more invested in the company’s long-term voice.

Face-to-face conversations will improve collaboration among workers working on the same mission, potentially speeding up progress. Such face-to-face sessions will help to produce fresh momentum, which can contribute to bigger ideas.

Intellectual property is most likely to be kept secret. Employees may also sign a non-compete clause, which forbids them from bringing innovations with them if they leave the company.

In-house technology and marketing departments strive to draw more outside buyers and earn higher valuations. This would be helpful for firms seeking to boost their progress and require extra financing for objectives such as recruiting more workers.

Technical problems can be addressed more rapidly. In-house talent may concentrate all of their efforts on a pressing topic, while a freelancer can complete a job dependent on previous obligations and a first-come, first-served scheme.

Hiring a local planning team involves partnering with people who respect your culture and ideals. It encourages employees’ effective integration with the organization, enabling them to contribute more value to their jobs.

The Risks to Recruiting in-House

Seeking, recruiting, and negotiating a potential hire will take time, and the process can be reversed if an employee leaves. It can be costly to onboard new hires, including preparation.

Quality talent can be difficult to come by, particularly in smaller cities. The bulk of the best talent could already be on the work market.

The Benefits of Outsourcing

Many freelancers are professionals in a particular area, such as web design, content creation, or paying search ads.

Because of agencies like Upwork and Freelancer, discovering talent will take even less time. As a result, projects can be finished earlier, and the commodity can enter the market sooner.

IT outsourcing services are suitable for short-term tasks where talent is needed only for the execution of a particular mission.

You may use dollar arbitrage to take advantage of different rates in different markets by hiring talent from all around the world.

Outsourcing’s Disadvantages

It’s likely the intellectual rights would be abused. Try to learn as best as you can about the freelance talent you’re dealing with. LinkedIn and Facebook will make it easier to learn more about the people you recruit.

False freelance profiles can exaggerate a person’s ability. Investigate freelancers using social media networks and review/rating pages. Avoid dealing with someone who doesn’t get any scores or can’t be searched on the internet.

If you employ in-house or outsource to a specialist service provider it has a big effect on the costs, efficiency, and culture of your business.

Which alternative you select, don’t get too dependent on contractors that the organization can’t work without them. As a result, most companies prefer a mixed strategy. Your schedules, deadlines, and business philosophy will all determine which activities you outsource and which you assign to your staff.

A detailed assessment of your needs is needed to make the best decision for your company. Look for repetitive activities that don’t add to the strategic edge and continue outsourcing such duties.

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1. Automated Network Visibility/Documentation

Cloud-based network monitoring allows you to capture everything that’s happening within your network. You can monitor network traffic, network performance, applications, and data analytics. Automated network visibility and documentation play a crucial role in managing your network and promoting network security.

2. Intelligently Analyze Network Traffic

You can easily analyze your network traffic by checking on the operations of different individuals on your network. Cloud-based monitoring also allows you to check the direction of the traffic on your network. Network traffic analysis helps you detect and respond early to any security threats.

3. Efficiently Manage Distributed Sites

Cloud based network monitoring allows remote management of your sites across different locations. You can centralize and standardize how you’ll be managing all your network sites.

4. Put Privacy and Security First

The cloud network setup allows you to have two-factor authentication (2FA). 2FA adds more security layers to the authentication process to deter attackers from accessing your network. Other security measures like firewalls, permission restrictions, and audit logs can also add network protection.

5. Efficiently Manage Business Risks

You can efficiently manage business risks by monitoring app usage, analyzing traffic, and detecting vulnerable network devices. Also, you can get alerts of security concerns through monitoring app usage. Additionally, you can easily prove your business network’s innocence if your ISP is faulty.

6. Promotes Business Operations

Business operations can significantly improve if you closely monitor your network activities. You can easily manage staff operations and allow each staff to respond to network issues. Besides, you can efficiently identify and resolve network performance issues to reduce their impact on your business operations. Additionally, network errors will be at the minimum, reducing the need for network technicians.

7. Promotes Reliability

You can manage what’s happening in all your workstations centrally by analyzing your servers’ performance documentation. The information available on the servers will promote business management in the long run.

8. Device independence

Cloud monitoring allows you to access all real-time data and status as you browse any device – laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc. With only a browser and internet access, you can check what’s happening in your systems regardless of location.

9. Easy Maintenance

Once installed, cloud monitoring software functions effectively. These programs are neither operating systems nor hardware devices that require maintenance. Cloud service providers will take responsibility for any updates needed or maintenance. As a result, your work will be simple, and you’ll have a smooth workflow. The needed updates are done within no time, and you can choose the manual or automatic installation.

10. Reduce on Costs

Cloud monitoring eliminates the costs of contacting the network provider’s customer support to resolve any errors in your network. You will also need fewer hardware components for the computers used to host the monitoring systems.

Conclusion

As you can see, network monitoring is vital for all businesses, regardless of size and has numerous benefits. Constant monitoring of your cloud network makes it quicker and easier to solve network problems. It also notifies you when outages occur, the device causing the failure, reducing the amount of time it takes to address the problem.

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As a network engineer, I set up a lot of high-performance internets. Therefore, I have created a checklist of 4 things I do before an upgrade. And here they are, so keep reading to learn them. 

#1 – Check so your Devices Support the Latest Wi-Fi Standards

The first thing you should do before upgrading to gigabit internet is to make sure your network devices support the latest Wi-Fi standards. The best Wi-Fi standard for gigabit internet is the 802.11ax, which is developed to operate internet speeds at or above 1 gigabyte. This standard can also be called Wi-Fi 6. 

You actually don’t need Wi-Fi 6 for gigabit internet. You only need Wi-Fi standard 802.11ac. And as long as your router isn’t too old it should be fine. If you find that you don’t have standard 802.11ac then I recommend getting a new router. You can check out a list of the best routers for your ISP here.  

Here is how are you can check which Wi-Fi standard you are using on a computer:

1. First, go to the device manager.
2. From the “device manager” click on network adapters.
3. Look For wireless adapter and press on properties.
4. Click on the advanced tab.
5. There you will find your Wi-Fi standard.

#2 – Update your Router Firmware

The second thing you should do before upgrading your internet is to make sure that your router’s firmware is up to date. This is to make sure that everything will work when you upgrade the internet. To check for updates go to your router’s admin panel.

To access your router’s admin panel write 192.168.1.1 in any browser and press enter. This should send you to a login interface. From there, use the username “admin” and the password “password”. If this doesn’t work try using the password “admin” as well. 

Furthermore, it’s also a good idea to update other devices you have. Windows updates or IOS updates often improve the performance and efficiency of the device and the network.This as well as fixing many bugs and potential issues with new software.

#3 – Find your Wi-Fi’s Weak Spots

The best way to find Wi-Fi weak spots in your home is to use an online speed test. Begin with trying a couple of tests on your standard devices like your Computer or TV. Thereafter, you should also take a mobile phone and do some speed tests around the home to try to find spots where the internet is slow. This will give you a baseline on how fast your internet is around your home so you can compare it when you upgrade. 

When you later get gigabit internet you can try this test again and see how much your internet speed has increased. Do this both on your standard devices and individual weak spots. If the internet speed hasn’t changed after the upgrade then you know you have a bottleneck somewhere. 

This could be anything from your ISP not providing what they’re promised or some problem with your hardware. A tip is to try with a wireless and wired connection to see if the speed is the same or not. If the speed is the same, it’s probably your ISP if it’s not then it might be your router, or some other device.

#4 – Change to 5GHz Band on your Router

The last thing you should do before upgrading your internet speed is to change your router frequency from the standard 2.4Ghz to 5GHz. The reason you should do this is that the 5GHz band gets a lot less interference than 2.4Ghz band. This is because most household equipment uses a frequency of around 2.4Ghz that weekend the Wi-Fi signal.

This makes the 5GHz better at providing a faster internet speed, perfect when you upgrade the internet. The thing to consider however is that the 5GHz band has a shorter range than the 2.4Ghz band. So if you have a big home with many Wi-Fi weak spots you might consider changing it back if you find that you have more problems with your Wi-Fi signal. 

If you have an older router, it might not be able to use 5GHz. If that is the case, I would recommend getting a new router. Since routers without 5GHz most often are insufficient in supporting gigabit internet. 

Bottom Line

The difference between a normal internet speed and a gigabit speed is astonishing. I’m always excited before I do such an upgrade, and you should be as well. And with this preparation done you will get to experience the upgrade in its full capacity. 

If you found this interesting and want to learn more about the internet and networks, check out Networks Hardware.

The post 4 Things to do Before Upgrading to Gigabit Internet appeared first on WTM - Technology, Business, Finance, Digital Marketing.

If you have been banking or investing in cryptocurrency for the last 10-15yearss, you may have heard of the term blockchain. Blockchain is the record-keeping technology behind the bitcoin network. 

Blockchain technology, a form of distributed ledger technology has been gaining more attention across the globe. It has gotten attention in areas beyond its cryptocurrency root. It is a specific type of database, which differs from a typical database from the way it stores information, blockchain stores data in blocks that are chained together. Blockchain stores new data into a fresh block. Once it is filled with data, it is chained to the previous block. Blockchain stores different types of information, but the most common use so far has been as a ledger for transactions. A blockchain is a decentralized option that all users collectively retain control. 

A blockchain always seems complicated, but its core concept is quite simple. To understand what a blockchain is, you need to understand what a database is. A database is a series of information that is stored electronically on a computer system. The information stored in the database is in a table format, which allows easier searching and filtering for specific information.

As the Internet of Things applications are by definition distributed it’s only normal that the distributed ledger technology, which blockchain is, will play a role in how devices will communicate directly between each other (keeping a ledger and thus trail of not just devices but also how they interact and, potentially, in which state they are and how they are ‘handled’ in the case of tagged goods).

Blockchain is designed as a basis for applications that involve transactions and interactions. These can include smart contracts (smart contracts are automatically carried out when a specific condition is met, for instance regarding the conditions of goods or environmental conditions) or other smart applications that support specific Internet of Things processes. This way blockchain technology can improve not just compliance in the IoT but also IoT features and cost-efficiency.

What is the difference between using a spreadsheet to store information rather than a database?

The spreadsheet is a format designed for one person, a group of people used to store and access limited information. A data case is a format designed to house large amounts of information that can be accessed or filtered by any number of users at once. 

Large databases archive this by housing data on servers that are made of powerful computers. Large database servers are built using hundreds or thousands of computers to have power for users to access the database simultaneously.  A spreadsheet or database is managed by an individual that has complete control over how it works and the data within it. 

How does a blockchain technology differ from a database?

Source: www.blogs.ladb.org

PayTm  Bitcoin

Storage structure

Storage structure is a key difference between a database and a blockchain.  A blockchain collects information in groups. It is also known as blocks. A blockchain has certain storage capacities that are chained on to the previously filled block. These blocks form a blockchain.  A database stores its data into tables. This implies that all blockchains are databases, but not all databases are blockchains. 

Decentralization 

For understanding blockchain, it’s essential to understand how it has been implemented by bitcoin. Like a database, bitcoin needs large numbers of computers to store its blockchain. For bitcoin, this blockchain is just a specific type of database that stores every bit of transaction.  In bitcoin’s case, and unlike most databases, these large computers are decentralized, and each computer is operated by an individual or group of individuals.

In this model, bitcoin is used in a decentralized way. However, centralized blockchains where computers are owned by a single entity do exist. Each node of a blockchain has a full record of the data that has been stored on the blockchain since its inception. The data stored in the node is the entire history of all bitcoin transactions.  If a node seems to be affected, it can use a thousand other nodes to correct itself. In this case, no one node within the network can alter information held within it. The history of the transaction in a blockchain is irreversible. 

If one node user tampers with the information in the node, all other nodes would cross-reference each other and easily detect the node with the wrong information. This system helps to establish transparent order of events. 

Transparency

Due to the decentralized feature of bitcoin’s blockchain, all transactions are viewed transparently by having a personal node or by using employees that allow seeing a transaction that occurs live. Each node has its information that gets updated as fresh blocks are confirmed and added. This means you can track bitcoin transactions wherever it goes. For example, if you want to transact BTC to INR. You see every transaction as it goes. 

Bitcoin transactions have been hijacked in the past, those who held bitcoin on the exchange lost everything. But due to blockchain, the bitcoin losses were easily traceable.

IoT and blockchain challenges to solve

Technology, whereby mainly security comes in the picture. In an Internet of Things context where IoT security is already a challenge, it’s clear that security needs to be even more looked at. It is important to note though that blockchain is also seen as a way to secure the Internet of Things and, as mentioned, security overall but that is another with several opinions and aspects to cover.

Operational challenges: the business model and the practical aspects as this requires many agreements and of course many actors too in a broad ecosystem. Just think about that IBM logistics example.

Legal and compliance issues. Bennet among others refers to responsibility issues in case of actions that are taken by devices, based on a rule that is automatically executed by a blockchain-based application, triggered by another blockchain-based application (you see the complexity). And then there is the mentioned example of smart contracts. As you know contracts are far from easy, even outside this IoT and blockchain context.

How secure is blockchain technology?

Blockchain accounts for the issues of security and trust in several ways. 

The new blockchains are always arranged in a linear and chronological pattern. New blockchains are always added to the end of another blockchain. Each block of a blockchain has a position on the chain, called a height. As of the 20th of November, the total block’s height has reached 656,197 blocks.

After a new block has been added to a chain, it’s very difficult to go back and change the data unless there is a concrete agreement between the node users. That’s because every block has its hash. A hash code is a code that is created by a math function. A hash code turns digital information into a variety of numbers and letters. If data is edited in a blockchain, the hash code changes as well. Hash code is an important code that is responsible for the security of a blockchain.

 Blockchain as the answer to IoT challenges

In the Spring of 2017, Nicolas Windpassinger, author of ‘Digitize or Die‘, an IoT book for digital transformation leaders, wrote about the practical aspects blockchain can address in IoT and how blockchain can accelerate the evolution of IoT.

Windpassinger: blockchain technology promises to be the missing link enabling peer-to-peer contractual behavior without any third party to “certify” the IoT transaction. It answers the challenge of scalability, a single point of failure, time stamping, record, privacy, trust, and reliability in a very consistent way.

Blockchain technology could provide a simple infrastructure for two devices to directly transfer a piece of property such as money or data between one another with a secured and reliable time-stamped contractual handshake. To enable message exchanges, IoT devices will leverage smart contracts which then model the agreement between the two parties. This feature enables the autonomous functioning of smart devices without the need for centralized authority. If you then extend this peer-to-peer transaction to human or human to objects/platforms, you end up with a fully distributed trustworthy digital infrastructure.

Blockchain + IoT across industries: the insurance example

Blockchain is being tested in several industries. And sometimes we see that in those industries there is a link between blockchain and IoT within the specific industry. The point in case: blockchain and IoT in insurance.

The main use case of blockchain in insurance is smart contracts and the enhancement of several processes such as claims management. Other applications include fraud management, legally required applications (blockchain is thoroughly looked at in the legal sector as well), and even the usage of technologies in an insurance context.

In the scope of blockchain and IoT, it’s interesting to look at the combination of blockchain and the Internet of Things as it’s used in insurance and will increasingly be, moving beyond the pure telematics model to the connection of real-time IoT data from various perspectives for various intelligent automated insurance policy applications.

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Keep reading to learn more about the IoT and how it can help small businesses. It may also be beneficial to seek help from Particle with the process of implementing this new technology.

Benefits of IoT

There are many industry professionals who will quickly let business owners know how beneficial IoT can be. While this may be true, there are many businesses that do not have the capabilities to experience all that IoT offers, mainly because of the cost related to implementing it. Even though this is the case, all small businesses have something to gain from this technology.

What IoT can do will vary based on the business type and resources available. For a small business, it is possible to sort the advantages into two primary categories -; cost-effectiveness and efficiency. Here are several specifics within these two divisions.

The right IoT devices can help to simplify and to streamline multiple work processes and be effective at increasing levels of efficiency. There are some administrative tasks, such as scheduling, that are well-known for taking a lot of time. If a business can automate these, it will help them remain productive. It is possible for virtual assistants, such as Alexa and Google Assistant to handle these duties, which will allow employees to stay focused on concerns that are more pressing.

If a small business operates in the moving of packaged goods, it is necessary that their warehouse has a superior organization in place. There are some IoT devices, such as RFID tags that will help with this. These are tiny sensors that allow employees to not only find but also track goods through the logistics chain.

Generally speaking, modern IoT devices will help to make things more accessible. This improved accessibility is going to result in higher productivity levels for businesses.

Another main advantage offered by IoT for small businesses is how cost-effective it is. There are IoT versions of workplace equipment that may result in significant cost reductions. Even seemingly boring and mundane items, such as a smart thermostat, will provide some savings. This is because it helps to reduce the use of energy while providing all types of real-time monitoring and adjustment tools.

One of the most popular applications for IoT in the business world is predictive maintenance. With this, businesses can predict equipment malfunctions before they become more serious issues. When machines are monitored using IoT sensors, they are able to perform maintenance and prevent serious breakdowns. This is a practice that will help companies avoid the need for more costly repairs and expensive downtime.

Implementing IoT in the Small Business Environment

With IoT tech, small businesses gain many of the same advantages that bigger businesses already enjoy. This does not mean that it can be adopted on the same scale or rate, though. While IoT can be used to help reduce costs, there are some business owners who are worried about the upfront expense of purchasing and then installing the devices.

Companies that have a larger budget will still have an advantage here. While this is true, small businesses can also integrate IoT into their business without having to take any type of serious financial risk. However, with careful planning and equally careful implementation, it is possible for small businesses to experience all the benefits that IoT offers.

Getting to Know Immediate Needs

When considering adopting IoT, a small business needs to consider what its immediate needs are. For example, any type of investment made by a small company is usually time-sensitive, which includes purchases for IoT. With this in mind, a small business owner needs to find the areas that will provide the fastest turnaround with the implementation of IoT.

If a small business has noticed inefficiencies throughout the supply chain, it should focus on implementing devices to help with this, such as RFID tags. Also, if utilities are considered a huge expense for businesses, devices, such as smart thermostats and smart lights will be beneficial. The areas that require the most improvement will usually line up with the fastest ROI.

Begin Small

With all the promises made by IoT, it is tempting to put it into use, right away, immediately. While this type of broader adoption may be a possibility for a larger company, it is not the case for smaller businesses. A small business needs to add more IoT devices slowly, as they start to see returns from the others that are already in place.

While implementing more IoT devices can lead to additional savings, small businesses cannot afford to take on too big of an investment. Using the gradual approach will be much more economical and it will help the company and employees adjust to the new system that has been put in place. If too much is adopted too soon, it can lead to compatibility issues and confusion. Both of these things can be expensive.

Implementing IoT in a Small Business

When it is time to implement IoT, there are more than a few factors to consider, especially for small business owners. Be sure to keep the information here in mind to ensure that the desired results are achieved and that the IoT provides the solutions desired.

Remember, there is also professional help out there, so it is a good idea to use this when needed. By implementing help from the pros, it is possible to get the best possible results from the implementation of this technology and take advantage of all that it has to offer a business of any size.

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Making Remote Screen Access Impact on Cybersecurity

Online screen sharing software systems are communication channels between employees and attendees who connect to a meeting remotely to access their PC or Mac screen to see what they are presenting in real-time with the purpose of virtually accessing audio-visual content in high definition. Is this yet a reliable channel?

System screen sharing is definitely a feature to prioritize pointing to IoT and, as is the case with any technology at fast upgrade path, support must go along with it; as you know, pc technicians have several ways for gaining remote PC access to troubleshoot issues. This fact raises one doubt in many users: Does remote access imply any risk on cybersecurity? The direct answer is: Yes. Data Leak causes are a common topic in forums nowadays, due to the increase in remote work and the expansion of online activity, a scenario that calls on companies to apply their remote marketing ready to squish the juice out of it, serving the end-user but harvesting many data as well. So much data on the fly for so many interests.

By following the right and safe remote screen sharing method, not only you are diving into an amazing integrative state, a dynamic workspace, but you are reaching a next level of optimization, sharing cohesive participation among the company’s areas. Tailored solutions and features are on their way to you; in the event of system failure, you can get effective help from the support area by handing off control of your desktop and pc to a specialist on the other end of the live connection. This grants you the possibility of finding and fixing once and for all whatever the issue or malfunction is happening on your actual session. By safely extending remote control to your pc, you will be calling to an end those headaches while saving you and your company lots of money on the drain.

Taking Your Work Experience from workplace to workspace

Businesses are now benefiting from an entirely new online sharing concept to face the new dynamics in the workplace, it has been brought by systems like WebEx Meetings, a very popular tool that goes a mile ahead in terms of efficiency, proficiency, flexibility, and collaboration between workers. In this way, screen-sharing professional systems have upgraded the virtual collaboration concept to fix the demand for practicality through fast materials exchange making a decisive difference, leveling up from workplace to workspace.

This difference comes as an entire novelty forming before our eyes, based on the way employees should behave from now on. The new profile of the employee for the new digital workspace. Documents are no longer need to be printed and sent out for a quick check out. Everyone’s eyes can go to the requested document on a shared screen and lively cooperate with their workmates with no need to be bothered by opening the document on their own computer. Welcome to the new dynamic era of live enterprise collaboration!

These profile guidelines, simply put, should be:

• Mindset: feel comfortable having your computer on another’s hands trusting the solid grounds of the new dynamic’s security level, which is benefiting the company with a never-seen efficacy level, a true dream come true. Top-notch integration of everybody’s skills on new data-transfer channels is the new value and core.
• Master your System Screen Sharing software: every system comes with its own features; you must know the basic similarities and differences. The most important feature is the control panel to start and end the session.
• Do not open any secondary program: while in your session you must consider your computer as a community tool, in order to enhance the proficiency of this virtual environment you must close any program unrelated to your actual System Screen Sharing session.
• Set up your Desktop: Your computer environment is shown on your desktop, keep it in order, avoid showing saturated elements on it, keep it sober and professional, use simple wallpaper, select and organize just the needed files, directories and documents, so that you know the exact location of your work data. Remember to move any unrequired data out to a new location, until they are required.

High Performance and Private Screen Sharing Systems

We recommend safe, effective, and private screen sharing platforms, so get ready for the best data connection flow rates while keeping your connection private, at our advice. We have three big screens in this matter:

1. Personal screen-sharing with family, friends, and socials (apps like Zoom, FaceTime, are good alternatives from the ones in free social networks like Facebook).
2. The employee at work screen-sharing, in the labor field (apps like ConnectWise, Zoho Assist, Splashtop, Remote PC, and TeamViewer, which are Remote PC access software).
3. The system failure screen-sharing, which involves everybody.

Before taking the matter on screen sharing, we need to point out how online content data packages must be armored, in order to gain exact knowledge the brief on the ExpressVPN vs Private Internet Access will give you a straight answer on core topics like IP leak protection or kill switches with our Nr°1 choice to get your data packages channeled through the most secure tunnel. The job of a VPN, in case you do not have it clear, is encrypting your IP address so you can wear your online persona in solid armor, and now you are all set for your screen sharing session.

When showing our screen remotely at work, we must use a professional platform. Particularly, when we are going to make a big exhibition where there will be many people watching. The objective is to avoid data leaks, keep data from filtering so no other content than the intended will end up on someone else’s machine. If you are on a Mac, sharing your screen will be amazingly simple with the GoToMeeting software, just touch the screen icon on the toolbar of this great and simple software.

Finally, when it comes to securing your connection once your Screen Sharing Software is turned off, let us remind you to turn on that VPN!

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Be Everywhere

Create and update any local business listings and profiles too. In addition to this, you also need to try and make sure that your Google local business listing is updated as well. When a user searches for your industry or your business, you need to make sure that you are showing up for the local tag as well. This will help you to build trust and it will also help you to build a level of authenticity, so make sure that you keep that in mind. If you want to build trust then outsource some of your services so you can concentrate on the core aspects of your company. SysAid.com can help with that.

Put a Face to your Company

If you work in a very small market, then it’s entirely possible for your company to stand out by simply putting a face to your product. At the end of the day, people have a much easier time trusting a company when they know who is working things behind the curtain. The more they trust you, the more likely they will be to make a purchase from you, so you have to keep this in mind as much as possible.

Give Away Samples

If you work in a local or small market then you may find that giving away a free sample of your product is always a good thing. This can work wonders for your company, and you may even find that you are able to get way more sales as a result. Some companies are worried about giving away free samples because they think that it is going to harm their profit margin. This is not the case though, in fact, it could help you out far more than you realise.

Volunteer

Believe it or not, the best and the easiest way for you to become noticed when you are in a small community would be for you to be a good member of it. You have to make sure that you are present, and you also need to try and support some of the smaller causes regardless. If you do this, then you will soon find that you are able to stand out.

Encourage Reviews

Think about it, what steps are you trying to take in order to get feedback from the customers you are working with right now? You need to make sure that you are not missing out on any opportunities and that you are doing everything you can to try and be seen and heard by your customers. If you don’t, then you may find that you end up struggling in the future. Remember that your customers are your greatest asset, and you should be using them to your advantage where possible.

The post How to Get Noticed as a New Business appeared first on WTM - Technology, Business, Finance, Digital Marketing.

Until it doesn’t, that is. In the second half of 2020, over a dozen Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Europe reported having their DNS infrastructure targeted by DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) cyberattacks. A DDoS attack is a particularly devastating type of cyberattack in which a “botnet” of infected computers and connected devices are used to bombard a victim with fraudulent traffic. The goal of these attacks is to overwhelm a website or online service so as to knock it offline, thereby making it unavailable to legitimate customers.

Such DDoS attacks are getting larger, longer-lasting, more sophisticated, and increasingly commonplace all the time. The largest recorded DDoS attack took place against Amazon Web Services, hitting it with an astonishingly massive 2.3 terabit-per-second (Tbs) barrage. Before this, the biggest attack was a 1.35 Tbps assault against code repository Github in 2018.

Attacks can last anywhere from a few minutes to hours or even days. They may result in massive amounts of un-asked-for downtime on the part of victims, and can (and do) cause significant damage in the form of lost revenue and dented customer loyalty. Nowadays, it is possible to hire a “DDoS as a service” botnet attack for just a few dollars.

Attacking DNS infrastructure

There were multiple ISPs in Europe which reported having their DNS infrastructure hit by DDoS attacks this year. These ranged from EDP in Belgium to Bouygues Télécom in France to Delta in the Netherlands. While attacks went on, the ISP services were down. In at least one case, the attackers tried to extort money from their targets by requesting ransoms in exchange for stopping the attacks.

There are different types of DDoS attacks that target DNS infrastructure. One popular (among hackers) method is a DNS flood, in which the high bandwidth connection used by DVR boxes, IP camera, and assorted other Internet of Things (IoT) devices are exploited to flood DNS servers belonging to major ISPs. By overloading a domain’s DNS servers, it makes them inaccessible to legitimate traffic. The highest profile DNS flood attacks in recent years came from the Mirai botnet. At its height, the Mirai malware was used to infect more than 600,000 vulnerable IoT devices, which it used to unleash malicious and extremely damaging attacks on targets.

Another widespread type of DNS attack are DNS amplification attacks. These attacks, which use devices with more modest bandwidth connections, work by reflecting and amplifying traffic from unsecured DNS servers. In a DNS amplification attack, the hacker sends a DNS query boasting a forged IP address that appears to be that of the victim. This is sent to an open DNS resolver. In turn, this prompts the resolver to reply to the address with a DNS response. By sending multiple fake queries, with multiple DNS resolvers then responding at the same time, it is easy for the network belonging to a victim to be overwhelmed. Using underhanded amplification attacks, it’s possible to turn a DNS request message of just 60 bytes into a response of more than 4,000 bytes. Quickly the resources of the server become overloaded and depleted.

Safeguarding against attacks

Protecting against DDoS attacks is of critical importance to anyone running an online service. Some methods that can be employed to fight back against DNS attacks include blocking certain DNS servers or open recursive relay servers, in addition to rate limiting. Improving DNS server security is also a very good idea.

But the smartest solution is to bring in dedicated cybersecurity experts with state-of-the-art DDoS protection services that can help safeguard against such attacks. Large, distributed DNS systems and DDoS protection tools will help to monitor for attacks in real-time, and absorb and block them when they arise. The goal of any such system is to filter out DDoS traffic, while allowing legitimate traffic to get through to its final destination.

Cybersecurity is hard work here in 2020. DDoS attacks (among others) are getting worse and don’t show any sign of letting up in the foreseeable future. But, fortunately, it’s not a one-sided battle: there are plenty of folks on the right side of the battle to ensure that such attacks do not cause the kind of damage they set out to cause. So that your customers can enjoy the services they’re entitled to, free of problems.

The post DDoS Attackers Target European DNS Infrastructure appeared first on WTM - Technology, Business, Finance, Digital Marketing.

From home security systems to heating, lighting, and much more, home automation is trending as more and more people are maneuvering their home appliances and other devices remotely with a voice command or a simple push on the button.

Unarguably, embracing smart home technology is next best thing to do because it’s extremely beneficial to you and the environment (we’ll talk about the benefits of smart homes and why you need to embrace it, in the next part of the article), but such an ambitious project is not cheap. The increasing competition may have ensured that things are not as expensive as before, but if you have not set aside money for a home automation project, it can put a dent on your savings. If you don’t want that to happen, you can always rely on a home renovation loan to make a smart home an inherent part of your living.

So, let’s reason out why it’s important for you to take part in the smart home technology trend.

1. Safer Homes

Your home security should be the primary motivator to embrace smart home technology. There are advanced home surveillance systems available in the market, but those are huge investments. More affordable security solutions such as wireless doorbells, fire and gas alarms, motion sensors, surveillance cameras, home locking systems, and breakage sensors for doors and windows have increased their operational capabilities while being more cost-effective.

2. Comfortable living

Most of the smart devices can be controlled via tablet, laptop, or smartphone. You can comfortably work by using a stand for laptop and a good office chair. Smart assistants like Amazon Echo and Alexa can be connected to the tablet, laptop, or smartphone, and other operating hubs to control the smart gadgets and operate the entire home automation system.

These virtual assistants can do almost anything you ask them to do.

Control the lighting in the house. Check

Run smart kitchen appliances. Check

Run vacuuming robots. Check

It will be wrong to say that they are helping us with the chores; they are actually doing it, and they are doing it pretty well! That said, they are definitely helping us live comfortably.

3. Go Green

Unarguably, smart home technology is making our lives safer and comfortable, but it is also known to reduce energy consumption. Smart thermostat systems ensure that optimal temperature is maintained, and energy is preserved when nobody is at home.  Smart indoor and outdoor lighting systems ensure that your home is energy-efficient, thereby reducing the carbon footprints.

4. Shaping real estate trends

Smart home technology has become a USP for real estate. More and more people are renovating their homes to embrace smart technology to increase their home resale value.

VR (virtual reality) is used extensively in real estate. VR allows people to take virtual tours around the house of their interest. If they like what they see, they then visit the prospective property.

The use of VR is not limited to virtual tours alone; it is being used to visualize how the furniture would look in a room/home before actually buying it.

Smart homes have seeped into the everyday reality of modern living. It’s no longer a futuristic dream. As a growing number of people embrace smart home technology to keep their homes safe, live comfortably, and contribute to the environment, the idea of a smart home doesn’t seem that far-fetched – It becomes a home like any other – an abode we return to after an exhausting day.

[NOTE: We welcome authors/bloggers to contribute articles on Webtechmantra related to Home Improvement Write For Us at guestpost@webtechmantra.com]

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