What’s The Difference Between Tier-1-Tier-2-And Tier-3 Bandwidth Providers To Your Business?
“Tiers” in the telecom world tends to have multiple definitions, depending on who you ask. What tier a bandwidth carrier is, is loosely defined at best and everyone has their own opinion of what tier a carrier might be. Here is my opinion:
Tier-1: [may be considered an RBOC or LEC - Regional Bell Operating Company or Local Exchange Carrier]
Tier-1 is a network in which only settlement free peers and customers are serviced. The network operator pays for none of it’s transit.
Tier-1 is the optimum network backbone for medium to large businesses with critical reliability, stability, and scalability requirements.
Tier-1 can be an advantage when it comes to handling DDoS attacks: if you ask/configure your Tier-1 provider to null-route an IP they will implement the null-route at their borders, so there is no point of saturation.
Examples of US Tier 1 carriers:
Qwest
AT&T (formerly SBC, Bell South, Southwestern Bell, Ameritech)
Savvis
Verizon (formerly MCI and UUNET)
Global Crossing
Level 3 (recently merged with Broadwing)
NTT Communications
Tier-2: [may be considered a CLEC (Competitive Local Exchange Carrier); has their own network, but also resells tier 1]
Tier-2 is where the network operator buys all or some of it’s transit from a Tier-1 and resells it.
Tier-2 can be an advantage if you need someone to provide quality bandwidth, and especially if your need is a single install location. If you buy from Tier-1 #1 in New York, and #1 has a problem with its Tier-1 #2 peering router in New York, then all your traffic from you to #2 may be affected. Your ability to shout at #1 and get them to fix it will be limited, especially if the problem is with #2′s border router. A good Tier-2 will monitor its upstreams and their peering points for trouble, and take measures to ensure that it doesn’t affect their customers. Even if you need multi-location installs, buying from a good Tier-2 can be useful.
A Tier-2 that only responds to severe problems (e.g. total outage of an upstream link) is no more useful than a Tier-1 to someone who has multi-locations.
Pricing from Tier-2 ISPs is often cheaper at the low-end (e.g. T1). Tier-2′s will often beat the tier-1′s in pricing “access services”. But if you buy in the hundreds of megabits, a Tier-2 is likely to quote much higher than a Tier-1.
Tier-2′s are usually smaller companies, and are better able to “make deals”, or recognize bundling of contracts, write custom SLAs (Service Level Agreements), trench fiber to your location in exchange for that signed contract, etc. Unless you buy multiple gigabits from your upstreams, if you want to bundle contracts with Tier-1s, you will probably end-up doing it through a wholesaler or other buying mechanism.
Examples of US Tier-2 carriers:
XO Communications
Covad
Paetec/US LEC
Time Warner Telecom (recently merged with Xpedius)
Eschelon Telecom Inc
Cogent Communications
Speakeasy
Embarq
McLeodUSA
AOL Transit Data Network
Covista
IDT Corp.
Tier 3: [wholesalers /resellers of tier 1 and 2 networks]
Tier-3 are downstream customers of Tier-2′s. Tier-3 may give you what looks like a good price…..but longterm reliability, performance, and scalability will likely suffer. For piece of mind for your business a Tier-1 or Tier-2 are better choices is almost every case. However, PowerNet Global is a big exception to this rule due to their solid infrastructure and relationships with major players.
Examples of US Tier-3 carriers:
Trinsic
Excel
Primus Telecom
PowerNet Global
Access One Inc.
Splice Communications
Acceris
Whatever business application you need met be sure to consider what tier your available bandwidth providers are in your purchasing decision. Ignoring this factor in your deliberations may result in less than optimum implementation and satisfaction in the end. Make a smart business decision…..leave nothing to chance.
How to Choose the Best Wireless Intercom System For Your Home Or Business
When deciding to add a new wireless intercom system to the ever increasing portfolio of wireless devices in your home or business, you need to first think about the compatibility with the products you already have (or your close neighbors have). You also need to consider the range and features you need.
Wireless Intercom Frequencies
In the United States there are several frequency ranges for wireless products for unlicensed consumer use. They are 49MHz, 900MHz, 2.4GHz, 5.8GHz, and Family Radio Service (FRS) band. Most recently the FCC added the Multi-Use Radio (MURS) service. Radio frequencies for devices are similar in Canada, but MURS cannot be used there.
Back when consumer wireless products were first introduced, these wireless products used the 49MHz frequency spectrum. Early cordless telephones used this spectrum and it is still used by cheap baby monitors and other low-end wireless units. It has a short range and is prone to lots of interference. You won’t likely find wireless intercom systems that use this spectrum anymore, or if you do, you won’t want them.
Later, 900 MHz products using analog transmission technology arrived on the market. Neither the 49MHz or these early 900Mhz products have any form of security. Anyone with a device in the same frequency can listen in to conversations. Newer digital spread spectrum 900MHz products divide digital transmission across a range of frequencies so other devices can’t eavesdrop on your conversations. Digital spread spectrum intercoms also have a greater range than the analog 900Mhz units. There are at least two wireless intercoms currently on the market, but only one of them uses digital spread spectrum. The wireless intercom system that uses spread spectrum can communicate up to 1000 feet.
2.4GHz devices were next to market. There are a growing number of cordless telephones and other devices in this range. As far as intercom systems, video intercom systems are the primary users of this range although the only wireless video intercom on the market was recently discontinued. 2.4GHz is also the frequency range used by WiFi wireless data networks (802.11B/G) in homes and businesses so products in this range can interfere with each other.
The Family Radio Service (462-467MHz) is in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band and is basically an improvement to the old walkie talkies of long ago. These handheld radios are sold everywhere and used heavily so any intercom systems in this range would have to compete with these handheld radios (and anyone can listen in to your conversations). There are no known wireless intercoms systems that use FRS.
Now 5.8GHz products are starting to make their appearance in the cordless phone arena. No compatibility issues exist between 5.8GHz and 2.4GHz devices so no problems should be experienced in mixing them. However, there are currently no known wireless intercom systems in this range.
You’ll also see some intercom systems that claim to be wireless but they really use the power wiring in your home or business to send and receive transmissions from the intercom. These are frequently called “FM wireless intercoms” even though they often transmit over your house wiring in the AM band. To use them, you just plug an AC adapter into the wall. These systems are very prone to humming or buzzing and are not recommended unless you are prepared to live with this possibility. Since house wiring comes in as 240 volts and is split in two phases of 120, you’ll also experience problems with the signal trying to cross the phases. One part of your house or business may work fine, where the other half doesn’t. These intercoms are typically the least expensive intercoms of the bunch.
Long Range Wireless Intercoms
The most recent addition to the wireless intercom market are products in the MURS frequency range. MURS is a service in the VHF (Very High Frequency) 150 MHz radio spectrum. MURS has a power increase of four times that of FRS radio. And unlike FRS, you can add a larger or external antenna to improve range. If you want to put an antenna on top of your house, you can do it with MURS. Some antenna manufacturers claim an external antenna can increase the effective radiated power of a transmitter by a factor of 4. These MURS intercoms can transmit up to four miles, and perhaps more with an external antenna.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States does not require you obtain a license to use MURS frequencies so you will not have to go through that process.
There are 5 MURS channels and 38 interference eliminator or “quiet codes” that can be used on each of these channels. These quiet codes keep your radios quiet unless another radio is programmed on the same channel and quiet code. Chances are you won’t have to worry about these codes since MURS usage is extremely light. There are only a few makers of MURS radios, so traffic on these frequencies is hard to find in most areas.
The MURS Intercom system is the wireless intercom you need if you have a large property or you need to talk between buildings. You can use a MURS to not only communicate within a home, but to neighboring homes as well. You can even add a handheld unit to your MURS intercom system so you can stay in touch away from your home.
Long Range Wireless Outdoor Intercoms
You can also get commercial-grade wireless call boxes that communicate with two way radios and base station intercoms. These wireless callboxes are water resistant and designed for outdoor use. They can open gates or doors remotely if you have a model with a gate relay. Callboxes also come in vandal-proof housings with stainless steel front panels. The range on these is up to a mile or more if you use an external antenna. These wireless call boxes can be battery powered, powered with a AC-DC converter, or by solar power. Callboxes are available in UHF and VHF frequencies so you can match them with your existing two way radios if you have them. You can get call boxes that work in the un-licensed MURS frequencies so you can use them with your MURS intercoms or radios.
The benefit of a wireless callbox is that you save money by not having to do trenching and running expensive cable to the unit. You also don’t have to pay any air-time or telephone service fees with these wireless systems. Another benefit is that since the unit is wireless, people monitoring the units can carry handheld radios that communicate with the callbox. That allows your monitoring people to be mobile.
Wireless Intercom Features
Another thing to consider is what features you need for your particular application. Commercial applications often have needs for a wider variety of features. The MURS wireless system for instance has a wide variety of products that can be used with it. Not only can you get military-grade two-way radios with lots of headset options, but you can get base station intercoms, wireless call boxes with solar power option, wireless public address systems, customer service call boxes, wireless remote switches, and motion detector devices. For less commercial or residential use, a 900MHz intercom system has outdoor intercoms and doorbell intercoms you can use with your indoor intercoms.
So the wireless intercom system you choose depends on the application you have, the wireless devices already in your home or business, the range you need to cover, as well as your budget. But, once you choose the right system, you’ll be able to enjoy the convenience a wireless intercom system provides for years to come.
Before You Call Back an Unknown Number, Make Sure You Know Who it Is
Imagine your phone registers a missed call from an unknown number. What are you going to do? Of course, most people just use their Caller ID to get the numberand return the call. While most of the time this is a harmless habit, the simple fact is that you don’t always want to talk to whoever called you. Unknown numbers can be everything from your friend calling from a different phone to telemarketers and scam artists, and it is very difficult to tell which is which given only an unknown number. Luckily, by finding out a little more information about an unknown number before deciding whether to call it back, you can help protect yourself against unwanted and annoying callers.
Most people are naturally more suspicious of unknown numbers that come from strange area codes and are less likely to automatically call back such numbers, but even familiar area codes can disguise an unwanted caller. If you call back a number without doing a little research first, you might be playing yourself directly into the hands of telemarketers and other annoying or harassing callers. Given just an unknown number, you can find out an amazing amount about whoever dialed your number.
Internet resources like reverse phone lookups are one of the best ways to find out more information. Plus, using a reverse phone look up is simple and easy. Just type in the unknown number and click search, and within a few moments, you can find the name and address of almost any caller. Now, instead of having to blindly call back a potentially unscrupulous or dangerous person, you can find out important information about them before you decide on the best course of action.
So, now you have a good idea how to lookup a phone number before you call back a strange individual. Having this information alone can often be enough to restore your peace of mind. If you’d like to learn more about this or any other search method, use the internet to help you locate all the information you need.
Linksys E4200 Router
The Linksys E4200 Maximum Performance Wireless-N Router lets you access the Internet via a wireless connection or through one of its four-switched Gigabit Ethernet ports. With the built-in Storage Link, you can easily add gigabytes of storage space onto your network using USB 2.0 hard drives, or plug in a USB flash disk to access your portable data files. The E4200′s built-in media server streams music, video and photos from an attached storage device to any UPnP-compatible media adapter or player.
Simultaneous dual-band Wireless-N
• USB storage port with built-in media server
• Gigabit Ethernet ports for high-speed wired devices
• Cisco Connect software for easy setup and maintenance
How to setup Linksys E4200 router:
You can setup your router with the help of Cisco connect software that comes with the router, Make sure that you have active Internet connection through the modem. Connect the main computer directly to the modem and make sure that you can access the Internet through the modem.
Connect the modem to the Internet port and computer to Ethernet port on the router. Press and hold the reset button on the router for 30 seconds. Release the reset button and wait for 30 seconds. Power cycle the router. Now run the Cisco connect software.
This software will setup your router automatically. It will create 2 wireless networks. One for your main network and other one for the guest people. You can connect your own computers and devices to the main wireless network. The guest network can be used for the people who want to access the Internet only. Guest network is a virtual wireless network to access the Internet through your router. The computers connected to the guest network will be able to access the Internet only. These computers will not be able to access your main network and files and computers and printers in the main network.
You can manage guest network settings using the web interface of the router. So it is not necessary to install the Cisco connect software to manage guest network as it was the case in E1000, E2000 and E3000 wireless routers. In these routers the guest network can be created and managed only using the Cisco connect software. For E4200 router Linksys has included Guest network settings using web UI of the router. The wireless connection speed using E4200 will be 300+ mbps. All the ports on E4200 router are Gigabit ports.
If you have a USB storage device then you can connect the USB storage device to the router and share it within the network. Computers connected to the guest network will not be able to access the USB storage device.
Tweaks to Speed Up Internet Streaming Video
The birth of “Guerilla Video” sites, such as Peekvid.com, Alluc.org and Youtube.com have given users instant access to a plethora of free media files. Although streaming video technology offers instant access to video files, zero loading time is not always possible. There are many factors that attribute to your computer’s ability to start videos immediately. Other factors such as choppy PC video playback and slow video streaming also hinder your viewing experience. There are easy fixes to these problems. Sometimes choosing another site for the source of the video streaming or a lower quality version of the video can award you with instant play. These alternatives are not always available. However, there are a number of tweaks that help speed up your streaming video startup times, eliminate choppy PC video play and stop slow streaming video.
Before we start with the tweaks to speed up slow streaming video, lets get a basic understanding of streaming video technology in order to stop choppy video. Streaming video is a prerecorded video files that can be distributed as part of a live broadcast “feed.” The video signal is converted into a compressed digital signal and transmitted from a Web server. This server is able to be multicast the same file to multiple users at the same time. When you click on the on the video it is partially loaded before you can access it. This is known as “buffering”. This helps you to load and play the video instantaneously. Now lets take a look on how to cut down on buffering time, stop slow streaming video and eliminate choppy PC video playback .
Common Streaming Video Problems
Problem #1: Choppy PC Video Playback–Choppy video is usually a PC performance related issue. Here are a few things you can try to stop choppy playback and improve computer performance.
Solution A. Turn Off Hardware Acceleration-All media applications require different aspects of your computer’s hardware. Depending on the task, the requirements may change. Turning off hardware acceleration allows the application to set the requirements itself and not be forced to use one universal setting. Hardware acceleration has been to known to cause choppy PC playback, application crashes and slow streaming video problems.
You can eliminate the problem below:
1.Click on “Start”
2.Click “Control Panel”
3.Select the “Settings” tab and click on the “Advanced”.
4.Click on the “Troubleshoot” tab.
5.Disable the hardware acceleration completely by dragging the slider to the extreme left.
Solution B. Turn off Video Acceleration-The reason for this tweak is the similar to hardware acceleration. This act frees up resources in your media player and not your hardware. However you will need to decrease video acceleration in your chosen player. Some sites like Youtube.com don’t offer this option. However, Windows Media Player gives the ability to easily alter this problem, follow the steps below. Other players’ instructions will vary.
1. In Windows Media Player
2. Click the “Tools” menu tab
3. Click on “Options”
4. Select the “Performance” tab.
5. Move the Video Acceleration Slider to “None”
Solution C. Adjust your Windows Desktop Visual Effects-You computer will get a significance boost in
speed. This tweak will also free up more resources for your media player and PC performance.
1.Click “Start”, and then click “Control Panel”.
2.Click “System” and Choose “Display”.
3.Find the “Advanced” tab and Click
4.Under “Performance”, Click “Settings”
5.Under “Visuals Effects”, you may choose from a list of options such as “Adjust for best performance” or custom. If you choose Adjust for best performance all the features will be unchecked.
For more performance tips check the “Speed Up PC” to free up more resources to stop PC choppy playback.
Problem #2: Slow and Constant Buffering-This problem can be attributed to two factors internet speed and your media player. You can tweak your PC setting in both areas to cut down on slow streaming video. Remember that each player has its own buffer settings. Below is an how to change buffer setting in Media Player.
Solution A. Adjust Buffer Settings– To change the default buffer settings in Windows Media Player, use the following steps:
1.Start Windows Media Player
2.Click the “View” men
3.Click “Options”
4.On the “Advanced” tab, click “Streaming Media”(Windows Media)
5.Click “Change” to alter the buffer settings.
Remember that the higher you set the buffer the more of the clip will be loaded. The waiting time before you can see or hear the file will be longer, but there should be fewer interruptions once the clip begins to play.
Solution B. Use a Video Specific Proxy-A proxy allows for popular files to be loaded onto its servers. This eliminates the need for your computer to load the files. For example if you use the proxy, YouTubeProxy.org, you will not have to wait for your computer to download popular YouTube.com content because it may be already loaded in the server. This is a great way to stop slow streaming video.
These are just a few tips to eliminate choppy PC video playback and slow streaming video. However, there are more advanced ways to stop this problem. Depending on the site, there may be independent software developed specifically to speed up slow streaming video. Also, remember the general maintenance is a good way to avoid choppy PC video playback.
Do You Need An Apple iPad SIM Card?
Do you really need a iPad SIM card for your tablet? Well, I guess the answer is both yes and no really.Ordering an iPad SIM and putting it to the device frees one up to move just about any place, just as long as it is possible to access the mobile network through whatever supplier you wind up buying a SIM deal with. Keep in mind the iPad isn’t a mobile phone though, so you still require a mobile phone handset or smart phone to look after all of your calling duties.
As soon as you’re connected with a iPad SIM Card and then broadband you’ll be able to get access to the world wide web whilst sending and also getting email messages and it is so simple to get going. This is especially so due to the impressive operating-system on-board the electronic device. In addition you will find there’s neat and tidy virtual key-board which enables you to type via a touch screen. It can’t be simpler to make the most of the Apple iPad tablet’s main elements when you’re away from a WiFi signal. WiFi tends to be only available in public places, such as coffee shops and hotels. The tablet is actually very clever, if it detects that you are in a WiFi zone, then it will automatically switch off the 3G and move over to the free WiFi. This is great, as you will not eat into your monthly data transfer allowance you have with your mobile network.
At this moment although you may go on the web while using the less expensive model of the Apple iPad that’s a WiFi permitted product, it is genuinely beneficial paying out an additional little bit of money and buying any 3G & WiFi enabled model of the hand held device. If you don’t have a 3G enabled version of the iPad, you do not need a micro SIM card. However, having just the WiFi version limits what you can do with your tablet and where you can do it. In today’s tech focused world why put limits on what you can do.
The main focus with the Apple iPad is being able to get on the web, look at messages, send emails, see on line video and pretty much all the things we like to do when we are sitting at home on a desktop PC. As a result, if your going to obtain a iPad, you might as well have the full blown model that will allow you to go on line with no restrictions.
How to Protect Yourself From the Health Risks of Cell Phone Use
I’m sure you’ve heard it in the media recently – all the buzz about the possible correlation between heavy cell phone use and brain tumors. The effects of these phones on our brains are a result of the close proximity of the phone to the brain during use. But, what hasn’t gotten much attention in the media are the risks of carrying these devices in our pockets for hours and hours each day.
And before you tune this out ladies, read on. This article contains information on potentially scary health issues for men and women alike. Although most of the discussion relates to men’s issues, it isn’t just men who can experience negative effects from heavy cell phone use.
First, it may seem unlikely to you that something as small as a cell phone could generate radiation levels that could harm your health. It is important to realize, however, that the negative effects we are discussing do not occur immediately – they are cumulative effects which accrue over many years.
According to a recent article published on Yahoo Health, and a large health study conducted, the 2010 Interphone study… “People who chatted via cell for just 30 minutes a day for 10 years saw their risk of glioma (the type of brain tumor that killed Ted Kennedy) rise 40 percent”.
The reality is that we are all unwitting human guinea pigs in a worldwide study of the effects of cell phone use. This is because these devices and other electronic devices like Wi-Fi networks, have infiltrated our society. Science hasn’t really had time to study the effects on our bodies that these electronic signals may be having on us.
Because these devices are relatively new, no long term studies are available. Further, most of the studies that do exist have been funded by the phone manufacturers and carriers (Hmmm). One risk that hasn’t been adequately studied is the possible harmful long term effects of carrying a cell phone in one’s pocket. If there are indications that the close proximity of the phone to the brain during use causes problems, what about the even longer exposure to other parts of our bodies while the phones are in our pockets. Think about it guys! Could we see a rise in testicular cancer down the road?
Looking at Medline, there are a number of studies which show significant decreases in serum testosterone in rats following even moderate exposure (30 minutes per day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks) to 900 megahertz radio frequency electro-magnetic fields (EMF), which is what most GSM cell phones produce.” So, something is clearly going on.
Dozens of studies have been done, mostly in Europe, and upwards of 70% concluded that cell phone radiation impairs sperm function. The jury is still out on how serious the relation between our phones and health issues such as cancer is. Further scientific studies are needed, but the preliminary indications are that concern is warranted.
Obviously, we are not prepared to give up our cell phones and Wi-Fi networks. So, what measures can we take to reduce our exposure to radiation from these devices? Here are 5 things to consider:
When at home, keep your phone away from your body. Put it on the other side of the room.
When you’re in your car, put your phone on the console or in the passenger seat, rather than keeping it in your pocket.
At other times when you are moving about, try to keep your phone out of your pocket. Put it in a backpack, bag or whatever. If you at a restaurant or somewhere else where you will remain for a while, put the phone on the corner of the table or desk away from your body. Granted, you may walk off and forget it. Which risk is more important? Another option (I know it’s heresy) is to turn off the phone.
And don’t forget, radiation dangers don’t just come from cell phones. Wi-Fi and other Wi-Fi devices also pose risks. It is recommended that you not hold your laptop on your lap during use – again, that puts it too close to some pretty important body parts. Find a table to use rather than your lap.
Also, if possible, try to use a wired internet connection (ethernet) instead of Wi-Fi or mobile broadband. At home, consider switching to a wired internet connection and get rid of the wireless router, or at least keep it turned off most of the time.
Clearly, this information warrants some serious consideration and you may want to do some more research on your own to determine what safety measures are appropriate. This is a potential health issue not just for you, but for your family and friends as well. As already pointed out, we are all involved as human subjects in a giant study of the risks of radiation from the chronic and pervasive use of cell phones, Wi-Fi and other electronic devices. Each of us should learn more about the risks and at a minimum take measures like those suggested above to protect ourselves.
If you found this information useful (and enlightening), please consider sending a link to your family and friends to give them a “heads up” as well.
How to Setup File Sharing in Windows 7
If you have multiple computers at home and want to network them together to share files and devices then this article is for you! In this article I’ll show how to setup file sharing in a mixed environment consisting of Windows 7 and Windows XP.
The computer that will be sharing (serving) the files will be the Windows 7 computer. The computer that will be accessing the shared files on the Windows 7 PC will be a Windows xp computer. This article assumes that you either:
A: have your internal software firewalls disabled since they can often obstruct network access. Only do this if you access the internet through a router (or a wireless router).
or
B: know how to allow network access to your internal subnet. Since you’re reading this article it’s pretty safe to assume that you have no idea what I’m talking about in point B. Just go ahead and turn off your firewalls (for now at least).
On your Windows 7 computer:
1. Click the Windows globe on the bottom left (the old start button).
2. Right-click “Computer” and click properties.
3. Take note of the Workgroup name.
On your Windows XP computer:
1. Click Start.
2. Right-Click “My Computer” and click properties.
3. Click Computer Name.
4. Click Change.
5. Select Workgroup.
6. Type in the same workgroup name.
7. Click Ok twice.
8. Reboot.
Back on your Windows 7 computer lets share your documents folder to everyone in your workgroup:
1. Click Start.
2. Click Computer.
3. On the left window, under libraries, right-click documents and click share with: specific people
4. Click the drop down.
5. Select Everyone.
6. Click Add.
7. Click Read and change it to read/write
8. Click Share
9. Select My Documents
10. Click Next.
11. Sharing your documents may take awhile depending on how many have.
12. Click Done.
Back to your Windows XP PC:
You may now access documents on the Windows 7 computer by
1. Opening your “My Computer”.
2. Click “My Network Places” on the left.
3. Click “Entire Network”.
4. You should now see the name of your Windows 7 computer.
5. Double click the Windows 7 computer and you’ll see any shared files plus any shared devices.
You can follow the steps above to share any other files or folders on your Windows 7 computer.
Office Security – 10 Great Tips For a More Secure Workplace
Today, businesses must address and prepare for security threats that are larger and more varied than ever before. With each technological advancement that allows innovative, effective business strategies, comes a security threat that is equally innovative and equally effective.
Any assessment of an office security system should begin with specific security needs and the impacts they will have on your business as a whole. You may need a facility secure enough for UL 2050 certification or you may simply need to ensure your employees safety before and after business hours. Regardless, here are ten important ways to improve your office security system.
Effective Communication: First and foremost is communicating information to and between employees. Many companies use email alerts to warn employees about would-be hackers. Likewise, be certain that employees remain updated on procedures and potential visitors. By letting employees know what and who to expect, they are better equipped to recognize suspicious activities or persons. In order to avoid complacency, try to use a single source of information that becomes part of an employee’s routine. This could be a daily server broadcast or informational email. Whatever the source, it should be brief, practical, and include positive news as well as precautionary information.
Key Control: Assign the responsibility of locking or unlocking the office to as few individuals as possible. Eliminating the “first in, last out” method ensures that all access points are secured regularly. Create a procedure for those responsible for opening or closing your office that includes checking washrooms, closets, or anywhere someone might be able to hide. Hard keys should be numbered and assigned to specific individuals. employees assigned keys should periodically be asked to produce their keys to verify a master registry.
Site-Wide Policies: Something as simple as a “clean-desk” policy, training all employees to clear and secure their desks of valuable equipment or information before leaving for the day, drastically reduces potential theft. Mandating employees to have and display ID badges or access cards at all times increases the visibility of any unauthorized persons. Don’t include job titles on any directory accessible to the general public as many criminals will use a name and title to justify their presence in restricted areas. Finally, make sure to maintain a “chain of possession.” Any deliveries should be handed to a person and not left in a hallway or on an unattended desk.
Small Investments: All computers, laptops especially, should be secured with cable or plate locks to avoid “walk-off.” Docking stations are relatively inexpensive ways to protect electronic devices when not in use. Pay close attention to high-risk targets like state-of-the-art equipment, postage meters, check writers, and company checkbooks. Improve doors by installing peepholes and keypads. Utilize two locked doors surrounding a small lobby or foyer. This type of “airlock” system eliminates piggybacking, a method criminals use to gain entry by catching a locked door as an employee exits.
Anti-Virus: While it is extremely unusual for a company not to have anti-virus software in this day and age, it is impossible to overstate its importance. High-end protection from viruses, spyware, malware, Trojans, and worms is one of the shrewdest investments an office can make. This includes firewall protection for your main system, security for your wireless Internet routers, and securing backups of all data, preferably off-site, for recovery in the event of a cyber attack.
Lights, Camera, Layout: Be aware of “dark spots” both inside and outside your office. Install adequate lighting in parking lots and outdoor break areas for employee safety, eliminate blind areas in stairwells, and arrange hallways and offices to remove any places where someone could conceal himself or stolen items. Short of CCTV, discussed below, it may be worthwhile to install recording security cameras at key areas like loading bays and access points like after-hours entrances.
Reception: Among the more complete solutions is to employ one or more full time receptionists. From a security system standpoint, this person allows for close inspection of credentials and identification and funnels security information through a single point. If it is impractical to have each visitor greeted and checked-in by a person, consider a dedicated phone line in your lobby or at your front door that goes only to a designated receiver. This method, combined with a sign-in station, can be a cost effective strategy for many offices.
Access Control System: One of the difficulties with hard keys is reacting when one is lost or stolen. With an access control system, businesses can issue access cards to employees while maintaining complete control over what each card will open. Moreover, access control systems minimize risk by allowing only enough access to complete a job. Thus, employees, contractors, or visitors can be restricted by area or time of day. Two things are critical with access control systems. First, allow “total access” to as few individuals as possible. This will clarify who is authorized to be where and thereby enable employees to recognize and report infractions. Second, monitor the use of each card. By reviewing card activity, you can determine who needs access to where and at which times, streamlining routines and defining access.
Closed Circuit Television (CCTV): For higher end security system needs, CCTV is one of the most effective methods of protection. Through limited broadcast, each camera can be monitored through a single interface. Depending on the specifics of the system, footage can be monitored by an employee or digitally recorded. Place cameras strategically to achieve the maximum coverage for a single unit. Likewise, cameras or corresponding signs that are visible to guests and employees can be effective deterrents and create a safe environment. It is important to remember, however, that as effective as CCTV is, it should be used efficiently and in tandem with other measures. For example, installing a unit in an entry with an “airlock” door system allows extended footage of a person(s) entering or exiting the premises.
Proper Training: Above all, make sure each of your employees is adequately trained to use security equipment and follow procedures. Investment and planning in the best security system will have little impact if individuals are unclear on precaution and intervention. This may be as simple as making sure employees keep doors and windows secure or protect their personal belongings, but often entails specific training on identifying and responding to suspicious items, persons, or events.
Why is My Mouse Freezing? – A Guide to Fix Mouse Freezes
Have you been asking – why is my mouse freezing? Mouse freezes are actually a pretty common problem. Typically they come in two forms. The first is that the mouse icon freezes or locks up but you can still move it around. The other kind is the mouse freezes and the whole computer seems to lock up with it. Both are symptoms of the same problem.
Before doing anything, take a look at how many programs you have open when your mouse freezes up. If you are running multiple programs at once and have limited RAM, this can be a major cause of mouse freezing. The solution is either run fewer programs or simply purchase additional RAM.
You also want to make sure your mouse drivers are up to date. In these cases simply go to the manufacturer website and check for any driver updates you may have missed out on.
But the most common cause of mouse freezing is due to errors in the Windows registry. The registry contains settings and commands that are utilized by the mouse to run properly. When there are errors in the registry this can cause a breakdown in the communication between your mouse and system. When your computer cannot communicate properly it will lock up or freeze.
Unfortunately there is no way to manually fix this problem. The registry is an extremely complex directory that is also sensitive to alterations. If you adjust or remove the wrong registry files your entire system can collapse.
This is why I highly recommend scanning your computer with a top flight registry cleaner. Not only can it fix mouse freezing, it will also speed up your computer considerably. So stop asking why is my mouse freezing. Scan your computer for free below and fix the problem today.