Author Archives: Jeff Waters

Jeff Waters

Got WiFi? User Expectations Drive New Challenges

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March 2, 2012 by Jeff Waters | Comment

Our wireless devices appear to be multiplying. It used to be we couldn’t leave home without our smart phones. But now? Now it’s a bit out of control. Not only do we have our phones, but how many of us find ourselves toting our laptops and tablets everywhere we go? That’s three devices per person.

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Jeff Waters

The “Yes” Model: Five Tips for Keeping your Business Safe

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October 25, 2011 by Jeff Waters | Comment

Data security is a hot topic these days and is being discussed everywhere from the boardroom to the server room.

We’ve recently covered the fundamentals of data security as well as commonly overlooked risks here on ThinkGig. Today we want to take a look at business strategies for establishing a culture that protects data and minimizes vulnerabilities. It’s what we like to call the “yes” model.

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Jeff Waters

Considering Going to the Dark Side? The Hidden Costs of Dark Fiber

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August 24, 2011 by Jeff Waters | Comment (7)

Remember “dark fiber?” Well it’s back.Fiber Optics

Quick history lesson for those not familiar with this telecom buzz word. Dark fiber was a hot topic during the dot-com days of the late 1990’s. Telecoms, railroads and other large utilities planned for growth and increased demand of their optical fiber networks by laying down extra, unlit fiber cables. When the bubble burst and advancements such as Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) allowed carriers to get more out of their existing lit cables, network owners began selling off their unused optical networks – thus the term “dark” fiber.

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Jeff Waters

Beyond Viruses and Bots: Real Risks You Might Be Missing

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August 9, 2011 by Jeff Waters | Comment

We are all aware of the slew of network security issues facing organizations today. It seems like every other day there’s a new security breach in the news – take the recent hackers breaking into Sony’s PlayStation site and the Epsilon phishing campaign.

But while things like bots, viruses and hackers are well-known, we are starting to see less obvious risks come up that have a significant impact on an enterprise’s or a school’s information systems.

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Jeff Waters

Five Tips for Moving to IPv6

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June 23, 2011 by Jeff Waters | Comment

Here at ThinkGig, we’ve been covering IPv6 and why businesses should be thinking about it. In addition to traditional businesses, this is a critical issue for state and local governments and public education, because the fear is that some people will have trouble signing onto public websites and getting access to critical information.

So what should you do to make sure that you are prepared? Here are five tips we think are a good place to start: Continue reading →

Jeff Waters

SIPping the Kool-Aid: Are You Ready for SIP Trunking?

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July 29, 2010 by Jeff Waters | Comment (1)

If you’re thinking about deploying or upgrading a VoIP solution, you’ve heard about SIP trunking as a way to reduce both hard and soft costs, while tapping nearly unlimited bandwidth and enabling access to rich communications.

One of a SIP network’s biggest virtues is the ability to share resources cost-effectively. For example, a business with 10 locations nationwide can streamline down to one central call center in a way that’s invisible to customers. Or a company whose inbound calls come in bursts can dedicate bandwidth to voice when needed, instead of paying for more bandwidth to handle a few heavy traffic days a year.

SIP talk seems to be everywhere this summer, but the standard continues to evolve. Interoperability issues make the technology appropriate for some enterprises, but not all. In short, your communications platform may not work with the SIP gateway or edge device you want to buy.

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Jeff Waters

Controlled Chaos: Oxymoron or the Future of Enterprise Mobility?

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June 22, 2010 by Jeff Waters | Comment

Employees can be demanding. They want to be able to access all their favorite applications from any device, anywhere, and it’s hard to deny this request when it’s actually making someone more productive. But what is the norm? All too often, only email is approved for use on nontraditional corporate devices, which puts significant limits on true mobility.

Take sales reps as an example. Imagine what they could do if they could access their CRM and ordering systems while at a customer visit – faster quotes, faster order placement and faster service or product delivery. Seems like the way to become a well-oiled, customer-centric machine.

But put this scenario in front of IT managers and notice the fear in their eyes. Far from utopia, it represents pure chaos and risk. Visions of issues start running through their heads:

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