6 comments

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  Peter Edstrom

  9 months ago

  Ken - I think you are absolutely right that people don't understand how much bandwidth they are using. I see two challenges though.
  
  First, is that most (all?) innovation is happening online. A filtered internet begets filtered innovation (ex: no one knows about screencasts at work because video is blocked - yet it is a highly effective way to train users)
  
  The second challenge is one of role reversal: It used to be that the best tools were found at work, but today we all have better internet at home. Wi-Fi? Had it for 7 years at home, but still don't at work. I understand that consumer internet and business internet are different, but it makes the company look cheap when a $35/month slow-broadband service outshines their corporate offering.
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  ChangeForge | Ken Stewart

  9 months ago

  I would tend to agree in aggregate which is why I don't filter a lot. However, there are a few concerns here, namely security and perceptive productivity. Security is a layered question, and one that I think we can all say is on the table. However, to your point of usability in corporate environments, multi-media is highly effective and we use that all the time. In fact, I was in the process of launching a multi-media training group...
  
  Past this, I am actually an advocate of more filtered innovation unless you work for a creative house (e.g. marketing) or a high-tech company that requires this. Generally, if you hire the right people you are OK without, but with security concerns and some idle hands - I get a little jumpy.
  
  I would agree that I think home internet service is jumping quickly, but if you are also watching the news releases (e.g. Comcast) usage caps are in place, along with no guaranteed bandwidth. By paying corporate prices for stable WAN technology like T-1/T-3/OC circuits, the thought goes that you get reliable throughput with guaranteed SLA's.
  
  With high speed at the home front, we often forget why corporations are often slow innovators - stability and availability is the IT departments mantra.
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  tsudohnimh

  9 months ago

  The answer is Multi-WAN. Use a T1 for the reliability and then add a 2nd or 3rd highspeed DSL or cable connection. Use traffic prioritization to route outbound web traffic out the higher speed connection. If the connection fails then default to throttling based on protocol to preserve your business critical traffic.
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  ChangeForge | Ken Stewart

  9 months ago

  Now that is an idea I've been toying with, but I had not thought to use secondary low-cost providers... That might actually make it more economical. The one thing I've been frustrated by is our ability to throttle effectively during times of peak usage (whenever that may be)...
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  GregWalters

  9 months ago

  Very interesting...I understand.
  
  The other day, I had my IT guy explain to me why I could not get to my blog on my Blackberry - although I am paying for the verizon internet access.
  
  After diagraming it for me, I got it... I think.
  
  Has to do with security because I get my email from our Blackberry server, blah blah blah...
  
  I still want access to my blog from my Blackberry...
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  Strong One

  9 months ago

  WOW.
  Coming from a non-IT person this was an eye-opener.
  Thanks for the information.
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