Top 6 Ways Audio/Visual (A/V) Can Improve Your Business

Audio/Visual technologies are dramatically improving the modern workplace. While traditional offices are changing rapidly, with open plan environments, huddle rooms, and mobile/remote working, these challenges must be met with technology in order for these spaces to continue to work effectively. This is especially true when connecting people in different geographies.

The way we work has evolved over time, and the technology necessarily should also evolve. Intuitive collaboration tools are transforming the way teams work. An understanding of how to apply current workplace technologies to meeting spaces and environments of all sizes will ensure your enterprise can remain productive and efficient, while eliminating the connection headaches of the past.

Here are the Top 6 Ways A/V Can Improve Your Business:

1. Fluent Communications from Any Device Users no longer have to draw a distinction between an audio conference, video conference and/or web presentation. In addition, customers don’t need to have separate providers/accounts for each. Instead, products like Zoom or Microsoft Teams allow call attendees to join the call from whatever device they have available. Office users can join from a conference room or from their computer. Mobile users can join on their smartphone or tablet. All participants can be on video and share/view content on the call – all using a single service; no more siloed communications.
    
2. Start Meetings On Time By inviting the room itself to the meeting along with the remote attendees, the meeting is sure to start on time – and with just a touch of a button. Every aspect of the room can be accurately controlled, including, but not limited to: lighting, multimedia integration, email schedules, and meeting and presentation control.
    
3. No More Worrying About Having the Right Connector BYOD wireless content sharing allows anyone to share content from any device (PC, Mac, iOS, Android, etc.). No more dongles, and no more worrying about finding the “right” cable or adapter.
    
4. Extend Branding & Corporate Communication Into Common Areas & Conference Rooms Effective use of digital signage ensures the timely delivery of information to all people, be they clients, employees, or vendors.  This eliminates the need for the labor and expense of printing posters and static signage.
    
5. End Conference Room Squatting Conference room scheduling panels installed at the room entrance allow rooms to be scheduled in advance, and/or booked ad hoc. The schedule for each room is easily displayed with the touch of a button. Room analytics are also available to measure usage and occupancy to provide actionable data on resource utilization.
    
6. A/V is Not Just for Auditoriums, Large Rooms, and Board Rooms A/V systems that enable calls, as well as share/view content, have become very affordable and easy to implement and use.  This makes them very effective solutions for both small & medium spaces, too, which is where most of the real day-to-day work and collaboration happen.

Contact PTS on 201-337-3833 to learn how A/V can improve your business

Top Advantages of Upgrading to PoE LED Lights for Your Commercial Spaces

Power over Ethernet (PoE)-based LED lighting has been available for several years. Due to the recent (2018) release of the IEEE Approved Draft Standard for Power-over-Ethernet, the LED lighting industry has started devoting attention to this technology. The new standard includes significant enhancements for LED lighting systems. The main improvement is the specification for up to 90W of delivered power for cable lengths of up to 100m through the use of all four pairs of wires. This allows for daisy chaining of several luminaires, which can simplify the installation process.

Other enhancements include improved efficiency for current PoE levels of 25.5W of delivered power, as the power loss in the cable is reduced by approximately half. For example, power sourcing equipment operating under the previous standard needed to supply a minimum of 30W to ensure that the power device receives 25.5W because as much as 4.5W can be lost in the Ethernet cable. Powering the same device under the new standard will reduce losses to less than 2.25W, translating to about a 7% efficiency increase.

Top Advantages of Upgrading to PoE LED Lights for Your Commercial Spaces:

1. Lower Installation and Operational Cost With UPoE ports (60 watts) powering two 2x2 lights each, PoE costs the same and often less than traditional AC lighting in new  construction and deep retrofit.  A simple 2x4 system in a Class A office space with custom and tunable fixtures can be built for less than $17 per square foot, installed! With the rollout of high power PoE (90 watts), Capex will be consistently lower than AC, while providing dozens of feature-rich applications. Opex results are similar, but emergency maintained lights can be remotely tested every month/year, yielding significant savings. Additionally, since lighting accounts for 35% of your building’s electrical load, LEDs reduce this draw by 50-90%, as compared to a line-voltage system.
2. LEDs Provide More Light per Watt LED lights can provide more lumens per watt than both fluorescent and incandescent lights. LEDs can provide 160 lumens per watt versus 80 lumens per watt versus for fluorescent, and 20 and 14 lumens per watt for incandescent lights.
3. Easy Modifications to Lighting Circuitry and Control A PoE LED lighting systems works with nearly any LED light, including UL924 PoE emergency lighting options. Additionally, conventional line-voltage systems have to be hardwired to match the layout of the space. If the space is re-organized and new walls go up, most often the lighting has to be re-circuited and its controls modified, which require an electrician and, therefore, more time and cost. With a PoE system, changes in circuiting and control are made at the software level, thereby making changes fast, easy, and virtually cost free.
4. Lighting Control is Software-Based By combining power and control onto a single network connection, it is very simple to create comfortable, healthy and productive work environments. It makes every light an internet-of-things (IoT) IP-enabled appliance. In addition, wall switches, sensors and other low power accessories attach to any node.  Also, the software is easy to use; devices are automatically discovered and configured through a drag-and-drop function.
5. Real-Time Room-Level Monitoring and Reporting Many sensors are available to support daylight harvesting, light level, motion, temperature, humidity, CO2 and other environmental conditions to ensure customers save as much energy as possible, while providing outstanding light quality. As such, room-level environmental condition monitoring and reporting is greatly simplified. Not only can lighting optionally be controlled by occupancy sensors, but room-level occupancy can be tracked and analyzed to determine space utilization statistics via the software.
6. Real-Time Energy Monitoring and Reporting Besides tracking and analyzing occupancy, it is also possible to track real-time energy usage on an LED-by-LED, room-by-room, and/or building-by-building basis. The outcome is a platform that enables building managers to customize the user experience without giving up the ability to conserve energy. Doing so enables businesses to future-proof their digital ceiling infrastructure to grow with new applications.
7. Advanced Color Scene Control, Including Circadian Rhythm Color tuning can be used to create visually stunning environments that can be programmed and scheduled with just a few button clicks. Furthermore, tuning color temperature and syncing with circadian rhythm will improve productivity, and health and wellness in the workplace. High quality lighting has been scientifically proven to improve altertness, thinking, concentration, mood, morale, and sleep. At the same time, quality lighting helps reduce absenteeism, errors, accidents, eye strain, fatigue, headaches, hyperactivity, cardiovascular events, and obesity!
8. Leverage Existing IT System Management Tools and Personnel A lot of time and money was spent optimizing the tools and processes used to manage the organization’s IT systems. The IT personnel and/or the outsourced managed services provider are typically adept at monitoring, responding, and fixing problems as they arise. All these tools, processes, personnel, and experience can now be leveraged to manage the lighting, as well as all the IoT devices connected to it.

 Contact PTS on 201-337-3833 for help with PoE LED Lighting

New Office Technologies Improve Efficiency, Cost, and Management in the Workplace

Businesses are connecting more devices, people, and processes in their attempt to gain a competitive advantage, and are undergoing a digital workplace transformation. The Digital Workplace extends the benefits of the Internet of Things (IoT), changes the way buildings operate, and how workers connect to the technologies in place. When fully implemented, the Digital Workplace will offer building occupants a combination of information, efficiency, convenience, security, and comfort. Operating costs are lower, and more detailed analytics are now possible across the system. Deeper insight means improved efficiency, and, ultimately, smarter business decisions.

Lower Costs and Simpler Management

The Digital Workplace yields major cost savings by converging previously disparate networks over a single, centrally controlled architecture using IP and Power over Ethernet (PoE). The Digital Workplace delivers the essential capabilities needed to make these cost savings a reality:

• Reduced power and lighting costs
• Streamlined maintenance
• Simplified installations
• Reduced operating expenses
• Optimized energy efficiency
• Shift from capital investments to operational savings

Digital Workplace Efficiency:

• Lower-cost, more efficient workplaces: The Digital Workplace lowers the cost of workplace system installation, operation, and management through unified communications and centralized control of global facilities. As a result, it is easier to automate workplace services.
• Transformative new experiences: Different systems (lighting, heating, and air conditioning, as well as communications, A/V, physical security and access control) can now easily and securely work together. They can adapt to users’ needs in real time to make spaces work better for individuals, groups, functions, and teams, while significantly improving the productivity, safety, and comfort of facility occupants.
• New business insights through analytics: By combining connected endpoints with sensors, organizations gain deeper insights into how employees, customers, and guests utilize indoor spaces. You can adapt workspaces to improve productivity and efficiency, and make better use of valuable real estate. You can also glean concrete data to inform decision making about facility operations and planning.
• Increased/seamless security: Advanced security features provide comprehensive threat intelligence and defense by using the network as a sensor and enforcer.

Free Download: Workplace Technology Planning Checklist

Download this FREE CHECKLIST to ensure you don’t forget the cost of any of the technologies you will use in your next commercial/industrial workplace renovation or new construction project…

Contact PTS on 201-337-3833 when you're ready to make your smart building even smarter.

Top 10 Ways to Keep Your Data Center Support Infrastructure Up and Running

When data center construction is complete, data center operations & maintenance begins. These services may include comprehensive operational management and regular scheduled maintenance for all facility supporting infrastructure and assets, or just preventive maintenance for specific assets in the data center. The aim is to provide continuous operations for network services, so it is imperative that your data center support infrastructure be kept in top shape.

Top 10 Ways to Keep Your Data Center Support Infrastructure Up and Running

1. Read Your Equipment Manuals Become familiar with your equipment. Equipment manuals outline recommended maintenance and timelines. The documentation will provide details on how to operate under: normal, maintenance, and emergency operating conditions. Human interaction is the #1 cause of unplanned downtime.
2. Purchase and Maintain Warranties Purchasing parts on an individual basis is expensive. An active warranty will ensure that whatever breaks will not only be covered, but will save money in the long run.
3. Purchase and Maintain On-Site Service Agreements Most of the time, just receiving the replacement part is not enough – now you need someone to install it and make sure it works. In the event of failure, it is best to always have a service contract in place to ensure repair. These agreements usually include preventive maintenance as well.
4. Schedule and Perform Regular Preventive Maintenance Visits Regularly scheduled maintenance helps to circumvent downtime by addressing issues early. It greatly reduces the chance of failure. Regular maintenance will also extend the effective service life of your infrastructure.
5. Infrared Scanning
   
   Over time, heat can build up around sensitive data center equipment, and can ultimately cause failures. Data center hot spots are invisible to the naked eye, and often cannot be detected via touch. Infrared scanning thermographic equipment guarantees you can quickly identify the “hot spot” that may be the source of an eventual failure.
6. Keep Detailed Up-to-Date Event and Maintenance Records Consistently documenting the, “who, what, when, where, why, and how” of everything that happens in your data center eliminates questions down the road. Historical work order information can be used to identify chronic equipment problems and/or patterns.
7. Monitor Levels and Performance Regular or real-time monitoring your equipment’s operation ensures you have an understanding of the current operating load versus its capacity and/or redundant capacity limitations. In addition, if you keep a running log, you will have a better understanding of how the load is growing or decreasing, perhaps defining a trend.
8. Re-Test Under Load Unfortunately, an unplanned failure is inevitable. When repairs are made, re-testing the equipment with a “dummy” load in a controlled environment will ensure proper operation when the equipment is put back in service.
9. Keep it Clean Don’t forget basic housekeeping. Dust can block airflow and create issues with equipment overheating. Data Center Site Cleaning should be part of your regular maintenance.
10. Plan for Retirement Nothing lasts forever. Be aware of the expected usable lifespan of your equipment, document it, then plan and budget for its routine maintenance and eventual replacement.

Free Download: Commercial Workplace Technology Planning Checklist

Planning a New Office Build? You need this FREE Commercial Workplace Technology Planning Checklist to save you $$$ by helping you budget for ALL the Technologies your people will need and use.

Our goal is to help you establish realistic and accurate cost estimates for all the Workplace Technologies you will utilize in your new space. Ideally, this will be done as early as 12-months in advance of signing any leases or hiring any professionals or contractors. Download this FREE CHECKLIST to ensure you don’t forget the cost of any of the technologies you will use in your next commercial/industrial workplace renovation or new construction project…

• Avoid cost overruns due to making moves, adds & changes during construction
• Eliminate delays of moving because the space is not ready to move into
• Deploy the right technology that meets your needs and that you can afford by considering design options early
• Retain Employees by creating an inviting, yet functional work space

Get your FREE Commercial Workplace Technology Planning Checklist Here

“Not many companies have the depth of knowledge across such a broad array of workplace technologies as PTS. Our clients end up with technologies that are appropriate for their needs, that they use, and they can afford”

– Pete Sacco, Founder & President
PTS Data Center Solutions, Inc.

NJCCIC Alert: Chinese APT10 Intrusion Activities Target Government, Cloud-Computing Managed Service Providers and Customer Networks Worldwide

The FBI is providing the following information with HIGH confidence – NJCCIC (New Jersey Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Cell) Alert: this FBI Flash is being provided, with no guarantees or warranties, for potential use at the sole discretion of recipients in order to protect against cyber threats.

The FBI obtained information regarding a group of Chinese APT cyber actors stealing high value information from commercial and governmental victims in the U.S. and abroad. This Chinese APT group is known within private sector reporting as APT10, Cloud Hopper, menuPass, Stone Panda, Red Apollo, CVNX and POTASSIUM. This group heavily targets managed service providers (MSP) who provide cloud computing services; commercial and governmental clients of MSPs; as well as defense contractors and governmental entities. APT10 uses various techniques for initial compromise including spearphishing and malware. After initial compromise, this group seeks MSP administrative credentials to pivot between MSP cloud networks and customer systems to steal data and maintain persistence. This group has also used spearphishing to deliver malicious payloads and compromise victims.

This FBI Flash provides technical details and recommended mitigation measures to assist organizations in guarding against the persistent malicious actions of cyber criminals. Contact PTS to help ensure your systems are properly maintained and safe from the latest threats.

This information is marked Traffic Light Protocol (TLP): WHITE. Disclosure is not limited. Subject to standard copyright rules, TLP: WHITE information may be distributed without restriction.

PTS Partner NJFX Welcomes Subsea Trans-Atlantic Data Cable

The Jersey Shore is becoming a major destination for your photos, status updates and Internet searches. A new trans-Atlantic subsea cable will land in Wall Township, NJ, ferrying European Internet traffic from Google and Facebook to the New York metropolitan area. The HAVFRUE cable, which was announced earlier this year, will land at the NJFX colocation campus in Wall, the company said today.

The HAVFRUE cable will connect New Jersey and Denmark, with branch connection to Ireland and Norway. The project is backed by a consortium that includes Google, Facebook subsea cable specialist Aqua Comms and Norwegian fiber provider Bulk Infrastructure.

Undersea telecommunications cables are now strategic assets in the growth of hyperscale Internet companies, with companies like Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Amazon emerging as key investors. As these cloud titans focus investment in cables and new routes, it has the potential to reshape how data flows across the ocean, onto the U.S. mainland, and into the cloud.

HAVFRUE is designed to deliver superior speed and lower latency design, capitalizing on advances in subsea cable construction since the original cable building boom during the dot-com era. NJFX CEO and Founder Gil Santaliz says that as existing transatlantic systems start reaching their 20-year life cycle, the HAVFRUE design will gain an economic advantage over its older rivals.

Read the complete article here:

https://datacenterfrontier.com/njfx-welcomes-subsea-cable-on-ramp-for-google-facebook/

PTS Modernizes State Data Center and Expands Network in Sergipe, Brazil

As the primary contractor of a technical team made up of US- and Brazil-based companies, PTS Data Center Solutions provided consulting services to the state of Sergipe. The Brazilian state had undertaken a statewide IT modernization project, with these priorities:

• Expand the state fiber and wireless broadband network
• Modernize the state government’s data center
• Data security
• Business continuity
• Backup data center

The IT system expansion benefited key government services, including the online emergency reporting system, the online tax collection system, remote monitoring, and expanded the CIOSP system. The expanded network now serves 100% of the population with connectivity, including 170,000 student on the SIGA System, and 192,000 student with IT Labs Distance Education. Additionally, a new system for hospital administration and telemedecine exams provide tremendous improvement.

The success of this project has increased the efficiency of public administrators, created jobs, and has grown the economy. Through the enhanced use of digital resources, companies have increased productivity, and can be more competitive. All of this came at a development cost of just $4USD per person in the state, with connectivity costs being reduced by up to 70%. What a bargain for such an improvement to the quality of life and the quality of services for Sergipe!

PTS’ Pete Sacco Presenting at AFCOM February 2018 NYC/NJ Metro Chapter Meeting

PTS President Peter Sacco will be presenting at the  upcoming February 2018 AFCOM NYC/NJ Metro Chapter Meeting at Bloomberg in NY, NY.

Bloomberg and the AFCOM – NYC/NJ Metro Chapter have teamed up to sponsor a wide range of capabilities to assist Data Center Professionals to maintain the utmost uptime. Please join us to celebrate our collaboration, view presentations, and hear real-time customer testimonials on how they overcame their data center pain points.

When: February 28, 2018, 11:30 AM – 7:00 PM

Schedule of Events: 

• 11:30 – 12:30 –  Registration, Lunch & Networking
• 12:45 – 1:30   –  CAPEX/OPEX of an On-Premise Data Center vs. Colocation Operations vs. Public Cloud Operations, Peter Sacco, PTS 
• 1:45 – 2:30     –  Presentation “To Be Determined”
• 2:30 – 3:00     –  Coffee Break and Networking
• 3:00 – 3:45     –  Bloomberg’s DCIM, “No more sales pitch, we just built it!”, Nathaniel Brown, Bloomberg Data Center Applications
• 3:45 – 4:00     –  State of the Chapter
• 4:00 – 5:30     –  Cocktails, Appetizers, Networking and Raffle

Where: Bloomberg LP, 120 Park Avenue, 22 MPR A, New York, NY 10017

Register Here

NOTE: If you are not a member of AFCOM, you can join prior to the meeting or onsite with any of the local board members.

Prepare A Cyberdefense Plan Beyond Meltdown and Spectre Security Risks

Virtually all modern CPUs have a major security vulnerability.

Nearly all CPUs built over the past two decades have a design flaw, creating a vulnerability that could allow hackers access to the data that runs through the CPU itself. This data might include passwords, keys, and other critically sensitive data. The vulnerabilities, dubbed Meltdown and Spectre, are currently being addressed via software patches, as many software vendors, including Microsoft, have rush-released these patches in an attempt to limit exploits.

Unfortunately, these patches are reportedly slowing down systems by as much as thirty percent. This is discouraging many enterprises from applying the patches altogether, which leaves the system open to attack.

A better solution: although applying patches and updating software may address the immediate threat, this is only part of a solid cyberdefense plan. A better approach would be to have a thorough defense plan in place, including, but not limited to: constant network monitoring/analysis, performing regular backups, and having a solid recovery approach. This plan enables you to immediately become aware of any security breaches, provides evidence to identify the security hole, and allows you to restore systems to a state prior to the infraction.

PTS can perform a free cybersecurity threat assessment to analyze your network and identify security holes. This is the first step in creating a comprehensive cyberdefense plan to protect your enterprise from attack, and/or recover from any existing attacks to keep your business running smoothly.