Just like a mighty octopus, the Internet?s tendrils wrap around the Earth, connecting countries and infrastructures in unprecedented ways. Almost all of the transoceanic digital communication, including phone calls, emails, and pretty much any Internet communication, relies on these cables. According to WIRED magazine, the first telegraph wire was laid across the Atlantic Ocean in 1866, which set the precedent for using wired technology for overseas communication. The cables which followed were typically laid along trade routes, with more modern cables following suit. Later on in the 1950s, the standard shifted to coaxial cables which could carry telephone conversations. Today, the standard consists of fiber-optic cables that can transfer huge amounts of data at an incredible rate. Here?s a video of how these cables are laid: And a map of where they?re all located: These cables have become an absolutely imperative part of how society communicates. Yet, these cables are at much greater risk than you might think, and most people don?t really worry about them until a potential problem presents itself. In fact, they?re often forgotten about until something goes wrong, though it?s not unheard of for submarines and other entities to take interest in these wires. According to WIRED, the following situations are generally threats to the Internet wires: seismic activity, the various undersea creatures (primarily sharks), and even international intervention. However, by far, the most common issue is the last one you might think of: ship anchors and fishing nets, which account for about 60 percent of any cable destruction activity. This is why maps will now mark the location of these wires, as severing them can lead to serious consequences. When you think about it, wouldn?t it be really easy to completely sabotage communications? Messing with undersea cables happened in previous World Wars, but such deplorable actions haven?t taken place in recent times. Still, it never hurts to be cautious and consider worst-case scenarios for catastrophic events like these. Now that we?ve renewed your curiosity in these cables, what are your thoughts on them? Do you think they are an antiquated method of deploying data throughout the world? Let us know in the comments.

What Constitutes Wearable Technology?Most forms of wearable technology consist of devices that can easily be worn by fitness enthusiasts, who use the technology to track their progress and monitor their body?s physical well-being. However, the wearable technology industry has been gaining traction in recent years, with devices that are designed to improve productivity and efficiency for the average office worker. As explained by CyberTrend: A 2014 Parks Associates study projected that smart watch sales will reach 121 million units worldwide by 2018. Similar to a smartphone or smart TV, a smart watch can connect a user to the Internet for access to real-time data. Generally, smart watches will offer users some basic features (current weather, music, access to email and texts, etc.), which are also available on smartphones. Depending on the model, some folks can use their smart watches to control their smart TVs, capture pictures, video chat, and run scaled-down versions of common smartphone apps, in addition to using the device as an activity tracker. While wearable technologies have varied uses, not all is well for these devices. Despite their increasing popularity, how practical are they when compared to the devices they?re mimicking? For example, the smartwatch gives its user a lot of information that could just as easily be obtained by using a smartphone. Furthermore, it would be much easier to use a smartphone to find this information, rather than on the miniscule screen of a smart watch. When it comes to smart glasses, like Google?s failed Google Glass, the question of privacy has crippled the progress of the industry. The main concern with Google Glass was the idea that confidential information could be shared much more easily than if the data was found on a laptop or a workstation. How Do Wearables Affect Your Workplace?If you have workers taking advantage of wearable technology while in the office, you should be aware that any Internet-connected device presents risks that can be taken advantage of by hackers. The trends known as BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and the Internet of Things (IoT) present a significant issue for security-minded businesses. With more devices connected to your organization?s network, there?s more chance that data could slip through the cracks and be stolen by the odd hacker. This is why it?s important to keep a close watch on the devices that your employees are bringing to work with them. You want any devices that have access to corporate information to be outfitted with a mobile device management solution that?s designed to limit what types of information can be accessed by certain applications, remotely wipe any compromised devices, and so much more. You don?t want your business to wear its data on its sleeve. Contact White Mountain IT Services at (603) 889-0800 today to find out how you can achieve greater data security from mobile devices.

Turn On ?Airplane Mode? The best way to eliminate distractions from your mobile device is to turn it off or get rid of it entirely. Of course, this is easier said than done, and you may not be able to do this if you still need to access important data on your device, like your contacts, calendar, and clock. Instead, try switching your phone to airplane mode. This will cut off your device from the Internet, along with the phone?s wireless network, all while leaving you with access to apps and data stored locally on the device. With no more phone notifications to bother you, you?ll be able to focus like never before. When you?ve completed the task at hand, simply turn off airplane mode and your phone will display all missed notifications, phone calls, and voicemails. Bonus tip: Most of us use our phones as our alarm clock. You can use airplane mode to make sure that you?re not awakened by a notification or a phone call, while still having your alarm to wake you. Use Headphones to Ward Off PeopleA person with headphones on is basically communicating to the world around them, ?please don?t bother me.? Some people are respectful of this boundary and will only interrupt a sweet jam if it?s absolutely necessary. Yet, be warned, every office seems to have a dullard who can?t take the hint and they?ll still interrupt you with yet another hilarious cat video. You can even locate music that?s created for the sole purpose of helping people focus, like Spotify?s ?Focus playlist.? Remember, just because you have your headphones on, doesn?t mean that you have to listen to music. For example, if you?re not wired to work while listening to music, then you can just have your headphones on for the sake of telling people to bug off. Schedule Times For Email Checking Having your email inbox open all day so that you will notice every incoming message will derail your productivity. Instead, try keeping your email app closed throughout the work day, except for the times you have scheduled to check your email. By only checking your email a few designated times each day (and perhaps your social media too), you?ll be able to easily focus on the message at hand, instead of having to glance at every new message that comes across the wire. In fact, you can even use an email autoresponder tool to notify people of the times that you check your email so they won?t expect an instant response. And if a person happens to really need to get a hold of you at that very instant, they could always just give you a call (that is, unless your phone is on airplane mode). Following these three productivity tips will go a long way in weaning you off your device and turning out workplace distractions. Do you have any additional tips that help you focus better at work? Let us know in the comments!

While it?s also important to consider your current IT infrastructure before making any drastic changes to your technology, you should also be aware of what cloud computing can help your business accomplish. Here are four ways that cloud computing can improve the way you do business. Growth ManagementA good cloud computing solution is capable of helping your business better manage its growth. The primary reason for this is that cloud solutions are generally scalable to meet the specific needs of a business, allowing for custom solutions that can be changed or updated with ease. Businesses might experience peak periods or go through hiring spurts, which means that their infrastructure is subject to change, making cloud computing an attractive choice. Increased ProductivityTaking advantage of cloud computing for your applications means that you can make them available to whoever needs access to them from a number of different devices. An example of this is hosting your productivity suite, like Microsoft Office or Google Drive, on a cloud server where they can be accessed by your team from any location. This helps them stay productive by improving access to mission-critical systems. Cost ReductionsIt?s a well-known fact that introducing brand new technology to your IT infrastructure can be a costly endeavor, and one that?s not kind to your budget if unplanned. One of the key benefits of cloud computing for small businesses is the decreased need for expensive hardware like servers and workstations. By hosting your IT infrastructure in the cloud, you can reduce the energy costs of operating this equipment, and consolidate your systems and make them easier to manage. Enhanced MobilityIn much the same way that cloud computing allows businesses to access their applications from remote locations, cloud computing helps organizations access data from various locations on a number of different devices. In other words, organizations don?t have to feel restricted by the office anymore. Employees can work anywhere, anytime, be it from the comfort of their own home or while abroad on a business trip. More than anything else, the cloud allows companies to be more flexible with their assets and finances. Your business can benefit from the cloud, too. Contact us at (603) 889-0800 today and ask our professional IT technicians how the cloud can improve the way you do business.

Here are three sure-fire ways that you can leverage technology to meet your company?s future goals. Try Leasing IT EquipmentHaving to upgrade your IT infrastructure comes with the territory of using technology; the trick is to make upgrading as easy as possible on yourself. To this end, it?s much easier to upgrade equipment that you?re leasing than it is to pay upfront for an expensive piece of hardware. One way to ensure this is to include a hardware refresh in the terms of your lease. This way, upgrading your tech won?t cost you any additional fees and you won?t get slammed with a major bill at the worst possible time. As a budget-conscious business owner, you might feel skeptical about having to shell out monthly for IT equipment. The upside to this is that your IT technology turns into an operating expense, instead of a capital expense. This cost-saving measure frees up capital funds for your company?s overall budget. Use an IT Roadmap to Accommodate Future GrowthOne major pitfall that business owners make with their IT infrastructure is to lay it out in such a way that it only meets their current IT needs. A setup like this is sure to cause problems in the future when you experience growth, or you have to upgrade in a major way to account for technology trends. For example, an IT system that?s designed for the future will include enough open access points so that new employees can easily be onboarded, without having to lay out new wires and upgrade your firewall solution. Even if you?re not planning on adding a ton of new staff in the near future, you will still want to account for IT trends like BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) so that your employees can connect their multiple mobile devices to your network without experiencing any issues. Another IT trend that requires extra bandwidth is the growing use of video conferencing. An IT network that can?t accommodate a trend like video conferencing will cause you to miss out on potential sales opportunities with clients and partners who want to hash out details by way of video chat. Go With a Flexible Cloud ServiceThe advantage of cloud computing is that a third party hosts and manages your cloud solution. This makes it easy on your operations, but if you?ve not thought through what your future cloud needs will be, then you?ll find the cloud to be a hindrance if the company managing your cloud solution isn?t flexible. NetworkComputing explains: Cloud deployments tend to be dynamic — not static — and must grow or shrink depending on the requirements of the client. Any agreement with a managed service provider (MSP) needs to cater to the variability that the consumptive nature of the cloud provides. When it comes to implementing technology for your business, it pays to do so with the future in mind. White Mountain IT Services can help your business in this way by taking time to listen to your company?s current and future IT needs, before recommending a solution. Keeping the future in mind will ensure that you will be able to take full advantage of how technology can benefit your business, instead of having it hold you back. Call us today at (603) 889-0800 to prepare yourself for whatever the future has […]