The End Of The Internet?
There has been a lot of buzz from people stating we are reaching the end of the internet's capacity. To be honest, all I can ever think of is the episode of South Park where the internet access starts to dry up. In the episode, the "internet" is actually a giant Linksys router and Kyle reestablishes the internet by resetting the device. Although hilarious, the probability of the internet disappearing is pretty low (notice how I didn't say impossible).
Fiction aside, the internet is in essence a network of networks that connects computers and other devices across the globe. The internet isn't one specific device but rather a combination of billions of components. Despite its seemingly endless coverage area, a recent article from CNN.com reported that the internet may be reaching its user limits. Soon we may not be able to add more devices to the current configuration.
Here's the kicker; it all has to do with the internet's current configuration. Right now the internet runs on what is called Internet Protocol Addressing Scheme version 4 (IPv4). Within this particular set up - IPv4 only provides slightly more than four billion IP addresses because it is based on a 32-bit format. These addresses are usually represented with decimal points separating the address into four parts (i.e. 192.0.0.000).
IPv4 operates on two basic functions: addressing and fragmentation. The protocol uses the IP addresses to transmit internet datagrams to their destinations (also known as routing). Then these datagrams are fragmented and then reassembled once they reach the destination address. (More information on IPv4 operations can be found in the IETF Publication RFC 791).
Anything hosted on an IP network (computer, printer, smart phone, etc.) is assigned its own unique IP address. Thanks to advancements in technology, ownership of mobile phones, net books, Ipads, and other web enabled devices has exploded. These new devices are gobbling up IP addresses at an alarming rate.
I spoke with Senior QA Associate Apollo Catlin, at NSK Inc, and he mentioned that a smart phone itself "probably has three different IP addresses associated with it." Numerous reports have speculated that within the next two years, we will run out of IP addresses. According to Catlin, when IPv4 was first instated in the 1970's there wasn't any thought of running out of addresses as "they didn't ever think people would have a personal IP address." Back then, IPs were reserved for mainframe computers used by large organizations not individuals.
So What Can Be Done?
The most viable option is to transition from the current IPv4 configuration to IPv6. IPv6 operates on a 128-bit system meaning there are trillions of new IP addresses available under this protocol.
Unfortunately content providers are reluctant to transition to the IPv6 protocol. Catlin states that the transition would require a complete overhaul of the Internet infrastructure in that the "entire middle structure of the system needs to be replaced."
Although tedious, this transition needs to happen soon. Otherwise in a couple of years, internet access may only be available to current users as we may not have any new IP addresses to hand out. The internet is open to everyone; let's not start having to ration it out.
Search Privacy
On May 13th, Google announced that it will offer a web-encrypted search feature to increase privacy for end-users. We've asked our computer security expert, Ben Howard, to explain how Google is able to make search more secure with its new web-encrypted search option.
Ben says that Google allows the use of SSL (Secure Socket Layer) to connect a user's browser to their search engine. The new site, https://www.google.com(very important to add the "www." as https://google.com will simply redirect you to the non-SSL search engine), features SSL to help secure your search requests. SSL establishes an encrypted session with your browser by automatically exchanging keys that enable encryption. This "session" is, in effect, a virtual tunnel between your internet browser and the Google's website. By encrypting the session, or virtual tunnel, it becomes very difficult for someone other than you or Google to read the data transmitted between you and Google.
Ben explains that what this means is that only you and Google will know the contents and results of your searches. He says that this may sound benign, but the end result is your searches are now private.
Besides improved search security, Google's offering may have other implications. According to Ben, enabling SSL to encrypt search queries is certain to bear some consequences in the ongoing debate over free-speech between Google and China. The debate has the potential to spill over into the U.S. workforce as companies grapple with their own concerns of employee free-speech versus a company's right to enforce work and ethics policies.
Ben Howard is a Senior IT Associate at NSK Inc. with MCSE, Security+, CCNA Security, and NSA 4011 certifications.
NSK Inc Receives Woman-Owned Business Certification
Massachusetts State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance recognizes Nancy Keddy as a woman business owner, opens doors for opportunities
Boston, MA, March 26, 2010 - NSK Inc, a leading IT Consulting Firm has just received the Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) certification from the State office of Minority and Women Business Assistance (SOMWBA). As a result, NSK Inc will be listed in both the SOMWBA Directory and in the Massachusetts Central Register. As a member, NSK Inc is now eligible to better compete for government contracts as well as garner better connections through the services available as a WBE certified business.
Nancy Keddy, a veteran of the Information Technology industry, is now recognized by the Massachusetts Government for her achievements as a female CEO. Keddy, founded NSK Inc in 1996 and the company has grown into a leading IT consulting firm for small to medium businesses in the Greater Boston Area. "Since I am a woman-owned IT Service company, I am a minority in this industry," states Keddy. "Having the WBE certification opens up a window of opportunities that otherwise may not have been available to NSK Inc."
NSK Inc's broad range of services include:
- Backup Disaster Recovery
- Networking
- Project Management
- Hosting
- Managed Care
- Custom Application and Web Development
The SOMWBA provides resources and referral services for certified firms with opportunities at the federal, state, and municipal level as well as in the private sector. The agency also provides contracting, financial resources, and business membership and networking opportunities. NSK Inc can now take advantage of these benefits to build the company's network outside of the Greater Boston Area as the agency works throughout the state of Massachusetts.
About SOMWBA
The State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance is an agency within the Massachusetts Department of Economic Development which promotes the development of certified minority business enterprises (MBE), women owned (WBE) business enterprises, and minority non-profit (M/NPO) and women (W/NPO) non-profit organizations. It does this by facilitating their participation in Massachusetts business and economic development opportunities. Specifically, SOMWBA offers services in certification, enforcement, business assistance and advocacy. For more information, please visit: http://www.somwba.state.ma.us.
About NSK Inc
NSK Inc is a leader in information technology consulting, with a focus on IT management for SMB companies. Headquartered in Boston, MA with an additional office in Palo Alto, CA, the company offers a wide array of IT services for business driven information challenges. They provide service and support for small and medium-sized businesses and groups working within large organizations. NSK Inc also creates custom software products for investment banks, equity management organizations, and other specialized industry areas. For more information, please visit http://www.nskinc.com.
Press Contact
For more information, please contact:
Cathie Briggette
NSK Inc.
(p) +1 617 303-0480
(e) cathie@nskinc.com
(w) http://www.nskinc.com
The Benefits of Public Cloud Computing
Simplicity and efficiency are the overarching benefits of having a public cloud. Public clouds are offered as a service, usually over an Internet connection. An off-site third party provider hosts and manages the system. Users connect to the system via web applications or services. Public clouds usually charge a monthly usage fee per gigabyte and bandwidth transfer charges.
Cost: Having a cloud computing model in place, organizations can trim their IT budgets because they don't have to purchase physical hardware (which also saves on energy costs), as the servers are virtual - hosted at a third party. Organizations can customize their clouds with specific storage parameters, applications, and security options so that they only pay for what they need. Since the cloud is hosted by a third party, the organization doesn't need to spend money to have an employee monitor the system; it is taken care of by the host.
Time: In house servers take time to maintain. If hardware or software configurations need to be altered, or if a server crashes or needs to be restarted, the process can often take a couple of hours or a couple of days depending on the situation. With cloud computing, because everything is virtualized, reconfiguring the cloud takes minutes.[1]Also - because the servers are hosted on the cloud, if one server fails, another can instantly be activated, reducing down time.
Maintenance: Due to the fact that the public cloud system is hosted off site, internal employees are not responsible for maintaining the system. The design lets users update or introduce technologies into the system at a much faster rate as everything is managed at the host company. Having a virtualized public cloud means never having to deal with a physical server; it can be maintained from a simple configuration screen.[2]
Disadvantages of a Public Cloud
Lack of Control: Due to the fact that third party providers are in charge of storing and maintaining the data systems, many feel as if they don't have enough control over their personal data.
Speed: Public Clouds are based on internet connections, meaning the data transfer rate is limited to that of the Internet Service Provider (ISP), which is usually no more than 10mbps. If an organization is storing and transferring large amounts of data (high definition video for example), a public cloud may not be the best bet.
Lack of Investment: Although a great cost saving method by reducing the need to invest upfront, renting the service from an outside provider also means that there is little capital gained. Having items such as servers and network equipment can pay off in the long run as assets and tax advantages.
The Benefits of Private Cloud Computing
Private clouds are built from software that runs on a piece of hardware at the organization. The difference between a public cloud and a private cloud is that a private cloud is controlled by the organization. The benefits of this system are that although an investment due to the fact hardware is required, it costs considerably less than traditional data management systems. The cost savings is due to virtualization in which one physical server acts as host to several virtual servers, each of which runs on a layer of software.[3]
Control: Due to the fact that the hardware is on-site, organizations have more control over their data. The organization is in charge of monitoring and maintaining the data giving them complete oversight of their data.
Performance: The private cloud is deployed inside the firewall on an organization's intranet, meaning that transfer rates are dramatically increased. Read access off of private clouds can be as fast as 100mbps, or even more if the organization has a gigabit Ethernet connection. Storage capacity is also higher with a private cloud. Private clouds usually start with a few terabytes and can be increased by adding additional disks.[4]
Disadvantages of a Private Cloud
Cost: Private clouds are more expensive than public because they require both hardware and maintenance personnel. To build a private cloud, an organization needs to invest in hardware or use already existing systems whereas a public cloud is all handled off site. Private clouds also require system administrators. However, one system administrator could easily manage a 100-node cloud with a part-time effort. [5]
Maintenance: Since the private cloud is hosted on sight, the organization needs to provide adequate power, cooling, and general maintenance. The host organization also runs the risk of data loss due to physical damage of the unit (i.e. fire, power surge, water damage).
[1] "Seeding the Clouds: Key Infrastructure Elements for Cloud Computing." IBM. Feb.2009. IBM Corporation. 26 Feb. 2010. <http://www-935.ibm.com/services/in/cio/pdf/oiw03022usen.pdf>.
[2] Fogarty, Kevin. "Cloud Computing Definitions and Solutions." CIO 10 Sep. 2009.Wed. 27 Feb 2010. <http://www.cio.com/article/501814/Cloud_Computing_Definitions_and_Solutions>.
[3] Ibid
[4] "Cloud Computing Public or Private? How to Choose Cloud Storage." Sys-Con Media. Sys-Con Media, 2008. Web. 26 Feb 2010. <http://www.sys-con.com/node/707840>.
[5] Ibid
For Immediate Release
NSK INC RECOGNIZED FOR SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS
Boston based IT consulting firm gets rave reviews from Earthworm Inc. for their recycling and conservation efforts for 2009
Boston, MA, February 24, 2010 - NSK Inc, a leader in IT consulting for small to medium businesses, has been recognized by
Earthworm Inc. for their recycling efforts over the course of the 2009 calendar year. Based in Somerville, MA, Earthworm Inc. specializes in recycling office waste materials and implementing corporate recycling programs. NSK Inc and Earthworm began a partnership in 2009 to increase the sustainability of NSK Inc's Boston office.
Over the course of a year, NSK Inc completely revamped their recycling program and made numerous positive contributions to the environment. NSK Inc reduced their carbon footprint (the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an organization) by 1.79 metric tons. Almost two tons of carbon was saved from being released into the atmosphere through NSK's green initiative, helping to reduce their carbon footprint and reducing environmental impact.
In addition to lowering carbon emissions, NSK Inc also saved 180 pounds of bottles and cans, roughly 2400 pounds of paper (the equivalent of 20 trees), and recycled 390 pounds of electronics equipment. According to Tim Lasonde, the President of NSK Inc, "Being green fits within NSK's mission of helping companies use technology to grow their businesses so that they are more efficient and productive. If we can show success and savings within our own organization, we can also help others achieve similar goals."
NSK Inc's efforts towards an eco-friendly business don't stop with the Earthworm partnership. Nancy Keddy, Founder and CEO of NSK Inc, believes that the efforts are an ongoing event. "We must always be improving our processes and considering their impact on the environment." In addition to the Earthworm program, NSK is currently transitioning their billing system to be paperless. Keddy says, "We are forward thinkers, so recycling is a must."
About Earthworm Inc.
Earthworm seeks to conserve natural resources by promoting the recycling of office waste materials. We promote recycling by operating both small and large scale commercial recycling programs, and by serving as an educational resource to the public. This combination of hands-on experience and environmentalism enables Earthworm to be a pioneer in offering sustainable, workplace recycling programs. For more information, please visit www.earthwormrecycling.org.
About NSK Inc.
NSK Inc is a leader in information technology consulting, with a focus on IT management for SMB companies. Headquartered in Boston, MA with an additional office in Palo Alto, CA, the company offers a wide array of IT services for business driven information challenges. They provide service and support for small and medium-sized businesses and groups working within large organizations. NSK Inc also creates custom software products for investment banks, equity management organizations, and other specialized industry areas. For more information, please visit www.nskinc.com.
Press Contact
For more information about NSK Inc, please contact:
Cathie Briggette
NSK Inc.
(p) +1 617 303-0480
(e) cathie@nskinc.com
The Rise of Cloud Computing
The rise of cloud computing is shifting the center of gravity. It is changing the nature of competition within the computer industry. Technological developments have up until this moment pushed computing power away from central hubs: first from mainframes to minicomputers, and then to PCs and laptops. Now a combination of cheaper and more powerful processors, and ever faster and more ever present networks, is pushing power back to the center in some respects, and even further away in others. The cloud's data centers are, in effect, outsized public mainframes that users do not have to keep up, or update.[1]
Cloud Computing is making it cheaper and cheaper to use new technology and not spend a lot of money just to set it up.
Cloud computing is about offering infrastructure as a service instead of as an in house server or big desktop.
Cloud Computing is about using an application over the web. No longer having to install and update the software on your server, computer or laptop.
Cloud Computing is about no longer buying more and more space for your server, or computer, because all the data lives in the cloud instead of on your computer or server.
Cloud Computing is about not caring what operating system that YOU ARE running on your computer, as long as you have a browser, you can use it.
Okay WHAT is Cloud Computing?
First the term "Cloud" is a figure of speech for the internet. It was inspired by the cloud picture or symbol that is often used to represent the internet in diagrams.
[2]
Wikipedia explains cloud computing as an "internet based development and use of computer technology. Because the technology comes from the internet it was given the name 'Cloud'. In concept, it is a paradigm shift whereby details are abstracted from the users who no longer need knowledge of, expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure that supports them, because everything is done in the cloud (internet). It typically involves the provision of dynamically scaleable and often virtualized resources as a service over the Internet. "[3]
Characteristics
In general, cloud computing customers do not own the physical infrastructure; instead they are renting usage from a third-party provider. They avoid spending money on the hardware and software purchases. They use the resources as a service and pay only for resources that they use.
Web-based e-mail, Salesforce, E-Bay, Facebook and MySpace and online games are all examples of what are increasingly called cloud services, and are accessible through browsers, smart-phones or other devices.
Do I Need It?
Cloud computing offers significant benefits to any company, although it is an unbelievable dream come true for smaller and midsize companies. Now instead of making do with a small under-resourced IT staff trying to imitatate the productivity of a billion-dollar company, smaller and midsize companies can now access enterprise-class solutions with limited up-front costs and easy scalability. Today, the cloud makes leading-edge technology available to everyone, for pennies on the dollar, including consumers.
Compare a typical Exchange Server $3,000-$6,000 -- offering perhaps 500MB of email storage per user -- to Web-based email services that offer up to 7GB of storage. Free. (Google's corporate version offers 25GB per user for $50 a year.
Compare enterprise content-management systems with easier-to-use and more-flexible cloud-based publishing/sharing systems like Blogger, Flickr, and Facebook. They're free, too.
Where do I get it?
Look for providers who deliver adequate security and support -- and be willing to pay for it when appropriate. Do not under-estimate network bandwidth expenses. Being around for the long haul is important too, because there seems little doubt that over the long term cloud computing will supply more and more companies' technology needs.
[1] - The Economist - "Clash of the Clouds" [2] - Diagram showing overview of cloud computing, created by Sam Johnston [3] - Wikipedia Definition of Cloud Computing
Does it make sense to outsource your IT?
There’s no single right answer to this question. A great deal depends on the following:
1. Can your in-house team do the job well?
2. Can someone else do the job better?
3. If the answer to 2 is “yes,” will the difference be enough to cover the cost of their services less your internal management savings?
As your company matures, the level of complexity necessary to optimize for size and efficiency has grown beyond all but a handful of the very best in-house network administrators.
The right outsourcing relationship should involve:
• Trust that the company you chose has better personnel than you could find or hire
• Recognition that they have tactical expertise and experience beyond that of your internal team
• Oversight and collaboration with respect to goals and general strategies rather than tactical details
• Reducing the need for internal management. You shouldn’t need a full-time employee sitting in your office unless your systems are astronomically huge, or unless your systems are ineffectual.
• Flexibility, extra assistance when you need it, a broader level of IT skills and expertise and potentially lower costs.
"Which way should my company go?"
At some point during the growth of your business, you may start to wonder if a different system would work in your favor. Right now is a time during which you may especially feel the need to budget more carefully. There are different areas in which you can cut costs in your business, and you might be considering your IT department as an appropriate department in which to do so. Many firms are downsizing their IT staff and looking to outsource to save money. Before you decide on one definite solution, let’s outline the differences.
Outsourced IT
When you outsource, you hire
IT experts from an outside firm that typically tend to several different businesses. Depending on the
IT firm, your relationship with your
outsourced IT
people can be very personal or impersonal. It is important to many businesses that they keep a close relationship with their outsourced IT specialists. This may mean that a single person or even two people are assigned to service your company so that there is a consistent knowledge of your IT history and problems. This is something you should probably consider as most important when evaluating your options. This way, during each new visit you don’t have to recap every IT problem you have had and what the status was during your last IT visit with a different person. Also, you get the convenience of having one person who has a broad spectrum of knowledge about all areas of IT.
In-House IT
Many businesses have several IT professionals in-house. For example, one person may be used for
IT management, the other for systems engineering, and another for general support. The problem many businesses run into with this is each person might not be fully utilized for the amount they are paid in salary. You may actually use only a portion of each person’s skills, and only when something goes wrong. Also, some businesses that have a single IT person in-house may not get that broad spectrum of knowledge because it is hard to come by someone who is trained in all areas. On the other hand, you may be content with having IT people at the desk next to you as opposed to picking up the phone or logging into an online helpdesk.
Outsourced IT/In-House Combination
Some businesses prefer having both an IT professional staffed in-house and an outside IT team. This gives some businesses the comfort of having someone constantly on-site while having outside experts who are highly-skilled in many areas a phone call away.
Written by Melissa Cocks, NSK Inc.