A billion tech-related terminologies are flying around in the cyber world. It can be hard to catch up with them, especially when you’re not a tech expert or enthusiast. But that’s not particularly true. Some terms represent the programs we use daily; a good example is the umbrella term, IoT.

This article will discuss IoT and how it works.

What is IoT?

The word IoT is the acronym for “The Internet of Things.” IoT describes the interactive connections between hardware and software. You could say it’s a network of technologies that make the science of virtual data exchange between devices possible. These hardware or devices are embedded with sensors and processing capabilities. So a microwave that can read and process data is a piece of hardware enabled by The Internet of Things.

If the above seems vague still, think of this. You have two microwaves, microwaves 1 and 2. M1 has sensors and processors installed in it, and M2 has none, just a metal box that heats up every time you power it.

You’ll need to monitor and control M2 to keep it from burning your food. On the other hand, M1 is calculative and goes off when it needs to.

How is microwave 1 different from microwave 2?

Microwave 1 is alive and in control as it can process data input, sense heat conditions, and send calculated analysis to your phone. The technology that makes it possible for microwave 2 to execute inputs and communicate results is the fundamental basis of IoT.

Today, your devices can collect and exchange data and perform tasks with the available data. It’s how you can trust Alexa to turn off your lamp, mobile data connection, and mp3 player when you ask for it.

How Does IoT Work?

The core process of IoT is data exchange, but it takes more than that to function. The following components play a crucial role.

Smart Devices

Smart devices range from TVs to cars, phones, cameras, and more. Some of these gadgets have automated data collection capabilities, so they can collect data from the environment without relying on users’ input.

IoT Software

The IoT software comprises programs enabled by Artificial Intelligence and machine learning technology. The software serves as a processing unit for data collected by smart devices. It recognizes and analyzes patterns and then communicates informed decisions as commands to the devices.

As you might have guessed, the software is embedded in your devices and powered by the internet.

User Interface

The user interface is a graphical dashboard with tools, features, and functions for managerial purposes. In other words, it’s an interactive input system for the users. The most common examples of user interfaces are mobile applications and websites.

Do you want more information on how internet stuff works? Visit AiNET to get the best consultations and network services at incredible prices.

People naturally opt for the best network connections, but sometimes even the best isn’t suitable. Of course, choosing what’s convenient should be easy. Well, in this case, it’s not.
Internet connections come in numerous forms, and each method is specifically made for different conditions.

To get the most out of an internet connection, you’ll need to consider how your current conditions affect your network. Below is a listicle on different Internet connection types and how well they fit into various situations.

1. Fiber Optics

Fiber optics is one of the world’s most renowned Internet connections. Its design and mechanism make it weather resistant and incredibly fast. The fiber optic cables are compositions of glass fiber that enable the transmission of light signals along its core.

As expected, fiber optic cables are not as bendable as copper cables but are much more durable. They’re perfect for extreme weather conditions, and they remain functional in snowstorms when protected from water leaks. However, fiber optics connections require high proximity to the service provider.

2. Satellite Internet

Can you get an connection from satellites? Yes, you can, and this is how it works.

Internet service providers send connection signals to a satellite installed in space, and in turn, the satellite redistributes the signals back to earth. However, you’d need to install a satellite dish to receive signals to your router.

Satellite Internet is great for low-intensity usage. In other words, you can use it for your household connections, such as movie streaming and social media. But you can’t rely on it for data mining activities, live streaming, and gaming.

Satellite Internet has evolved exponentially. It’s great for remote areas but also vulnerable to heavy downpours.

3. Wireless Internet

The wireless network is the most popular connection service today. Better known as WIFI, the wireless network shares some similarities with satellite Internet, except nothing goes to space.

Wireless Internet service providers are responsible for most of the work needed to make the connection work. They install network towers in strategic points to transmit radio frequencies, and the end users then receive the signals via a router. With your router, you can exchange data over the Internet at high speed.

Wireless connections are weather resistant. The only damage wireless connections would suffer are direct hits to the network towers. However, wireless connection speed might fluctuate when overloaded.

If you’re looking for a service provider you can trust to deliver flawless connection, you just found them. AiNET has it covered from fiber optics to cloud storage. Check out our offers today.

What is Web 3.0 and how does it affect you? The Web 3 saga, as many would call it, is irresistible. Well, it’s only that way when you understand the ideals it upholds. But to do that, you’ll need to acknowledge its cousins, Web 1 and Web 2.

Web 1

Web 1, the first of its kind, graced our world in 1990. Its creator Tim Berners-Lee was looking to help decentralize the spread of information in the world, and the result of his work is what we call the Web 1 protocol.

Web 1 was a composition of static websites that could only be read and had little to no interactive features. The readable contents on these websites were rare gems. In other words, only big tech companies could create them, and they rarely did.

Web 2

Sometime in 2004, the need to not only read but also interact in forms of creating content became a reality as social media platforms sprouted. Users began to produce almost as much content as they consumed, but one thing remained the same—the big tech companies still controlled the monetary value of the internet.

Web 2 brought about the age of ads-based revenue. In other words, web users became responsible for the content they consumed while big tech companies controlled access and monetary value of the content.

Web 3.0

Web 3.0 isn’t as clear-cut as Web 1 & 2, however, its proposal is. It allows web users to read, create, and own their content, along with all its benefits.

The concept of Web 3.0 is rooted in the mechanism of cryptocurrency, more appropriately, non-fungible tokens. That is, you are in control of your content monetization.

Many critics question if the ideals of Web 3.0 are attainable, and while no one is yet to put out a concrete answer to that question, its foundations seem quite progressive. Right now, all we can do is explore the Web 3.0 ideals. Here are some of the core ideals of web 3.0.

1. Decentralized Ownership

One of the many end goals of Web 3 is to decentralize ownership of the web. At the moment, highly centralized companies control the internet. However, Web 3 will look to distribute ownership by making users with digital assets shareholders instead.

2. Decentralized Identity

What would it be like to have one online identity across every platform without risking censorship? It pushes for anonymous online identities that separate your online presence and resources from your original identity.

What do you think of Web 3.0 ideals? Do well to check out what AiNET can do to help you harness the current World Wide Web.

You developed an IT infrastructure tailored to your business needs, and it runs efficiently — smooth as silk. But if you think it would sustain without solid IT infrastructure management planning, you’re wrong! It’s odds-on to collapse real soon.

An IT infrastructure management plan is a no-brainer for ensuring your IT system works on par. It saves you valuable time and cost by subsiding any potential IT disasters, so you can make better IT decisions while productivity keeps its flow.

But how to articulate a no-fail plan that upholds your IT infrastructure intact? This article tells it all!

In this article, you’ll find what IT infrastructure management is and the three best practices to formulate an IT infrastructure management plan that you can act upon immediately. Let’s hop in!

What is IT Infrastructure Management?

IT infrastructure management refers to managing and optimizing the data, security, application, network, and storage. It deals with the network of technical and operational components, including your system’s hardware, software, facilities, data, policies, processes, and equipment.

For efficient IT infrastructure surveillance, you need an IT expert team to foresee and manage the framework. Without this regular planning, management, and optimization, your organization is calling for a catastrophe.

IT Infrastructure Management Best Practices

1.   Clear Goals and Targets

When a company establishes an IT infrastructure, it customizes it according to the business’s core objectives. It is, therefore, critical to setting long-term goals and objectives so your IT strategies are based on the right goals. These goals then must be clearly defined for your team to know its job well. This way, you can lead to a better and more efficient IT infrastructure that accommodates your business needs.

Take the case of a company that currently provides cloud services for pictures and videos, but it is planning to offer cloud services for doc and pdf files in the next two years. Let the IT infrastructure team know about this plan to make necessary arrangements for easier scalability.

2.   Regular Data Observation

Before planning your IT infrastructure management, you need to know its current performance. Monitor your operational and management standards regularly to ensure they remain functional for your company. The collected data can help you and your company to:

• Manage the system efficiently with reasonable accuracy.
• Make informed decisions for your company.
• Know about the possibility of any future problems and prepare for them.
• Check and observe data patterns and decide if it needs a strategy change.
• Pinpoint any errors that can negatively affect the results.

3.   Documentation for Better Communication

Documentation is one of the vital steps for IT services’ proper and uninterrupted functioning. Still, most companies overlook this critical part of their IT functions and infrastructure management.

Proper documentation can come in handy if the lead expert is not present; anyone from the team can quickly skim through the documentation and find out about the standard IT infrastructure roles and responsibilities and get things sorted.

Conclusion — Get the Best IT Solutions at AiNET

Managing the complex IT infrastructure might seem like a daunting task — AiNET understands that. AiNET is a dedicated all-in-one IT solutions provider helping you shift or expand your IT infrastructure for the online world. From cloud services to network services to data centers, we can meet all your IT needs!

Platform as a service (PaaS) has garnered significant attention over the last decade. It’s one of the most used features of cloud technology, and here’s why.

Also known as cloud platform services, PaaS is an integral component of cloud services. It aids the development of computer applications.

Naturally, programmers are primarily concerned with coding, but app development dynamics go beyond just coding. There’s the need to acquire and maintain hosting components like

• Memory storage
• Databases
• Operating systems
• Network servers

and so much more.

However, programmers wouldn’t have to focus on anything else but just coding with Platform as a service.

PaaS users get easy access to the tools needed in creating and hosting an application. And this isn’t just about the design tools only; it covers everything else, including storage, servers, databases, and on goes the list.

You can think of PaaS as a cloud-based data center. While PaaS providers own physical infrastructures for the storage and maintenance of cloud tech, developers only need a web browser to make the most out of them.

As great as PaaS computing offerings seem, a few challenges are associated with PaaS.

The top challenge in using PaaS is finding a cloud tech pundit with an in-depth understanding of how cloud computing services work.

There’s a constant upgrade in cloud technology. Each innovation comes with a new approach that closes the gap between PaaS and other cloud computing services. So if you’re looking to get standard quality applications, you’d need a cloud computing services expert, not just a PaaS user.

Here is a list of other Platform as a service -related challenges.

Limited Security

PaaS providers ensure the security of their cloud computing components (hardware and software). However, they do not protect the apps created on their platforms. In other words, app developers are responsible for the security of their apps.

Providers Dependency

Sometimes, a developer’s creativity extends beyond their provider’s offerings. They might need to integrate other platforms with their provider’s to achieve the right design. However, due to its compatibility problems, Platform as a service users are forced to depend on the provisions of their providers.

Lock-In Risks

A few cases of PaaS users getting locked in a language, program, and interface they didn’t need have been reported over the years.

And while it’s true that PaaS comes with its issues, there’s no doubt that various businesses and organizations have benefited greatly from the computing service.

It’s good to note that some of these issues are associated with certain providers only, and the right Platform as a service provider would make all the difference you need.

When it comes to offering top-quality cloud computing services, we at AiNET keep pushing past the usual standard.

Contact us for more information on cloud technology.

With no exception, the internet is a way of living now. Either it’s personal or professional life. It made communication easy and boundless with massive data sharing through all kinds of resources.
In small or big companies, file sharing is the real agenda that is discussed all the time. It comes with ease and difficulties at the same time. Many organizations prefer to have their own file sharing system just to save themselves from any data loss hurdles. Organizations must maintain an organized and secure structure.

Make File Sharing System Effective with Useful Tips

File sharing with secured methods is crucial for businesses and if you want to make sure that your file sharing is successfully integrated into your organization then keep in check and make wise steps to make it secure with useful steps. 

1-  Find Secure Method

Classifying the method of file and document sharing also ensures the privacy of confidential data. There are various ways of sharing files in the workplace. Top options are:

• File-Transfer-Protocol (FTP) was one of the initial ways to share files and continues to be a reliable method requiring a command prompt window.
• Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing makes use of individuals connecting to a network and readily accessing each other’s shared files.
• Cloud file sharing allows the uploading of files to one central location, and users can access them anywhere from any device.
• Sharing files via email involves attaching documents, but most providers limit the attachment size.
• External storage such as USB thumb drives and external hard drives allows sharing files if you lack access to the Internet.

2- Make Folder Structure

Sort your files with logic and relevance according to your business. Things might get out of hand if you fail to follow a structure while creating and sharing folders and files in an organization.

3- Organize Data

Always give a review and organize your files accordingly This allows easy and fast access to your files for both new and old employees in the organization.

4- Work On Collaboration Ideas

The collaborative approach always works in file sharing as well. Depending upon the sharing system it lets you collaborate with each other within the organization.

5- Make Data Accessible 

There are data priorities, and not all data is shared with every employee. Make data accessible with cloud services that save you from unwanted mistakes and errors as it gives clear sharing options.

Keeping your systems running requires a lot more than just expert care. You need a combination of AiNET’s data centers, fiber optic networks, and cloud storage to run and grow your business

Planning and implementing an efficient Information Technology infrastructure is critical for optimal growth, increased productivity, and better performance. In this digital age, you cannot afford to consider the IT infrastructure just as a support system. You need to integrate it into your organizational structure to stay competitive and optimize the workflow. This step-by-step will help you set up an IT infrastructure that is efficient, cost-effective, and fits your bill.

Start with your business goals

Before focussing on the technology, consider your business goals. What do you want to achieve, and what will be the role of your IT infrastructure in the process of achieving the goal? This step is critical to strategically plan your IT needs. Once you know what you are trying to achieve, it will be easier for you to figure out what IT solutions you need to support those goals.     

Determine the requirements

The next step is to determine what are the things you need to implement an efficient IT infrastructure. Consider both hardware and software requirements. The network is also an important part of the IT infrastructure. You may have two types of requirements, primary and secondary. Primary requirements are those infrastructural supports that are necessary to run your business smoothly and cannot be compromised. There may be other requirements that are good to have but can wait.  

Assess current inventory and analyze the gaps

If you are already in business, you must have some kind of hardware, software, and apps in place. Assess how they are performing. Are they adequate to meet the basic requirements, or do they need improvement? At this stage, you may want to gather insights from your employees involved in your daily business operations. They can point out some gaps that you may have missed.  

Estimate the budget and do the cost analysis

Once you figure out your requirements and gaps in the existing system, move on to estimate the budget. How much do you need to pay for the infrastructure you aspire to build? There are two parts, one is an immediate investment, and the other is a recurring cost. Consider both and determine whether it is cost-effective for your business. How much value will it add to your business? What are the benefits? Is it worth the money? Can you afford it? Ask these questions and tweak your plan accordingly. 

Work with an experienced service provider

Choosing the right service-providing partner is one of the most crucial parts of the entire process. Once you know your requirements and budget, the next step is to work with an experienced service provider who can support you to implement the plan. Do your research and choose a service provider that has the required infrastructure, expertise, and experience. 

You may choose multiple service providers to get different services like network connection, cloud infrastructure, and data center facility. However, this may complicate the process and require a lot of coordination on your part. Alternatively, you may work with a single service provider who offers extensive support covering all the needs.

Talk to different service-providing companies, get quotes, and compare the benefits. An experienced service provider will also guide you on how to adjust your plan according to your need your budget.  

Service providers like AiNET approach the client’s IT ecosystem holistically. As they offer the full suite of IT services including, data center, cloud, and network, they can craft the solution exactly how you want it.     

Enterprises usually work on different tools, each having more importance than the other. One of those tools is 3-layer connectivity network. For anyone who does not know, their layers refer to the different parts of an IT network communication and it explains how you arrange that network. To start with, we have to explain what OSI is, or as many other people know as Open System Interconnection.

There are 7 layers that make up OSI. It is a networking model where information is passed down through each of these seven layers.

The difference between Layer 2 and layer 3.

Layer 2 is the layer where different information is encoding and later decoding into bits. Layer 2 forwards data to all devices when transmitted through only one which can later create problems such as network efficiency decrease if the network gets too large. The different functions of Layer 2 are said to be:

• Physical addressing
• Getting the information ready
• Issue solving

Whereas Layer 3 provides logical paths (virtual circuits) from node to node where information is transmitted. Layer 3, which is a special networking device has many different functions such as:

• Handling errors
• Can act as a switch
• Has the functionality of a router
• Routing and forwarding data
• Internetworking

3-layer network is different than 2-layer network, although they are counted as very similar not only in their appearance but also their function mode. 3-layer networks, since made for intranets, provide better network routing performance for local networks.

Layer 2 has lower costs given that it needs no routing gear and only requires switching. However, it also has many different disadvantages such as it includes no router hardware.

As we mentioned above, layer 2 can face some problems if the network gets too large creating congestions. On the other hand, layer 3 restricts such traffics and only broadcasts to local networks. 

What are some of the benefits that a 3-layer switch provides?

• Decreases latency
• Simplifies problem solving (troubleshooting)
• Decreases broadcast traffic volumes
• Faster internet
• Provides high performance device
• High speed scalability

However, layer 3 also has some disadvantages such as its cost, application limitation since it is only applicable for large intranet environments and not for small businesses or houses. Liked reading about 3-Layer Connectivity? To learn more about layer 2 and layer 3, AiNET has got you covered!

The introduction and the ever-growing popularity of cloud technology have changed the IT landscape globally. More and more companies are now moving their IT infrastructure to the cloud to make the most out of it. However, it is often not possible for businesses to migrate the entire infrastructure to the cloud for various reasons. In such a scenario, they may choose to adopt a hybrid IT strategy.

The approach of hybrid IT infrastructure is to divide the IT infrastructure between cloud and physical server. While for some, it is a blend of cloud server and on-site infrastructure, it is a hybrid of colocation and cloud for others.

Why do enterprises adopt a hybrid IT solution strategy?

Cloud is agile, scalable, and reliable, but some enterprises are hesitant about moving their IT set up to the cloud. Many causes make businesses skeptical about cloud technology. Some of them are hardcore practical reasons while the others are not so rational.

The main reasons that restrict enterprises from migrating to the cloud are the issues like security, compliance, dependency on legacy software, and cost. While a company deals with sensitive data like their client’s financial information, it may be too risky for them to operate entirely on the cloud. They may even face compliance issues if they move the sensitive data to the cloud. Regulations of different states and countries require businesses to keep confidential data on-premises.
Many enterprises depend on legacy apps and software for their critical business operations. They can’t get rid of these apps momentarily to migrate to the cloud.

Cost is another factor that makes it difficult for companies to migrate to the cloud at one go. The initial cost of adopting a cloud model can be burdensome for many.

Apart from these, some enterprises do not want to migrate simply because they are not confident enough. They want to test the water before deciding. Besides, people, including business owners, still believe in some myths about cloud technology. That makes them doubtful about the reliability of cloud infrastructure. They often migrate a part of their infrastructure to the cloud to see how it goes.

How to manage hybrid IT infrastructure?

The hybrid IT model has many advantages as it allows you to benefit from the bests of each infrastructure. However, one of the main challenges is its management. Managing the hybrid infrastructure is particularly more difficult for small and medium-sized businesses. Depending on the plan offered by the cloud service provider, the companies often need to assume the responsibility of managing the security, backups, and configuration. In addition to this, they also need to manage their on-site data center.

Colocation can help them to lessen the burden. However, businesses still may need to hire a professional who is well-conversant in the hybrid IT model. Before adopting a hybrid approach, they need to have an effective plan for how to go about it. The process can be complex and technologically challenging. Maintaining the coordination between the two IT infrastructures is another challenge that businesses need to consider before making a decision.

Solution providers who offer both colocation service and cloud infrastructure can be the perfect solution to handle all these challenges. Service providers like AiNET, provide an end-to-end solution to the businesses that want to benefit from the hybrid IT model. They provide guidance on how to adopt hybrid IT infrastructure based on the client’s particular requirements. The coordination between the two infrastructures also becomes more efficient while the same solution provider manages them. It helps in reducing complexities by eliminating the scope of miscommunications. While they take care of your entire hybrid IT infrastructure, you can focus on your core business in peace.

Contact us at AiNET to know more about hybrid infrastructure and its benefits. Let us help you grow your business with our world-class services.

Do you doubt if anyone could hack into your network? It’s the 21st century, and technically that means nothing is impossible. So if you think your network connection has been compromised, it’s probably true. But how can you tell for sure? Can you spot a hacked network connection?

Hackers love to keep their operations stealthy for as long as possible, so it’s unlikely that a compromised network would seem obvious.

When in doubt about your network connection security, sometimes you have to trust your instincts and run a security check, or you could watch out for these signs.

#1- Decreased speed on your Wi-Fi network.

People opt for personal Wi-Fi networks to retain maximum connection speed and total security. A sudden and unexplainable decrease in one’s Wi-Fi connection speed usually is the first sign of a compromised network.

Of course, slow network connections could result from other factors like harsh weather conditions. However, a continuous decrease in your connection speed could be due to a hack in your network.

Before you panic, you should check the list of devices connected to your router. Usually, people connect multiple devices to their Wi-Fi, and hackers like to take advantage of this.

Most hackers use familiar brand names to conceal illegitimate connections to your Wi-Fi. So do well to scrutinize your list of connected devices to confirm the legitimacy of every connected device on your network.

#2- Unknown access request.

Certain computer programs will ask for an administrator’s permission before executing a task, and that’s normal. The anomaly happens when such requests keep coming from an unknown or uninstalled program.

Such requests are often indicators of a hacked network. Here’s why.

When a hacker gains access to your bandwidth, he’d likely plant malware in your computer and try to get you to install it.

These installation requests are sometimes camouflaged as unknown program permission requests and website redirects.

What can you do to push hackers out of your network?

If you’ve confirmed a hack in your network, you can take these steps:

1. Reset and reconfigure your router.

All wireless routers come with a reset button. A push on that button would restore its default settings and scramble every access to the network, and then you can reconfigure your router to suit your security needs.

2. Cancel all remote administration features.

Remote administration on Wi-Fi routers is useful for certain scenarios, but it’s also an open window for potential hacks. Deactivating this feature will invalidate and logout all active remote administration control.

Would you like more information about network security and spotting a hacked network connection? Reach out to our team at AiNET, and we’ll get you started on everything you need to know.