2902 South Miami Boulevard
Durham, NC 27703
 Phone: (919) 980-4295

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Data center systems can be an efficient, cost-effective way of managing your company’s data. But that’s only true if your data center is running as smoothly as possible. What are datadata center requirements for running smoothly? It’s all about uptime. Uptime, as you probably well know, is how reliably you have access to your data via the internet. Naturally, what we all want is 100 percent uptime, and while 100 percent of anything is never guaranteed, today’s data centers can come really close.

In fact, uptime is so important that even 99.9 percent uptime may not be good enough. You want 99.99 percent uptime or as close to it as you can possibly get. The way to get close to that magic number is by knowing the essential factors to keeping a data center running smoothly and managing those factors to the best of your ability.

Here, then, is a look at some of the critical elements of a data center and four tips to help make sure that data center is running as smoothly as it can.

Tip 1: Protect Your Data Center From Fire at All Costs

 

Fire can quickly spell the end of your data center and all your hard-earned data. The most dangerous thing about fire is how quickly it can spread once it gets started and how hard it can be to put out. Your data center must be constructed of as many fireproof materials as the design will allow and should be equipped with fire suppression technology that can handle the kind of fires likely to occur in a data center (i.e. electrical fires).

It can also be a good idea to set up containment measures, such as fire doors that drop down to contain a fire in one area and prevent it from spreading to other areas of the facility, or a data center design that discourages the spread of fire.

Tip 2: Maintain the Correct Temperature

 

This is an easy one. It’s computer 101 that you need to keep computers and other electronic equipment cool. Things that run on electricity, especially at the levels computers and similar electronics use, run super-hot, which is why they have fans built in and every computer room you ever use must be temperature-controlled. Data centers follow the same rules.

Servers are constantly moving incredibly fast and using a lot of energy, generating huge levels of heat. Not making sure your servers are at the proper temperature is practically begging for a shutdown.

Tip 3: Adequate Power Supply

 

When the power goes out, everything stops. That’s not something you can afford to have happen to your data center. A citywide blackout for an hour could devastate your business, depending on how dependent you are upon server data. If you have a data center, you must have multiple backup generators to provide energy in case of a power failure. And you’d better be sure to pay that electric bill!

Tip 4: Keep Your Data Center Safe

 

A good data center is loaded with security. After all, not only are you talking about thousands of dollars’ worth of expensive electronic equipment inside, but the data in those machines could be worth millions. That’s why no security measures are too extreme, and you should at least have well-positioned, HD video surveillance cameras in your data center. Motion sensors, break-in alarms and security guards couldn’t hurt either.

Don’t Stress Over Your Data — Contact Intellicom, Inc. USA for Safe, Reliable Data Centers Today

Given how much there is to consider and how much upkeep is required, it may not be cost-effective for you to build and maintain your own data center on your own. It is often a good idea to do what many other North Carolina businesses with data to protect do and call Intellicom, Inc. USA for data center services.

Our BICSI-certified RCDDs will work with your data management team to build your perfect data center. We will help you put together the right design and install your data solution. No matter what reasonably sized data center you need, we can help you put together a system to maximize uptime, and you’ll have the benefit of our data center service that comes with 24/7 assistance. Our service includes migration support as well as operations and floor support for your peace of mind. To get started, contact Intellicom, Inc. USA now.

 

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Providing and enabling access control systems is an important security measure for your business. Not only does it protect your employees from unwarranted outsiders coming into their workspace, but it also protects the products, technology and inventory crucial to your daily operations.

Requirements for Access Control Systems

You may be wondering if your place of business truly needs an access control system. Believe it or not, both big and small companies find uses for these security systems. The decision to implement one comes down to the scope of your building, the accessibility of the goods and products inside and the protection needed to keep your business functional.

Here are three questions you should ask yourself.

 

1. Do I Need a Time-Stamped Record of Every Attempt Made When Opening a Locked Door?

This refers to an audit trail, a computerized log of every entrance — or attempted entry — through a closed door with a permission-granted key. You may choose to install an access control system to keep track of attendance, where every entry will be logged with the employee's name and a timestamp. Or maybe your area has seen a wave of burglaries, and you want to make sure no one is targeting your business.

2. Do Your Employees Need Specific Entrance Clearances on Particular Days or at Particular Times?

 

This question is crucial if you have a large staff or regularly scheduled maintenance workers coming into your building. All your employees can have secured entry between regular hours of operation. Maintenance crews can receive clearance on specified weekends of maintenance or during a specific time frame. This also allows you to keep the doors electronically and securely locked without access on weekends and important holidays.

3. Will My Building's Security Be Threatened or Breached With the Loss of a Key?

Some companies are just fine with one person opening and locking the front door at the beginning and end of every workday. But if that key is lost or stolen, is there a chance someone could break in? These are all critical scenarios to consider when upgrading to an electronic access control system.

 

Types of Access Control Systems

Overall, there are three classifications for electronic security entry: codes, credentials and biometrics are all ways to identify yourself and enter a controlled area. Biometrics are very advanced technology — whether using fingerprints, nerve scans or facial recognition — and therefore aren't too familiar outside of high-end security or governmental buildings.

For most commercial businesses, codes and credentials are the systems to use. Codes are entered into a keypad entry, while credentials are cards that are inserted, swiped or sensed within proximity to a card reader. Both of these entries can be beneficial to employees while also having disadvantages.

Keypads vs. Card Readers for Access Control

Keypads for access control are the simplest, least expensive forms of secure entry. Just like an ATM works, each employee is given a specific PIN to enter digit-by-digit to gain access. Keypads tend to be a go-to choice for businesses who need to keep an accurate record of time-punches for each employee.

However, the immediate downside for keypads is that PINs are susceptible to being shared or stolen if someone is watching another person enter their code. This means multiple people could be entering the building by using the same PIN combination.

Card readers tend to be more popular and reliable. With card readers for access control, you can easily scan your way through a doorway. The time it takes to generate an acknowledgment from the card reader to the access control system hardware is generally less than one second.

Unfortunately, cards can just as easily be stolen or shared between multiple people. Also, there is the risk of the magnetic strip or barcode wearing away, leaving the cardholder inaccessible until a replacement is sent.

However, there is a way to increase security by enforcing a two-factor authentification, which would require an employee or maintenance worker to use a card reader and then correctly enter a code into a keypad for entry.

Electronic Access Control at Intellicom

If you're looking into adding an access control system for your business, Intellicom is here to help. Whether you're securing an office building, tech office or school, we provide the protective solutions you need. Request a free design or quote from us today to begin your access control system installation process.

 

 

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Security systems for businesses are an absolute necessity. There is no way to ensure your customers' or employees' safety without having a surveillance monitoring system hooked up and running. But it's not just about having video installed to see what's going on in the most security-protected areas of your business building or office — it's about accessibility, cost-efficiency and maintenance.

This is why, in recent years, many businesses have made the switch from traditional video surveillance systems to those that run on the cloud. Cloud video recording and monitoring has advanced the technology used to install and maintain video recording and monitoring while also heightening security and quickening installation. More than 90 percent of businesses have made the switch to cloud-based video surveillance, and the number continues to rise as people better understand the internet and technology advances.

The Essentials for a Cloud Video Surveillance System

Five characteristics specify a video monitoring system to be cloud-based as opposed to a traditional system. These five specifications include:

 

  1. On-Demand Self Service: There is no longer a need to supply an external IT team as any errors or glitches can be fixed on-site and internally.
  2. Broad Network Access: With access to the cloud, anyone can check the recording and functionality of a system through a phone, tablet, workstation computer or laptop.
  3. Resource Pooling: Physical and virtual resources are available for mass amounts of consumers, such as storage, memory, processing and network bandwidth.
  4. Rapid Elasticity: As demands of the system increase or change, the internal processing capabilities can flex and change to meet them.
  5. Measured Service: Usage of the system is controlled and optimized through a cloud system that is dependent upon each type of service.

Benefits of Cloud-Based Technology

Knowing the deemed qualifications for a cloud video recording and monitoring system, it becomes easier to see the benefits and advantages of using cloud technology as a security system for businesses.

 

1. Less Equipment

With a traditional video surveillance system, a lot of equipment and technology is involved. You need routers, monitors, cables, cameras and multiple installation packages. For a cloud video surveillance, you need a few cameras and an internet hook-up — everything else runs from the cloud.

2. Easy Installation

Because of the lesser amount of equipment, cloud technology has the capability for easy and smooth installation. Cloud video recording systems come with an on-site bridge application, a physical piece that you choose where your business is positioned. The internal system will autoconfigure all cameras and make the installation simplified. Traditional systems require software to install, routers and storage systems to configure and set up, cameras to position and a final application software to install. At the touch of a button, your cloud video surveillance is up and running, ready to operate.

3. Simple Maintenance

Because of the cloud's accessibility, there is no need to search for new software or program updates. The cloud will automatically apply any changes or upgrades that need to be performed. Should anything go wrong with your system, you report the issue and the internal network will complete a diagnostics check to understand where the problem stems from, allowing for easy fixability.

4. Safe and Secure Footage

Traditional video surveillance systems often have trouble with malware and viruses. In extreme cases, theft or burglary would occur, and cameras or monitors would be damaged, as well. With cloud video recording, there are no dangerous risks for malware. Because it is hosted internally, no open ports or onsite firewalls are required. There are options to add additional cybersecurity appliances during installation, but the cloud host protects against most vulnerabilities.

5. Increased Accessibility

One of the best advantages of cloud video monitoring is the accessibility. You don't have to be in your business building or office to monitor the security or happenings of your space at all times. With cloud technology, you can be at home or on vacation and periodically check in to make sure your system is running smoothly while also watching a video feed of the current monitoring.

Cloud Technology From Intellicom

If you're ready to upgrade the security systems for your business, Intellicom has the technology available for you. Our cloud services and video surveillance can help increase the security and operations of your business. We are the only single-solution provider in the North Carolina area and are ready to assist you. Contact us today by phone or request a project design to begin your journey with cloud video recording and monitoring.

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A structured cabling system is a way of organizing your cabling and connected hardware by joining a series of standardized elements to create a comprehensive telecommunications infrastructure. You can then use this infrastructure for your telephone services, transmitting data through your computer network, or whatever other purposes you might need cabling for.

The benefit of setting up a structured cabling system is, in a word, better organization for your business’ network and telecommunications.

When you have structural cabling in your business, you can enjoy consistent, predictable performance, optimize system availability, streamline the use of your cabling, have backups in place if anything goes wrong, and enjoy a flexible system where it is easy to make changes without having to shut down your whole cabling array while the technician figures out how to adjust the setup without interfering with other company systems.

Structured Cabling vs. Conventional Cabling

The alternative to structured cabling is something called "point-to-point cabling," which you may also call "conventional cabling." The main distinction between the two comes from the way the Main Distribution Area is used for structured cabling. In structured cabling, the Main Distribution Area, or MDA, is where all of the cables in your structural cable network come together. This makes it easy to make any changes, additions or adjustments with just short patch cords.

In conventional, or point-to-point cabling, on the other hand, each piece of hardware is separately connected to a hardware port. This requires long cords that can get tangled up and may confuse technicians who are trying to make changes.

Who Needs Structured Cabling, and When and Where Do You Need Structured Cabling?

What businesses need structured cabling? If you have a computer network and/or telecommunications systems in your business, you need structured cabling, and you should employ structured cabling across your entire network of cables. Having some cabling systems be point-to-point and making others structured completely defeats the purpose of structured cabling, unless your point-to-point cabling is in an area completely segregated and compartmentalized from the rest of your organization.

Even if you have a small business with one phone line and two computers now, if you ever intend to expand or grow your business, you should invest in structured cabling. In fact, when you are small is the perfect time to start with structured cabling, as it will be easy to set up and just as easy to add new cables and hardware to the system as you grow.

The benefits of adding structured cabling to your business’ systems are practically countless relative to the cost. Some have already been mentioned. When your cables are all organized through a single location, there are fewer long cables to deal with and less unsightly cable disorganization. If you are in a growth phase and making a lot of changes to your computer network hardware or telecommunications, structured cabling can make your life dramatically easier.

One of the most important benefits to structured cabling, however, is in the way it can reduce human error and downtime. In a structured cabling system, if there is a disconnection or a wrong connection, it will affect the whole system and you will know immediately and be able to correct it right away.

In a point-to-point system, each piece of hardware is isolated from every other one, so if one is not connected or otherwise not working correctly, the problem may be hidden by other hardware or telecommunications devices and you may not notice until it becomes a huge problem. Once you do notice, it may require a lot of untangling and reorganizing of wires to get it right. A structured cabling system can help you sidestep all of those problems.

Contact Intellicom, Inc. USA for Quality Structured Cabling Services Today

Many businesses in the North Carolina area rely on their telecommunications and computer networks, which is why many of those companies rely on Intellicom, Inc. USA for their structured cabling and other telecommunications services. We have a full team of OEM-certified engineers and can quickly and easily determine the best way to set up your structured cabling, install the system, test it, implement it and audit it to make sure it is running exactly as it is supposed to.

For structured cabling or other related services, call Intellicom, Inc. USA now.

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