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As websites become an imperative marketing platform for large and small businesses, it’s important to understand what elements to include in one. Years ago, a good side menu and tons of keywords could easily land you on the first page of search engines. Now Google takes hundreds of factors into account when choosing which websites to list highest in their search results.  Some of these factors include content, secured sites, mobile-friendliness/responsiveness and page speed. Among them, user experience (UX) is one of the most important ranking factors for SEO. 

With my job, I am blessed to be able to travel the country and tour some impressive facilities.  Facilities such as large central offices, carrier hotels and recently, an underground data center.  I had a preconceived notion of what to expect in an underground data center as I have toured several above ground.  I assumed we would enter a building above ground and an elevator would take us below.  After receiving driving directions to the facilities and being told “Once you enter the cave”, I had to ask for clarification.  After confirming that I would be driving into the cave, I still assumed we would park just inside the entrance and take an elevator down.  Was I ever wrong.

Calix, Inc. has announced the winners of its 2018 Calix Innovation Awards. The winners, who represent six broadband leaders from three different countries, were honored at the sold-out Calix ConneXions Innovation and User Conference in October, 2018. Now in its eighth year, the Calix Innovation Awards recognize Calix customers who demonstrate outstanding creativity when leveraging Calix technology to deploy best-in-class services over the past 12 months. The awards showcase innovation in the use of cloud and software platforms, systems and services to transform business models, networks and the subscriber experience.

For years our businesses and services have evolved, but why hasn’t our marketing? Every living creature has to evolve, so shouldn’t our advertising plans? We continuously tell reps to do the same thing we did last year without a flinch. If we understand that times have changed and consumers have altered the way they consume information, why do we keep hitting the repeat button?

I’ve come to a sobering conclusion. As an IT Professional focused on protecting the networks of my own employer, as well as our clients, I’ve seen endless demonstrations of how networks can be infiltrated and damaged. The truth is, there is no way to ensure your network is completely safe. No person, no software, no service, can guarantee that.

In Februrary 2018, Nex-Tech was featured in an article from NTCA, the rural broadband association, for acting as a trusted third party (TPP) that assists telecommunication companies with compliance in the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA).

My office is a time machine!  You may have heard me say this before, but some days it really does seem like I come in to work and the next thing I know, it is time to go home.  What did I do with 9 or more hours?  It is not like I was staring out the window or was caught up in some huge project that was in alignment with our company goals. I decided to spend time looking at what things I was doing and if they aligned with my HIBU (Highest and Best Use).  There were some startling findings.

My latest adventure in home automation was the addition of a couple of outdoor cameras.  I had been toying with adding cameras to my home for a while, and was leaning towards Ring’s floodlight camera, which would be an easy install. I would simply be replacing the floodlight in my front yard and a porch light in my backyard.  My hesitation in purchasing the Ring was my attraction to all the other great products Nest offers.  As of right now, my Chamberlain garage door, AcuRite Weather Station and Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller all “Work with Nest”.  After spending some quality time with a Home Automation Consultant, I was sold and walked out with two Nest outdoor cameras under my arm and a wish list of add-on products.