Internet Society’s Post

While it's not incorrect to advise for redundancy and diversity, i.e., against monocultures, what I've seen too often is negligence in change management. I have no problems with automatically updated data, as long as the input has its checks and balances in place[1], but I do have a problem with business-critical systems automatically deploying binary updates without any prior quality control[2]. That's means your change control, or patch control, is not actually in your control. Too expensive to manage your changes? How expensive is it, if your system goes kaboom and your business grinds to a halt? How expensive is it if it goes titsup on a Friday? Or in the middle of a holiday season? Workstations? Not all workstations are business-critical. Some may be. Still, critical or not, quality control for workstation updates is possible, and it doesn't need to get expensive. It's actually stuff that's more than a decade old. You should ask yourself, do all my workstations need to be actual workstations, or would, e.g., a Chromebook do?[3] -- [1] Still, too often they don't. Uncooked input flowing into a system is something you shouldn't see. "Why would the other end send us garbage?" Well, because we're human, for one. [2] You should never just trust your vendor has their QC a-ok. Unfortunately, quality control is the first one in the firing line when deadlines approach and stuff still is not ready to be released. You should think twice what you do and don't offload to a vendor: would you like a fox to guard your hen house? [3] Chromebook is just one example of a lightweight terminal. It may or may not suit your needs, but, as said, there are other ways around.

Tech Decentralization should be prioritized to avoid incidents like global outages because it reduces the risk of single points of failure. Centralized systems can be more vulnerable to widespread disruptions if a single component fails, experiences a cyberattack, or undergoes maintenance. Decentralized systems distribute resources and functions across multiple locations or nodes, enhancing resilience and reliability. This approach ensures that even if one part of the system goes down, the rest can continue to operate, minimizing downtime and service disruptions for users worldwide. Microsoft IT outage latest: Airports, businesses and banks including Sky News experiencing issues worldwide Planes have been grounded as several airports are hit by a global IT outage, with Windows PCs shutting down and broadcasters and businesses also taken offline. https://lnkd.in/e9wc4ZwK

Today's global tech outage was a reminder of how interconnected our world has become. From communication difficulties with our platforms at LPL to banks to airlines to broadcasters, the disruption sparked conversations about resilience and reliance on technology. Let's reflect on the importance of preparedness and adaptability in the digital age. https://lnkd.in/gGRgWS3U

AT&T Says Outage Wasn't Cyberattack Despite Widespread Conspiracy Theories Online Cellular towers are shown connected February 22, 2024 successful Redondo Beach, California.Photo: Eric Thayer/Getty Images (Getty Images) AT&T issued a connection Thursday nighttime to explicate that the telecom’s wide web outage earlier successful the day wasn’t caused by a cyberattack. Countless conspiracy theories emerged online Thursday greeting arsenic radical people wondered wherefore they’d mislaid service—theories that volition hopefully beryllium enactment to remainder arsenic AT&T investigates the nonstop origin of the work disruption. How to Prep for a Power Outage “Based connected our archetypal review, we judge that today’s outage was caused by the exertion and execution of an incorrect process utilized arsenic we were expanding our network, not a cyber attack,” AT&T said successful a connection published to its website. “We are continuing our appraisal of today’s outage to guarantee we support delivering the work that our customers deserve,” the connection concluded without going into much detail. Social media was swamped with chaotic ideas connected Thursday astir what whitethorn person been down the outage, including an onslaught by a geopolitical adversary of the U.S. like China oregon Russia. Alex Jones, America’s astir well-known nonrecreational conspiracy theorist, insisted during his amusement connected Thursday that determination was an 80% accidental it was China, and a smaller accidental it was the “globalists themselves,” who mightiness beryllium carrying retired a “false flag” attack. The Netflix movie Leave the World Behind, became a fashionable constituent of notation connected societal media sites similar X, fixed the information that it depicts an onslaught by an chartless entity that wipes retired each communications. Conspiracy theorists and regular societal media users alike shared images from the movie, disquieted that thing nefarious mightiness beryllium happening. The outage was initially thought to see galore much carriers than AT&T, but reports to Down Detector for different telephone providers were apt a effect of users simply being connected to AT&T’s web contempt paying different bearer for service. AT&T’s web appeared to beryllium fully restored by mid-afternoon Eastern time. https://ift.tt/D8eqGCp

Empower your enterprise with the intelligence, security, and speed it deserves. Elevate your connectivity experience and propel your business into the future with our Smart Internet Solution. Know more: https://bit.ly/47YOuvQ #TimeToDoBig #Business #Connectivity #ill #pri #internet #enterprise #corporate #primarykeytechnologies

At the heart of Internet navigation lies the Domain Name System (DNS), born from the need to translate IP addresses, which are essentially complex numerical sequences, into domain names that are easily memorable and typable by users. With ongoing technological development and the expansion of the digital user base, the role of DNS is magnified, becoming crucial for the digital economy and online security. The commitment to data protection and network resilience highlights the importance of investing in an infrastructure that not only supports the current vastness of the Internet but is also ready to meet future challenges, making DNS a pillar of connectivity and digital innovation. Estimated read time: 8 mins

🤔 Will the CrowdStrike outage lead to more tech protectionism? China remained largely unaffected by the global IT outage due to its strategic pivot away from Western IT systems, part of a broader trend of tech decoupling. This highlights the potential impact of the outage on the ongoing debate about dependency on foreign technologies, particularly in Europe and emerging markets in Africa and Asia. The incident may intensify discussions around the need for local alternatives and greater self-reliance in tech infrastructure to mitigate such vulnerabilities. #GlobalITOutage #Crowdstrike https://lnkd.in/evxbt9Dj

Debunking a common workplace myth: More bandwidth does not necessarily mean faster internet. Factors like latency and connection quality are equally crucial. Understanding these can improve your business operations and decision-making. So what factors do influence your internet speed? ▪️ Bandwidth - The maximum rate at which data can be downloaded from the internet to your computer, often thought of as the width of the "pipe" carrying the data. ▪️Latency - The time it takes for data to travel between its source and destination, often referred to as "ping." ▪️ Connection Type - Different types of internet connections (fiber, DSL, cable, satellite) have varying speeds and reliability. ▪️ Network Congestion - The number of users sharing the same network bandwidth can slow down the internet speed. ▪️ Server Speed - The speed and capacity of the server hosting the website or service you are accessing. ▪️ Hardware - The quality and specification of your modem, router, and the computer's own hardware can affect internet speed. ▪️ Software - The presence of viruses or malware and the number of applications running concurrently can impact speeds. ▪️ External Interference - Especially for wireless connections, interference from other wireless signals, walls, and floors can affect the speed. ▪️ Throttling - Some internet service providers may intentionally slow down your internet speed based on your usage or the type of data being transmitted. ▪️ Weather Conditions - For certain types of connections like satellites, severe weather conditions can interfere with signal transmission. #BusinessTech #InternetSpeed #NetworkSolutions

Microsoft Windows failure is grid failure—period. Regardless of who caused it. When global sourcing emerged in the 1990s, we concentrated on two primary objectives: accessing cost-effective talent and ensuring business continuity. Vendors were required to invest in redundancy and recovery, building robust infrastructures capable of handling everything from frequent power outages in developing countries to rogue elements hacking systems and disrupting operations. Recently, however, businesses have been neglecting these critical areas, slashing costs to satisfy Wall Street's quarterly expectations. This trend jeopardizes not only individual enterprises but also local and global economies. The principles of backup, redundancy, and recovery are being overlooked and underfunded. Consider the implications of the current misstep by CrowdStrike, whose mission is to protect businesses. If a rogue actor exploited these vulnerabilities, and with minimal redundancy and recovery measures in place, even divine intervention wouldn't be enough to avert disaster. It's imperative that businesses prioritize investment in these areas to safeguard our interconnected world. #BusinessContinuity #Redundancy #Recovery #InvestInIT #GlobalEconomy #ITInfrastructure https://lnkd.in/g6WJMkS3

network connections for ISPs, hindering their ability to provide seamless internet services. Slow data transfer and network downtime can cripple enterprises, disrupting operations and resulting in dissatisfied customers. Government sectors and hospitals cannot afford compromised security and unreliable connectivity, which could have severe consequences. Our company specializes in delivering cutting-edge switching and routing solutions that guarantee seamless and reliable networking capabilities. #services #internet #technology #advancedsecurity #data