Archives for 2017

How the Deployment of Video Walls in Command Centers are Increasing Productivity

Summary: Today’s command centers are utilizing video wall displays to spur competition and increase productivity.

Various organizations are finding value in deploying flexible video walls within command centers that deliver a numerous benefits. Now, by delivering a little something called real-time information across a variety of facilities, organizations are spurring competition and providing an adequate digital solution to today’s risk management industry. This information is not only driving internal competition but it’s also increasing productivity and functionality, which proves to pay huge dividends in the long run – including significant returns on investment.

Contradicting Thoughts

Video walls tend to be immediately compared to an expensive set of high-end displays that are pinned to the wall only to display information that’s dependent on the command center’s needs. However, organizations of all sizes are find out that the increased quality and technology of these screens and supporting peripherals are making video walls a must-have in today’s command center design.

In the past it would be unthinkable to allocate a large amount of capital to spend on resources to digitally display information that could easily be replicated on a chalk or dry-erase board. However, with the rapid jump in technology, organizations knew that video walls both catch the eye and automatically pull information from designated systems at a price point that people certainly couldn’t pass up on. This is where the quaint command center became a haven for advanced technological equipment – which include the high-tech video walls you are all familiar with today.

Video Walls are “Displaying” Promise

Now, video walls don’t need to be the largest in size or the latest model. Rather, a small installation can even deliver an impactful expression of what the organization is trying to portray. The future of video walls is here and is showing an immense amount of promise for all types of organizations.

 

How NOCs Can Improve Productivity Efficiency

Summary: In order to improve your company’s effectiveness and overall security, a NOC can be your solution.

The Network Operations Center (NOC) is more than just a central command center. It not only provides the customer that peace of mind that they need when it comes to running a successful and efficient business, but it also monitors the health, productivity, and security of the network infrastructure that’s required. Here are some of the reasons why co-sourcing a Network Operations Center might be the best decision you’ll make for your business.

24/7 Protection

One of the issues with in-house monitoring is the limited time frame that the IT specialists have. More specifically, the team cannot manage an issue if something goes wrong during the middle of the night. In most cases, if a problem does occur, the team will walk into the next day to resolve it, as opposed to a 24 hour NOC that’ll handle anything by utilizing remote monitoring and management software that can remotely access any network and obtain the information they need to correct the problem.

 

Resolution

With these alerts, the team can resolve the issue immediately as opposed to having to rely on making tickets that are categorized by priority and severity. Now, you might be thinking there may not be a need for security operation center consoles, but consider the fact that you could be the target of a major hack. What if it occurs at the middle of the night when your employees are sleeping soundly? Consider it “open season” for those that are targeting your company. And, the effects of this can be devastating.

Data center or server room: Which is better for your business?

It wasn’t very long ago that all servers were entirely in-house. The company invested in the server room, the backup systems and security. Also, the company hired staff with specific skills to manage the different systems. Today, the story is very different, with cloud hosting or an LA data center, these same organizations have the option to stay in-house or move everything out. Here is a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of maintaining your server room:

Advantages:

The main advantage is that you own all the systems. Everything happens on your schedule, and any costs can be deferred or incurred as you see fit. It is a lot of work, but it comes with the sort of customization that is difficult in most third-party environments. You can modify or change any component of the system to your needs, where in any other setting it might clash with the policies of the host or the requirements of other clients.

Disadvantages:

There are two big disadvantages. The first issue is with the resource requirements. You want your IT staff working on solutions and improvements to the technology related to running the business, rather than working to keep the data center running. The other is security. According to Rack Alley, there is an ever-increasing threat of new and advanced malware, viruses and malicious Internet traffic, which requires the sort of security expertise that is expensive to maintain in-house.

Running Employment Checks: The Pros and Cons

 

 

Summary: Pre employment checks are mandatory for successful companies (especially nonprofit organizations). There are however, both pros and cons to performing these checks.

In today’s work environment, background checks have become the norm. Too many applicants tend to cover up their previous history or try to hide information that should be worth mentioning. However, there are both pros and cons to performing this screening process. This article will discuss both sides to help you get a better understanding of what you’re subjecting your applicants (and workplace) to.

The Pros

Pre employment checks can help an organization or company be more successful through numerous factors. Some of them include: reduced negligent hiring liability, reduced losses from dishonesty, minimal workplace violence, and increased new hire quality. All of these improvements will most likely have a positive impact on your business.

One of the first benefits revolves around the inclusion of fewer applications that contain serious discrepancies. It also discourages applicants to apply that are hiding something on their record that you don’t want to see. And, since you most likely want a safe and nonviolent workplace, you’ll be able to dictate what type of individuals you’ll want in your work setting.

As an employer, you have a moral and legal obligation to provide a safe work environment for your employees. Therefore, knowing whether an applicant has been involved in criminal activity will allow you to determine whether or not the applicant will be a good fit in your business. Factor in the costs of workplace violent, which can add up to the millions if something were to occur, and you have a system that’s definitely worth investing in. Many instant background checks are available online. However, it’s worth investigating whether or not the company is legitimate and provides you with a detailed report.

The Cons

While obtaining the background information on a prospective employee may be a solid indicator of future performance, they are also cons such as excessive costs and wasted time. When you’re looking for a service that provides a criminal background check for employment, you undoubtedly want to deal with a company that follows both federal and state legal requirements. Some background check companies tend to give a false sense of security and often leave out information that you need to further go about with the hiring process. It’s highly recommended that you perform a comprehensive check on your preferred screening company to ensure that you’re receiving a quality report each and every time. As the saying goes, “you get what you pay for”, and it definitely applies to pre employment checks.

4 Reasons landlords must request a tenant background check

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Making sure that you as a landlord are aware of your tenant’s previous history will ensure that you make the right decision. Like a criminal background check for employment, a tenant background check will provide information like your tenant’s prior behavior, criminal history, and credit behavior. Here are the 4 main reasons why as a landlord you should request for a tenant background check.

To protect yourself – Instant background check online will give you valuable information that will highlight any areas of concern. For example, if your tenant has a history of shoplifting, there is a good chance he/she will steal from you or your neighbors.

Discourage tenants who are trying to hide something – When potential tenants know that you will conduct a background check and they want to hide something, they may refuse the authorization form or opt out of renting.

Verify application claims – If you ask your tenant to fill a rental form which includes their criminal history, you will be able to verify the information that they have provided. If they are honest about their criminal history from the start, this means that your tenant can be trusted to some degree.

Reduce tenant turnover – Tenant background checks will help you weed out potential tenants that are of low quality or those who will stay for a short time.