Host Keith Shaw and his expert guests discuss the latest technology news and trends happening in the industry. Watch new episodes twice each week here or listen to the podcast.
The newest version of Wi-Fi (version 6E) allows for higher capacity and bandwidth with the opening of 6GHz frequency spectrum, but with version 7 likely to occur next year, companies might decide to wait. Keith talks with IDC analyst Brandon Butler about the pros and cons of the latest wireless LAN standards.
Before we all got obsessed with generative artificial intelligence, the technology world was obsessed with connecting everything to “the Internet of Things” – street lights, water sensors, buildings, locks, cameras, etc. Disruptions from the pandemic era quelled a lot of that movement, so where are IoT deployments happening now? Keith chats with David Howard, director of technical sales at Quectel and an industry leader on IoT matters, about where IoT stands these days.
Beyond firewalls and perimeter security, a zero trust architecture allows security officials to better protect data and system access to both outsider and insider threats, adopting a mantra of "trust no one". We explain the concept in this video.
With many companies and organizations going through IPv4 to IPv6 migration, they may be left with a large block of IPv4 addresses that can still provide value to other groups. Lee Howard, senior vice president of IPv4.Global, chats with Keith about the rise of address trading markets, why companies may not even realize that they have this value, whether the IPv6 migration will ever be completed, and why IP addressing is a lot like the good Star Trek movies. Strap in for a networking geek fest!
Even though widespread deployment isn’t expected until 2030, many wireless industry officials are already discussing 6G wireless and what it could mean for carriers, businesses and consumers. Keith chats with analyst Jack Gold about what obstacles and challenges are ahead for carriers as they look to create better networks through artificial intelligence and provide cutting-edge applications for consumers.
Data centers are a critical, but often power-hungry, part of the enterprise. But, why exactly do data centers require so much energy? And how can businesses address emissions concerns as well as cut back on the costs associated with cooling data centers? Ashish Nadkarni, group vice president within IDC's Worldwide Infrastructure Practice, joins Juliet to discuss the status of data center efficiency, what it means within the context of green IT and how technology has advanced to make servers more efficient.
As employees return to the office, IT can apply lessons learned from supporting remote workers to transform their networks. Cloud architectures such as SD-WAN and SASE could continue to be useful. Network as a Service, or NaaS, is still in its early stages but could offer cloudlike agility when it comes to buying network equipment. But, as the chip shortage and broader supply chain issues continue to plague the tech industry, IT must be prepared to prioritize and compromise network projects. Brandon Butler, a research manager at IDC covering enterprise networking, joins Juliet to discuss what enterprise networking trends he predicts to see in 2022. Follow everyone on Twitter-- Juliet: https://twitter.com/julietbeauchamp Brandon: https://twitter.com/BButlerIDC
The advent of 5G introduced more opportunities for networking innovation. Private 5G is one of those newly hyped innovations, but what makes it different than public 5G? While the market for private 5G is small, it could be a promising solution for enterprises that need to provide wireless connectivity with minimal interference over a large area. But, implementation is different than the process of rolling out enterprise Wi-Fi, so IT may lack the necessary expertise. Network World senior writer Jon Gold joins Juliet to explain what private 5G is, how it compares to enterprise Wi-Fi and the challenges associated with it.
The COVID-19 pandemic stressed the semiconductor supply chain, and manufacturers are feeling the pinch. Semiconductors power many enterprise and consumer electronics, from smartphones to cars, and the shortage affects availability and price. Mario Morales, Program Vice President for Enabling Technologies and Semiconductors at IDC joins Juliet to explain the chip shortage, including its timeline, its effect on the technology industry, counterfeit concerns and whether or not the end is in sight.
A year into the coronavirus pandemic, IT continues to support remote employees. As organizations begin planning to bring workers back into the office, IT must now consider upgrading their networks to best support employees in a post-COVID world. IDC Senior Research Analyst for enterprise networking, Brandon Butler, joins Juliet to discuss what permanent changes IT should implement as workers prepare to return to the office, and how these changes differ from the temporary solutions put into place last year. From upgrading to Wi-Fi 6, to implementing SD-WAN, to shifting network management to the cloud, Brandon explains what steps IT teams can take to make the transition back to the office seamless for in-person and remote employees alike.
The U.S. Commerce Department has continued to block many U.S. tech companies from working with Huawei. And now the U.S. government has taken measures a step further by prohibiting all companies from selling to Huawei if they use American IP and/or equipment in the manufacturing process. Juliet discusses these latest changes and updates and answers your most frequently asked question.
With more of us connecting with our healthcare providers virtually during the coronavirus pandemic, hackers may find it more appealing to attack medical or hospital systems. Increased amounts of data due to telemedicine and medical internet of things (IoT) devices must be secure to protect individuals’ privacy and for HIPAA compliance. Network World senior writer Jon Gold joins Juliet to discuss medical IoT security risks, why these attacks may or may not be especially prevalent now and how to mitigate IoT security risks.
There is no evidence that 5G poses health risks or dangers to humans, but that hasn’t stopped people from circulating conspiracies about 5G’s unproven link to the coronavirus pandemic. Juliet explains why 5G poses no known health risks to the public and why some of the claims linking 5G and the coronavirus don’t check out.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S. recently approved some wireless spectrum within the 6GHz band for Wi-Fi 6 use. This will nearly quintuple the existing Wi-Fi 6 spectrum. The version of Wi-Fi that will take advantage of this spectrum is called Wi-Fi 6E. Existing Wi-Fi 6 clients operate within the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, so they will not be immediately able to access this new 6GHz band. Deploying Wi-Fi 6 may be appealing to enterprises’ employees now working remotely, many of whom are working off of Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 4 networks. Network World senior writer Jon Gold joins Juliet to discuss what Wi-Fi 6E, when to adopt the much-hyped Wi-Fi 6 and what it means for the future of networking.
With the adoption of 5G, carriers may offer some higher-paying customers more bandwidth than others on the same physical network infrastructure. Principal analyst and president of J. Gold Associates, Jack Gold, talks with Juliet about what network slicing is and why it’s important for enterprises.
The coronavirus pandemic forced IT teams around the world to adapt to serving an almost entirely remote workforce. But once we all return to work in an office, those lessons shouldn’t be forgotten. Jack Gold, president and principal analyst at J. Gold Associates, joins Juliet to discuss how IT teams can apply lessons learned during this mandatory work from home period to a pandemic disaster recovery plan. They also dive into how enterprises can prepare for potential quarantine periods in the future and which companies stand to fare the best amid the coronavirus crisis.
Due to concerns around the coronavirus and COVID-19, you might be working from home. We are too! On today’s first remote episode of Today in Tech, Juliet discusses if your home Wi-Fi network will be able to handle a huge spike in videoconferencing, telecommuting and streaming. Learn how the U.S. government is working with providers to increase data caps and prioritize the needs of healthcare facilities and hospitals in the midst of a pandemic. Let us know how you’re adapting to working from home and what videos you’d like to see in the next few weeks. Or just let us know how you’re doing… we’ve been cooped up at home.
Enterprises have taken steps to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, from mandatory quarantines to factory closures. Big tech companies have canceled events and shows, sometimes opting to hold online-only streamed events. And amid supply chain disruption, some tech companies that rely on China for components may face product delays and lost revenues. Today in Tech, Juliet discusses COVID-19’s effect on the IT and tech industry and why some companies are faring better than others in the face of a potential global health pandemic.
Learn the ins and outs of Microsoft's upcoming private cloud offering, Azure Stack, as editors discuss its expected benefits and drawbacks.