40 degrees? Well, I never! Not in mainland UK anyway. Maybe in Spain and definitely in the height of summer in India, where it can soar to 50 degrees Celsius. So, our tolerance to heat will be tested this week as humans and the advice is to stay indoors ...
Extreme weather is a regular occurrence now. Make sure your technology doesn't suffer!
But what about our electronic equipment? Our laptops and PCs? But more importantly, the equipment in our Server/Comms/Plant Rooms? We have servers, switches, routers, NAS units, Wi-Fi controllers, CCTV recorders and even fire alarm monitoring equipment.
"When was the last time you had the air conditioning unit checked to ensure all that is at an optimum temperature?"
I once walked into an office, where there was a walk-in cupboard and all the comms data equipment was terminated in this little area. It was only large enough to walk in sideways and get to all the kit. The door was open and a freestanding rotary fan was positioned at the entrance to keep the equipment cool.
Obviously, that is NOT the way to look after your business-grade servers and switches because if it blows up, you lose your entire business (unless you have every single piece of data backed up somewhere.
So, it's all in the planning. If you are relocating to a new office, all companies plan their furniture layout, but very few ever think about where the comms/data equipment will be located and very often ends up at the end of the room, very accessible and creating a noise in the form of a low 'hum' from the built-in fans that switches and other equipment have (also where the equipment can be tampered with).
"Ideally, the data should be in a locked, air-conditioned room, only accessible by authorised persons!"
Do you get your data equipment regularly tested? Is the space where the data cabinet is located well ventilated? Do you regularly check that no equipment is over-heating? It's surprising how many businesses would answer 'no' to all three.
We take our business IT and telecoms equipment for granted. Once installed, it all works day in, day out, until one day ... it doesn't. When your IT person opens up the server case, three different species of siders can be found, the fans clogged up, more dust than on Mars and we wonder why it was gradually running slower and slower in the past 12 months, compared to the previous 12 months.
This is the same for the PCs by your feet, under the desk. Make sure the environment is clean and get your IP person at least annually, to vacuum out the insides to keep it in good order.
"Extreme weather is a regular occurrence now!"
Our electronic equipment is going to be put through some major temperature fluctuations, all be it periodically, but now is the time to consider the best and safest locations within your businesses to ensure it all works as required.
If in doubt, consult your technology partner for the best advice.
Until next time ...
PRITESH GANATRA
Would you like to know more?
If anything I've written in this blog post resonates with you and you'd like to discover more about keeping your technology cool, it may be a great idea to give me a call on 01604 926100 or take a look at my website which you can find by clicking here.
The word 'Technology' has too many connotations in today's world!
Where do we start? Simple terms like 'IT' and 'Telecoms'? or terms that appear NOT to have an actual meaning at all!, e.g. 'Internet of Things (IoT).
Technology also encompasses specialist products and services like 'Rugged' and 'Tough' android devices, Lone Worker Software, panic alarm devices, smart energy devices, low energy lighting, credit card terminal (PCI DSS) security, indoor/ outdoor Wi-Fi systems, Ultrafast Gigabit internet connectivity, access control systems, industrial IoT circuit controllers.
BTS UK can consult from simple solutions to the most complex, provide some of the products through a wholesale channel, bring together a multi-disciplined 'Task Force' to deliver and implement complete Technology 'projects'.
I am your technology problem solver and I look forward to helping you.
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