Latest Generation: Simple Doesn’t Mean Less

The latest addition to the all-in-one video bar lineup is Yealink’s MeetingBar A40, launched in September 2024. While video bars are known for their convenience, they can sometimes fall short of the stability, security, and management features needed for robust corporate use. Yealink addresses this with the A40, offering:

• Improved stability through its one-cable solution that handles sharing, BYOD and PD charging all from one desk cable.
• Enhanced security with Android 13 and Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform (MDEP) support, protecting against cyber threats and data breaches in Teams environments.
• Simplified IT management through remote monitoring, reducing downtime and ensuring smooth operations.

All-in-One Solutions: Beyond Video Bars

While video bars are effective for small rooms, Yealink offers a broader range of all-in-one solutions, including devices that integrate touch displays with built-in cameras, microphones, speakers, and digital whiteboards. These solutions offer plug-and-play simplicity but also transform workspaces into collaborative hubs. So how do you choose between a video bar and an integrated board?

Modern Style: MeetingBoard Solution

The MeetingBoard is ideal for newly constructed or renovated offices, where no legacy devices need to be reused. With a similar budget to a video bar, it offers more features like digital whiteboarding for enhanced hybrid collaboration. It’s also perfect for open spaces, executive offices, or even lobbies, as its movable floor stand allows for flexibility without requiring wall mounting. The dual-system compatibility (Android and Windows) ensures it fits into any office workflow.

Traditional Style: MeetingBar Series

For meeting rooms with existing TV setups, Yealink’s MeetingBar series offers a sustainable and budget-friendly solution. It easily attaches to any screen and is perfect for small spaces like huddle rooms or phone booths, where quick setup and affordability are key.

Conclusion

Whether you’re upgrading an existing room or setting up a new collaborative space, Yealink’s all-in-one solutions provide the right mix of simplicity, flexibility, and performance. With options like the MeetingBar A40 and MeetingBoard, Yealink covers a wide range of needs to ensure seamless hybrid collaboration.

Learn more about Yealink’s all-in-one solutions in this guide.

The post Simple Videoconferencing Solutions: Video Bars & More appeared first on My TechDecisions.

DisplayNote Screen Sharing Software Updates October 2024

Enhanced Session Control with “Control Your Session”

The “Control Your Session” feature allows users to manage screen sharing from their personal devices, ensuring control over session flow. Integrated with Moderator Mode, it restricts screen sharing to invited participants, giving presenters the freedom to manage sessions securely and efficiently from anywhere in the room.

Related: DisplayNote and Promethean Partner to Enhance Meeting Rooms

Infrared Remote Compatibility for Broader Hardware Support

DisplayNote has expanded compatibility with infrared remote controls, making it easier for users to interact with the screen on both interactive and non-touch displays. For screen manufacturers, this means their hardware solutions can cater to a wider range of users, providing flexibility and ease of use across different environments.

Commenting on the latest updates, Luke McSorley, head of product, says, “Our ‘Control Your Session’ feature gives users unmatched flexibility, allowing them to manage screen sharing seamlessly from their personal devices. Combined with Moderator Mode, it ensures that only authorized participants can share content, giving presenters full control over their sessions. Additionally, by expanding compatibility with infrared remotes, we’re enabling easier interaction with both touch and non-touch displays, providing greater versatility for screen manufacturers and end-users alike.”

Additional Features:

• Device Discovery for a Seamless Connection Experience: Connecting to devices is now more straightforward than ever. Whether using AirPlay, Miracast, or Google Cast, the Room Name will be the consistent identifier, reducing confusions and enabling quick, hassle-free connections.
• Audio Sharing with Window Content: Expanding on the “share a window” option, users can now share audio along with their content, providing a richer, more immersive experience.
• Access to DisplayNote Academy: users have access to tutorials, guides, and support via the newly integrated DisplayNote Academy link on the join page.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on October 23, 2024. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

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In addition, all five models of Biamp TesiraFORTÉ X and Devio SCX audio processors — the TesiraFORTÉ X 400, 800, or 1600 and the Devio SCX 400 and 800 — are now certified for Microsoft Teams using either Parlé Beamtracking ceiling or tabletop microphones. As a result, they offer multiple channels of AEC for further flexibility and customization in medium and large conference spaces.

Features of New Microsoft Teams Certified Solutions

“The Microsoft Teams certification of our complete line of conferencing bundles and audio processors notably expands our portfolio of Microsoft Teams certified solutions,” says Joe Andrulis, executive vice president of corporate development at Biamp. “Our TesiraFORTÉ X and Devio SCX audio processors are at the core of these solutions, providing excellent performance and innovative technology, including AI noise reduction and Biamp Launch, so that integrators and end users can be assured that their conferencing solutions will be easy to install, easy to use and result in extraordinary audio quality that is validated to work seamlessly within the rigorous standards of the Microsoft Teams platform.”

Medium and large room conferencing bundles from Biamp contain either a TesiraFORTÉ X 400 or a Devio SCX 400 processor, as well as Parlé Beamtracking microphones. These  track conversations from around the room — enabling remote participants to feel just as present as those in person — and are available in tabletop or ceiling models. They also include Desono C-IC6 ceiling loudspeakers, Biamp’s PoE-powered amplifiers, along with all necessary mounting accessories and category cabling to complete the installation in medium or large meeting spaces.

Advantages of the Biamp Solution

The newly certified Microsoft Teams bundles offer customers the advantages of a complete Biamp solution, including integrated Acoustic Echo Cancellation and cutting-edge AI noise reduction to suppress distracting sounds, as well as Biamp Launch automated system deployment and configuration. Biamp Launch identifies and configures every device in the system, performs a tuning cycle, measures acoustic characteristics of the room, applies recommended signal processing, echo cancellation, speaker tuning, noise reduction, and Zoom Rooms settings, then generates a dashboard highlighting performance settings before-and-after optimization.

Installers also benefit from Biamp innovation that extends far beyond superior audio, including minimal cable requirements with zero termination, zero network setup, automated EQ, and more. The Biamp bundles’ design feature plug-and-play installation, resulting in significant time savings for integrators. They also provide a consistent, high-quality audio experience for users across all conferencing spaces within a building, says the company.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on October 22, 2024. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post Biamp’s Conferencing Bundles Earn Microsoft Teams Certification appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Per a statement, Absen worked closely with Q-SYS, who has fully vetted and endorsed the following plugin integration with a Q-SYS Certified badge (developed with Q-SYS and supported by Absen and Q-SYS). The integration thus includes:

• Absenicon display control plugin supports X and S Series products
• The Absenicon display plugin enables all control functions included with the Absenicon wireless remote control within the Q-SYS Platform
• The Absenicon plugin supports control pin connectors for intelligent automations and control schemes

“We are very excited to finally have an often-requested Q-SYS plugin available for our icons products,” states Trent Slyter, national sales director, Absen Inc. “This plugin is now available for any Q-SYS processor that uses Q-SYS Designer Software to control various devices in a room. This makes it faster and easier than ever to control our Icons within the Q-SYS environment.  It has taken a lot of time and effort to bring this to fruition and we are very happy to have it in place.”

“We are proud of our collaboration with Absen to create a plugin integration that will enable elevated experiences across our shared customers,” adds Geno Zaharie, principal, Alliances & Ecosystem, Q-SYS.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on October 17, 2024. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

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The ALF-UC1 (Gen2) features dual screen HDMI outputs. Output 1 is configured for 4K UHD video while output 2 is intended for 1080P displays.

ALF-UC1 (Gen2) Features

The system is both HDMI 1.4 and 2.0 compliant — ensuring connectivity with a wide range of video sources. Switching between presenters is quick and easy as the screen can be split for connecting multiple presenters. The system’s Multiview capability supports 4 + 1 or 1 + 4 making it easy to show up to 4 presenters on one display and a fifth presenter on the second display.

The ALF-UC1 (Gen2) supports multiple sharing and connection methods. These include 4K HDMI and USB-C dongles. The UC-1 system facilitates either direct connection or by using an external dongle. The on-screen moderator controls enable users to manage who can and cannot connect at any given time, with support for Android, Airplay for IOS, Miracast (Windows), and MAC OS over the local network.

The UC-1 Generation 2 now features a secondary HDMI output that can connect to an additional display device, a recorder, a confidence-monitor, or remote display in another location.

Read Next: DisplayNote Updates Screen Sharing Software

Wireless Screen-Share Feature

The ALF-UC1 (Gen 2) also has a wireless software application that provides a way to connect wirelessly to the unit from any Windows or Mac OS platform. The local ‘Screen-Share’ feature from the ALF-wireless media application enables the connected user to view the shared content on their own computer, further allowing them to share this content into a VC Call as a ‘share screen’ – enabling far side participants to see the content shared to the ALF-UC1 (Gen2), without the presenter(s) being in the VC Call.

The ALF-wireless media application provides an intuitive interface and makes for quick and easy use of the features built into the application. These features include sharing the screen, the ability to share the full screen or not, freeze screen, local share, and a host of additional settings such as audio selection on the USB connections and quality of the latency.

The Alfatron ALF-UC1 (Gen2) also supports USB peripheral device sharing over a Wi-Fi connection. Device control and configuration can be managed via the Web GUI. Third party control is available via IP/LAN (Telnet) and RS-232 (Serial) protocols. Further, front panel control is provided for USB host switching between local USB-C wired or wireless connections, or it can be set to auto switch. Additional attributes of the ALF-UC1 (Gen2) include support for both the 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz Wi-Fi bands, plus a LAN port with 1 Gbps speed.

Marketing Director at Alfatron Electronics, Tiaan’s Hoogstad, comments on the new ALF-UC1 (Gen2) Wireless Conferencing System, “For technology managers and others who are regularly involved with preparing and conducting meetings, the new Alfatron ALF-UC1 (Gen2) merits a close look. This is a compact, versatile tool that enables one to bring the computer, camera, laptop computer, and other components typically used in meeting rooms into a unit that centralizes control of the equipment. Most importantly, its intuitive operation enables presenters to focus on the message as opposed to worrying about how to make the system work.”

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on October 3, 2024. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

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Specifically, workers experienced the personal benefits of flexibility that remote and hybrid work models offered during shutdowns. Many employees won’t or don’t want to go back. The percentage of these workers is likely to remain at high levels, and an employer’s ability to accommodate remote or hybrid work may now largely determine whether a worker takes a job or even remains with a company.

That is obviously a game-changer for recruiting and retention. It also increases the challenges of effectively managing a host of remote devices and the many workers using them. Potential impacts include infrastructure reliability, network availability, data accessibility, and, above all, IT security, but investments in robust technology to manage and support flexible work practices will ensure companies can remain responsive and secure.

A Remote Environment = Increased Threats to Security

As critical as it has been, remote work has significantly exposed companies to cybersecurity threats; these are the top risks to all organizations today. Yearly data breach totals remain high and show evidence of escalation: 1,175 in 2018; 1,108 in 2019; 1,872 in 2020; and 1,862 in 2021.

The risk is compounded not only by vulnerabilities in technology but also by human error. As evidence, Deloitte reports that 47 percent of remote individuals fell victim to phishing attacks while working at home. The average cost of a data breach enabled by a remote worker was $137,000 in 2022. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence are further increasing the number and severity of security threats, and this is why it is critical to get all aspects of IT support right.

By their very nature, hybrid work environments demand that organizations have a better awareness of risk and an even tighter grip on their data, devices, and processes to remain operational and secure. Historically, employees are the weakest link in the security chain. When employees work off-site, and often with personal devices, they lower the vulnerability threshold so much more.

Related: Choosing the Best Video and Audio Devices for WFH Setups

Because of the increased threat environment, many organizations are stepping up security investments and employee training, alongside establishing strict practices around sensitive data encryption for every device and ensuring backups are completed at different locations. Remembering that data not requiring daily access should also be removed from the regular data pool and stored where it can be retrieved when needed is also a good tactic.

Fortunately, organizations were not blind to increased security risks during the pandemic, and many put new measures in place and increased employee training. Still, many organizations have yet to modify their infrastructure to meet the new security and support challenges. Flexibility and agility are urgently needed, and many systems can’t provide either.

The solution is having a secure remote control platform that can handle a widely dispersed workforce while scaling and delivering support as required, regardless of location. Ideally, it should be easy to use, cloud-based, and have security at its heart.

 Security Features That Make a Difference

For a COO of an international company, ensuring the IT security for a hybrid working environment is a high priority, helping to safeguard network and data security, ensure uninterrupted operations and constant productivity and create a positive employee experience.

Our company has provided remote device management software for education and corporate settings for over 30 years and, with that, we’ve seen and adapted to the changes in risks and cybersecurity threats.

Some of the key remote control features that companies should consider include:

1. Secure Web Gateways

Secure web gateways are ideal for managing remote employee connections and provide extra security, regardless of location. The gateway logs all activity and can provide additional insights into which computers were attempting to connect, allowing IT teams to see whether unauthorized attempts are occurring.

2. Security Keys

As the name suggests, security keys enable remote users to connect only if they have the same security key as the client. These are encrypted passcodes and must match for connections between machines to be permitted.

3. User Acknowledgement

Implementing user acknowledgment is an effective way to guard against connection attempts from unauthorized devices. This simply means that when delivering remote support, an employee must explicitly accept the IT team member’s connection request before they can connect to the device.

With these things and more in place, maintaining a secure and productive hybrid working environment should be stress-free and, dare I say it, easy.

Matt Jones is the chief operating officer of NetSupport. He has spent his entire career helping corporate IT departments manage their networks and devices.

The post Keeping Your Hybrid Workplace Secure appeared first on My TechDecisions.

“Tateside has been the preferred technology partner of London’s Soho Works sites for several years now,” explains Jack Cornish, technical director at Tateside. “Before the pandemic, the technology didn’t need to be focused on videoconferencing, but the working environment has since shifted and the client requested an update that would enable better bring-your-own-device (BYOD) and plug-and-play capabilities as well as a system that could support their preferred Zoom room functionality.”

With high-end interior design and a focus on maintaining immaculate aesthetics across all sites, Tateside needed to honor the unique identity of the various Soho Works sites whilst rolling out a solution that could be replicated to provide a consistent user experience across the brand’s workspaces.

“Our team provides both IT and technology integration for Soho Works,” explains Cornish. “The new meeting room standard is a Neat Bar Pro bundle housed within a Leon Tonecase to hide the technology and improve the overall room aesthetics, plus a Samsung screen. This standard has been rolled out across all Soho Works meeting rooms, based on a Zoom Room system, with adjustments made for specific sites.”

The chosen Neat Bar Pro bundle provides crystal-clear audio via three full-range loudspeakers while the advanced microphone array ensures clear vocal pick-up, with Neat Audio Processing built-in. Thanks to the wide-angle lens and image depth sensor, Neat Bar Pro can detect, enlarge and follow all in-room participants, resulting in more lifelike engagement during video meetings. Furthermore, seamless integration with Zoom ensured a Neat Bar standard was the ideal solution for the Soho Works project.

Ashton Bentley USB-C hubs, which can be neatly mounted under desks, are integrated to support network connectivity and provide fast charging of devices. The Neat Bar Pro bundle provides in-built camera and microphone functions plus a Neat Pad for easy-to-use room control. Each site required a slightly different configuration and solutions for other room styles, including a podcast studio at the Dean Street site and subdivisible meeting rooms at 180 The Strand.

“Overall, Soho Works are aiming for systems that are easy to use with minimal technical knowledge,” continues Cornish. “During these recent updates, we’ve completely done away with Crestron controls for input switching and have implemented a complication-free standard with auto-switching and bullet-proof BYOD connectivity.”

He continues, “Finding that balance between function and aesthetics can be a challenge, but with the solutions available from Neat combined with our bespoke integration, Soho Works now have an easy-to-operate, future-proof set-up suited to the modern working environment.”

The post Soho Works & Tateside Simplify Zoom Room Standard Across Multiple Sites appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Why DECT Headset?

DECT headsets are the ideal choice for business offices due to their interference-free operation, ensuring uninterrupted communication in high-density workspaces. These headsets offer clear voice transmission in VoIP systems, enhancing efficiency and focus for employees. Additionally, DECT headsets prioritize security by utilizing encryption and authentication algorithms, ensuring privacy for all calls. With their reliable connectivity, superior audio quality, and data protection features, DECT headsets provide a seamless communication experience, making them the preferred option for professionals in the business headphone market.

Hybrid Work Trends

With the rise of hybrid work models and the increasing demand for versatile audio solutions, hybrid wireless technology has emerged as a game-changer. Work is no longer a place you go, but a thing you do. We all know that the base and deployment would limit DECT headsets. But can DECT headsets be more flexible?

Innovative Wireless Mode Expands Possibility

With DECT & Bluetooth hybrid wireless technology in the headset, you don’t have to worry about the base limitation and keeping your mobile phone connecting with the dual wireless technology built-in headset. That’s how the Yealink WH64 hybrid wireless headset can help you.

WH64, Industry first hybrid wireless mode headset certified for UC platform, breaks through various scene and device usage restrictions to meet diverse employees’ needs while ensuring better and more professional experience to enhance work efficiency.

Featuring industry-leading 3-Mic noise cancellation technology, the WH64 headset ensures users can work seamlessly in various environments, including the new open office layout where noise levels can be unpredictable. Its innovative ergonomic design ensures all-day wearing comfort, allowing users to focus on their tasks without discomfort.

In summary, WH64 dual-mode functionality is the preferred choice for business professionals. They offer the necessary features for daily office tasks and are adaptable to different work environments, aligning with the hybrid work trend. With seamless switching between SIP phone networks and mobile phones, WH64 provides flexibility and optimal performance, making them the ideal solution for business communication.

Yealink at InfoComm 2024

Join us at InfoComm 2024, from June 12th to 14th, to witness firsthand the WH64 hybrid wireless headset. Visit Booth C5141 to experience Yealink’s full range of headsets, offering enhanced functionality and superior comfort.

To learn more about the new Yealink WH64 Hybrid wireless headset, visit their website here.

The post Hybrid Work Trend Arises: The Impact on DECT Headset & the Role of Hybrid Wireless Technology appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Located in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province in  China, DKU is an educational and research university situated on a 1,200-acre campus. The university offers a range of  academic programs and a diverse, inclusive culture to students from around the globe.

The large-scale audio video project is part of the university’s second phase, covering 22 buildings on campus, including 29 classrooms, 20 conference rooms, and a visitor center. DKU set its sights on a number of top global brands. In the end, the Sennheiser TCC 2 ceiling array microphone stood out due to its superior audio technology, open technology path and rich success experience. DKU chose to install a total of 116 TCC 2s so that every space can enjoy the trusted Sennheiser audio quality.

The Sennheiser TCC 2 Solution

DKU offers courses taught by faculty from Duke University in the U.S. as well as other locations around the world. As a result, the university requires each classroom to provide an online learning experience as if it were face-to-face. Audio equipment, in particular, not only needs to be clear in sound quality, stable in transmission, and easy to operate, but it also needs to fit seamlessly into different room types and teaching scenarios.

The TCC 2 utilizes patented Dynamic Beamforming technology, which automatically tracks the position of speakers and switches between speakers in real time, ensuring that their voices are clearly captured. Teachers are able to move around and communicate freely with students while teaching, and the layout of desks and chairs in the classroom can be flexibly adjusted to enhance the classroom experience. According to Sennheiser, the microphone’s built-in 28 broadcast-quality microphone heads make the sound clear and natural, and remote teachers and students can also listen to the speakers clearly as if they were in the room/

In addition to classrooms, schools also place a high value on the design of audio systems in conference rooms. In teleconferencing, the seamless integration of audio and video is very important. In this project, TCC 2 integrates Biamp DSP and Sony PTZ camera tracking to synchronize the monitored speaker’s position to the camera, thus realizing real-time switching of the speaker’s footage, which makes the meeting more realistic, efficient and immersive.

Visitor Center Acoustics

The Visitor Center is another highlight of this project. In order to provide excellent conditions for teachers and students to communicate, display and hold activities and exhibitions, the Visitor Center built by the school has a flexible layout and a bright and spacious space, with an area of 400 square meters and a height of 4.8 meters, in addition to the need for high-quality sound pickup, the site of the local sound reinforcement is also a very high demand. Three TCC 2s were installed in the Visitor Center, whose TruVoicelift acoustic enhancement feature delivers everyone’s speeches clearly to every corner, with natural, full sound quality and no distortion or delay, making for a truly immersive audio experience.

AV-over-IP Integration 

The DKU Phase II project, which took three years to design and deploy and complete, was not only large in scale but complex. The project’s audiovisual system included many types of products including Biamp DSP, Bose loudspeakers and Crestron control systems. Therefore, for the success of the whole project, easy operation process and seamless integration of products of each link are crucial, which is also the main challenge of the project manager.

Wan Li is the chief engineer at DKU and the university’s technical lead for the audio system design. His team adopted an all-digital and fully distributed AV-over-IP architecture for the University. The TCC 2 can be seamlessly integrated into the campus network with all brands of audio equipment via Dante, allowing IT managers to monitor and control the communication, interaction and control of various devices on campus in real time via cell phones, tablets or computers, greatly simplifying workflows.

Sennheiser’s business communication solutions have an open audio/video ecosystem with strong compatibility and can be integrated with different brands of devices and platforms. TCC 2 has been certified by Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Tencent Conference and Nail Conference to meet the preferences and needs of all types of users.

Praise for Sennheiser’s TCC 2

During the implementation of the project, Sennheiser’s technical engineers went to the university several times to carry out on-site investigation and debugging work room-by-room to ensure that the installation position and angle of each TCC 2 could achieve the optimal effect and realize the best voice clarity. This was highly recognized by DKU staff.

“The exceptional quality of the TCC 2 is unquestionable, and the Sennheiser team has been instrumental in the smooth implementation of the project. They provided full technical and training support and helped us make great progress in commissioning and optimizing the system.” Li praised, “In the school’s future development plan, we look forward to continuing to work with Sennheiser to further optimize the performance of the audio/video facilities and continue to enhance the immersive learning and collaborative experience for teachers and students.”

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on April 26, 2024. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post Duke Kunshan University Selects Sennheiser for Audio Upgrade appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Video Collaboration

Look For: Enhanced Communication and Productivity
Avoid: Stressing the Network

Video applications are used across industries for everything from collaborating and problem solving with colleagues, to training sessions, to providing customer services like telehealth appointments. While the use of this technology grew exponentially with many working from home, these applications are so entrenched in business operations that they won’t disappear with return-to-office mandates. Employees will still reach for videoconferencing to connect them with others who aren’t in the same office building — whether that be with a colleague or client in the same state or in another country.

Networks — wired and WiFi — must be resilient enough to withstand the growing dependency of video collaboration. They must support the upload and download of real-time data; otherwise, meeting attendees will experience distorted video, speech delays and other issues.

To keep communication and productivity on track, IT professionals must have:

• End-to-end user experience metrics that measure how capable networks are of supporting video platforms. Metrics measured must include latency, jitter, dropped packets and the Mean Opinion Score.
• Real-time analytics for video collaboration software and all other network devices, applications, and infrastructure to identify and resolve issues with pinpoint accuracy.
• Complete visibility into the entire network ecosystem so there are no behavior and performance mysteries.
• Automatic, proactive alerts to issues as soon as they occur and before users are impacted, rather than reactive alerts from inconvenienced users.

The 6GHz Frequency Band and WiFi 6E Migration

Look For: Expanded Connectivity
Avoid: Interoperability Issues

WiFi 6E appeared on the market soon after the release of WiFi 6. While the two deliver similar benefits for enterprises, WiFi 6E devices are alone in their ability to use the new unlicensed 6GHz spectrum. This is the first time in over a decade that the amount of available unlicensed spectrum has changed so this is far from your run-of-the-mill migration.

Yes, the 6GHz spectrum will be less congested and offer less signal interference since it will only allow 6E devices, and adds 14 additional 80MHz channels and 7 additional 160MHz channels. Yes, the faster data throughput and lower latency are exciting, especially for technologies such as cloud computing, augmented and virtual reality, and instantaneously uploading / downloading extremely large files.

But, networks and network ecosystems are going to significantly change with the new frequency band. Migrations need to move slowly and steadily to avoid interoperability issues. Technology leaders must prep their teams to be ready to:

• Analyze end user metrics to predict which departments need the upgrade first. Migrations are expensive and time consuming; that time and money should be spent where the ROI will be the greatest.
• Redesign AP deployment to better provide 6GHz connectivity. The 6GHz spectrum uses shorter wavelengths than its 2.4GHz and 5GHz predecessors. Existing AP placement may not offer the best support for the new technology.
• Ensure redesigns don’t cause roaming issues for devices on any of the three frequency bands.
• Watch and analyze three frequency bands 24/7. Issues of any sort can occur at any time; if all three frequency bands aren’t analyzed 24/7, IT professionals will be missing data. There’s always the chance that the data that teams don’t have will be the data that is needed to identify a root cause and make it possible for IT to implement a resolution.
• Compare network performance before and after transitions both to identify issues and determine if the expected ROI is delivered.

AI-Powered Network Automation

Look For: Complete Wired and WiFi Assurance
Avoid: Manual, Reactive Operations

Enterprises need issue-free wired and WiFi networks. If networks aren’t issue free, organizations need solutions in place that will drastically:

1. Reduce the number of issues
2. Reduce resolution times

Fewer issues that are in turn resolved faster than ever result in networks that spend more time working optimally and less time causing delays in business continuity. When almost every single business process is dependent on the network, network assurance is a critical need.

Enterprises can try to achieve network assurance through purely manual means, but they will fail. Networks are too complex for this to be possible. Assurance depends on real-time analytics from every single connected device, all infrastructure, and even nearby networks. IT professionals cannot analyze thousands of data packets a second. They need AI-powered network automation.

When teams have the support of these solutions, they have:

• Complete network visibility provided by a solution that never sleeps
• Real-time, automatic problem detection, notification, and identification (root cause analysis)
• Recommended resolutions
• Proactive network testing
• Automated remote troubleshooting

AI-powered network automation solutions deliver in-depth network analytics, down to the device level, so that technology leaders know the precise behavior and performance of their network, and what is needed to improve it. Generalities are not the answer. Enterprises want the best network for their users – and their users have specific needs and pain points. Understanding these, and designing a network that improves user experience, will also improve business performance, reputation and revenue.

AI-powered network automation solutions provide the needed capabilities in a cost-effective and scalable way. This is modern wired and WiFi assurance.

The Details Matter

A network that must be significantly updated or redesigned every year is one that is doing no one any favors. Networks need to meet the needs of enterprise users right now and be adaptable enough to continue providing optimal support for the next three to five years. Build your network to support the three trends of video collaboration, WiFi 6E and the 6GHz band, and network automation, and your network will be resilient, reliable, and give you a competitive edge that lasts beyond 2024.

Roger Sands is the co-founder and CEO of Wyebot, Inc. He has 20+ years of executive management experience under his belt, gained from working with both successful networking startups and Fortune 500 companies, such as the following: Hewlett-Packard’s WW WLAN business, Colubris Networks, Accton Technology, 3com, USRobotics, and Bytex Corporation.

The post Top Three Network Concerns for Technology Decision Makers appeared first on My TechDecisions.