Top Technology Trends for 2023

Nearly three years later, businesses are still reeling from 2020. The way we work and how businesses function changed drastically when COVID-19 ravaged the world. The uncertainty in Eastern Europe and the supply chain disruptions also have altered how organizations operate.

Many of the technology trends predicted for 2023 relate to efficiency and sustainability with artificial intelligence (AI) taking center stage. We highlight those tech trends below.

(While we encourage you to stay abreast of the latest trends, we strongly suggest you protect the foundation of any technology – your hardware. Top-notch data centers like FIBERTOWN keep your hardware protected and up and running when outside disruptions happen.)

5G is Spreading Fast

5G, or the fifth generation of cellular networks, is being rolled out to more of the world in 2023. Advantages with 5G include faster connection speeds, lower latency, and greater bandwidth than the previous generations of networks.

So, why does 5G matter in business? Data will move even faster, and more devices can be connected to an organization’s network at once, allowing businesses to move at speeds never before experienced. Technologies like self-driving cars and robot nurses become a real possibility for more organizations due to the connection speed 5G provides.

Emissions and Power Usage Will be Measured

2023 will usher in a real attempt to quantify a company’s emissions and power usage. According to Newsweek, “In 2023, solutions will emerge to help companies measure and categorize their emissions and power consumption in a repeatable, consistent, auditable way.” Developers will create more robust technologies for tracing and analyzing emissions and power. Full-scale emissions management software will be created and improved.

People worry that the progress in technology further hurts the climate (e.g., greater use of electricity). Experts predict, though, that advancements in technology can help with sustainability, rather than be a detriment.

Demonstrate the Decision-Making Ability of AI

To no one’s surprise, AI is still advancing at lightning speed in 2023. Mass adoption, though, is the challenge. As CIO notes, “Organizations must be able to explain the reason why a computer came to a decision.” CIO further explains, “Gartner has found that only 50% of AI models ever hit production and that the reasons behind this are lack of trust in the data, and problems with security and privacy.”

So, while AI offers a world of possibilities for individuals and organizations, it’s not without issues. 2023 will focus on building the trustworthiness of AI.

Adaptive AI is the Next Frontier

Adaptive AI is the next frontier for AI. It aims to make decisions faster using live-feed data. Adaptive AI allows organizations to test and adjust in changing real-world circumstances. As discussed in the previous section, though, progress in this field is reliant on trustworthy data.

FIBERTOWN is Ready for 2023

We’re excited to see what 2023 holds! The advancements in AI and the spread of 5G will bring new possibilities to organizations, ones unavailable prior to 2023. And this new year promises more ways to decrease emissions and power usage for businesses. The future is looking bright.

We end this article with a reminder to protect your hardware. While technology trends are exciting, secure, protected hardware is the foundation for all tech advancements. Learn more about our Houston and Bryan, TX data centers.

And use this form to contact us.

Is Your Generator Reliable? Do You Have Backup Power?

On Sunday night, November 27th, Houston residents received a boil water notice. A water purification plant in the city had experienced a brief power disruption, causing water pressure to drop below the minimum requirement of 20 PSI. This drop in pressure is what caused officials to give the boil water notice as a precaution for residents.

State and local entities worked with guidance from the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality to lift the boil water notice about 40 hours later. And for that we’re grateful.

A Cautionary Tale…

This article is not intended to put down an organization. (In fact, we commend the quick, safe approach by the Houston authorities and greatly appreciate their efforts.) Instead, this article is a cautionary tale about backup power for all businesses.

We ask these serious questions.

Are the generators at your on-premise data center and/or office building reliable?
Do you have redundant power?
Are there plans in place if you lose power?
What service outages would your customers experience if you lost power completely for 2 minutes? 15 minutes? For an hour?
How much revenue would you lose? Are lives at stake if you lose power?
What damages would your hardware experience with a power loss?

You Don’t Have to Have All of the Answers

Truthfully, just typing the questions above makes our hearts beat rapidly. The ramifications of an outage for a company without backup power are expensive, time-consuming, and can cost human lives.

Power redundancy (i.e., having multiple sources of power) is a serious consideration for companies. Redundancy means reliability and peace of mind. And it’s for these reasons that clients choose a data center like FIBERTOWN.

It’s our job to have and maintain utility and generator power for your hardware. (We go into more detail about the traits of a top-rated data center in this article).

FIBERTOWN Can Keep You Up and Running

We have two data centers – one in Houston and one in Bryan-College Station. These data centers are fitted with redundant power and cooling systems. Backup generators are on site, and they are manned by IT professionals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

We’ll keep your company’s hardware up and running, even if the world outside is without power.

Ask us how we do this! We’d love to tell you more.

Complete the contact form to begin a conversation.

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Hybrid Cloud or Multi-Cloud Strategy – What’s Best for Your Organization

The cloud is everywhere. Phrases like “cloud first” and “we’re moving everything to the cloud” are common today. A growing company should have a cloud strategy to take full advantage of the possibilities the cloud offers.

A cloud strategy is a designation for the roles the cloud will play in a company’s operations. It should not be confused with a cloud adoption or migration plan. Ideally, those plans are part of a company’s overall cloud strategy.

This article briefly examines the hybrid cloud and multi-cloud strategies. If you have questions about what role FIBERTOWN can play in your cloud strategy, we’d love to speak with you.

A Hybrid Cloud Strategy

The concept of a hybrid cloud strategy is like that of a hybrid car. A hybrid car uses both electricity and gasoline for power. A hybrid cloud strategy uses both private and public clouds to store and retrieve data.

An example of a private cloud would be a company’s on-premise data center or FIBERTOWN’s data center. On the other hand, public clouds like AWS, Google and Microsoft Azure own and manage all of the hardware, software, and infrastructure associated with their cloud services.

The intent of a hybrid cloud strategy is to provide varied cloud providers as a single solution. For example, at FIBERTOWN, we serve as a private cloud provider while giving you easy access to multiple public cloud services. As our client, you can use Megaport, which allows you to connect to public clouds such as Office365, AWS and Google through a single port, optimizing cost and security, plus reducing latency (less lag time).

A Multi-Cloud Strategy

A multi-cloud strategy means utilizing multiple public cloud services to store and retrieve data. While redundancy is strong with this option (just as it is with the hybrid strategy), there are some drawbacks. This solution can be difficult to manage because of the number of vendors involved. Plus, latency can be an issue since multiple providers must “talk” with one another. But this strategy does lessen vendor lock-in. If you’re unhappy with a cloud provider, migrating to another one is easier because you’re already utilizing services from multiple ones.

FIBERTOWN Would Like to be a Part of Your Cloud Strategy

Cloud strategy is more than simply storing and retrieving data in the cloud. It’s a designation for how the cloud will be used for your company’s sustainability and growth. We strongly suggest setting aside time to consider your cloud strategy.

We’d love to tell you more about FIBERTOWN’s data centers (in Houston and Bryan-College Station) and how they can help bolster your cloud strategy.

Start the conversation today.

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6 Redundancy Measures to Consider When Searching for a Data Center

The reason companies consider a data center is for a feeling of security – for an assurance that their hardware will be kept at optimal running conditions, no matter the circumstances. Because if this happens, then business continues as usual.

Yet, not all data centers are created equally, and if you contract with a subpar data center, your hardware and business continuity can’t be guaranteed. Below are six standards to consider when searching for a well-prepared, well-equipped data center, one you can count on during weather events, power outages, and more.

For a detailed look at these six standards, click here.

1. Accessibility via Automobile

Considering the roadways to and from your data center is critical. Determining if there are alternative routes is just as important since roadways may be blocked with debris during inclement weather.

Look for a data center with diverse roadways – major highways, plus smaller roads – leading to it. Employees can access hardware and continue working during catastrophic weather events.

2. Diverse Connectivity

Contracting with a data center that utilizes a variety of internet providers gives you “layers” of internet. If one provider isn’t available (bad weather, equipment issues, etc.), you still have internet access. Seek a data center with multiple, unique carriers and network providers with diverse paths of entry into the facility.

3. Redundant Power

Redundant power, or a power source in case the first source fails, is critical. Without it, equipment troubles, a backhoe digging in the wrong area, or severe weather shuts down power, possibly damaging your hardware and causing downtime. And downtime is expensive. Hardware is too.

Search for a data center with the infrastructure for redundant power. And ask, is the redundant power fully operational, partial, or distributed.

4. Redundant Cooling

Much like connectivity and power, a data center must have multiple ways to ensure cooling. Since the environment inside can never change, a data center’s infrastructure must be designed so a malfunction does not cause fluctuation in humidity or temperature.

Ask about the specifications for the data center’s HVAC system and what processes (for people and equipment) are in place to ensure a steady environment.

5. On-Site Staff Availability

This standard is often overlooked, but it shouldn’t be. With technology taking center stage in a data center, the human beings who staff it are the real superstars. Look for a data center that guarantees a trained on-site staff, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

6. Service Level Agreement (SLA)

Yes, the infrastructure for redundant power, cooling, and connectivity is vital. But, it’s the 100% uptime SLA that makes these measures the expectation…the norm…the standard for a data center.

Read carefully SLAs. Some data centers rely on insurance policies to provide 100% compensation if downtime occurs. Seek a data center with 100% uptime, even in the fine print.

About FIBERTOWN

We examine each of these six measures in more detail in this PDF. Download it and consider them as you search for a data center.

But know…at FIBERTOWN, we confidently meet – and exceed – these measures at both of our locations (Bryan-College Station and Houston).

We’d love to serve you and your company too.