The first round of the NCAA tournament has come to an end. If you're a sports fan, it's a sad day as the opening round of games is one of the most exciting events of the year. But, if you work in an IT department, you likely see the end as merciful and are breathing a deep sigh of relief.
Paessler conducted a survey of 229 of our customers and found that 86 percent of respondents believe that a high number of users streaming NCAA Tournament games could have a severe impact on their network, and that 94 percent expected network traffic/utilization levels to be higher during tournament games that take place during the work day. In response to this, 87 percent said that their company will block access to live streaming on the network.
We did a similar survey following last year's tournament and found that just 25 percent reported blocking access to live streaming. For us, it suggests that IT departments are becoming more aware of issues and disruptions caused by live streaming and mobility in the workplace. And it isn't just major events like March Madness or the Olympics, it's everything from YouTube to syncing iTunes over company WiFi.
Streaming video is becoming the defacto means of consumption for entertainment, and with successful applications like the NCAA March Madness app, it's quickly taking over sports and news as well. Delivering streaming content is an enormous issue for service providers and, many users simultaneously streaming video in the office is a disaster for IT departments and poses problems for both networks and end user productivity.
IT can do their best to block live streaming, but similarly with Shadow IT, users who want to do something will often find a way. There are other approaches that can help alleviate this problem. Here are a few tips from Paessler on how to take control of streaming on your network:
Have firm IT policies that are communicated clearly
While some employees may think IT rules don't apply to them, many simply may not understand that their streaming video habit is a major problem. Be clear with your employees about the issue at hand ahead of time and let them know about expected protocol and behavior.
Set up a separate WiFi network for mobile devices
Stopping all streaming and other unsanctioned activities is no easy task, but the damage can be minimized by setting up a separate WiFi network for mobile devices that keeps production networks free from mobile users.
Set up common area viewing for major events
This is as much of an HR policy as it is an IT policy. There are a handful of days a year where there is a massive distraction that is occupying employees' minds. Rather than fight the inevitable, bring a TV into the break room or set up a projector and allow employees to work while they watch from one central location.
Monitor network traffic closely, and set more stringent alerts
Be prepared for anything, and when you know a major event is coming up, set more stringent alerts for network utilization so alarm bells go off at the first sign of trouble.
These policies will go a long way toward alleviating streaming problems and minimizing the madness in your networks.
Dirk Paessler is CEO and Founder of Paessler AG.
The Latest
Technology leaders will invest in AI-driven customer experience (CX) strategies in the year ahead as they build more dynamic, relevant and meaningful connections with their target audiences ... As AI shifts the CX paradigm from reactive to proactive, tech leaders and their teams will embrace these five AI-driven strategies that will improve customer support and cybersecurity while providing smoother, more reliable service offerings ...
We're at a critical inflection point in the data landscape. In our recent survey of executive leaders in the data space — The State of Data Observability in 2024 — we found that while 92% of organizations now consider data reliability core to their strategy, most still struggle with fundamental visibility challenges ...
From the accelerating adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (GenAI) to the ongoing challenges of cost optimization and security, these IT leaders are navigating a complex and rapidly evolving landscape. Here's what you should know about the top priorities shaping the year ahead ...
In the heat of the holiday online shopping rush, retailers face persistent challenges such as increased web traffic or cyber threats that can lead to high-impact outages. With profit margins under high pressure, retailers are prioritizing strategic investments to help drive business value while improving the customer experience ...
In a fast-paced industry where customer service is a priority, the opportunity to use AI to personalize products and services, revolutionize delivery channels, and effectively manage peaks in demand such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday are vast. By leveraging AI to streamline demand forecasting, optimize inventory, personalize customer interactions, and adjust pricing, retailers can have a better handle on these stress points, and deliver a seamless digital experience ...
Broad proliferation of cloud infrastructure combined with continued support for remote workers is driving increased complexity and visibility challenges for network operations teams, according to new research conducted by Dimensional Research and sponsored by Broadcom ...
New research from ServiceNow and ThoughtLab reveals that less than 30% of banks feel their transformation efforts are meeting evolving customer digital needs. Additionally, 52% say they must revamp their strategy to counter competition from outside the sector. Adapting to these challenges isn't just about staying competitive — it's about staying in business ...
Leaders in the financial services sector are bullish on AI, with 95% of business and IT decision makers saying that AI is a top C-Suite priority, and 96% of respondents believing it provides their business a competitive advantage, according to Riverbed's Global AI and Digital Experience Survey ...
SLOs have long been a staple for DevOps teams to monitor the health of their applications and infrastructure ... Now, as digital trends have shifted, more and more teams are looking to adapt this model for the mobile environment. This, however, is not without its challenges ...
Modernizing IT infrastructure has become essential for organizations striving to remain competitive. This modernization extends beyond merely upgrading hardware or software; it involves strategically leveraging new technologies like AI and cloud computing to enhance operational efficiency, increase data accessibility, and improve the end-user experience ...
