University of Nebraska's Memorial Stadium upgrades Wi-Fi offerings

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The students attending the University of Nebraska – Lincoln received a nice surprise when they returned for classes last week. The school’s football arena, Memorial Stadium, was given a $12.3 million makeover in an effort to improve its sound system and Wi-Fi capabilities.

Upgrading stadium Internet access is a fairly new concept among universities, with only four other schools providing Wi-Fi access to sports fans – Auburn, Texas Christian University, Penn State and Stanford. While other schools have offered students free Internet inside their arenas, University of Nebraska director of information technology Dan Floyd noted that none of those projects were as big as the one taken on by UNL. To give spectators in Memorial Stadium broad coverage, 900 antennas were installed around the premises. The hardware took three months to fully install, but Floyd says his team will continue making adjustments all season.

“When they do a large venue like a stadium or an area, there are no people in it,” said Floyd in an interview with The Daily Nebraskan. “So you really don’t have the opportunity to test it until its full of people.”

Record-breaking upgrades
The Wi-Fi upgrade, dubbed Memorial Stadium Fan Experience Improvements, makes University of Nebraska’s football arena the largest collegiate stadium connected to Wi-Fi and the second largest connected stadium overall, second only to AT&T Stadium in Dallas. The improvements made to the Internet offerings allow football spectators to have access to special features on the school’s mobile app that are only available within the stadium, like instant replays. Floyd said that he wants Husker fans to be able to bring their mobile devices to football games and be able to connect them anywhere in the stadium.

“It’s very important for the stadium to be connected socially,” said Floyd. “You’re connected in the union as a student, you’re connected inside Starbucks as a client. Wherever you go, people have that expectation.”

According to Omaha.com, 80 percent of the stadium’s visitors should be able to access the Wi-Fi network at the same time without a problem, enabling fans to post pictures, Tweet about the game or view exclusive game footage as easily as they could at home. As students become increasingly attached to their tablets and smartphones, being able to provide reliable Internet access in the locations they spend most of their time is a boon to schools looking to increase student involvement and school spirit.

University of Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium upgrades Wi-Fi offerings

/in , /by

The students attending the University of Nebraska – Lincoln received a nice surprise when they returned for classes last week. The school’s football arena, Memorial Stadium, was given a $12.3 million makeover in an effort to improve its sound system and Wi-Fi capabilities.

Upgrading stadium Internet access is a fairly new concept among universities, with only four other schools providing Wi-Fi access to sports fans – Auburn, Texas Christian University, Penn State and Stanford. While other schools have offered students free Internet inside their arenas, University of Nebraska director of information technology Dan Floyd noted that none of those projects were as big as the one taken on by UNL. To give spectators in Memorial Stadium broad coverage, 900 antennas were installed around the premises. The hardware took three months to fully install, but Floyd says his team will continue making adjustments all season.

“When they do a large venue like a stadium or an area, there are no people in it,” said Floyd in an interview with The Daily Nebraskan. “So you really don’t have the opportunity to test it until its full of people.”

Record-breaking upgrades
The Wi-Fi upgrade, dubbed Memorial Stadium Fan Experience Improvements, makes University of Nebraska’s football arena the largest collegiate stadium connected to Wi-Fi and the second largest connected stadium overall, second only to AT&T Stadium in Dallas. The improvements made to the Internet offerings allow football spectators to have access to special features on the school’s mobile app that are only available within the stadium, like instant replays. Floyd said that he wants Husker fans to be able to bring their mobile devices to football games and be able to connect them anywhere in the stadium.

“It’s very important for the stadium to be connected socially,” said Floyd. “You’re connected in the union as a student, you’re connected inside Starbucks as a client. Wherever you go, people have that expectation.”

According to Omaha.com, 80 percent of the stadium’s visitors should be able to access the Wi-Fi network at the same time without a problem, enabling fans to post pictures, Tweet about the game or view exclusive game footage as easily as they could at home. As students become increasingly attached to their tablets and smartphones, being able to provide reliable Internet access in the locations they spend most of their time is a boon to schools looking to increase student involvement and school spirit.

Cloud computing increases innovation, collaboration survey finds

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With all of the new technological advances that have affected business in recent years, the one that has had the biggest impact is probably cloud computing. The cloud has changed the way technology is viewed by companies, as it provides a simple, effective way to implement changes, engage with clients and spark innovations. Because the cloud is cost-effective and easy to deploy, it is now possible to experiment with technology, develop new products more quickly and distribute more widely and to a scale once out of reach for all but the biggest organizations.

A recent survey conducted by Oxford Economics surveyed 350 tech and business executives to find out what drove them toward adopting the cloud for their companies. Researchers found that 36 percent of respondents implemented a cloud platform because they found the technology to be critical to the innovation strategy of the enterprise.

“Cloud computing today is fundamentally altering business processes and changing the way organizations interact with clients, partners and employees,” read the report. “This transformation brings incredible opportunities, including the ability to build a real-time enterprise where interaction and innovation flourish.”

Collaboration flourishes in the cloud
One of the biggest benefits of the cloud is the ease with which it allows people to communicate and share. In fact, the survey found that 63 percent of executives believe use of the cloud is increasing collaboration among the business units of their companies. A recent development in the use of the cloud is the ability to connect records systems with engagement platforms to provide companies with the most creative and productive use of all of the data they collect. If each department can see the information that is being collected by everyone else, new ways to use that data can and will be found much quicker and be used more creatively than if data sets were kept separated by business unit.

In an article for Forbes, contributor Robert LeBlanc noted that this concept of information sharing is being put to use by El Corte Ingles, Europe’s largest department store. The retailer utilized the cloud to rapidly expand their online presence and currently employs the technology to monitor client preferences and buying habits to offer promotions and accurate pricing in real time.

For companies interested in implementing a similar initiative in their organizations, hybrid cloud environments are a reliable solution. Services can be automated in a hybrid platform and allow enterprises to see how they are being used and control them to better protect the security and privacy of the business.

Companies embracing cloud for increased flexibility, lower costs

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As technology becomes an increasingly important part of doing business, companies are realizing the benefits of the cloud. Utilizing cloud-based applications is a great way to enhance business operations by reducing costs, increasing flexibility and improving collaboration and productivity.

While traditional software can only be used by the device it was uploaded to, cloud applications can be accessed from any Internet-connected device. The accessible nature of the cloud makes it much more convenient for companies with employees who are frequently on the go or like to telecommute.

The cloud also allows organizations to break free from traditional software and the associated upgrades and high licensing fees for a more cost-effective option. Cloud applications work on a simpler subscription model, making it easier for enterprises to scale their service and pay only for what they really need. Small businesses can especially benefit from implementing a cloud infrastructure, as the lower costs and increased flexibility are ideal for companies with tighter budgets and smaller IT departments.

Another benefit of the cloud is an increase in collaboration between coworkers. The cloud’s ease-of-use and its ability to make documents and services available from anywhere with an Internet connection improves editing and sharing capabilities. Employees who might be miles away from one another physically can be on the same page virtually through the cloud, easily and effectively making edits to documents or changing presentations together over the Internet.

Companies of all sizes will also benefit from the cloud’s ability to serve as a disaster recovery center. Duplicate files can be easily stored in the cloud and kept offsite in case of an emergency at a much lower cost than employing a physical data center for disaster recovery services. Utilizing a cloud disaster recovery solution dramatically improves enterprise data security, ensuring critical information and systems won’t disappear because of a natural disaster. The cloud also increases protection from cyberattacks, as all data stored on the platform is encrypted to make it impossible for hackers to steal sensitive information.

Hybrid cloud ideal for enterprise use
For companies interested in implementing a cloud environment, a hybrid cloud is a good option to consider. Hybrid clouds offer organizations a mix of private and public infrastructures, making it possible to utilize the best of both platforms. Applications can be run on a public platform while critical services and data can be stored privately to add an extra level of security. Hybrid clouds also offer service scalability, making it easier to meet business demands. When traffic is slow, companies can focus on the more critical platform and increase service on the secondary cloud when demand picks up.

Recent Postal Service data loss highlights need for disaster recovery solutions

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It was discovered in a recent government audit of the U.S. Postal Service that the agency lost sensitive data after the device containing both the original and backup copies of the information suffered a hardware failure. The machine that crashed contained the database for the Computer Incident Response Team, which was "used to record and monitor computer incidents." The database was lost in April after an unspecified malfunction occurred. The information was considered essential, meaning it was necessary to the maintenance of daily operations.

"…[T]he Postal Service did not ensure all database backups were being stored on separate hardware," stated the audit report. 'Specifically, the CIRT database was lost due to a hardware failure and the data was not recovered due to the absence of a backup on a separate piece of hardware."

Currently, the security standards for the Postal Service do not require separate devices for storing backup and original files to maintain information resources. Ironically, the USPS was given an award by CSO Magazine earlier this year for innovative use of online security. The award was accepted by the CIRT's Information Systems Security Manager Andrew Kotynski.

Disaster recovery: More important than you think 
​While it may seem like what happened to the USPS was just an embarrassing oversight, hundreds of companies make the same mistake each year. Even if duplicate copies of information aren't stored together, they can still be lost if the appropriate disaster recovery and business continuity policies aren't implemented. A recent survey conducted by Forrester found that 33 percent of companies have declared a disaster in the last five years. Four years ago, that number was 20 percent. The study also found that the downtime caused by disasters can be extremely expensive, with respondents reporting costs of up to $3.5 million.

When putting disaster recovery and business continuity plans in place, it is important for organizations to consider where documents and important information are currently stored and how employees access them. For critical information that is used frequently and by many different people, cloud storage services are the best choice.

Using content management systems and cloud-based solutions allow companies to store important data in an easily accessible place that will stay safe during a disaster and keep business running as usual. Employing managed services also lets small- and medium-sized businesses enjoy the same benefits as large companies while having lower costs and the security of a fully redundant, reliable data center.

California counties join together to bring broadband to underserved areas

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It was announced earlier this month that a partnership has been formed between four California counties in an effort to extend fast and affordable Internet services to underserved areas. The North Bay North Coast Broadband Consortium is made up up Marin, Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino counties and was created in the last few months in the hopes of modernizing the area's service offerings.

Over the next to years, and with a $250,000 grant from the California Public Utilities Commission, each of the four counties in the consortium will be developing regional maps to identify which areas are served by what types of Internet connections.

"One of the biggest issues we're confronting is closing the digital divide, and this mapping is really a data-based approach that will identify where we have the greatest need," said Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carrillo, who was appointed to represent the county in the consortium. "We have to get broadband access to those who are underserved, especially in our rural communities in the county."

One of the driving forces behind the consortium's efforts is Marin County which, despite having a highly educated population, has the highest percentage of people without broadband access within the nine Bay area counties, according to the Utilities Commission. The goal of the initiative is to demonstrate to major providers that the need for broadband access exists and to push for future state and federal funding to build a network of underground fiber optic cables that would connect rural fire and sheriff stations, schools, libraries and businesses to reliable Internet.

Proving a need exists
In an interview with the Marin Independent Journal, Carrillo said that the consortium hopes to offer Internet providers data that would help to push them to make better services available to rural and underserved areas like Marin county.

"This is a chance to bring many more Marin residents online," said Marin County Supervisor Steve Kinsey. "It has moved pretty swiftly. We just started this last November and enticed the Mendocino and Sonoma folks and brought along Napa to make a compelling consortium. We got word in the last month or so that they are on board, and we are moving ahead."

Providing service for the people
The access made possible by the new initiative will also allow more state parks, like Fort Ross State Historic Park in Jenner, California, to access high-speed Internet and give visitors the ability to post pictures and send emails about their trip. About 200,000 people visit Fort Ross each year, but the park currently has only spotty cell phone reception and poor Internet access.

In an interview with The Press Democrat, Public Policy Institute of California researcher Dean Bonner said that an increasing number of California citizens are viewing the Internet as a service that should be provided in the same way as power and water. According to Bonner, about two-thirds of those surveyed believe high-speed Internet is a public utility that everyone should have access to. Another 67 percent of respondents said that they would support a program offered by the government and funded by telecom providers that would increase broadband access for residents in rural or low-income areas.

New data center technology leverages SDN for security

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It was announced this week that Israeli security startup GuardiCore had closed a round of fundraising to begin production on its new security system designed to internally secure data centers. The technology takes advantage of recent improvements in network virtualization and uses software-defined networking methods to defend data centers operating at multi-terabit rates of traffic.

"SDN is an opportunity to introduce advanced security controls and capabilities into the data center network in a way that can scale to the demands of a large [data center] and offer a dynamic and proactive security control framework, detecting and mitigating an attack at an early stage,"  said the company in a statement.

A weakness created by modern facilities' tendency to include applications that cross security parameters has been exacerbated by the adoption of intra-data center traffic that moves at multi-terabit levels, according to GuardiCore CEO Pavil Gurvich. The new technology aims to address the increase in cyberattacks committed within a data center that go unnoticed due to insufficient security measures. Traditional methods of defense, including sandboxing, intrusion detection and deep packet inspection, are not capable of keeping pace with the speeds at which data center traffic currently operates.

The first component of this new security system, Active Honeypot, surreptitiously re-routes network traffic to counter attack cybercriminals by sending data to an 'ambush' server. The secret server is highly monitored and is capable of quickly providing information about the attack in order to effectively eliminate the threat. Active Honeypot is currently being evaluated in a variety of data centers and private cloud environments.

The recent round of fundraising was led by Battery Ventures, whose general partner Scott Tobin noted that tracking and eliminating intra-data center threats is the next important skill for the industry to master.

"Traditional security techniques have focused on keeping the bad guys out of the perimeter. GuardiCore's approach assumes you have already been compromised and provides levels of visibility and protection that were previously unattainable," said Tobin. 

NASA successfully completes first phase of cloud migration

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A massive move to transition NASA's websites and applications to a cloud platform has successfully completed its first phase, migrating more than 1 million files so far.

The agency's huge amount of information made the move quite an undertaking. NASA has more than 1,500 public-facing websites and thousands of applications and networks on top of the agency's huge data offerings and holdings. Sites being moved to the cloud include the internal NASA Engineering Network, which contains the documents of 3 million engineering projects, and NASA.gov. In all, the first phase of the move included more than 100 sites and applications and took 22 weeks to complete, according to NextGov.

Making sure applications 'don't go dark'
During the initial migration to the cloud infrastructure, the NASA.gov portal – which itself contains multiple sites – was redesigned to make the transition smoother. The rest of the websites were moved as-is so NASA could still save on infrastructure, according to Raj Ananthanpillai, who is overseeing the migration.

The applications and sites being moved to the cloud were previously housed in a commercial data center where redundancy and uptime were a top priority, so it was important to the agency that nothing fell through the cracks. In an interview with NextGov, Ananthanpillai likened migrating multiple, dispersed sites running on proprietary systems to changing a tire on a moving car. He stressed the importance of the sites being able to stay online, saying that none of them could go dark.

The Office of Management and Budget's federal cloud-first policy was a driving force behind NASA's move to a cloud platform. At the same time, the agency's own Open Government Initiative, which dealt with the utilization of open-source projects to consolidate internal and external websites, fit in nicely with the OMB's policy. NASA's cloud migration allowed the agency to introduce open-source components to overhaul technology in a cost effective way, while also employing new content management systems within the agency's enterprise tool kit.

Overall, the use of cloud storage services has already generated cost savings of 40 percent, according to Roopangi Kadakia, web services executive with NASA's office of the CIO. Looking to the future, the infrastructure is projected to cut the agency's monthly operations and maintenance costs by about 25 percent.

Universities increasingly look to the cloud for data storage solutions

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The demand for access to data at large universities is increasing at an incredible rate with the advent of online classes, analytics services and expanding levels of research. In an interview with TechTarget, Michigan State University CIO Joanna Young explained that the current influx of data is posing a challenge for universities in regards to how best to store information and retain records in the most secure, efficient way possible.

Young noted that it's important for schools to be able to keep up with the growing demand for the multimedia content teachers share in class to be available to students online at anytime. As professors start to offer more content to students that is based somewhere besides a textbook, schools need to become more effective and efficient in their use of data storage and the cloud is an especially helpful solution. At the same time, cloud storage is almost a necessity for universities looking to offer online education options, according to Young.

"Because the video requirements for these online classes are huge – every week, two to four hours or more worth of video content – that would have quickly overwhelmed the storage we had on campus," Young said.

The cloud as a recruitment tool
In her interview with TechTarget, Young mentioned that data storage options can also be a helpful tool in incentivizing professors to come to the university to perform groundbreaking research or start important programs.

"As a CIO, the trick is to say to people…'You don't have to worry about storage. You don't have to worry about servers. Here's how we can provide that for you in a way that's easy for you to use, is going to give you enough space and access that you need, and the type of speed set is OK for you,'" explained Young. "[You] become a partner and get them to align with you, because I find particularly in higher education, you've got to stick with the carrot approach."

The increased ability to conduct advanced research provided by the cloud has even gotten the attention of the National Science Foundation. The NSF recently announced that it would be launching two $10 million projects to create test beds for cloud computing at universities. The aim is to enable the academic research community to pursue and develop new ways to utilize the cloud for next-generation applications used in medical devices, power grids and transportation systems. The first cloud program will be colocated between the University of Chicago and the University of Texas Austin, while the second will be a joint project with a large-scale, distributed infrastructure shared between the University of Wisconsin, Clemson University and the University of Utah.

With cloud platforms growing larger and more complex, Young noted that it can become impractical to solely purchase cloud storage services at such great volumes. In her previous role as CIO for the University of New Hampshire, she looked into software-as-a-service offerings that included storage as a package deal as a way to reduce costs. She also mentioned the need for schools interested in implementing a cloud infrastructure, especially large universities, to have a strong network and reliable broadband service.

LA parks receive access to free Wi-Fi

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Park-goers in the Los Angeles area will now have access to free Wi-Fi in six of the city's parks. The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks partnered with American Park Network, which creates guides for national parks and public land, to bring the program live. The Wi-Fi service was fully paid for by Toyota, The Los Angeles Times reported.

The service, which has been in beta testing since July, was officially launched last week. The public will have access to the "Oh! Ranger Wi-Fi" network at designated spots throughout Cabrillo Beach, Echo Park Lake, Griffith Observatory, Pershing Square, Reseda Park and Venice Beach. According to Mark Saferstein, publisher and editor-in-chief of American Park Network, the aim of the program is to get more people outside and enjoying the city's parks.

"It's a way to get families who might not go to a park to go there and share with their friends on social media," he said.

By visiting a city website, people visiting the park will be able log onto the network and receive Internet access comparable to what they have in their homes, according to Councilman Bob Blumenfield.

At the same time as the Oh! Ranger Wi-Fi is being introduced, the city of LA has also rolled out a new mobile website that provides citizens with information on parks and recreational activities, like upcoming events, available services and programs and a hub for residents to post service requests.

According to Saferstein the speed of the Wi-Fi varies depending on which park it is being used in, but visitors will have connections fast enough to be able to check email and post pictures. The program is also expanding to New York, Saferstein said, and the hope is to eventually expand to more parks in Los Angeles and across the country.