Basic Knowledge of Fiber Optic Connectors

An optical fiber connector has three major components: the ferrule, the connector body and the coupling mechanism. Generally made from ceramic, metal or high quality plastic, the ferrule is a thin structure (often cylindrical) that holds the glass fiber. The connector body is a plastic or metal structure that holds the ferrule and attaches to the jacket and strengthens members of the fiber cable itself. And the coupling mechanism is a part of the connector body that holds the connector in place when it gets attached to another device.

Why Zone Cabling makes sense for PoE in Digital Buildings

When Power over Ethernet (PoE) was introduced in 2003, it was available for only a handful of low-power operations and devices. Today, PoE is one of the fastest growing networking applications. A wide range of enterprise devices and technology rely on PoE, including lighting, access controls, laptops and desktop computers, IP cameras, information kiosks, industrial automation equipment, and wireless access points (WAPs). With the advent of digital buildings and the Internet of Things (IoT), PoE is poised for unprecedented expansion in the enterprise. To leverage the many capabilities of PoE, network designers are increasingly turning to zone cabling architectures as an alternative to traditional home run cabling in digital buildings.

Digital Transformation Is Not About Technology

A recent survey of directors, CEOs, and senior executives found that digital transformation (DT) risk is their #1 concern in 2019. Yet 70% of all DT initiatives do not reach their goals. Of the $1.3 trillion that was spent on DT last year, it was estimated that $900 billion went to waste. Why do some DT efforts succeed and others fail? Fundamentally, it’s because most digital technologies provide possibilities for efficiency gains and customer intimacy. But if people lack the right mindset to change and the current organizational practices are flawed, DT will simply magnify those flaws. Five key lessons have helped us lead our organizations through digital transformations that succeeded.

Utility Grid Experiences First Cyberattack

The U.S. utility industry may have just experienced its first malicious “cyber event”—or at least the first such event to be reported. In March, an anonymous utility in the Western region of the country filed an “Electric Emergency and Disturbance Report” with the Department of Energy (DOE). The utility stated a “cyber event that causes interruptions of electrical system operations” occurred on March 5 from 9:12 a.m. until 6:57 p.m., in some of its service areas across multiple states. However, no loss of power occurred, and no customers were affected, according to the report.