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Not everyone will be aware that we are currently in the middle of a unprecedented world wide chip shortgage and manufacturers across the globe are impacted, either having to slow their production lines or halt operations entirely. The global chip shortage refers to a shortage of semiconductor chips, which are essential components used in a wide range of electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, cars, and household appliances. This shortage has been caused by a number of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and an increase in demand for electronic devices as more people work and study from home.The pandemic led to factory shutdowns and disruptions in supply chains, which affected the production of semiconductors. Many chip manufacturers also shifted their production to meet the growing demand for electronics, particularly for gaming consoles, laptops, and other devices that people were using more during lockdowns. At the same time, the automotive industry also saw a surge in demand for semiconductors as car manufacturers increased their production to meet pent-up demand caused by lockdowns.The result has been a shortage of semiconductors, which has had ripple effects across multiple industries, including electronics, automotive, and manufacturing. Companies have had to delay production, reduce output, or even halt production altogether. This has caused supply chain disruptions and has led to higher prices for some products.The chip shortage is expected to persist for some time, as it takes several months to ramp up production of semiconductors, and demand is expected to remain high. Manufacturers are working to increase production, and governments around the world are also taking steps to address the shortage, including investing in chip manufacturing and working to improve supply chain resilience.
The issue is affecting us too here at EasyIP. Some of our preferred hardware brands, particularly for networking equipment such as routers and switches is proving difficult to source from our Suppliers. Thankfully we don't put all of our eggs in one basket and have a range of products in our itinerary which we like to use and thus far have escaped the major impacts of this chip shortgage whilst protecting the needs of our Clients. We have however made some interesting observations along the way which might be useful to our readers.
Always consider failure scenarios: How would your business be impacted if a key piece of on site equipment failed and needed to be sent away for fix / replacement and what would you do if that replacement was not forth-coming due to supply chain conditions like we are seeing today? What would be the cost of delay be to your business? Would it be higher than the cost of purchasing additional 'spare' devices to be used in such a scenario i.e. an extra laptop, router or switch to mitigate such a risk? At EasyIP, we always recommend to our Clients that building in redundancy to solutions is imperative, however building redundant solutions tends to result in increased costs so there is a balance to be struck. The important thing for business owners is to understand that failures do happen, identify the impact of such failures (before they happen) and finally plan to mitigate these impacts. Although this article is primarily pitched towards hardware failures, the same questions should be considered from a software perspective. Although typically the impacts will be less severe, they are impacts none the less and should be predicted, measured and mitigated accordingly.
Paul Taylor, Founder and CTO, EasyIP
Protecting your business from unwanted malware and cyber crime is crucial in today's digital age. Here are some steps you can take to ensure your business does not become an easy target:
1)
Use anti-virus and anti-malware software: Install reliable and updated anti-virus and anti-malware software on all company computers and devices. Ensure that these software programs are updated regularly.
2)
Keep software updated: Keep all software programs up to date, especially operating systems and web browsers. Hackers often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software.
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Use strong passwords: Enforce strong passwords and encourage employees to change them regularly. Use multi-factor authentication for added security.
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Regular data backups: Regularly back up all data and store it in a secure location. In the event of a ransomware attack, you can restore data from backups.
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Train employees: Educate employees on cyber threats and how to recognize them. Teach them to avoid clicking on suspicious links and attachments.
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Limit access: Limit access to sensitive data to only those who need it. This reduces the chances of unauthorized access to your company's information.
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Secure Wi-Fi: Secure your Wi-Fi network with a strong password and encryption. Use a separate network for guests and personal devices.
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Monitor activity: Monitor network activity and investigate any suspicious activity immediately. This can help you detect and respond to cyber threats before they become major issues.
By implementing these simple measures you can significantly reduce the attack surface for cyber related breaches and protect your most important assets. For further advice EasyIP would be delighted to help. Pleach reach us using our Contact form.
Paul Taylor, Founder and CTO, EasyIP
"There is a lot of debate on this topic, and opinions vary widely. While it's true that AI is becoming more capable of performing tasks that were previously done only by humans, it's important to note that there are still many jobs that require human skills and abilities that AI cannot replicate.AI is best suited for tasks that involve repetitive, rule-based processes that can be easily automated, such as data entry, scheduling, and simple decision-making. However, there are many jobs that require creativity, empathy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, which are currently beyond the capabilities of AI.Moreover, AI systems require humans to design, build, and maintain them, which creates new job opportunities in areas such as software engineering, data science, and machine learning. AI can also assist humans in their jobs, making them more efficient and effective, rather than replacing them entirely.So while AI may impact certain jobs, it's unlikely that it will take over all human jobs. It's important for individuals to stay informed about the latest developments in AI and to acquire skills that are in high demand in the job market.”
ChatGPT
"Taking out an IT support contract for your business can provide several benefits, including:
Proactive maintenance and support: An IT support contract can provide proactive maintenance and support for your IT systems. This means that issues can be detected and resolved before they become major problems, minimizing downtime and reducing the risk of data loss.
Expert advice: With an IT support contract, you have access to a team of experts who can provide advice on the latest technologies and best practices. This can help you make informed decisions about your IT infrastructure and ensure that you are using the most effective solutions for your business. Cost-effective: An IT support contract can be cost-effective, as it provides predictable costs for IT services. This can help you manage your budget more effectively and avoid unexpected expenses. Improved security: IT support contracts often include security services, such as antivirus and malware protection, firewalls, and data backup and recovery solutions. This can help protect your business from cyber threats and ensure that your data is secure. Increased productivity: With IT support, you can ensure that your systems are running smoothly, allowing your employees to focus on their work and be more productive.
Overall, an IT support contract can provide peace of mind, improve efficiency, and save you time and money in the long run.”
ChatGPT
ChatGPT is an AI-based language model developed by OpenAI. It is part of the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) family of models and was trained on a massive amount of text data to learn the patterns and structure of language.People are talking about ChatGPT because it is one of the largest and most powerful language models available, with the ability to generate human-like responses to a wide range of questions and prompts. It has been used for a variety of applications, including language translation, chatbots, and content generation.In recent years, there has been a growing interest in AI and its potential applications, and ChatGPT represents a significant advancement in the field of natural language processing. It has also raised important ethical and societal questions about the role of AI in society, particularly in areas such as privacy, bias, and job automation.Overall, ChatGPT has generated a lot of interest and discussion due to its impressive capabilities and the potential impact it could have on various industries and aspects of everyday life.
If you're interested in learning more about ChatGPT and its capabilities, there are several resources you can explore:
1) OpenAI's website: https://openai.com/
2) Online tutorials: There are several online tutorials and courses available that can help you learn more about ChatGPT and how to use it for different applications. Some popular platforms that offer courses on AI and NLP include Coursera, Udemy, and edX.
3) Online communities: There are several online communities and forums where you can discuss ChatGPT and related topics with other AI enthusiasts and experts. Some popular communities include Reddit's r/artificial and OpenAI's own forum.
4) Experiment with it: Finally, you can experiment with ChatGPT yourself. There are several online tools and platforms that allow you to interact with the model and generate text based on different prompts. OpenAI's own GPT-3 Playground is a good place to start.
Paul Taylor, Founder & CTO EasyIP
