Will Olympic Surge Challenge Your Network Optimisation?
January 9th, 2012 by BrightCloud
Expect bandwidth challenges on company networks during 2012 Olympics
Staff watching global events at work have put major pressure on the UK’s communications infrastructure and business networks in the past.
Bright Cloud is advising businesses to prepare now as most of the events are expected to be held during the working day.
The opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics saw Internet traffic peak at five times the norm and the majority of viewers were business customers watching the event live from the office.
So businesses need to prepare now for the effect of multiple people simultaneously streaming and downloading data during this year’s Olympics in London. At worst, the effect will be to seriously compromise network access and overall IT efficiency if preventive steps aren’t taken.
London 2012 is expected to draw a global audience of over 4 billion people, while in the UK research suggests that more than a quarter (28%) of people plan to keep up with events online via their laptop, tablet or smartphone.
Businesses must open their eyes to this as the huge demand for online services is likely to cause a significant headache for IT departments up and down the country. It’s not just businesses, ISPs should also be making provision now to factor in the upsurge in demand we’re likely to see over the course of the Olympics and Paralympics.
Tips To Ensure Your Network Optimisation is not compromised
Aside from businesses introducing flexible working schemes to accommodate staff who want to watch live coverage, they can also take some simple steps to lessen the impact of the Olympics on their bandwidth and network access:
- Devise a policy so that staff knows exactly what is acceptable
- Position televisions in locations around the office
- Increase the company’s Internet bandwidth
- Ensure their network provider can itself provide the resilience and scalability to handle media-driven Internet demands
- Restrict the bandwidth available to their Internet users
There are ways and means of reducing the IT impact of the Olympic Games without detracting from the celebration of the event itself. Doing your homework now will ensure you still have a network that supports the business as well as staff that know exactly what is and isn’t acceptable when it comes to watching London 2012.
Towards the finish, for those who have followed these steps closely, you will probably succeed and revel in that success in addition to the fruits it brings! Receive the accolades and admiration (and envious glances!). You managed to do it so you deserve the credit! It is your project and your accomplishment. Now pat yourself on the shoulder and Smile!
Those that got off track and failed to go by the advice above, ah well, too bad. All best wishes for you personally anyway…
