< PreviousChannel organisations, both large and small, can overcome knowledge challenges and boost sales while upskilling their team by simply partnering with the right cybersecurity vendor. Working with a vendor or master agent, for example, who joins sales calls, offers time to explain technologies and stays in regular contact, means resellers can ‘dip a toe’ into the market and get to grips with the various processes and ways of thinking. Then, they can better understand the prerequisites before looking to hire an in- house security expert or investing in training to upskill colleagues – even leveraging a vendor’s own training to accomplish the same. What cybersecurity threats do SMEs face? Right now, many enterprises are taking a second look at their rushed remote working solutions that have held together for the past couple of years. For those to work over the long-term, security, network optimisation, and a cloud-first approach, must be deeply embedded into IT strategic planning, allowing for seamless movement between on-premises and remote locations. Thankfully, phishing, supply chain attacks, ransomware, DDoS and all the most common threats SMEs face, are all interconnected. For most attacks, capturing the account credentials of a staff member – likely with top-tier admin privileges – is the most probable route to deliver a system-wide attack in the future. Therefore, simple safety features such as two-factor authentication, well-designed firewalls and threat detection all contribute to minimising that danger. However, preventing major system vulnerabilities from being exploited requires a constant, vigilant eye to thwart rising attacks. While the traditional Channel solution of combining multiple services, to develop a broad security solution, may be ‘fit-for-purpose’, the principle of stitching together various systems often leaves gaps and hidden vulnerabilities. Therefore, the Channel needs a better, all-in-one solution that provides a solid defence for all types of attacks; internal, external and even those masquerading with the right credentials! Aryaka overcomes this through tightly integrated technology, service delivery, and support, spanning implementation and operation; an approach that can’t be replicated internally by traditional resellers, aggregators or even enterprise customers themselves. What are the must-have elements of a comprehensive security solution? ICT resellers looking to broaden their existing portfolio with managed security services need to focus on simple pricing for the SME market. End-users don’t want a mishmash of prices for specific features. They want one price and the assurance that all their needs are covered. That’s why Aryaka’s packages are sized like clothes (S, M, L), encompassing every business from start-up to enterprise, without having to get ‘into the weeds’. Resellers should also offer comprehensive security. There’s no point in selling a solution when integral features like a Secure Web Gateway, or content scanning aren’t included. Instead, resellers need a strong foundational service that allows them to promise safety without caveats or conditions. SMEs will be looking for a vendor with a strong track record of success. Resellers should look for regular names in industry reports, as well as specialist cybersecurity award wins, to assess a vendor’s quality. Then try to find out as much as possible about their support; How flexible are they to your needs and ways of working? What about commission? Do they work via master agents, offering more bespoke sales and marketing support, or will they just leave you to your own devices? There is certainly work that needs to be done both by the Channel and resellers to counteract the rise of cyber-attacks and equip SMEs with the right tools to fight back. There are many ways in which businesses may choose to do this, but education is the most crucial. Resellers that deal in the SME market need to take the lead in sharing their accrued knowledge and expertise to ensure that their customers not only stay cyber-safe but stay loyal too. Channel businesses should be investing in their workforce and training up those who want to explore a specialism, or career, in cybersecurity. CYBER SECURITY www.networkseuropemagazine.com 40CYBER SECURITYAlthough invisible to the naked eye, electrostatic charge (ES) can cause havoc to a fibre network. ES attracts dust to the ceramic and composite ferrule end faces, which can negatively affect network reliability and system performance if it is not effectively removed. Contamination on fibre optical interconnects is one of the biggest threats to a fibre optic network, particularly 5G’s sensitive technology which requires every milliwatt of power to guarantee its superfast speeds and increased data volume requirements. If connector cleaning is not performed correctly, problems such as insertion loss (weakened signal) or back-reflection (signal diverted back to its source) are common. If the contamination is severe, the light’s refraction angle can alter enough for the optic signal to be lost entirely, causing a total system shutdown. Therefore, it is critical to implement fibre connector cleaning procedures to remove the threat of contamination, especially ES and dust, to guarantee optimal network operation, uninterrupted connectivity and high-speed operation. What dust? Dust-based contamination originates from many sources. Airborne dust can come from dead skin, plant pollen, vehicle emissions, cardboard boxes, and clothing lint. However, the primary source of contamination is through connector wear debris. Wear debris dust is created by contact friction as the connectors are mated. The Liam Taylor, European business manager, Fibre Optics, Microcare Don’t let static be in charge of your fibre network DATA RECOVERY www.networkseuropemagazine.com 42DATA RECOVERY www.networkseuropemagazine.com 43connector slider, the retention clips inside adaptors and transceivers, and even the guide pins rubbing against each other create microscopic dust particles which, if not removed, can grind into the ferrule surface, resulting in scratched, pitted or scarred end faces. Electrostatic charge makes dust contamination even more problematic, as it attracts dust particles to the fibre and locks it in place. Therefore, all fibre end faces, including those new and straight out of the pack, must be thoroughly cleaned during installation or maintenance operations to prevent 5G network interference or failures. How is an electrostatic charge created? Electrostatic charge, or ‘triboelectric charging’, takes place when certain materials become electrically charged after coming into contact with a different material, and are then separated. The most common way that ES is generated on end faces or ferrules is from contact friction. This usually happens when end faces are mated or their protective end caps are removed. It can also result from incorrect cleaning. For example, using a dry paper wipe on a ceramic end face will easily build up ES. Because fibre end faces are made from non- conductive materials such as plastic, ceramic, glass or epoxies, they act as an electrical insulator. As a result, the static charge has no place to go and so will remain indefinitely on the end face, attracting dust unless it is removed. Although ES is problematic for all fibre networks, the threat is increased with new 5G technology, which often uses higher fibre count cables of up to 6,912 individual fibres. These densely packed higher fibre count cables make the end face connections particularly vulnerable to contamination and are typically harder to clean if specific processes are not implemented. The construction and material composition of 5G networks can add further complexities regarding ES and contamination. 16-fibre arrays are replacing the traditional 12-fibre arrays. These multi-fibre connectors are required to ensure there is enough bandwidth to accommodate the next generation fibre networks. The problem is that the new fibre still uses the same 2.5mm x 6.4mm standard MT ferrule footprint. They are not only more condensed but they are made from 80% glass. Although glass helps improve thermal expansion control, it also retains more static than other types of connectors, making them ‘dust magnets’. The end face shape is another contributor to the problem. Because most fibre end faces are designed with convex configuration to reduce back reflection, ES is concentrated at the contact region of the mated connector pair, pulling dust and contamination to the very area which is most vulnerable. Incorrect cleaning can be problematic The products that are supposed to stop damage to the fibre can also be a contributing problem. Removing manufacturer-installed protective end caps from a new end face connector can generate static and draw in dust contamination to the end face. Also, the cleaning tools used to install or maintain the fibre network can also add to the ES problem. For example, wiping an end face with a dry wipe or cleaning stick can create contact friction. Just like rubbing a balloon on your clothing, the dry wiping action creates a triboelectric effect that is difficult to dissipate. Another common ES contributor is rapid air movement. For example, using compressed air or canned dusters during the cleaning and drying process can cause friction and create a triboelectric charge to the end face. Remove the threat of electrostatic charge through cleaning To remove any ES and contamination from the fibre end faces and connectors, they must be cleaned using the correct tools and cleaning procedures. It is also important to follow standards like those set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The fibre end face specification 61300-3-35 helps guide the fibre optic industry in identifying the types of contaminants on end faces and on how to remove them with a recommended three-step process of inspect, clean, inspect. Wet to dry cleaning Wet to dry cleaning is the most effective way to remove contamination and disperse any ES. This can be achieved by applying a small amount of high-purity static-dissipative cleaning fluid on the corner of a dry, To remove any ES and contamination from the fibre end faces and connectors, they must be cleaned using the correct tools and cleaning procedures. It is also important to follow standards like those set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). DATA RECOVERY www.networkseuropemagazine.com 44Electrostatic charge threatens fibre optic network performance as it attracts dust particles to the end faces and locks them in place. lint-free, high-quality optical-grade wipe. Then, starting at the wet section, slowly swipe the end face towards the dry section of the wipe. If using a cleaning stick, wet the tip of the stick directly from the dispenser cap of the can, or touch with a cleaning wipe moistened with cleaning fluid. Then insert the stick tip into the end face to clean. It is important not to touch the wipe or stick tip with any clothing or skin, as small amounts of fibre or skin-oil will contaminate the cleaning tool, making it ineffective. Once the cleaning process is finished, it is crucial to inspect the end face to ensure all contaminants have been removed. Static dissipative cleaning fluid Wet to dry cleaning using a specially engineered fluid with a low surface tension provides the static charge with a path to dissipate, making it easier to wipe away end face contamination. To further reduce contamination risk, ensure the cleaning fluid is fast drying. This is particularly important as it helps to keep ambient moisture from being attracted to the fluid, and makes the cleaning process quicker. Make sure the cleaning fluid is contained in hermetically sealed packaging. This helps keep the fluid ultra-pure and prevents it from absorbing airborne contaminants such as moisture, microscopic dust particles, exhaust particles from traffic, or pollen from plants, all of which can degrade the cleaning fluid’s effectiveness. Clickers and cticks Only use high quality sticks and ‘click-to-clean’ tools when cleaning fibre. Do not use foam swabs as they can tear, leaving debris behind. They may also generate an electrostatic charge which will attract further dust contamination to stick to the end face. Cleaning sticks are ideal for low fibre counts or when cleaning highly contaminated end faces. If using a cleaning stick, check it has been engineered to be non-linting and that it perfectly fits the end face configuration without having to disassemble the connector or adapter. Dampen the stick with cleaning fluid before inserting into the connector, then rotate in a clockwise direction, six to eight times. Only use one stick per end face to avoid any cross-contamination. When cleaning high-density fibre like those found in 5G networks, a click-to-clean tool is a good option as its fast, effective, and designed to clean connectors with uneven geometries and convex configurations. When using a click-to-clean tool, apply a small amount of cleaning fluid to a wipe first, then touch the tool to the dampened wipe. Insert the tool into the port or end face and push the handle until the tool is fully engaged. It is important not to spray the cleaning fluid directly onto the end face or the tool itself. Remove the risk of electrostatic charge for reliable networks Keeping today’s modern networks up and running and performing as they should is critical to connectivity. The pace of 5G coverage expansion across Europe is rising and will reach 70% in 2025 (from 47% in 2021). For 5G networks to effectively handle the increased demand, network providers must ensure their fibre is installed and maintained correctly. All connections must be perfectly clean for optimal performance and reliability. Electrostatic charge threatens fibre optic network performance as it attracts dust particles to the end faces and locks them in place. This contamination affects the core of the fibre causing insertion loss and impacting network speeds. It is, therefore, important to eliminate ES through effective cleaning tools engineered specially for fibre optic cleaning, and processes that follow regulatory standards and procedures. Those looking for help in cleaning and removing static from their fibre-optic end faces should seek the help of an experienced supplier that specialises in fibre cleaning to advise them on which cleaning fluids, tools and methods will work best for their 5G fibre networks. DATA RECOVERY www.networkseuropemagazine.com 455G is maturing as a technology. According to Ericsson, there will be over one billion 5G subscribers worldwide by the end of 2022, and the technology is scaling faster than any previous mobile generation. The diversity of the use-cases 5G supports – from connecting the unconnected to industry 4.0 – makes it a compelling investment opportunity for private sector and government stakeholders. However, questions have been raised as to whether European countries are maximising the 5G opportunity, igniting a discussion around how to accelerate 5G investment. The GSMA’s Mobile Economy Europe 2022 report indicates that 5G network coverage across Europe will rise to 70% by 2025 – up from 47% in 2021. Yet compared to countries such as South Korea and the US, this is relatively slow rate of adoption. The report forecasts these countries will achieve 98% coverage and above in the same timeframe. So, what more can be done to accelerate 5G deployment in Europe, which at its current rate will leave almost a third of the population without 5G coverage by 2025? Policy to drive investment Policy making at both a domestic and continental level is a powerful tool for driving technology adoption forwards. The European Commission has historically been a driving force of this, and in 2021 published its Digital Decade policy programme, which set objectives for 2030 to spearhead Europe’s digital transformation. Moreover, domestic governments have a major role to play in creating an environment that enables network transformation. One of Europe’s frontrunners in terms of 5G deployment, Denmark, is an example of this. The European Commission’s Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2022 ranks Denmark as the second highest country in terms of digital readiness – still over 10% short of its Digital Decade target of 80% by 2030. Part of this relative success is owed to the comprehensive action plan set out by the Danish Energy Agency in 2019, which focused on how the country would address auctions of 5G frequency, network rollout, regulatory frameworks, and prominent use-cases. While spectrum availability has stalled progress even in Europe’s most successful countries, ambitious and considered policies can significantly impact transformation. Policy alone, however, cannot bridge the gap. The bigger opportunity is in collaboration between mobile operators, wireless technology manufacturers, the EU and national governments. Investment needs to continue at both a domestic and continental level to ensure mobile ecosystems are ‘5G-ready’ and to create a more open market for innovation. An open innovation ecosystem At present, the European mobile operator landscape suffers from fragmentation. Services across 44 European countries are delivered by hundreds of operators – some with international presence and others offering very localised coverage. This can have a positive impact – increasing competition and accelerating innovation – but to do so there must be a culture of collaboration or ‘co-opetition’ that prioritises the quality of service at an industry level. In most cases, smaller, more local operators have less capital to invest in the R&D, trials, and labs that drive 5G innovation. Meanwhile larger operators are investing heavily in all of these. To achieve the aims set out in the Digital Decade plan and empower the mobile industry to accelerate Gilles Garcia, senior director, AMDMobile Mobile players and policy makers must collaborate to accelerate 5G rollout in Europe MOBILE DATA www.networkseuropemagazine.com 465G deployment across Europe, collaboration between large and small operators is vital. Strategic partnerships between telcos where smaller operators can access more of the R&D facilities that exist in their region will stimulate innovation. Shared resources and goals between industry players have the potential to reduce cost of deployment, cost per user, and find new ways to overcome technical challenges that delay deployment. Policy makers may have a role to play here in supporting shared R&D centres that any vendor can access to create or test new solutions and services. At the heart of this opportunity is Open-RAN – an open radio access network architecture with the aim of improving network flexibility, improving competition, and enabling innovation. The O-RAN Alliance brings together operators and telecommunications equipment manufacturers to create a multi-vendor, interoperable ecosystem to deliver open interface specifications. Each member focuses on a specific system or interface aligned to their expertise. Every vendor takes responsibility for the delivery of the complete solution – whether it’s the 5G Core network, baseband units, or silicon chips. This is the essence of the O-RAN Alliance and Open-RAN. Concepts such as this and a culture of co-innovation among vendors increases the market opportunity for players focusing on more specific areas of telecommunications infrastructure. This can lead to rapid deployment of new solutions such as adaptable reference architectures, low power wired and wireless solutions, enhanced data processing, and cloud solutions, which can be deployed on any network. Combining robust policy and a renewed focus on introducing new, flexible solutions to the ecosystem can reduce challenges around vendor lock-in, and enable service providers to create best-of-breed infrastructure that increases network coverage and speed, while reducing cost and power consumption. This will be key as governments and vendors across Europe look to accelerate 5G deployment and increase coverage levels in the coming years, to provide as many users as possible with the benefits of next-generation connectivity. MOBILE DATA www.networkseuropemagazine.com 47 Jon Selway, vice president of channel sales EMEA, Aryaka Resellers and end-users can weather economic uncertainty through managed networking With the UK’s economic growth decelerating significantly in recent years, potentially plunging it into a recession, businesses are clearly feeling the squeeze, while being pushed to deliver digital transformation initiatives. Channel resellers may feel that cost reductions are essential to avoid losing momentum, but Channel businesses have a reputation for weathering many economic storms, especially when savvy leaders take a proactive approach and step away from long-term commitments that don’t carry long-term value, and the future-proof tag, for their customers. Here’s how… The way things were done… The demands on businesses since the pandemic have meant many companies have learnt hard lessons in the importance of flexibility, making quick but well-informed decisions to deliver impactful benefits for remote and hybrid collaboration, and remaining productive despite the ever-changing economic winds. Businesses now realise that these long-term, fixed-cost capital expenditures restrict flexibility and innovation. The difference for many was focusing on OpEx rather than CapEx to enhance the flexibility that comes with an informed approach to IT spending, matching the agility of technologies themselves. Now, there is a better understanding that moving away from CapEx spend reduces upfront costs for the end-user, meaning their budgets can accommodate more products and services, which is great news for the Channel reseller market! Finding the silver lining The pandemic and recessions are often compared by way of the challenges they place on businesses and resellers, but the realities of the two are very different. The pandemic introduced challenges never faced before, placing spend emphasis on remote technologies for communication and security. Recessions aren’t exactly new, but each presents a fresh challenge. Recessions push Channel businesses and resellers to do more with less but, when appropriately navigated, can be an opportunity for positive change. The 2008 recession, for example, spurred large-scale investments in cloud computing, which we in the Channel are still reaping the rewards from. As we stare into the face of an uncertain future, INTERNET TECHNOLOGY www.networkseuropemagazine.com 48what positives could we hope to find? There is an opportunity now for resellers to help their partners adopt managed services, and reduce (if not eliminate) costly capital investments and staff resources required. This change should not be overlooked. There is now potential for resellers to open new revenue streams, build longer, stronger and more profitable relationships with businesses, and propose enhancements that will broadly impact business operations for the better. Keeping networks secure One of the biggest concerns for businesses is cybersecurity, especially given Royal Mail’s recent ‘incident’. But for many, cost plays a role in reducing their protection against attacks. Maintaining visibility across complex, international networks is no small feat, and spend-heavy, stand- alone solutions are more rigid, only increasing network complexity and creating more blind spots. This often leads to further investment without much new capability or a reluctance to invest anymore. Resellers are ideally placed to provide recommendations on the best-in-class OpEx security services to build a managed network with enhanced service levels at a reduced cost, compared to what organisations could build on their own. This is the ideal example of receiving more with less, as the UK’s recession may remain throughout 2023. When planned and delivered at the highest quality, these OpEx safety nets are a huge credibility boost for resellers looking to capture more value from their customers. While taking over security responsibilities may seem daunting, opening resellers up to greater risk especially their credibility, the right vendor should be able to allay those fears with the quality of their NOC, solutions and support. This means resellers can become even more invaluable in the current economic climate, not only helping reduce the cost of doing business, but also protecting customers’ data from the ever-growing threat of cybercrime. The case for managed networks Investment in digital transformations and cloud applications has been unstoppable over the past decade, while in comparison, traditional network and location-based architecture have been relatively unchanged. Networks, on the whole, perform their function, so the need to ‘fix what wasn’t broken’ hasn’t been a priority. But now, hybrid working has pushed network performance onto the agenda. Businesses need agile networks that can provide all-essential flexibility, quickly provision applications, and provide security and visibility. And resellers need to be ready to provide them. Outsourcing monitoring and maintenance of cloud and on-premises infrastructure, to managed networking organisations, allows businesses to access wide and local network connections, firewalls, network access, virtual machines, and 24/7 support. Managed networks allow organisations to offload operational complexities while benefitting from faster change management, higher responsiveness, and fast service delivery across all sites. This, in turn, will allow in-house teams to refocus their attention and remain productive wherever they’re working. Enterprises don’t have to focus on maintaining digital protections and keeping the cogs of industry spinning. Instead, they can spend more time on areas where significant improvements can be made – training users and other proactive strategies – that will complement the managed services used to protect their infrastructure. For resellers too, managed networks will allow less time wasted tending to outages, network issues, and managing the effects on end-users, and more time looking at their own operations to find efficiencies and new solutions to unique user needs. What needs to change? Adopting a new technology like managed services may feel to many business leaders like relinquishing control and stepping into a process they do not know and trust. Resellers can reassure leaders that moving to a managed network will free up time and resources and allow them to position themselves as strategic thinkers in other areas of a business. Aryaka is committed to helping partners increase revenue and boost profitability by scaling customers' network requirements. Aryaka knows full well that recessions (or even a reduction of pace in economic growth) will always pose a challenge to businesses, but innovative ways of thinking from vendors, and access to future-proof resources from Aryaka will ease the stress. Uncertainty often drives innovation, and now is the time for resellers to consider their next steps; if they want to position themselves as leaders and modernisers, now is the time to make the change. Resellers can reassure leaders that moving to a managed network will free up time and resources and allow them to position themselves as strategic thinkers in other areas of a business. INTERNET TECHNOLOGY www.networkseuropemagazine.com 49Next >