Remote operations
Marc Prempain
15 April 2024
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These days, an internet connection is critical for conducting nearly any business. We take for granted the role this information superhighway plays in connecting the world until the connection is interrupted. When that happens, companies often ask an IT professional to perform a network connection test to determine the quality of their connection and the cause of the interruption. Sometimes, these tests are less straightforward than expected, and issues can arise. Still, you should be able to perform some of these tests on your own.
Even if you have access to an IT Help Desk, it is helpful to understand the underlying cause of connection problems, especially if they are reoccurring. This article will delve into these potential issues that can happen during a network test and explore different types of connections and tests.
Proxy authentication required (407) is a common HTTP error code. The error happens when the server is unable to receive proper permissions to access a server. The 407 error is often encountered when coding, so the exact cause will depend on what you are doing. This means that the fix depends on your specific code. It may be good to go to a website like Stack Overflow to try and find a solution specific to your code.
Internet Protocol, or IP, is the group of technologies used to establish and maintain an internet connection, allowing you to send and receive data to your device. Internet Protocol includes the IP address which identifies your device on the internet. A User Datagram Protocol (UDP) connection is a protocol for sending data that prioritizes speed over reliability. Since it is stateless, it is often used for streaming voice and video. Think of UDP as a mail sorting machine designed to sort as many packages in as little time as possible.
A Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection, often referred to as TCP/IP, is a technology used to send information over the internet. TCP is a common protocol used for internet connections. It is used to access websites, send emails, and send files. It prioritizes a reliable connection over speed. Think of TCP as a concierge who will check every package received to ensure it is in the correct order and goes to the right person.
Network security is not something you want to approach with your eyes closed. It is essential to conduct tests to verify the security of your network regularly. Network security tests were invented for this purpose. You’ll want to be careful with what tools you use to perform these tests. So how do you perform them?
Software testing help lists several different methods to test your network security. Here, we will focus on three: penetration testing, network scanning, and vulnerability scanning.
Penetration testing, often rendered as Pentest, tests the facility with which a hacker can penetrate your network. The US Government’s General Services Administration (GSA) has a standardized penetration test used in different levels of government.
Network scanning makes sure your network is securely configured and identifies all of the hosts connected to your network.
Vulnerability scanning uses software to find weaknesses in your network that hackers could exploit to gain access to your systems.
Network connection tests like internet speed tests or ping latency usually test the speed of your connection in megabits per second (mbps.) They test your connection speed, download speed, and upload speed, among other variables. There are different methods to run the test, depending on which test you want to do. You can find a simple speed test on Ookla.com, which will connect to a test server. A bandwidth test measures your network’s bandwidth and can help identify what is causing low bandwidth. It can diagnose issues with your wi-fi connection and whether internet services like online gaming take up too much bandwidth. To measure bandwidth on your local network, you can use the Windows Task Manager or other tools.
Sometimes test results can be complex and need an expert to explain or interpret the meaning, even if you are an IT professional yourself. Omnichannel IT Help Desks are an increasingly popular option for technical support. They offer the flexibility to connect via text chat, share your screen, or connect to a video call using apps like ViiBE.
ViiBE’s video call solution can put you in touch with an expert in an instant, thanks to its expertise call routing feature. Its web app allows you to share screenshots and documents in a cloud-based knowledge base and save the call video for future follow-up purposes. Its ticketing system can organize repeat calls from the same person under a single ticket, making it effortless to pick back up where you left off.
A quick post-call survey tracks KPIs like First call Resolution so that you can identify patterns with repeat callers. For example, if multiple calls are required for several company employees to resolve an internet connection issue, the problem may be system-wide. ViiBE is designed to be flexible and adapt to these kinds of situations.
While the internet has simplified many daily life problems, our dependence on a reliable internet connection becomes apparent when it is interrupted. Different connection protocols like TCP and UDP are designed to mitigate connection issues by providing alternative data transfer methods. Still, problems can arise, which need to be diagnosed to solve them. Network tests exist for this purpose, but the plethora of potential causes and the different error codes can seem daunting to navigate. When you have exhausted your ability to troubleshoot your internet connection independently, ViiBE’s web app can connect you to an expert. ViiBE’s download-free web app works from any internet-connected device with a camera. ViiBE helps you get back online quickly so you can stop being frustrated and get back to getting stuff done.
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