Grid Connect Blog

IoT and Networking

Brittney Borowicz — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 19:15:35 +0000

By Nathan Rockershousen, Technical Writer/Marketing

The Internet of Things (IoT) has been revolutionary in changing the way consumers interact with the technological devices in their lives. The amount of users with IoT devices in their homes, cars, and even on their bodies is also growing at an increasing rate. It is clear that IoT technology is heavily integrated into the lives of many consumers. That being said, there has been a lot of media coverage regarding the security of these devices.

Security in modern technological devices is a critical feature and a very big concern for consumers due to the threat of being hacked. Properly encrypting IoT devices is very important because very personal information can be accessed through IoT devices. In addition to simply losing personal information, the physical safety of consumers is at risk. An example of this can be found in the 2014 Jeep incident. Hackers were able to infiltrate a Jeep Cherokee via the internet in order to send commands to the car’s entertainment system, brakes, steering, and even the transmission. Despite the fact that this happened a couple of years ago, the technology is still under the same risk of being hacked. Even the FBI has intervened and has begun to warn any car makers and owners that vehicles with high levels of internet access have an increased risk of being hacked.

These security issues aren’t just affecting cars; these problems can be observed in a variety of other Internet-enabled devices. Another example is how connected baby monitors and other home monitoring devices are being tapped into by hackers, allowing them to see if anyone is home. Essentially any IoT device can be breached and used in an unintended way if proper security measures aren’t taken. When valuable data is at risk, security should be a bigger concern for manufacturers. The current and common culture among IoT companies is to release devices to this public with minimum protective measures in order to be the first to the market. Not all companies are a part of this culture, but a large portion of them contribute to these security issues. It’s not an issue of developers being unfamiliar with the intricacy of this high-end technology, it’s an issue of not taking the extra time to implement adequate security measures.

It is clear that having impeccable security features will benefit the consumer and the manufacturer in the long run. The invasive nature of IoT technology leaves the user very vulnerable to breaches in safety and security. The manufacturers should be responsible for monitoring the activity of their devices and determining how to block suspicious activity once the product is released. However, if security systems were developed in entirety before a device is released, these extra measures wouldn’t be as necessary. As IoT technology continues to become a bigger part of the lives of the consumers, it will be vital to our safety that a higher standard of security is implemented.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is continuing to grow at a rapid pace as more devices are becoming connected. However, the IoT is rendered useless without a system of networking to support it. As WiFi-enabled devices increase in popularity, the demand for networking will expand substantially. IoT-based technology is disrupting the current networking market due to vast amount of data that is collected and the quantity of devices connected to the Internet. Companies will be expected to have extremely efficient networks that will allow for real time analysis. In addition to this, simply having faster internet speeds and creating more access points is essential in supporting the rise of IoT devices.

One of the developing applications of IoT devices is found within the smart home. Some smart technology devices require extremely fast networks. When using multiple devices, it is critical to have a network that will enable the connectivity of all devices. The IoT enabled ConnectSense sensors and Smart Outlet rely on networking to enable machine-to-machine communication. Your ConnectSense products collect data through this communication in order to provide you with accurate and efficient analysis. Improving the ConnectSense cloud is one of the ways Grid Connect is able to help you adapt to the implementation of IoT devices in your home. Having a network that can sustain the connection of multiple devices is very important. Additional actions that can be taken in order to create a more efficient network are constructing quicker router speeds, ensuring that the WiFi is able to be accessed everywhere in the home, and creating an in-home network that can sustain multiple connections.

A strong network is essential for the use of various IoT products, whether it’s a smart home device, a piece of wearable technology, or even if it’s for an industrial application. Gateways, routers, and other networking devices can help improve networking abilities in order to support the demanding nature of connected and data driven devices. Finding a perfect network configuration will compensate for whatever quantity of data your IoT devices are bringing in.

It is clear that the impact the IoT is having on networking is only going to expand as the demand for a more connected and efficient world continues to increase. Having quality control of networks will allow for an improved customer experience. Creating networks that can handle a great deal of traffic and data will allow you to be prepared for the IoT’s disruption of the networking market.

The post IoT and Networking appeared first on Grid Connect Blog.

Business Ledger honors 74 companies as exceptional workplaces

Brittney Borowicz — Fri, 27 May 2016 15:13:24 +0000

Last night, Grid Connect attended the awards ceremony for Best Places to Work in Illinois and were honored to be placed in the top 30 small businesses in the state. This award was determined by examining workplace policies, practices, and demographics and then comparing them to those of other business in the state of Illinois. After this was evaluated, employee surveys were taken to determine the variations in employee experiences within different businesses. These two evaluations were then combined to create a final ranking for each business.

The post Business Ledger honors 74 companies as exceptional workplaces appeared first on Grid Connect Blog.

Are Unlimited Vacation Policies Good for Business?

Brittney Borowicz — Thu, 26 May 2016 16:44:13 +0000

Vacation policies are something that vary from company to company. However, a lot of big and small companies have begun to adopt vacation policies that enable employees to take as much time off for vacation as they seem fit, as long as they manage to complete the work expected of them. Grid Connect is a 20-some person company that has offered its employees unlimited vacation for the past 12 years. The vacation policy is one of the many ways Grid Connect creates its company culture, which works in attracting and retaining the best talent available. There are several unique benefits for employees such as free lunch on Wednesdays, massages on Thursdays, and daily ping-pong matches that lead up to a championship match at the end of the year. The employees have not abused any of these benefits or their vacation policy, which has led to a productive company culture.

The post Are Unlimited Vacation Policies Good for Business? appeared first on Grid Connect Blog.

2016 Best Places to Work in Illinois

Brittney Borowicz — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 15:26:36 +0000

Grid Connect was recently named as one of the 2016 Best Places to Work in Illinois. The awards program began in 2006 and is promoted by The Daily Herald Business Ledger in partnership with the Human Resources Management Association of Chicago (HRMAC), the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, MRA-The Management Association, the Small Business Advocacy Council, the Greater Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce and Best Companies Group.

This statewide survey and awards program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Illinois, benefiting the state’s economy, workforce and businesses. The 2016 Best Places to Work in Illinois list is made up of 30 companies in the small employer category (15-99 U.S. employees), 26 companies in the medium employer category (100-499 U.S. employees), and 18 companies in the large employer category (500 or more U.S. employees). (Name of Company) has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Illinois. In the (small/medium/large) category.

To be considered for participation, companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements:
– Have at least 15 employees working in Illinois;
– Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business or government entity;
– Be a publicly or privately held business;
– Have a facility in the state of Illinois; and
– Be in business a minimum of one year.

Companies from across the state entered the two-part process to determine the Best Places to Work in Illinois. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company’s workplace policies, practices, and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. This part of the process was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process in Illinois and also analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final rankings.

Grid Connect will be recognized and honored at the Best Places to Work in Illinois awards ceremony coordinated by The Daily Herald Business Ledger on May 26 and will be profiled in a special publication on June 27. The final rankings will be announced at the event and announced on the Business Ledger website (www.dhbusinessledger.com).

For more information on the Best Places to Work in Illinois program, visit www.BestPlacestoWorkinIL.com or contact Katie Smith at 877-455-2159.

###

The post 2016 Best Places to Work in Illinois appeared first on Grid Connect Blog.

The NET-Wars (Fieldbus wars reloaded)

Brittney Borowicz — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 18:39:07 +0000

Industrial Ethernet fieldbus issues of the past are coming to life again in a new form. Large protocol interest groups and manufacturers of industrial equipment have a new platform to compete for revenue and to keep brand loyalty. Ethernet-based protocols are changing with time, many companies have similar protocol implementations as they essentially have been creating the same standard Ethernet connectors. The biggest issue at hand today is that there is no interoperability between software, for instance, Ethercat doesn’t connect with Profinet and Profinet doesn’t connect to Ethernet IP. Time Sensitive Networks (TSN), which is part of the IEEE standards association, is attempting to enhance Ethernet standards by making high accuracy time synchronization and seamless redundancy features of standard Ethernet. As industrial Ethernet continues to develop, the biggest concern is if security standards will be integrated into new protocol.

The post The NET-Wars (Fieldbus wars reloaded) appeared first on Grid Connect Blog.

CAN FD product launches and roadmaps

Brittney Borowicz — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 18:32:45 +0000

CAN FD (Flexible Data-rate) is becoming a more prominent feature in many new and upcoming products. STMicroelectronics created a CAN FD starter kit and there was better performance in terms of screen content and speed in comparison to the classical CAN. In addition to this, Cypress, Microchip, and Renesas have also created operational CAN FD networks. The demand for micro-controllers with on-chip CAN FD modules is high; they are currently in development and should be available in about a year. Peak has developed CAN FD interface units, which include PCAN-USB FD adapter. Grid Connect has made a deal with Peak to distribute the CAN FD interface units in the USA. Grid Connect has joined Peak in being one of the early adapters to utilize CAN FD.

The post CAN FD product launches and roadmaps appeared first on Grid Connect Blog.

16 unique employee benefits

Brittney Borowicz — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 18:30:44 +0000

Creating unique employee benefits is one of the best ways to attract and retain valuable talent for a company. Journalist Dennis Zink for the Herald-Tribune listed a variety of companies that have had employee benefits that have succeeded in bringing in and keeping their talented employees. Grid Connect was one of the companies mentioned because of its tradition to provide its employees free weekly lunches, free weekly massages at their desks, and an unlimited vacation policy. As long as you let everyone in the office know you will be gone, you can take as much time as you need. These unique employee benefits have allowed for Grid Connect to be successful.

The post 16 unique employee benefits appeared first on Grid Connect Blog.

UPCOMING EVENT: IoT Summit, March 17-18

Brittney Borowicz — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 17:19:34 +0000

Adam Justice, VP of Grid Connect and Founder of Connectsense will be speaking at IoT Summit!

When: March 17-18
Where: Santa Clara Convention Center

For a 35% discount, register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/iot-summit-2016-tickets-18390791352 using promo code GRIDHD.

In addition, register prior to February 15th for an additional discounted early bird registration fee!

The post UPCOMING EVENT: IoT Summit, March 17-18 appeared first on Grid Connect Blog.

WE ARE HIRING! iOS Developer – Full Time

Brittney Borowicz — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 23:03:30 +0000

Grid Connect is a growing, networking products manufacturer focused on building awesome connected devices for its ConnectSense brand of home automation devices. ConnectSense recently released an Apple HomeKit-enabled Smart Outlet and best-in-class HomeKit app. In addition to building our own products, Grid Connect works with companies big and small to build and develop custom hardware products and software.

Grid Connect is looking for a talented iOS developer to help strengthen our team.

The ideal candidate is a fast learner, has great communication skills and is able to hit the ground running on multiple projects.

Desired skills include:

2-3 years of programming experience
iOS Development (Swift preferred)
Building and maintaining awesome iOS applications
Agile development and methodologies
Rapid deployment and test-driven development
Pair programming

Grid Connect is a 13-year-old company focused on building and distributing excellent networking products. Our team works out of our Naperville, Illinois office. We are looking for applicants who live and work in the Chicago suburbs.

In our spare time at Grid Connect, we enjoy playing Ping-Pong, spirited Bags matches in the summer and contributing to open source projects. In addition to a competitive salary, company benefits include paid medical, 401K with matching, weekly free lunches, bi-weekly massages, ample paid time off including your birthday, expenses paid for conferences and other learning opportunities and a budget for personal technology.

How to Apply:

Send an Email to hiring@gridconnect.com
Email Subject line should be “I love iOS Development!”
Attach a cover letter stating why you are passionate about iOS Development, why you would like to work at Grid Connect, and anything else you would like us to know about you.
Attach a copy of your resume
Include a link to your GitHub account

The post WE ARE HIRING! iOS Developer – Full Time appeared first on Grid Connect Blog.

Employee Spotlight: Glenn Rodgers, VP of Production

Brittney Borowicz — Fri, 08 Jan 2016 13:33:18 +0000

About 12 years ago, Glenn Rodgers and Mike Justice sat in an empty building and Glenn made a little, paper sign that said “Grid Connect” and hung it on the door. Glenn and several other employees worked for the next four months without a salary until the Grid Connect business got going. It’s clear that Glenn has been extremely dedicated to working for Grid Connect from day one.

Prior to joining the Grid Connect team, Glenn was the product manager for the Quick Panel HMI product line at Total Control. He started with them as the technical writer, then developed the technical support group and training department, and attended trade shows in support of the sales team. Glenn worked there for 14 years until GE bought the company. At Grid Connect, Glenn now concentrates his efforts in support of the production department and some support for engineering. When it comes to working at Grid Connect, Glenn likes the constant stream of new challenges and products… and of course the table tennis. “Grid Connect has grown to become a leader in new technologies. I see a new generation of smart devices and applications that will propel us to become a major player in the Internet of Things (IoT) arena.”

Glenn spends a lot of his spare time fishing and exploring local forest preserves. He likes creating things from wood and metal and designing things on a smaller scale, like fishing lures. Glenn still works with his Arduino microprocessor and sets up different maker projects, like LED strings, GPS readers, and graphic panels. Glenn looks forward to retirement in the next few years and continuing to be part of Grid Connect’s new growth the IoT space.

The post Employee Spotlight: Glenn Rodgers, VP of Production appeared first on Grid Connect Blog.