Some of the most vital pieces of equipment in operation in our homes and businesses today are some of the least visible. While most of us thankfully no longer have to live or work in areas where there are tons of cables stretched across the floor, these cables remain some of the most necessary pieces of technology we continue to depend on for all sorts of things. Cables are used for providing power to our devices, and for sharing information between the two devices.
But as much as we take them for granted, they do require our attention. Ignoring them can actually be dangerous — any damaged or frayed cords, particularly those that carry a charge, are serious fire hazards. In the year 2008 alone, an average of 53,600 homes caught on fire due to electrical failures or malfunctions likely resulting from damaged equipment of some kind. These same fires were responsible for 500 deaths, the injuries of over 1400 people, and property damage totaling $1.4 billion. It is clear that ignoring our cables and electrical equipment in the name of convenience is actually somewhat hazardous.
Other pieces of equipment may come in handy when fitting your home or business with the latest and most efficient cables. If you don’t already have a surge protector, consider getting one. These devices are designed to help protect your devices in the event of a lightning storm, or small electrical failure. These are sometimes built-in to devices, other times they come in the form of a power strip surge protector, actually plugging into your wall outlets and then distributing a safe amount of power to your devices. These are particularly handy when dealing with cell phone cables, as a cell phone is likely to be a vital piece of equipment in our everyday lives, and we don’t want to lose them or allow them to become damaged.
Another type of cord we use daily is the Network Ethernet cable. Network Ethernet cables, sometimes called cat5e cables, do not provide a device with power, but instead are designed to move information from one device to another. Think of the cord you use to connect your computer to the Internet — it is likely one of these.
One of the most proactive and beneficial things a person can do for their IT infrastructure would be to invest in a vendor or supplier who goes above and beyond the call of duty to provide you with the most high-quality equipment possible. This may include companies who provide better warranties on Network Ethernet cables and terms than their competitors do. This may also include a company having dedicated customer service and technical support available to its consumers.