Working remotely from a beautiful tropical island comes with some sacrifices. Consistent and reliable network access is one of those sacrifices. If you are on holiday, that is perfect. Leave your phone in your room and experience the world around you.

Network problems in your home or office can cause slow or incomplete communication of important information. It takes time for my data in Southeast Asia to reach family, friends, and business associates on the other side of the planet. 

Elon Musk created Starlink to reduce latency for international currency exchange markets. The reduced latency means traders can make deals faster than traders with different communication networks. The residential communications market is a bonus, not the focus. 

Here are the 5 best free resources for startups in Malaysia

We can not control or address issues with satellites in orbit, but there are plenty of problems down here we can. If you call a customer support number the first recommendations to remedy connectivity issues sound insulting due to their simplicity, but we overlook or forget simple things.

  • Before you call for help verify your WiFi signal strength to rule out that external problem. 
  • Reset your router by cycling the power and allow any updates to be installed. 
  • Check that your HDMI cable is not faulty and connected properly. Swap out a cable to see if the problem is within the cable. 
  • Is your signal being stolen by unauthorized access to your network? Are authorized users downloading massive amounts of data? Be sure your network security is set properly.

Software bugs, hardware issues, configuration conflicts, or possible malware problems are beyond my skills and when encountered I call professionals. Do you have a family member or friend who works in the information technology (IT) industry? If not, I am sure they have encountered a similar issue and have a recommendation to call for guidance.

Security issues can have far-reaching consequences. Be sure to vet any person or company you allow to access your computer or network. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts provides rules for carriers and providers of services.

Fraud, corruption, money laundering, and other financial crimes are the most common cyber crimes in Australia. Other crimes to report are computer hacking, phishing, and botnet activity to name a few. As we rely more on technology, criminals find new ways to take what is not theirs. 

The Australian Cyber Security Centre website provides advice and guidance on protecting yourself and your data as cybercrime trends evolve. I can barely stay ahead of software updates let alone advanced skills of cyber criminals and security.

We perform preventative maintenance on our cars for safe operation and longer life. Our home HVAC and water heaters need servicing for the best efficiency and longevity of operation. Be sure to include regular security updates and system maintenance for your laptop or desktop computer and network.

Just as with your car or home maintenance, if the task is outside your skills, call a professional to repair your system and click happily ever after.