Guidance and Resources for Connectivity

Guidance and Resources for Connectivity
Wireless SuperCluster
Team Organizations	GCTC Wireless SuperCluster/Connectivity Covid-19 Task FOrce
Team Leaders	Benny Lee David Witkowski
City, State
Contributors	Tom Williams Lan Jenson
Website
Document

Description

This page is the list of available guidances and resources for connectivity during pandemic.

Connectivity Guidance

Most agencies are choosing one of two paths for WFH scenarios: Purchase additional licenses for existing hardware-based VPN solutions from vendors already installed; or have made the successful transition to Cloud-based (different than Cloud-enabled) VPN solutions. In order of “ability to scale”, the various options are outlined below from better to worse:

• Cloud-Based VPN
  • Cloud-based VPN solutions are purpose-built for Cloud (i.e. services deployed at point of entry, distributed architecture, full scale-up/down capabilities). As users are added, their services are applied at the entry point (POP) and data path determination is calculated closer to the user. The ability to scale up for increasing numbers of users or increasing bandwidth derives all benefits of a cloud-based architecture. If auto-scaling is enabled, this happens automatically without user or administrator intervention. An example of Cloud-based VPN responses, as service turn-up over the few weeks increases by 600%, is shown at https://www.linkedin.com/posts/deven-r-8169a_prismaaccess-superheroes-activity-6649839785210982400-TVdE. This figure would show if there was service denial/slowdown as flat peaks on the tops of the curves, where resources have run out during peaks, time of day, parts of the world waking up/sleeping/etc.

• Cloud-Enabled VPN
  • Cloud-enabled VPN solutions allow local connectivity, but all information is back-hauled to a data-center somewhere for service application and delivery. User access is determined at point of entry and encryption is applied, but data is back-hauled to one of several data centers for path determination, service application and further processing. This deployment version is currently under stress for several vendors, as scaling in the data center is not automatic. Service application is disrupted (delays, latency, video drops, audio stuttering, extended period of time to be admitted into conferences, etc.)

• Hardware-Based Local VPN
  • Hardware-based VPNs are the primary VPN architectures installed today. This has allowed agencies to simply purchase more licenses for existing hardware, or to add banks of hardware to handle the additional influx of users. Bandwidth is limited by hardware architecture (Gb/s through a box). Industry assumptions we use are 10% of the workforce works from home with each user averaging 3Mb/s in bandwidth. With the pandemic, these numbers have rocketed to over 80% WFH with the 3MB/s staying constant. Whispered reports of vendor architecture failures (not to be confused with hardware failure) are commonplace in the COVID world.

Human Interaction/Communication Tools

• Signal : secure messaging, audio, and video conferencing: https://signal.org/
• Google Hangouts Meet (Free access to higher tier plans): https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/g-suite/helping-businesses-and-schools-stay-connected-in-response-to-coronavirus
• Webex (Free expanded capabilities in all countries): https://help.webex.com/en-us/n80v1rcb/Cisco-Webex-Available-Free-in-These-Countries-COVID-19-Response
• Zoom (Free 40 minute use, and free education/student access): https://zoom.us/docs/en-us/covid19.html
• Microsoft Skype: https://news.microsoft.com/covid-19-response/

Hardware/Device Resources

In addition to connectivity, Access & Functional Need residents may not have computing devices (laptops, tablets, etc.) for connecting to networks. These organizations can help.

• Devices for Students: https://www.devicesforstudents.org/
• human-I-T: https://www.human-i-t.org/

Educational Resources

• City of San Leandro Library: As a resident of San Leandro, having a library card provides access to free resources including digital learning from two popular sites with over 10,000 training programs - these sites are not free alone but are with the library card. As a result, San Leandro library created a virtual library card during this Covid-19 crisis so that residents can instantly sign up and receive free access to an abundance of enrichment resources. https://www.sanleandro.org/depts/library/default.asp
• EdX: https://www.edx.org/
• MIT OpenCourseware: https://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm
• Carnegie Mellon OpenLearning: https://oli.cmu.edu/students/
• Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/
• Stanford Online: https://online.stanford.edu/
• FutureLearn: https://www.futurelearn.com/
• OpenLearn: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/
• Harvard Online: https://online-learning.harvard.edu/
• Silicon Valley High School: https://hs-articulation.ucop.edu/agcourselist/institution/5061
• IXL: https://www.ixl.com/
• Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/
• BrainPOP: https://www.brainpop.com/
• NSTA eBooks: https://www.nsta.org/ebooks/

Organizational Resources

• Joint Venture Silicon Valley: https://jointventure.org/covid-19

Volunteer Resources

• Adaptable Security Corp: https://AdaptableSecurity.org/Tech-CARES/ - Help shorten the learning curve on utilizing online resources. For individuals: connectivity safety, best practices for keeping your devices secure, protection of privacy, awareness and prevention of cyber scams. For organizations: help configure the digital services securely, assess cyber risks, training the workforce, architecture and cyber-resiliency planning, penetration test, cybersecurity program.