June 28, 2024 - This week’s notables

Infrastructure & Support  

In the latest Infrastructure & Support update, the team tackled a variety of topics. Server updates were a major focus, with Ryan addressing recent issues that led to server downtime and the subsequent decision to modify the maintenance schedule. As an outcome from this experience, we’re improving our internal process by creating a checklist to assist with future maintenance and improve server uptime.

We remain occupied with our migration projects, where we had both successes and challenges over the last couple of weeks. One set of challenges revolves around the importance of sufficient time to execute large migrations and upfront planning that minimizes last-minute updates. Microsoft is very inflexible about the size of the migration pipe for SharePoint migrations, and existing tooling in ShareGate (a popular and powerful migration tool from WorkLeap) isn’t developed enough (yet?) to accommodate large volumes of data in a predictable way – this is partly on the Microsoft side as the migration API works in asynchronous ways, and partly on the ShareGate side as it doesn’t reliably provide status updates on migrations performed in this mode.

One important lesson from this is to ensure prioritization is done early in the process so that critical files are certain to be migrated by the cutover date. Other lessons learned are more on the organizational side – multiple team hand-offs are fraught with opportunities for error, as clarity can easily get lost so it’s important to minimize such hand-offs; proper and early access to infrastructure with appropriate security controls will make migrations go faster; involvement of the migration team in early discussions and decisions will make for a better project; plan company communications ahead of time, and prepare for comms that address risks that actualize so you don’t have to scramble to come up with appropriate verbiage during a crisis.

Finally, it’s as good a time as any to remind our readers about Microsoft Copilot! Ricky and Ilya participated in a Copilot Cloud Lab Experience this week and we are EVEN MORE excited about the transformative potential of this technology! Let us arrange a demo for you, complete with a full environment where you can kick the tires with sample data and go through usage scenarios that demonstrate how powerful this latest development can be in a business setting.

Devices 

We are working hard to enhance the network quality at HQ! Sadly, the Cisco Meraki access points with mesh technology were not suitable for the setting. Mesh is a helpful technology, but it suffers from certain WiFi 6 restrictions. WiFi 6 is a great advancement over previous technology in terms of speed and connectivity; however, these benefits reduce the signal range. In our case, with a stone barn and the distance to the mesh device, the signal was too weak to keep a reliable connection. 

Currently we are negotiating with Verizon to install a second FiOS modem in the barn. This will allow us to have workstations connected by ethernet and improve the performance of devices using the WiFi network. Overall, this will make the experience better for staff and visitors at Longview Gallery, and in the meantime, we ran wire to a closer access point to improve connectivity. 

Operations & Growth

Our team is growing! Over the last couple of years inWorks LLC has been working on several projects that are taking on a life of their own:

• art|Works Initiative is an extension of INW dedicated to empowering artists and small-scale creative enterprises with enterprise-grade business and technology services. The flourishing community at AWI stands as a tribute to the dedication and skill of our artists. We recently welcomed Amanda as our Content Specialist, and now we're equally excited to welcome Kelsey as our new Marketing & Events Manager. Kelsey joins us ready to bring fresh ideas and energy to our team!

• The Longview Gallery Nestled in the rustic charm of a 19th-century barn, The Longview Gallery stands as a beacon of creativity on Longview Farm. This vibrant space not only showcases fine art exhibitions but also buzzes with the energy of artists at work and is a place where the inWorks LLC team brings innovation to life. And we’re happy to introduce Leah, whose role as Gallery Coordinator ensures that every visit is an inspiring journey through the world of art!

• The Longview Farm stands as a testament to innovation and tradition, a place where the Lehrman family's vision for a sustainable future flourishes. Here, art, technology, and agriculture converge, creating a unique nexus that defies its rural geography. With a commitment to reviving its agricultural heritage, LVF is not just preserving the natural beauty and diversity of Chester County but is also nurturing a legacy that will inspire generations to come.

Stay tuned for more updates about these ventures as we continue to grow and create!

Information Radiation

INW is in an exciting transformation, embracing growth and innovation across all our initiatives. We recognize that our website is an important public surface that presents us to the world, and it's time for a makeover that mirrors our unique identity and purpose. We're committed to not just revamping the site but ensuring it's a user-friendly portal that requires minimal effort to maintain. As we integrate art|Works Initiative, The Longview Gallery, and The Longview Farm into our ethos, our website will evolve to become a better reflection of INW's complete vision.