Switching back into work mode, after weeks of not looking at computer screens or checking messages regularly, is usually tough for most people. So be kind to yourself – with Vox as your partner – as you continue making the transition into 2026.
SA’s energy has shifted from sun-and-fun mode into normal gear again – otherwise known as ‘The Great Back-to-Work Depression’! As holidaymakers everywhere started going home, and the road and air traffic got moving in earnest, there was a sense of new beginnings but also some simultaneous low morale.
And with the December bonuses long spent, ‘Janu-worry’ (and now even ‘Febru-worry!‘) became a reality for most of us; a bit like the Springbok Bomb Squad sent in to take charge of the game: basically unstoppable, oh dear… The good news is that there are still practical ways that we can all use to regain focus and build positive momentum in these early weeks of 2026.
And so, whether you’re turning on your digital screens or closing them again at the end of the day, Vox is here to help you make the most of this still-new year.
Staying Mentally Balanced as You Re-Embrace Work
Here are some ways to embrace normality and make life easier for yourself once more.
Hint: None of it is really rocket science, but common sense is all about being like the Nike ads and just doing it!
Prepare in advance: Whether you’re working remotely or going into the office physically, it’s always useful to organise your calendar, plan meals or your work outfit, and make sure you get enough sleep.
Organise your workspace: Especially when you’re returning to your tasks and responsibilities, a clean, structured environment – both physical and digital – can calm your mind and boost your productivity.
Block out time: Try to stop your days from being swallowed up by too many meetings by ensuring that you have some time set aside to do or plan important tasks.
Decide what truly matters: Not every email will require immediate action, so you could create a priority list to take control of your workload. Ask yourself: right now is it truly urgent, or less important? This useful method, which uses the Urgent vs Important matrix methodology, might help you decide how to prioritise getting stuff done.
Ensuring Your Connectivity
So much for your mental strategies – let’s take a look at the practical side of today’s technology, which means being connected wherever you are.
Your urban home connectivity is always sorted with Vox, whether you choose Fibre to the Home, LTE/5G offerings, or Fixed Wireless solutions. And at any given moment, we’re sure to be running a great special to sweeten the deal further. Oh, and have you heard about Vox Rewards for our Fibre to the Home customers? It’s pretty unique in the South African ISP landscape, so check it out here!
With Vox, whichever technology works for your area, your connectivity is covered: for the beginning of your working day when you need to work remotely, and at the end of it, when you and your family embrace some down-time for streaming entertainment, gaming, online shopping and so on.
So why not ease yourself into 2026 gently with Vox as your partner, for your back-to-work hours as well as your down time?
May your early 2026 moments be as smooth as the natural Greek yoghurt that’s currently still a big part of your eating plan – and good luck with that too!
‘The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.’ – Melody Beattie, self-help author
FAQs
How can I ease back to work after the holidays? Prepare the evening before, organise your workspace, block focused time, and prioritise tasks using an Urgent vs Important method.
Which Vox product is best for working from home? Fibre to the Home is ideal for consistent upload/download speeds; LTE/5G offers mobility and Fixed Wireless helps where fibre isn’t available.
Will Vox’s Fibre to the Home handle video conferencing and cloud apps? Yes, Vox Fibre offers symmetrical speeds and low contention suitable for video calls, cloud storage and collaboration tools.
Are there backup options if my home fibre goes down? Vox offers alternative connectivity options like LTE/5G and Fixed Wireless to keep you connected when needed.
What is Vox Rewards and who qualifies? Vox Rewards is a loyalty programme for qualifying Vox Fibre to the Home customers offering exclusive perks.
How can I contact Vox for help choosing a plan? Visit vox.co.za or Contact Vox Support for personalised advice and plan comparisons.
Staying connected as end-of-year down-time arrives
Our summer stories are starting to happen and the end of the year is really here! But even when we’ve packed our suitcases and made sure the pets are taken care of while we move into down-time, we still want (and need) to stay connected this holiday season.
Summer in South Africa means more streaming, online shopping and banking, video calls with family and online gaming – so choosing the right home Internet, and being aware of Internet options offered by your holiday location, can have an impact on your festive connectivity.
The good news is that, just as we all want a variety of ice cream options at the beach, so Vox has a connectivity option – and speed – to suit every home this holiday season. And in the spirit of the holiday season, we’re running some current and ongoing promotions to sweeten the deal even further.
Vox offers a mix of Fibre, Fixed Wireless, LTE/5G and Satellite options, with each option suited to different needs. So here’s a guide to help you pick the best option for your home, do your research on your holiday Connectivity options, and also make the most of current Vox promotions.
Let’s take a look.
Fibre To the Home: Best for Top Speed and Reliability
Fibre to the Home delivers high-speed, low-latency Internet directly into your home (or holiday home).
Benefits include very fast symmetrical speeds, which is excellent for 4K streaming, multiple devices and video calls. Uncapped options are available and performance is consistent.
It’s ideal for large households, heavy streamers, gamers, households with multiple remote workers (if you must work during the holidays! or when the holiday season is over…).
Availability depends on Fibre rollout in your neighbourhood. Installation may take time in new areas.
Current promotions linked to Vox Fibre to the Home include Vox Rewards and Fibre Frenzy!
Vox Rewards is our super-exciting, recently-launched loyalty programme for qualifying Vox customers, offering perks and rewards for staying connected with Vox through home fibre connections. Depending on the tier that you qualify for, you could enjoy a variety of discounts and savings on groceries, fashion, takeaways, tech, travel and more! See vox.co.za/vox-rewards for eligibility and benefits.
Fibre Frenzy is a limited-time campaign on Vox’s Home Fibre packages so do check vox.co.za for current Fibre Frenzy deals and exact terms – you can also click on this link for more information.
LTE / 5G Mobile Broadband: Flexible and Quick to Set Up
LTE / 5G uses mobile networks (LTE or 5G) to deliver Internet to a home router or portable device.
Benefits include fast setup and mobile flexibility. This option is suitable for temporary needs or where Fibre isn’t available yet. 5G can offer very high speeds in covered areas.
It’s ideal for urban areas with strong 4G/5G coverage as well as short-term stays and holiday homes.
Speed and latency depend on mobile network coverage and local congestion; fairness policies may apply depending on the package.
Vox and Telkom are currently running our Uncapped LTE promotion, starting from R589 per month, and including a pocket router as a R199 once-off – check it out.
Fixed Wireless (Licensed or Unlicensed Spectrum): Dependable Rural and Suburban Option
Fixed Wireless using microwave signals provides a point-to-point or point-to-multipoint radio link between a home-mounted antenna and a local tower. Its benefits include good speeds and stable connections where Fibre isn’t laid, but line-of-sight to a tower exists. It is often faster and provides a lower latency than Satellite.
It’s ideal for suburbs, small towns and rural areas with a Vox radio site nearby.
Fixed Wireless requires a professional site survey and performance depends on line-of-sight availability and network capacity.
Satellite: Providing Coverage where Nothing Else Reaches
Internet delivered via Satellite dishes is ideal for remote or rural properties beyond terrestrial networks. Its benefits include coverage that is available almost anywhere, making it perfect for some coastal areas, farms and remote homes, including holiday rentals.
It’s ideal for houses outside Fibre and mobile coverage areas, where connectivity is otherwise unavailable.
Higher latency means that it’s not ideal for competitive gaming. In addition, weather can affect reliability, and costs/data policies may be higher than terrestrial options.
A few factors should be considered as you think about your Connectivity options for the holiday season and even next year, if you want to take advantage of our Vox Rewards programme.
If you stream 4K, game and have many users, Fibre is your best bet.
If you need a quick setup or a temporary solution, LTE/5G works well.
If you’re in a small town or on the fringe of Fibre rollout, Fixed Wireless often gives the best compromise of speed and reliability.
If you’re remote and need coverage regardless of location, Satellite is the reliable fallback.
Practical Tips Before You Switch
Vox usually runs localised or seasonal promotions (discounted installation, bonus data or limited-time bundle savings). Check the Vox website regularly, including the promotions pages, for the most up-to-date specials and Ts and Cs. Here are some tips:
Check coverage: Use the coverage tool on vox.co.za to see what’s available at your address.
Match package to use requirements: Choose speeds that suit your household’s peak usage.
Ask about promos: Promotions can change monthly, so ask a Vox consultant about current offers and how long they run, and you can also check here.
Check coverage and current Fibre Frenzy or Vox Rewards offers at vox.co.za or on the latest deals page, or call Vox Consumer Support on 087 805 0530 for a personalised recommendation.
South Africans work hard and they play hard also, and never more than during our end-of-year summer holiday season! Stay connected with Vox – we have a solution for your location and your needs, no matter what time of year it is.
You always have choices – and sweet deals! – with Vox!
FAQs
Which Vox option is best for streaming and gaming during the holidays?
Fibre is best for low-latency, high-speed needs like 4K streaming and gaming. If Fibre isn’t available, 5G or fixed Wireless are the next-best options.
What is Vox Rewards and how do I join?
Vox Rewards is a loyalty programme for qualifying customers. Visit vox.co.za/vox-rewards to see eligibility and benefits.
What is Fibre Frenzy?
Fibre Frenzy is Vox’s limited-time promotion on selected Fibre packages. Check the Vox website for exact bundles and promotional periods.
How do I know if Fibre is available at my home?
Use the coverage checker on vox.co.za or contact Vox support to confirm availability for your address.
Is Satellite Internet good for a holiday home?
Yes, Satellite brings connectivity to remote holiday homes, though latency and weather impact should be considered.
Can I use LTE/5G as a permanent home solution?
Yes, in areas with strong coverage LTE/5G can be a permanent solution, especially where Fibre isn’t available, but check data fairness policies.
How long does installation take for Fibre or fixed Wireless?
Installation times vary by location and demand — ask Vox for a projected install date when you sign up.
Can I switch between Vox services if I move or change needs?
Yes. Vox offers different home connectivity products and can advise on switching based on coverage and your new address.
At Vox, we value, support and actively engage people with the levels of expertise that we require to keep us moving forward as a company. In this edition of ‘Meet our Experts’, we find out more about Theo van Zyl, who heads up the Wireless Department. Theo reflects on a lifelong relationship with communications technology, his journey into product leadership and his ambitions for extending connectivity across South Africa.
“The thing was called ‘fire’, and it was brought back to the cave by Og the inventor, who said he found it eating a tree. You had to keep it in a little cage of stones, he said.” ~ From ‘How It All Began…’ by Terry Pratchett
Question: What do Theo van Zyl, Head of Wireless at Vox, and Og the Inventor, also known as ‘the first caveman to cultivate fire’ and brought to us by author Terry Pratchett, both have in common?
Answer: They are both obsessed with the latest technology of the day, and how it can be used to help people and improve their lives.
People have been fascinated by the technology of the day for as long as we’ve been human, and for Theo, a life-long and highly practical love of technology began when he was still a child. Today, as Vox’s Head of Wireless, he is focused on building nimble teams and customer-first products, as well as bringing affordable connectivity to South Africa’s citizens, no matter where they are in the country.
We speak to Theo and find out more about how technology is front and centre in his life, both at work and at home, on a daily basis.
Telecomms in His Veins
Theo was still in primary school when his passion for electronics and communication began, and he describes fixing radios and building circuits as a child.
“My interest started with the ‘How and Why’ book range, especially electronics,” he explains. “As a child, I built electronic projects that did actually work, and I was always dismantling electronic equipment to understand the underlying processes. As a teenager, I made pocket money by repairing and building electronic circuit boards.”
That early curiosity matured into technical depth across analogue telephony, telex, data modems and later fibre, LTE and satellite. He also studied e‑commerce at Unisa and was involved in early online billing and payment gateway projects. His breadth of experience shows through in his product approach: he is comfortable with legacy systems and keen on combining them with modern ideas.
A Multi-Disciplinary and Empowering Team Leader
With more than three decades’ experience, including some 15 years heading up another ISP, Theo is a veteran of the telecommunications industry.
He explains: “From running around fixing analogue data copper line services, I have also spent time as a lecturer in data communications, mathematics and electronics. I then moved into practical roles in electronic data interchange, IP network design and product management across multiple disciplines – which is what I love the most, and where I’ve now been for around 25 years.”
He says: “Today, my job focus includes defining product strategies and managing the life cycles of products, leading the Wireless product team members, and ensuring that company strategic and financial goals are met. A key piece of the puzzle in delivering an end-to-end product portfolio includes cross-functional collaboration with areas across the business, including systems, marketing, PR, sales, channels, finance, networks and service delivery.”
Theo aims to keep his team at a manageable size so he can stay engaged with each area without losing control. He leads a compact team, organised around specialist areas, as follows: “Craig oversees Wi‑Fi for both consumer and enterprise; Chris and Kaylee look after LTE, 5G and APN products; Kathleen manages satellite services; Nikita handles microwave wireless; and Kolofelo manages manual feasibilities and operational tickets.”
L to R: Craig, Theo, Hendrik (Q-Kon account manager for Vox Satellite) and Kathleen
L to R: Chris and Theo
Daily work for Theo is very collaborative. He coaches and empowers his team, preferring to avoid micromanagement, and values bringing the broader team together to get multiple perspectives on a problem: “Micromanagement kills creativity,” he says. “I prefer to give people the freedom to try, possibly fail, and learn. I actively support piloting and experimentation, provided it doesn’t breach regulatory or company policy!”
Vox and Theo: The Perfect Fit
With Theo’s leadership characterised by empowerment, rapid decision‑making and a tolerance for well‑informed risk, he was understandably drawn to Vox’s culture and strategy, which embraces being nimble and cultivating a low‑red‑tape environment that gets things done quickly.
“Here at Vox, if the boss says do it, then you do it because you know you have the go-ahead!” he notes, contrasting Vox with organisations that can take 18 months to bring a product to market.
“This ability to act rapidly, combined with a collaborative culture where colleagues readily help each other, is what I value most. At Vox, things happen fast. I believe we are better positioned than many competitors because we can move quickly, learn speedily from experiments that don’t work, and then try another approach if need be.”
Theo positions product management as an end‑to‑end responsibility: “As our esteemed CEO, Jacques du Toit, is known to clarify, ‘You need to be the CEO of your own product’, meaning end to end, across every cost, every vendor, every customer interaction.
“This means being hands-on across finances, marketing, vendor relationships, costing, sales enablement and customer experience. Customer experience is also a priority: if internal processes let customers down, product teams must own the problem, resolve a customer’s issues, and implement improvements into future workflows.”
Affordable LEO Connectivity for Wider Access
“Technology is teaching us to be human again… the ability to witness and experience the lives of others anywhere around the world, often in real-time, awakens in us our innate empathy for each other.” ~Simon Mainwaring, businessman and author
Theo has a vision of being part of the rollout of affordable connectivity to rural and underserved communities through Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite services. He describes this as being a major personal and professional ambition: getting low‑cost, operational LEO services into South Africa so that rural citizens can access connectivity comparable to urban Fibre or LTE users.
“I believe Vox is uniquely positioned to pursue this and capable of delivering services, with the success of GEO services bearing testimony to this. I am confident that Vox can achieve our goal of bringing connectivity to all rural citizens over time,” he says.
“I am passionate about the amazing possibilities that LEO satellite services could bring to the people of South Africa, bringing excellent connectivity to anyone across the country, no matter how remote they might be. My ambition is to launch an affordable LEO service so that rural South Africans can access connectivity the same way people in towns do.”
Hobbies and Hacking (You Can’t Make This Stuff Up…)
Away from work, Theo is an enthusiastic electronics hobbyist and home automation enthusiast. In the past, he’s also embraced amateur radio activity: he holds a ZR licence and recalls sending data between computers over radio long before dial‑up became widespread.
He has spent the last decade building smart home systems that incorporate voice‑enabled control for gates, lights, pool pumps, alarms and energy monitoring using remote cloud management, and is proficient at integrating different ecosystems such as Alexa and Google. For Theo, it’s not just a hobby but shows his passion for telecommunications in the workplace now brought into the home environment: “Home automation is not a gimmick for me – it’s about integrating ecosystems to make life easier and more efficient.”
He’s walking the talk, in other words. He’s also been known to carry out at least one ethical hack in his time….
Theo once accessed a public Wi‑Fi system that was not secure when he was eating out at a restaurant in Brooklyn, Pretoria. Realising that their Wi-Fi was vulnerable, and being a regular at the restaurant, he quickly hacked into their system while browsing through the menu: “I printed a warning on the restaurant’s printer and alerted the waiter at my table about the need to separate their guest and internal networks…”
(Editor’s note: So, not your average customer when waiting tables then!)
“Excuse me, but I think you just said that you hacked the restaurant’s Wi-Fi system, did I hear you correctly?”
The astonished waiter alerted the manager on duty and needless to say, the next time Theo went to eat there, the Wi-Fi network was significantly upgraded and stronger – although knowing Theo, he could probably have got in again if he’d really wanted to…
The incident underscores his practical focus on security and the real risks of poorly configured public Wi‑Fi.
It also underscores the fact that Theo really does know what he’s talking about – he combines deep technical knowledge with a pragmatic, people‑centred and fundamentally caring approach to launching and scaling services in a rapidly evolving connectivity landscape.
“I am grateful that my experience in the industry, starting with analogue telephones, telex machines, data modems and growing into today’s technology gave me exposure to areas that I never thought I would ever be involved in,” he says. “At Vox I can leverage on that experience and influence and create products that are customer centric and deliver real value, to help change and improve people’s lives.”
And just like the short story mentioned at the beginning: Isn’t technology and progress amazing?! Here at Vox, we are grateful for people like Theo who help us to keep moving forward. Never change, Theo!
“…several up-and-coming young apemen had got the idea and they invented Civilisation – eventually. The village grew. Some of the open plain was turned into fields. Pretty soon hunters like Hal were beginning to look a bit foolish. That’s how it all began.” ~ From ‘How It All Began…’ by Terry Pratchett
By Audrey Vadival, Head of Division: Security and Value-added Services
Vox is pleased to announce the launch of its new cybersecurity division in partnership with global cybersecurity leader, Sophos.
The Vox-Sophos cybersecurity partnership expands Vox’s long-standing position as a trusted ISP into a full-service digital guardian, offering South African companies an integrated portfolio of connectivity, communication and protection solutions.
Key highlights:
Comprehensive protection: Firewalls, endpoint security, MDR, XDR and Phish Threat solutions all integrated within Vox’s managed security offering.
AI-powered defence: Proactive threat hunting, deep learning analysis, and automated response capabilities.
Integrated simplicity: Unified Sophos Central dashboard consolidates all alerts and data across third-party tools with the XDR and MDR offerings.
Security awareness training: Automated phishing simulations and targeted education to turn employees into first-line defenders.
Accessible pricing: Vox pricing and fibre/firewall bundles for South African customers
The move is a response to a growing need in the market. Cyberattacks are growing more sophisticated and frequent in South Africa, with the country remaining one of Africa’s most targeted for cybercrime.
According to the BDO Global Risk Landscape Report 2025 and Allianz Risk Barometer, companies have faced an average of 2,114 cyberattacks per company per week in 2025 – a year-on-year increase of 14%. The Sophos State of Ransomware in South Africa 2025 report put a price tag on the threat – the median ransomware demand rose from R2.8 million in 2024 to R18 million in 2025 while the median payment nearly tripled to R8.3 million.
Vox’s partnership with Sophos brings enterprise-grade cybersecurity within reach for local companies of all sizes. Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) through to corporates can benefit from a portfolio of solutions designed to combine proactive threat hunting with round-the-clock monitoring and simplified management.
We’re connecting and protecting companies. Our partnership with Sophos gives us the ability to create world-class security solutions which leverage next-generation protection capabilities like AI within a local, managed services model that makes high-end protection both accessible and affordable.
Vox’s new cybersecurity arm forms part of our broader strategy to evolve from a pure connectivity and communications provider into a holistic managed service and security partner. The focus is simple – secure the connection, secure the data, protect customers – and it builds on the foundation of trust Vox has already built with our growing customer base.
Our customers already trust us with their communications and connectivity, and it makes sense to extend that trust into cybersecurity. Sophos has a robust and relevant solution portfolio that ensures we can deliver a synchronised security stack that protects every part of the digital journey, from the connection to the user.
The value proposition within the partnership rests in Vox’s ability to combine advanced technology with real-world simplicity. One dashboard, one licence and one provider, with multiple solutions integrated smoothly through Sophos Central. Companies can monitor and respond to threats rapidly with a single, unified view.
Vox will be offering a suite of five Sophos products which are designed to work together to prevent, detect and respond to modern threats.
The Sophos XGS Series firewall, launched earlier this year, offers AI-powered threat prevention and zero-day defence, while Sophos Intercept X combines deep learning AI and anti-ransomware for rapid threat detection and defence.
Sophos MDR delivers 24/7 expert-led security as a service with proactive threat hunting and rapid incident response. Sophos XDR provides visibility across all critical attack surfaces, including third party tools, while Sophos Phish Threat helps you stay ahead and prevent expensive mistakes by proactively educating your workforce
According to Pieter Nel, Sales Director SADC at Sophos South Africa: “The threat landscape in South Africa continues to intensify, and organisations are looking for a partner that can simplify cybersecurity while still delivering enterprise-grade protection.
“Our partnership with Vox brings the full strength of Sophos’ MDR, XDR and AI-driven technologies directly into a locally managed service model, making advanced cyber defence accessible to businesses of all sizes. Together, we are ensuring South African organisations can detect and stop ransomware and other cyberattacks before they cause disruption or financial damage.”
Vox, a Gold Partner for Sophos, offers highly competitive pricing and flexible security bundles which combine fibre and firewall protection in one accessible package. Starting from October 2025 with the ‘Securing Your Connectivity’ promotion, Vox is making enterprise-level security affordable to South African companies while providing local support and expertise.
Businesses are dealing with complicated threats and sophisticated attacks and are at constant risk, so our mission is making their lives easier. You don’t need a large team or multiple IT vendors, just one partner with the right security tools, and that’s us.
To learn how the Vox Sophos cybersecurity partnership can protect your business, contact Vox for a tailored security assessment and a quote for managed security services and fibre/firewall bundles.
Recommended next steps for businesses
Assess current exposure: Identify critical assets and where detection blind spots exist.
Consider a managed approach: If you lack in-house security resource, managed XDR/MDR can significantly reduce risk.
Combine connectivity and security: Explore Vox’s firewall and fibre bundles for simplified billing and integrated support.
Train staff: Add security awareness training to reduce phishing and social engineering risk.
FAQs
What is the Vox Sophos cybersecurity partnership? The Vox Sophos cybersecurity partnership is a local managed security service combining Vox connectivity with Sophos enterprise-grade tools (XGS firewall, Intercept X, MDR, XDR and Phish Threat) to protect South African businesses.
What cybersecurity solutions are included in Vox’s offering? Vox offers Sophos XGS firewalls, Intercept X endpoint protection, Sophos MDR (24/7 monitoring & response), Sophos XDR (cross-surface visibility) and Phish Threat security awareness training, all managed via the Sophos Central dashboard.
Who should consider Vox managed security services? SMEs through to large corporates that want simplified, enterprise-grade protection—organisations without large in‑house security teams, or those seeking 24/7 threat hunting, AI-driven detection and consolidated management.
How do I get started or request a quote? Contact Vox’s security team for a tailored security assessment and pricing. Vox offers competitive fibre and firewall bundles (including the “Securing Your Connectivity” promotion from October 2025) with local support and implementation.
It seems like every other week that some big company announces they’ve been hacked (seriously, hospitals – heard of a firewall?). Entire databases of private, confidential information are sent into the digital wild more frequently than Trump changes his mind. And, the sad part is, the individuals who’ve been compromised often suffer as much as the entities who let it happen.
A good PR campaign and said company can get back on their feet. Know who can’t? The affected parties who now must recover financially, emotionally, and socially.
Financial Impact: Immediate and Hidden Costs
When people think about breaches, the first implication they consider is financial – rightfully so, as the immediate effect is usually on your pocket.
Fraud, loans and damaged credit:
Criminals don’t even need actual money to run wild – just your card details are enough of a launching pad. How so? Here are some ways:
They may start fraudulently purchasing gift items, electronics, or crypto before you’re even aware of it.
Many criminals take out excessive loans linked to another account using stolen identities. The victim only finds out once collection is due.
On a smaller scale, quick cash-outs via e-wallet, ride sharing, and even food delivery accounts are also small ways victims have been hit.
Think it’s not relevant? Let’s look at the history:
An Equifax breach exposed the personal information of 147 MILLION people in 2017. Most of these victims later reported fake loan approvals and fraudulent credit card applications within a matter of days. And, even if the matter is eventually resolved, you can’t put a price on the stress, hours lost waiting on hold, or any residual damage to your credit score.
Identity theft — a long‑term risk:
Unlike a wallet, you can’t just “get a new” digital identity. Once your data is compromised, criminals can use it for decades. Think credit fraud, tax fraud, or even medical identity theft for prescription drugs.
The knock-on effect of these breaches is immense. They can impact on your ability to rent, apply for loans, and in some cases even find jobs.
The human cost — stress, relationships and reputation:
Everyone talks about Data breaches numerically, but what the victims go through is often overlooked. Many victims have to live with the daunting reality of:
Mounting anxiety as they log in and out of their banking app. Repeatedly.
The uncertainty of not knowing whether your info has been stolen.
The pain of repeatedly explaining your situation to strangers.
Think sleepless nights, relationship stress, and a never-ending daunting feeling. Cybercrime steals more than data – it takes away peace of mind.
Privacy harms that money can’t fix:
Many breaches expose extremely sensitive information. Think dating apps, health records, or your browser history (shudder).
And, unlike credit cards, your bank can’t (eventually) undo this one.
Ever heard of Ashley Madison? They were Tinder before Tinder. Until, one day, users were blackmailed with threats to expose their private activity. You can imagine how this went down.
Or spare a second to think about health-related breaches – and how stigmatised patients can feel when their conditions become public.
Some impacts transcend monetary value – they can damage reputations, careers, respect and relationships.
The problem with a breach is often the delayed effect. Cybercrime has a long tail, and slow burning effect. Once your Data is sold on the dark web, it stays there. In fact, it can even be resold, and repeat issues emerge for multiple years.
What to do right now if your data’s been breached
But enough fearmongering, what can we do if we find ourselves compromised? Here’s an easy guide:
Change your passwords. Immediately. ALL of them.
Enable your multifactor authentication (MFA).
Verify whether your email has also been leaked (use sites like “have I been pwnd” – you can even do it now).
Monitor your bank accounts (and notify your bank).
Temporarily freeze your credit file.
Double-check any calls, emails, or texts asking for information.
You can’t simply measure the true cost of a Data breach via a spreadsheet. The price you pay is intangible, and how do you quantify a lifetime of looking over your shoulder?
Act now – protect your data
Companies can move on – but victims carry the burden even once the headlines fade. This is why taking your cybersecurity seriously is no longer optional. It’s necessary. Because, in today’s digital world, your bank account isn’t your most valuable asset – your data is.
You can’t undo every breach, but you can limit the damage. Change passwords, enable MFA, keep an eye on your accounts and use reputable security tools. Treat data protection as essential because your information is often more valuable than the cash in your account.
What immediate steps should I take after a breach?
Change passwords, enable MFA, check Have I Been Pwned, notify your bank, and consider freezing your credit.
How long can identity theft affect me?
It can last years. Stolen data can be resold and reused, so ongoing monitoring is essential.
Will my bank always refund fraud losses?
Not always. Many banks will help, but you still face time spent on disputes and potential credit impacts. Report fraud immediately.
Can consumer security software really help?
Yes. Reputable suites (like Norton 360 offered through Vox) reduce your risk of phishing, smishing and device compromise and include privacy tools and 24/7 support.
I know an elderly lady who is dignified and respectable, with grown-up children and grandchildren. She is, as they say, a ‘pillar of her community’. She also, rather startlingly, has some, shall we say, unfortunate images on her phone at the moment, involving various anatomical closeups of naked people.
But this is not an article about a seemingly-sweet old lady who is at the helm of a mafia-style criminal empire – no, that’s not it at all, because she actually has NO IDEA that these images are currently on her phone (and her family members haven’t yet had the courage to tell her).
Vox has teamed up with global cybersecurity expert company Norton™ to offer comprehensive protection for your devices and online privacy, for the whole family, all in one solution. Traditionally, people have worried about their own online safety as well as their children’s, but there is no reason why your older parents can’t benefit also.
In this article, we look at how so many older people today have absolutely no idea of the perils that lurk online. We discuss how to protect people of an older generation who didn’t grow up with technology at their fingertips.
And we look at how acquiring the right software can take away the stress of having to keep saying: “NO, Mom – DON’T click on that link!”
Why Older People Are Especially Vulnerable Online
Criminals have always seen older people as being a soft target, and today’s digital world simply presents long-existing criminal tendencies in a brand-new wrapping. When the goal is to scam older people out of their hard-earned savings, the Internet, online banking and social media all just make it easier for cyber criminals, because many older people are just not that comfortable with today’s technology.
This is largely because, in contrast to younger generations, older citizens had to learn to use information technology when they were already adults. It’s something that was initially entirely new to them.
And so the relationship that today’s senior citizens have with technology can be an uneasy or uncomfortable one, as shown in this clip from the popular and acclaimed Netflix sitcom, ‘Grace and Frankie’.
In the video clip, we see clearly just how some of the older generation think about technology – Frankie is deeply afraid of it at first. (Grace, as a retired former CEO, does at least know how to boot up a new laptop.)
The video clip raises another point: if so many of today’s older generation are uncomfortable simply with acquiring new technology, you can imagine that they’re even more vulnerable once they’re finally online.
Senior citizens can be particularly vulnerable to cybercriminals who use social engineering – deception intended to manipulate people into sharing confidential or personal information – to lure their victims into handing over valuable personal details.
Why The Older Generation Is Vulnerable Online
Online criminals prey on qualities shared by many older users, including a fear of technology that they don’t fully understand, loneliness as their children grow up and leave home, an ingrained respect for authority and institutions, and an increasing need to feel financially secure as they get older.
If this is all sounding just a bit too familiar and close to the bone, the good news is that there are ways in which you can help protect your older parent or relative against would-be online scammers.
Keep It Simple — Three Rules to Teach Your Parent
Firstly, share the following information with your older parent to try to help them recognise when a criminal is trying to steal their bank account information, passwords or credit card numbers, or otherwise trying to separate them from their money.
Trust no one: never click links or open attachments from unexpected senders.
Ask first: establish a rule — “Call or text me before you act.”
Don’t share security details: never send PINs, passwords or banking details by message or phone.
These short, repeatable rules are easier to remember than long lectures. Think of them as being the digital equivalent of “Don’t open the door to strangers.”
In summary: ‘Don’t click on every link that looks like fun or promises you a great bargain.’ It’s the Internet version of ‘If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.’
How Norton from Vox helps — Straightforward, Family-Wide Protection
You can try to teach all the rules in the world, but intuitive software makes prevention easier. Stop the malware from getting in by blocking those seductive ‘Click here’ messages before they even reach your parent’s phone, tablet or laptop with their exotic and interesting click-bait messaging.
Norton’s software safeguards your entire family’s PCs, Macs®, tablets and smartphones from viruses, ransomware, phishing and other cyber threats while you bank, shop and browse online.
Norton 360 family protection provides multiple layers of defence against viruses, malware, ransomware and phishing, which are the common tools criminals use to target seniors. Key benefits for elderly parents:
Blocks malicious links and phishing attempts before they land.
Protects PCs, Macs, Android and iOS devices with one app.
Simplifies security for non‑tech users — automatic updates and background protection.
Centralised family protection so you can check that your parent’s devices are safe.
Buying Norton via Vox gives you a local, reliable channel to purchase and manage the licence, which is one less thing to worry about.
Practical steps for immediate protection
Install Norton on every device your parent uses and enable automatic updates.
Turn on email and web protection to block suspicious links.
Set up one shared contact (you) who your parent must call before sharing money or details.
Back up important files so ransomware can’t hold photos or documents hostage.
Norton from Vox offers robust, all-in-one protection against viruses, malware, ransomware and online threats – for the whole family, including your elderly parents. It’s Internet safety for the elderly – like the virtual equivalent of a home security guard, refusing to allow the criminal over the threshold while your mom or dad are blissfully unaware and watching their favourite show or match on TV.
And if your elderly family members aren’t downloading dodgy links, you don’t have to spend precious time cleaning up their phones at a later stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start a sensitive conversation with my ageing parent?
Choose a calm moment, be honest but respectful, ask open questions and listen to their priorities
How can I suggest home-safety changes without upsetting them?
Frame changes as ways to keep them independent, offer choices and involve them in decision-making.
Secure connectivity is about speed and protection.
South African networks face multiple threats on a daily basis. Recent reporting shows that Interpol detected roughly 230 million cyber threats in South Africa, which is a clear signal that homes and businesses must harden their borders.
Secure connectivity prevents unauthorised access, data loss and downtime, helping you to keep operations and productivity running smoothly within your business.
With Sophos firewalls from Vox, you can enjoy no hidden costs – just great security, and you will find that it’s easy to use, even if you’re not technical.
The advanced threat protection blocks viruses, ransomware and hackers, leaving you with peace of mind. You can also block websites and non-work apps so that your employees’ efficiency is boosted, allowing you to boost security and productivity at the same time.
The solution is designed to promote a fast and secure network that continues running at high speed, which serves as another productivity value-add.
Why A Fibre Plus Firewall Bundle Is Crucial
Vox’s Fibre Plus Firewall bundle gives you both speed AND protection.
A Firewall monitors and filters incoming and outgoing traffic based on set rules, creating a perimeter between your trusted network and the internet. Modern, next‑generation Firewalls also:
Detect and block intrusions and malware (IDS/IPS).
Support VPNs for secure remote access.
Log activity for rapid incident response.
Block malicious websites and non‑work apps to protect users and increase productivity.
Why Pairing Fibre with a Firewall is a Great Idea
Fibre delivers fast, symmetrical bandwidth essential for cloud apps, video conferencing and backups. Pairing that connectivity with a dedicated Firewall ensures high performance isn’t offset by exposure to threats. The Fibre plus Firewall bundle gives you:
Speed and security in one purchase.
Simpler billing and deployment with Vox.
Managed support to keep both connectivity and protection performing.
Sophos Firewalls with Vox: What You Get
The key benefits include the following:
Advanced threat protection against viruses, ransomware and hackers.
VPN support for secure remote workers and branch offices.
Centralised logging and reporting for faster incident handling.
Options to block websites and non‑work apps to boost staff productivity.
Backed by Vox 24/7 support and clear pricing with no hidden costs.
Add enterprise‑grade Sophos Firewall protection; and
Consolidate services and simplify billing.
Enquire early to reserve bundle availability and special pricing.
How To Get Started
Assess your needs in terms of the required bandwidth, number of users and remote access requirements. Then:
Choose a Vox Fibre package and Sophos Firewall level.
Book installation and configuration with Vox support.
Activate monitoring and policies with assistance from Vox 24/7 support.
Protect Your Network with Vox and Sophos
By protecting your sensitive data, devices and systems from threats like malware, hackers, denial of service attacks and malicious software, firewalls are a fundamental component of any network security strategy.
Contact us today to find out more on how you can implement a firewall to protect your network.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Fibre plus Firewall bundle?
A Fibre plus Firewall bundle combines Vox Fibre internet connectivity with a managed next‑generation Sophos Firewall, to deliver both high performance and network security in a single package.
Why should I buy a Firewall if I already have Fibre?
Fibre gives you speed; a Firewall protects that connection. Without a Firewall, your fast connection can make attacks more damaging. A combined solution ensures both performance and protection.
What protection do Sophos Firewalls provide?
Sophos Firewalls include intrusion detection and prevention, anti‑malware and ransomware protection, VPN support, web and app control, and central logging for incident response.
Who is the Fibre plus Firewall bundle suitable for?
The bundle is ideal for small businesses and larger organisations that need reliable Fibre speeds with enterprise‑grade security and managed support.
When is the Vox October special available?
Vox will run the Fibre plus Firewall bundle special in October 2025 – contact us to confirm availability, exact pricing and terms.
Can Vox manage the Firewall for me?
Yes. Vox offers managed services and 24/7 support to help configure, monitor and maintain your Firewall and connectivity.
Will a Firewall slow down my Fibre connection?
Properly configured next‑gen Firewalls are designed to protect without significant performance impact. Vox matches Firewall capacity to your Fibre speed to preserve throughput.
Some practical thoughts to guide parents and grandparents
It can’t happen in my home… can it?
Just because your children are playing online games in the safety of your home doesn’t mean that they are safe from perverts.
This is the reality of today’s digital world.
It’s hard to believe, but every parent’s worst worry is now partly digital: how to protect kids from online predators who can reach children through games, apps and social networks in the safety of your own home. This guide discusses online grooming, practical steps you can take at home, and how tools from Vox and Norton™ can help you keep children safer online.
[Editor’s note: This article comes with a sensitivity warning, particularly for parents, grandparents and other concerned family and friends.]
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in South Africa, according to its ‘SA Kids Online Study’, one-third of children in the country are at risk of online violence, exploitation and abuse.
One-quarter (25%) of those surveyed confirmed that they had added people whom they’d never met face-to-face to their friends or contacts list.
Similarly, nearly one-fifth (18%) of those surveyed had sent a photo or video of themselves to someone they had never met in real life.
These stats also confirm just how naïve and vulnerable children can be – and why parents and guardians need to protect them.
And so, when we read about the pervasiveness of online grooming, your first response as a parent might be: ‘It can’t happen in my home – can it?’ but your second response should be: ‘How can I make absolutely sure that it doesn’t?”
In decades past, parents and caregivers worried about ‘flashers’ – perverts lurking around schools in long coats, who waited to suddenly give their young victims an eyeful that they weren’t expecting.
Today, the perverts are looking for the reveal to be the other way around – and the effects can be far more lingering and devastating.
Norton™ warns that, as part of the attempted grooming process: ‘…predators may spend months steadily getting to know their potential victims. They might start this process by contacting children as they play popular online games such as Fortnite or Minecraft.
‘…Once predators gain the trust of their victims, they will then steer conversations more often toward sexual topics and will eventually ask children to engage in sexual conversations, send explicit photos, or meet them in real life.’
But there ARE ways to fight back – and in the Vox family, we’re definitely here to help.
The Danger Lurking Behind Everyday Apps
Vox has teamed up with Norton™, which provides industry-leading antivirus and security software for PC, Mac and mobile devices.
According to Norton, children today gravitate toward social media apps that allow them to connect easily with their friends. But these social networking apps and websites are also favoured by predators who use them to communicate with their intended victims.
Norton says that, in addition to online games, some of the apps that predators may use to communicate with children include WhatsApp, Snapchat, TikTok, Kik, Monkey, Whisper and Chat Avenue.
For any parent, it’s frightening to think about the multiple ways that predators can use technology to find and target their victims.
So let the experts take care of it for you.
What Norton and Vox can do for you
Vox has partnered with Norton to make industry-standard protections readily available to families with Norton Family and Norton 360 providing one app for many devices.
These tools don’t replace conversations, but they give you clear alerts, activity reports and the ability to set safe boundaries.
Smart monitoring allows parents to monitor search terms, videos and app downloads; receive alerts for unsafe behaviour; and get detailed activity reports.
In addition, options such as location tracking allow you to define safe zones for your children and receive real-time alerts if those boundaries are crossed. Children can share their location through the mobile app.
All of these safety features – and many more – are available from Norton’s comprehensive protection for your devices and online privacy.
Protect Kids from Online Predators at Home
UNICEF says that keeping children safe online also relies on parents and caregivers maintaining open communication; using technology to protect children; spending time with them online; and encouraging healthy online habits
Talk regularly and openly: Start conversations about online life the same way you’d talk about who your child plays with in the street. Ask gentle questions: who are your friends online? What games do you play? What apps do you use?
Agree house rules: Device-free zones (dinner table, bedrooms at night), time limits for play, and rules about sharing photos or personal information.
Use parental controls: Industry tools such as Norton Family and Norton 360 offer activity monitoring, content filtering, screen-time limits, location supervision and alerts for risky behaviour. These tools help you set boundaries while still allowing kids to explore.
Co-play and co-view: Sit with younger children while they play online and encourage older children to show you new apps and settings. This builds trust and gives you a live view of who they interact with.
Check privacy and friend lists: Make sure profiles are set to private, review followers and friends together, and remind children never to share addresses or phone numbers in chats.
Watch for signs: Increased secrecy, sudden changes in behaviour, new devices or new online friends that appear overnight are all red flags.
Balancing Safety and Privacy
Monitoring doesn’t mean spying. Explain to your child why you’re using parental controls and that the aim is safety, not punishment. As children grow, shift from more direct monitoring to regular check-ins and shared agreements about responsible online behaviour.
Quick checklist for parents and grandparents (bullet list for snippet targeting)
Have an open conversation about online risks this week.
Set simple house rules for devices and sharing.
Install parental controls and review activity reports weekly.
Make social profiles private and review friend lists together.
Know how to report abuse to the app/platform and to local authorities.
Keep devices in communal spaces for younger children.
Before our world became as digital as it is today, parents only had to worry about their children’s safety in the physical environment. Today, we have to be concerned about online predators that can access our homes through our digital devices.
This is all a lot to think about, so why not let Vox and Norton take care of it for you with our comprehensive and proactive suite of solutions?
We’re here to help you keep your children safe in the online world for as long as possible without becoming another statistic. Please click here for more information.
“Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” ~Elizabeth Stone, author
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if my child is being groomed online?
Look for signs such as secrecy around devices, sudden new friendships, unexplained gifts, changes in mood or sleep, or attempts to isolate the child from family. If a child is using private messaging apps or deleting chat histories, take note and ask open, non-judgemental questions.
What do Norton parental controls actually do?
Norton Family and Norton 360 provide content filtering, web and search supervision, screen-time controls, social media monitoring, location supervision and alerts for unsafe behaviour. They produce activity reports so you can spot potential problems early.
Will parental controls invade my child’s privacy?
Used thoughtfully, parental controls are a safety tool. Be transparent: explain why you’re using them, involve your child in setting the rules, and gradually reduce monitoring as your child demonstrates responsible behaviour.
At what age should I set up parental controls?
Start young, because even pre-schoolers benefit from basic content filtering and supervised access. For older children, combine tools with conversation and digital literacy lessons so they understand safe behaviour.
What should I do immediately if I suspect grooming?
Stay calm, listen to the child, preserve any evidence (screenshots, chat logs), report the account to the platform, and contact local authorities or child-protection organisations for guidance.
Where can I get help in South Africa if I need to report abuse?
Report serious threats to the police (SAPS) and the platform where it occurred. Seek support from child-protection organisations and trusted local counselling services.
Online gaming – it’s categorically bad for your kids, right? Or is it…?
So there you are – having yet another argument with your six-year-old about video games. The last half-an-hour has seen whining, snot-en-trane and threats about who has control over the controller – and that’s just the adults.
Your youngster, meantime, is on the brink of a meltdown rivalling the tantrums you last saw during the Terrible Two’s period. Wasn’t parenting supposed to get easier when they were out of nappies and actually sleeping through the night?
You know you have to win this battle because ‘The School Said That Screen Time Must Be Limited to Maximum One Hour Per Day’ in the last newsletter – or something deeply unrealistic like that; but anyway Junior is definitely well over that limit on average every day… And resorting to bribery is going to prove difficult because screentime normally *is* the prize at the end of the bribery equation.
If only there was a game that wasn’t so bad…
Everything In Moderation?
Most parents today have wrestled at some time or another with how to manage their children’s daily online screen time, starting with movies and shows, and graduating to online gaming. ‘How much is too much?’ is an ongoing question.
The bad news is that, in excess, online games CAN be bad for your kids. This happens when your children, both younger and older, become too fond of gaming to the detriment of – or even the exclusion of – other ways to occupy themselves in real life. (This, of course, goes for adults as well.) Even the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a description of ‘gaming disorder’ as an addictive behaviour.
But the good news is that, properly managed, the opposite can also be true, and playing video games can actually be beneficial in some ways for your kids. Here, you can read how a mom of nine sets out some suggested do’s and don’ts around video games and your children.
From a Vox perspective, we wanted to be more specific, so in this article we look at whether playing Minecraft could actually encourage your youngsters in such career path options as architects, engineers and interior designers – never mind graphic designers and software animation.
It seems there just might be a video game that’s actually good for your kids – in moderation, of course.
How Minecraft Works
It’s a game where the players can build things with blocks or resources – think Lego, only online, with almost unlimited possibilities – and you work your way up through basic resources to more complex ones. You can choose to work in either a creative mode – where you build virtual structures and worlds – or a survival mode, where you must harvest the materials and try to stay alive without dying. Because of the visual style of the graphics – the little block-like people in motion are really quite funny! – it never really looks very violent (even if someone gets terminated).
A description from Minecraft itself is as follows: “Minecraft is a game made up of blocks, creatures, and community. You can survive the night or build a work of art – the choice is all yours.
“…Minecraft has no set goal and can be played however you’d like! This is why it’s sometimes called a ‘sandbox game’ – there are lots of things for you to do, and lots of ways that you can play. If you like being creative, then you can use the blocks to build things from your imagination. If you’re feeling brave, you can explore the world and face daring challenges.”
The ‘mining’ part of Minecraft means removing or taking away, while the ‘crafting’ refers to creating by using materials within the online world. You can progress in the game by scavenging or ‘mining’ blocks of various materials such as stone, wood, iron, gold, emeralds and a whole lot more (if only it was as easy to get precious metals and jewels in the real world!). These are used as the basis for creations, or combined to create more advanced materials, tools and objects.
Players can design houses, cities, and even machines, and so the requisite problem-solving skills include learning how to plan, adapt and experiment. We shared a link earlier to an article giving tips on managing kids and video games in general – here’s another useful parental resource about Minecraft itself.
Besides Creativity, What Else Does Minecraft Encourage?
Wall-E in Minecraft [courtesy: https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/17-amazing-minecraft-creations-that-will-blow-your/2900-84/#13]
Creativity: Players design houses, cities and even machines, and you can work in a free-form design that just keeps growing, or strictly according to design parameters.
Problem-solving: Players learn to plan, adapt and experiment.
Teamwork: Being in a multiplayer game encourages collaboration and communication.
Computational thinking: By designing and building complex structures and automated systems, players develop their computational thinking skills, learning to break down problems into smaller steps and devising logical solutions.
Having been released in November 2011 (the earliest version was released for PC players in May 2009 and was called Cave Game), Minecraft was bought by Microsoft in November 2014 (for a staggering amount of money!).
Microsoft then wasted no time in releasing Minecraft Education in November 2016, a special version of Minecraft created specifically for use in schools, with extra tools and features that allow teachers to harness the fun and creativity of Minecraft to teach everything from reading to chemistry to coding.
Can Minecraft Encourage Career Choices?
Besides the creation and use of Minecraft Education in schools, there are other ways in which Minecraft can help children with learning in a more focused way.
In mid-2024, an event in the United Kingdom showcased the use of Minecraft to explore careers in aerospace, during the annual Farnborough International Airshow of that year. The event, Pioneers of Tomorrow, is a dedicated STEM-focused (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) event designed to inspire and engage the next generation of aerospace leaders.
During Pioneers of Tomorrow in July 2024, over 300 children played the Skills Miner aerospace game. As they proceeded through each game level, students explored core STEM principles and gained insight into engineering careers by experiencing the different roles from designers to coders, and maintenance engineers to aerodynamicists and stress engineers.
Analysis revealed that playing the game improved participants’ understanding of engineering concepts and left a lasting positive impression, encouraging many to consider a future career in the field:
91 percent of participants said they had gained new insights into engineering; and
87% expressed increased interest in pursuing a career in engineering.
Anecdotal evidence is also available for people who say they’ve chosen their career because of a love of playing Minecraft as a child. One such person is Arihant Bhattacharjee, a student in Year 11 at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi – China. He told his story of how he was inspired to become an architect during a Ted Talk entitled ‘From Blocks to Bricks’ – you can listen to his story here. On the design side of life, Lucas Pion believes that playing Minecraft inspired him to become a designer.
While some people don’t agree that Minecraft is necessarily going to lead to a career in architecture and similar design- or building-related careers, others have strongly positive views. James Delaney, who studied architecture at Cambridge University in the UK, says: “Whilst the architects of today grew up playing with LEGO, I have no doubt the next generation will have played Minecraft. People have to stop thinking of it as a game. It’s a CAD tool, and as such it is the most widely used one in the world. We’re looking forward to bridging the gaps between design and reality.”
And then there was the release earlier this year of ‘A Minecraft Movie’, starring Jason Momoa, Jennifer Coolidge and Jack Black. According to a Google Trends analysis, there was a nearly 200% (194.1%) surge in interest around building, design and architecture careers among younger generations, with searches for ‘builders’ alone almost tripling following the premiere of the movie. (We’re not so sure about how many people searched for ‘pink fringed leather jacket’ after the movie’s release but that’s a different conversation.)
While the jury is out for some, for others the message is very clear: Minecraft can inspire people to pursue careers in architecture, design, and engineering. The game’s creative environment definitely encourages players to experiment with building, spatial reasoning and problem-solving, and these are all fundamental aspects of these professions. It can also act as a stepping stone to more advanced design tools and concepts.
And so back to your kids and the ongoing debate in your home about online gaming time.
Perhaps good advice would be to follow a similar attitude to car pioneer Henry Ford, in the early days of car production lines, when he said: “You can have it in any colour as long as it’s black.”
Ok then.
“Kids, you can play any video game you like, as long as it’s Minecraft.”
Because it’s actually good for you… Have fun!
[Editor’s note: Of course, good gaming requires a fast Internet connection, and Vox is always available to help with your connectivity!]
Artificial intelligence (AI) makes it possible for machines to learn from experience, adjust to new inputs and perform human-like tasks.
Using technologies such as deep learning and natural language processing, computers can be trained to accomplish specific tasks by processing large amounts of data and recognising patterns in the data. The Wi-Fi arena is no different in that AI can also make the processing of tasks speedier and more efficient – we are now in the era of AI-driven networking.
AI Wi-Fi refers to wireless networks that make use of artificial intelligence to optimise connectivity, performance, connected user experience and security. This technology uses machine learning (ML) algorithms to analyse network hardware, traffic, user behaviour and environmental factors in real-time. The AI initiates closed loop automation to adjust the network settings, such as resource allocation, to improve performance.
This article discusses how AI can be used in Enterprise Wi-Fi networks, and how AI is benefitting Vox and our Wi-Fi customers.
AI-Driven Business Intelligence for Enterprise Networks
Artificial intelligence in Wi-Fi networks today can assist significantly with the configuration of the network, as well as with support thereafter, including being able to spot issues before they become a serious problem.
Vox has partnered with Wi-Fi networking equipment specialist, Ruckus Networks, for approximately the last decade, and within our partnership we proudly offer its AI Managed Wi-Fi offering for enterprise networks, which presents AI-driven business intelligence for enterprise networks.
As a cloud-based service for network intelligence and service assurance, Ruckus AI Managed Wi-Fi with Analytics is powered by machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI). This in turn helps customers get the most from their network, for example by identifying network assurance incidents, classifying them by severity, tracing root causes and making specific AI recommendations for remediation. It automatically monitors network health relative to configurable thresholds.
Benefits of AI-Driven Enterprise Wi-Fi
AI can dynamically adjust Wi-Fi parameters like channel selection and contention window size to optimise network performance, ensuring smooth and efficient data transmission. In addition, it simplifies life for IT departments and technicians, as AI dramatically reduces the time to resolution for service incidents.
It can also eliminate some Help Desk tickets by addressing issues before they affect users, allowing the organisation to be proactive in this regard and solve problems before they arise. Additionally, by addressing the root cause for one incident, organisations can avoid other incidents that might arise from that cause.
Most importantly, it alleviates the need for an organisation’s IT department to manage the Wi-Fi network – Vox will manage this. Organisations can view real-time dashboards and, if required log tickets via the Vox enterprise support desk, because Vox has comprehensive visibility into network operations, which accelerates troubleshooting.
By proactively addressing issues and optimising network performance, AI can contribute to a better overall user experience, with faster speeds, reduced buffering, and fewer connection problems. In addition, AI can simplify network management, by automating many of the tasks associated with managing a complex Wi-Fi network, thereby reducing the burden on IT staff.
Faster Feature Updates Due to Cloud-Based Licences
A question that might spring to mind is the following: ‘How does South Africa compare to the developed world with regards to our access to AI within the Wi-Fi arena?’ and the answer may surprise you on the upside.
In essence, because today we have the option of moving to a cloud-based licence, all users globally are able to benefit from feature updates to cloud platforms, as they could all be on the same version due to simultaneous software updates. In this regard, South African companies will not necessarily be running behind users in other parts of the world, thanks to the cloud.
Vox is very pleased to be able to bring our customers the latest Wi-Fi networking feature updates as soon as they are made available to us from our upstream providers and placed onto the relevant platforms. Because Vox is accessing features as they are rolled out by the supplier, this means in turn that our customers benefit as and when new features and updates become available.
Knowing that we are able to offer our clients first-world AI-enabled Wi-Fi technology, in partnership with Ruckus Networks, is something of which we are truly proud.
