Blog & Tools

Popular Resources
  1. SDN's Sarah Tuntland blends her creative side with accounting background to make an impact
    Sarah Tuntland calls herself a problem solver — whether that’s crunching numbers as part of her day job or volunteering with non-profit boards across the community.
  2. Missed field trip connected Eich to opportunities that led to telecom career
    Dan Eich is the Director of Wholesale and Carrier Management for SDN Communications, where he’s been employed since 2010. How he got there can be traced back to missing out on a field trip.
  3. 'Dean of the South Dakota lobbyists' defied stereotype to become industry’s greatest advocate
    One of my best friends, Greg Dean, was a lobbyist – the “Dean of the South Dakota lobbyists” – who earned that designation by representing the reason we have lobbyists in government: Their power for good.
  4. People are at the center of our 'Top 2021 Articles'
    When it comes down to it, people want to read about other people and how technology affects those people. So, it should be no surprise to learn that SDN Communications' top blog article of 2021 was about two people in the company.
  5. 5 Reasons Why Fiber Internet Edges-out Satellite Service for South Dakota
    With the state of South Dakota’s heavy investment in fiber connectivity for residential and business internet, critics argue satellite services could be the better option. A national internet connectivity expert based in Mitchell says that’s wrong for several reasons.
  6. Local telecoms make progress connecting South Dakotans but work remains
    Investments from federal and state governments as well as the private sector have made a significant impact on expanding broadband access in South Dakota. But there is still work to be done and more dollars needed.
  7. Change in Leadership at SDN Communications
    After more than 21 years as CEO of SDN Communications, Mark Shlanta is stepping down. On Monday, December 20, SDN Vice President of Sales, Ryan Punt, will become CEO and lead the company that has evolved to become an industry-leading provider of telecommunications services.
  8. New fiber route to Denver strengthens SDN network
    An upgraded SDN Communications fiber route to Denver will improve connectivity, performance and UPTIME for companies with offices, warehouses, or other connectivity needs west or south of South Dakota.
  9. A partnership connecting kids to education
    When the pandemic forced schools to switch to virtual learning in 2020, Crow Creek Tribal School was no exception. But for many of the students there, virtual learning was impossible because they did not have access to the internet.
  10. Broadband grant helps deliver life-changing connectivity to West Edgemont area
    Converting rural western South Dakota customers over to fiber optics within 10 years is a giant undertaking. A federal grant is helping make that possible for some customers in 2021.
  11. Black Hills ReConnect digs in this spring with FARR Technologies at the helm
    Come spring 2022, SDN Communications plans to begin the first of two ReConnect fiber projects. Once complete, it will connect the Black Hills in a way it’s never been before.
  12. SD telecom leaders retire with nearly 70 years of industry leadership
    Three state telecommunications leaders stepped into retirement over the past year after having a front-row seat to the changes in the industry during the past two decades.
  13. DDoS attacks, employee accomplices add twists to ransom threats on businesses
    Ransomware will continue to get worse before it ever gets better. That’s the overall takeaway after reviewing SDN Communications’ latest Cyber Threat Landscape Report.
  14. The future of the telecommunications industry from two perspectives
    During the 2021 SDTA annual conference in Deadwood, industry experts Dan Caldwell and Carissa Swenson of Consortia Consulting debated the future of the rural broadband industry - where it’s going, how it will be funded and what it will look like.
  15. Preventative measures imminent as ransomware grows in sophistication
    The first thing to understand about today’s ransomware groups is that they’re highly intelligent, organized businesses.
  16. Sanford, KeyMedia share ransomware and identity theft experiences to empower others
    Being vulnerable online can open the door for hackers. However, being vulnerable by sharing experiences and lessons learned can help others respond and even avoid a similar situation. Sanford Health and KeyMedia Solutions shared their stories at the Better Business Bureau's Cybersecurity Seminar for that exact reason.
  17. Strength of cybersecurity culture tied directly to a business's risk
    If you write your passwords in a notebook, don’t know what MFA means or are unsure how to report a cybercrime — you’re not alone. According to research from the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCSA), we’ve still got a long way to go to reach significant culture change in online security.
  18. Ransomware and phishing trends impacting cyber insurance
    Dan Hanson with Marsh & McLennan Agency and Michael Nougier of Eide Bailly, LLP, take a relaxed, conversation-style approach to break down the trends and opportunities small and medium-sized businesses face. We have five takeaways from their discussion.
  19. SDN sponsors CityAge event exploring burgeoning economies of mid-size cities
    SDN Communications is excited to co-sponsor the next CityAge virtual event exploring the possibilities economic growth can bring to cities such as Sioux Falls.
  20. Affected by today’s Internet Blackout Day?
    Here’s how SDN’s Managed Services team is keeping customers connected. September 30th, is being referred to by some as an Internet Blackout day. This event is being caused by an expired software certificate.