What?s So Important About Having a Secure Conferencing Solution? In the spirit of security that should surround your information technology, it is important to understand where the threats to your business come from. When looking at your conferencing solution, you should know that webcams and other IoT video devices, that make the conferencing solution what it is, are known to be some of the most targeted solutions by cybercriminals. In order to trust that your staff is working to keep your central IT secure and working as intended, there needs to be some diligence in choosing the right technology and practices to use to keep your business safe.  More people than ever are utilizing these solutions, as well, and some are more secure than others. Since so many people are using these applications, it becomes extremely important to do what you can to promote solid security practices. Today, we?ve outlined four.  They include: Develop Solid Policies An organization?s conferencing policy is similar to their BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy. It?s important for your staff to understand the role they play in maintaining your business? network security. This goes double for businesses that have to deal with sensitive information such as health or financial data.  Here are some guidelines to consider implementing: Users need permission from all attendees in order to record a meeting. Personal devices should not be used to record meetings. Confidential or sensitive information should not come into view during the meeting unless it is expressly relevant or requested by meeting attendees.  All cameras and microphones should be disconnected when not in use. If sensitive information is to be shared, it should be done so securely and not in group meetings. Use Encryption  To ensure that data is shared securely, you will want your video conferencing software and your hardware to both have 128-bit AES encryption installed. Not only will this work to protect sensitive data, it will deliver peace of mind that any data that is sent will get to its destination without issue.  Authentication and Control  A lot of today?s most utilized conferencing apps have single-login authentication. Sign-in strategies such as single sign-on (SSO) are great because they allow administrators to simply control the secure authorization of users. To enhance control, however, you will want to set up a domain-based security system that will more effectively allow administrators to set permissions and monitor access. This will go a long way toward securing your SSO-based authentication strategy.  Update Your System  Like any other piece of software, your conferencing applications have to be updated and patched in order to avoid being vulnerable to outside threats. Since it is an Internet-facing system, you need to ensure that any conferencing app that is routinely used is up to date and managed properly.  For the time being, we?re all going to be relying on our conferencing solutions. To learn more about conferencing, or to talk to one of our experts about keeping your systems secure, call White Mountain IT Services today at (603) 889-0800.

What Is the Cloud? Most people today use cloud services, but they may not completely understand what the cloud is. Essentially, the cloud is computing that is hosted on what is effectively rented hardware. Anything you can do with your onsite IT, you can pretty much do with cloud computing resources. Cloud options are typically managed and maintained by the provider while also being made available for a static monthly rate. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), the leading cloud service is often priced per user, while Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) platforms are billed per gigabyte.  The benefit of cloud computing is that businesses and individuals can get high-tech tools through cloud providers at a fraction of the cost than they would pay to set up their own private cloud platform with the applicable licenses and the hosting and management of that hardware. This provides the opportunity to fit the solutions to your business without taking on the often hefty expenses associated with implementing new information systems.  Cloud Options As stated above there are options for most parts of your business, including: Hardware  For the business that needs extra computing resources for specific applications or for application development, the cloud is a good resource. Moreover, many businesses have chosen to virtualize their local resources and run their systems in virtualized environments, allowing them to maximize their investment into their hardware systems.  Software  This covers a lot of ground. Let?s look at some of the most popular options: Line of Business – Many businesses have chosen to host their line of business software in the cloud. While they lose control over the management of the software, they do pick up some serious benefits including anywhere/anytime access to the software with an Internet connection and cost stabilization provided by the hosted environment. Productivity – Today there are numerous software titles developed just for productivity. Titles like Microsoft Office 365 and Google?s G Suite are two of the most utilized cloud productivity options. They provide the software needed to be productive with integrations designed to enhance collaboration. Communication – Solutions like Hosted VoIP have revolutionized business communications, providing businesses with the telephone system and conferencing features they need to connect remote and in-house teams, alike.  Security – Today, there are many network security tools available through the cloud. Not only does this reduce the management costs a business is responsible for, it also ensures that, since it is delivered as a service, that it gets the coverage it needs to keep their business secure. The cloud has also made the Internet of Things relevant. Businesses of all types, and individuals, use a litany of smart devices and ?things?. In fact, today there are dozens of different cloud-based platforms available through your pick of reliable cloud hosting services. To get more information about how cloud computing can help you build a more productive and efficient business call the IT experts at White Mountain IT Services today at (603) 889-0800.

What Is Video Conferencing? For the business that holds regular meetings, not having your team in the office can be a major hindrance. People get behind on their work, messages get crossed, and business slows down. To promote efficiency, businesses need a way to have the meetings they depend on when it is impossible for them to be at the same location. A video conferencing system works by allowing individuals to have virtual meetings over an Internet connection using devices with built-in ( or stand-alone) webcams. In being able to bring people together, share ideas and data, video conferencing can get entire teams on the same page in a manner that is much more effective than audio-only conferencing solutions.  What Are Some of the Features of a Video Conferencing Solution? If you are in the market for a solution that will allow you to get your team together from anywhere, there are dozens of them on the market. What you will have to weigh are the features that you want to have. Let?s take a look at some of the best features that are offered with video conferencing solutions: An Acoustic Fence – This feature provides noise canceling in a designated meeting area. Interoperability – As was mentioned above, there are dozens of different video conferencing solutions, but they need to work with one another to ensure that whatever solution you choose, you can get through to people that have a different solution. Speaker tracking – Today?s solutions mostly all have a feature called speaker tracking that follows the participant?s voices and shows the person who is speaking on the screen. 70-Degree Field of View – To get the coverage your team needs, choosing a solution that has a medium focal length that provides solid coverage is important. Software Integration – With solid software integrations, sharing and broadcasting files is much simpler. Content Sharing – Speaking of sharing files, having integrated content sharing can go a long way to making your solution work for your entire business.  If your business is in the market for a dynamic video conferencing solution to improve your business? communications, call the IT professionals at White Mountain IT Services today at (603) 889-0800.

1. Keep Your Team Involved Your team is going to be one of?if not the?the most vital resources you have during any crisis. Therefore, your ability to remain positive amidst a disaster event is going to be strongly influenced by how you work with the other people in the office, even if you?re not actually in the office. Keep everyone in the loop? as appropriate. Too many people naturally respond to a crisis by falling back and withholding as much information as possible. Don?t do this. All this will do is encourage rumors to start (distracting from the productivity you are trying to salvage) as well as prevent you from communicating with your team effectively. Having said that, there is a difference between keeping your team apprised of how things are going, and oversharing. If something shouldn?t be disclosed to the team, or you are unprepared to give a complete enough answer to them, tell them that. While remaining honest and straightforward with your team is important, sharing incomplete information or private matters is not the way to go about it. Lead by example. Your team is apt to internalize some of your actions as a leader and interpret them as the way that the business is to operate in troublesome times. While some adjustments must be made in response to any circumstance?many on the fly?you also need to show that you have some control of the situation. Make sure that you are seeing to all your usual responsibilities as the boss, in addition to whatever your circumstances have thrown on your plate. Your employees may just do the same. Believe in your employees. Consider the talent you currently have employed at your business. Once you have figured out what can be done to handle a situation, assign elements of that plan to the people that you know have the capability to handle it. Lean on their talents?after all, they are there to support you. 2. Adjust Your Operations It only stands to reason that any emergency or disaster will require some level of modification to your processes. While it may be too late to do this now, it is generally best to consider these modifications proactively. Figure out where you stand. Here?s the thing: you aren?t going to be able to make the necessary alterations to your business? processes without some understanding of how the situation specifically applies to your business. Identifying what would happen?or is actively happening?and what impact it will have allows you to better predict how your operations will be influenced. This enables you to come up with alternatives to put into action. Ask yourself the tough questions. Once you have an idea of what to expect, figuring out how to mitigate these expectations will require you to make some tough, but necessary, choices. Start with the simpler ones, such as who will take on certain roles if the usual person gets sick or whether you will reduce the times your business is open.  After that has been established, move to the bigger, tougher considerations; like, how you can help your staff and clients if they are in a jam, or how long your business could last if a shutdown became necessary. Adapt as you can to the situation. You may find that you have other […]

You Can Do More with VoIP While your main strategy is shifting to a VoIP system for your business? telephone needs, they provide many more benefits. By using bandwidth instead of a dedicated telephone connection, you have access to many more dynamic options. They may raise the cost of your telephone solution a bit, but it will still come in under what you pay for an enterprise telephone system from the telephone company. Security Baked In VoIP is much more secure to use than the traditional landline. This is because it is more difficult to secure an analogue system then it is to secure a digital one. With the benefit of built-in encryption, your VoIP communications are always secure.  Perfect for the Remote Worker A VoIP system typically supports calling and messaging through a dedicated smartphone app. This means that any person that has a smartphone can have access to their work phone at any time. Best yet, the VoIP platform?s app will ring when an employee?s extension is called giving them access to all the VoIP features wherever they are on many different types of devices.  VoIP Offers Automation Automation makes a big difference when you want things to run efficiently or you are trying to cut costs. VoIP has several different features that leverage automation to make the system easier to navigate. Call forwarding, parking, and other options can be tied to a VoIP account for a small additional investment. VoIP is a technology solution for all of your business? calling needs. Call White Mountain IT Services today at (603) 889-0800 for more information about VoIP and how you can get the telephone system you?ve always wanted for your business.