The TurboMeeting 6-in-1 Web Conferencing and Remote Support Server provides for...

Click this link to play TurboMeeting 6-in1 Video The TurboMeeting 6-in-1 Web Conferencing and Remote Support Server provides for easy web conferencing, audio conferencing, video conferencing, and webinars with up to 3000 attendees. It allows remote support of customers and employees and remote access of home and office computers. RHUB's TurboMeeting supports unlimited users with floating licenses.  And with LDAP integration, you can make TurboMeeting available for every employee within a matter of minutes. The TurboMeeting server can be paid off within 3-10 months when compared with hosted subscription hosted services.  The TurboMeeting key features include: audio conferencing with dial-in numbers for 17 countries, a guarantee that every attendee can join your meetings on any computer or any mobile device, the fastest screen update speed and HD quality video, plug-and-play deployment, secure internal meetings behind your firewall, integration with your web site and applications, and branding with your custom messages and identity.

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Using RHUB Remote Support Servers to Monitor Employee Computers

Protecting corporate data and intellectual property can be an important function of IT. When the corporation issues computers to employees, the use is implicitly for work related functions. To ensure proper use of corporate computing equipment, IT may need to monitor such use.

Effective monitoring of employee use of company computers can prove to be a significant challenge for any organization. Even so, it is vital today for companies to keep their fingers on the pulse of employee use of company equipment. There is simply too much riding on the line to avoid this issue. With the ability to monitory employee computer usage properly, it is possible to glean all of the information necessary to make informed decisions while protecting internal assets from external forces that may be admitted into your company by unsuspecting employees.

Businesses have numerous responsibilities and among those responsibilities are knowing all of the information to which employees may be unwittingly exposing the company computers and networks. A RHUB remote support server provides an effective method for monitoring, controlling, and recording all of your employees’ computer activity. As a result, it is possible to prevent the loss of critical as well as confidential data from being siphoned from the organization while also assuring employee productivity.

Remotely monitoring employee usage of company computers using a RHUB remote support server is quite easy. Simply follow these steps as outlined (see the image below)

1. Log into an employee computer as an administrator user
2. Install the TurboMeeting client and schedule a remote access meeting. The “Computer” field should be given the same name as the employee name.
3. Begin the scheduled meeting.
4. Click “Tools” and check “Hide this meeting.”
5. Logout from the computer.

From this point, you now have the ability to monitor, control, and record all activity from that computer. Even better, you can do so from any location and at any time.

Access security is enforced by the Meeting ID and Meeting Password. For instance, if a meeting is scheduled as an internal meeting by checking “Only attendees from my network,” the security is further strengthened by your firewall. This will prevent any party from outside your firewall from accessing the remote computer.

It should be noted that there are no legal impediments that would prevent this type of computer monitoring. The computers that you provide to your employees are your property. Furthermore, as their employer, you have every legal right to know how your employees are using those computers. As a business owner, it is incumbent upon you to ensure the best interests of your business, and this is one method that allows you to do that. Furthermore, as employees, they should not abuse the privilege that you have granted in the use of a computer.

RHUB Remote Support servers provide you with the ability to monitor all activities on any company computer while preventing the unauthorized distribution of sensitive corporate information. It also allows you to prevent, detect, respond to, monitor, and review measures for reducing perceived risks of corporate data loss in an effective manner.

Are you ready to improve the security of your company computers? If so, call us today at +44 (0)1925 659 523 or email us at ct@collaboration-technologies.co.uk for a quick demo.

Why Can't I Join A Web Meeting? Overcoming the Frustrations of Managing Online Meetings

Women own 10.6 million businesses in the United States and they employ 19.1 million workers. With these staggering numbers, it’s safe to assume that they often face the ongoing challenge of running their businesses more efficiently, especially when it comes to managing meetings.

Web conferencing has been around for years. And, with its longevity, you would think that using the technology would be even simpler now.  But, believe it or not, just the basic steps of clicking a web link and dialing a phone number to connect with a group of people online still leaves many frustrated users unable to join in. Whether they have to overcome the challenges of  waiting forever for downloads, entering incorrect meeting IDs or just the irritation of sluggish transitions as presentation slides slowly coming across the screen -  it’s true that users are still experiencing some major concerns with web conferencing technology.

While it’s hard to find leading statistics on web meeting attendance failures, in general, most failures are connected to issues with downloading and with challenges connected to first time users of the technology. These two issues alone can significantly drive up the meeting failure rate.  When someone is a new or an occasional participant in web conferencing, their chances of having problems with joining an online meeting are greater than someone who routinely utilizes the technology.

Since most web based meetings require that users either have specific software or apps already loaded on their device or that they download it for the meeting, new users trying to download the “client” software/apps for the first time may experience challenges with downloading the software. In contrast, people who regularly attend specific meetings probably already have it on their meeting device and can more quickly connect to the meeting. When the meeting system requires client software/apps, the likelihood of someone not being able to join increases with the factors mentioned above.

Moreover, client software for desktop and laptop computers has to be downloaded from the meeting software website. As such, there are a several reasons why such a download can fail or be difficult for users to complete. Such as:

• The computer may be blocked from downloading any software by the user’s IT department
• The user’s firewall is set to block ports needed by the download software
• The Antivirus software loaded on the computer blocks the download
• The Operating System version is not supported by the software
• The Browser used to access the meeting site blocks the meeting address

Obviously, there are a number of reasons that can hinder the download process. When someone is joining a meeting for the first time, not being able to download the required software is extremely frustrating and usually causes that attendee to give up, thus causing an meeting attendance failure.

Meeting software running on the device is required if the attendee needs to:

• Show their screen and/or web cam
• Use VoIP for audio communications
• Need to use their keyboard in the meeting to operate another computer

If an attendee is just joining to see the presenter’s screen and can use a regular phone for the audio, it is not necessary to download software. Modern systems (such as TurboMeeting by RHUB) uses a Guaranteed Meeting Attendance, browser based technology to enable the attendee to join the meeting and see the presenter’s screen without requiring a download of software, thereby, allowing for a significant increase in people joining the meeting.

 Initiatives, such as WebRTC, promise to make browser based attendance more common and more powerful with the caveat that everyone joining has a compatible browser. The browser compatibility issue of WebRTC makes it a problematic issue when inviting attendees that are not aware of the browser requirement. At this time, while WebRTC is gaining a lot of press, it does not really remove the issue above; ie a new attendee who is joining with and unknown device/environment and cannot get in.

Another constraint of the software download issue is the size of the download and thus the amount of time it takes, especially if the prospective attendee is not on a very high speed internet connection. Bloated software modules take time to download and execute. If the attendee waits until meeting time to try to join and incurs a substantial time delay in the process, again, they will be frustrated and possibly just give up. One way to deal with this issue is to use meeting software that pays attention to the download module size. If all the required features are available but the download module is smaller, it will also load and execute faster, making the experience more acceptable for the attendee.

In addition to these technical issues there can be mechanical issues that frustrate attendees such as entering or giving the wrong web meeting and/or audio conference ID information. A possible solution to this is to use the browser based approach mentioned above and just email a link to the attendee. The attendee just clicks the link to join, enters their name and uses the internal VoIP system for the audio. This approach is very powerful for webinar type meetings. It does, however, compromise security as anyone with the link can join the meeting. When you have a need for a secure meeting, the download approach from an on-premise system provides the best solution.

Another user issue can be the etiquette for managing the audio part of the meeting. Often you can find multiple people wishing to talk at the same time. Newer systems, with integrated audio conferencing, enables the host to control the audio to minimize such issues. The host can mute each individual attendee at any time, especially when someone is using a speaker phone and then either puts it on hold with hold music or takes another call on a cell phone and talks over the meeting host.

Most modern systems have evolved to the point that performance is no longer an issue for attendees, even for some relatively large meetings. However, if the attendee is on a slow internet connect or the meeting software is not optimized to handle various connect speeds, some attendees can experience slow updates. In such a case, the attendee will feel “lost” if the audio is out of sync with the screen information.

The only solution for this problem is to use a system that is proven to work with the typical attendee mix you need to support. This issue can be very serious if some attendees are located internationally where the internet infrastructure is weak. Look for a system that has address international performance and test it before scheduling such a meeting.

In general, while web meetings have historically incurred frustrating issues for attendees, the newer, more modern systems have mechanisms to overcome most of these issues. It’s important for organizations to evaluate and test web conferencing tools before purchasing the technology to ensure that they can have a better, more effective web conferencing experience. 

Using RHUB Web Conferencing Servers to Share Computer Audio with Your Participants

The ability to share your desktop with meeting attendees can provide tremendous advantages for both you and your participants. When doing so, it can be beneficial to be able to hear audio from the remote computer. Whether you want to take advantage of the option to listen to music or to provide audio instructions, RHUB Web Conferencing servers will give you plenty of options for enhancing your presentations with audio.

With RHUB Web Conferencing servers, you are able to share your desktop remotely with all of the attendees in your meeting. For instance, our web conferencing servers can be used for securely accessing applications or files from a separate computer. You could also use the web conferencing server for providing a friend or associate with temporary access to your desktop if they need a file or if you need assistance with a computer issue. RHUB is designed to ensure that you can broadcast voice audio over the phone in an efficient manner or utilize the microphone/computer speaker (VoIP). Even so, there may be instances in which you wish to take advantage of the opportunity to broadcast an audio recording directly from your computer.

When using Windows Vista as well as later Windows operating systems, the presenter of a meeting is able to share his or her computer-based audio with participants simply by clicking on the Tools menu item. He or she can then select “Start to share my computer sound with attendees” option. It is that simple!

Once this feature has been enabled, the presenter may then play a video and share it without attendees while also streaming the audio for that video. All that the presenter needs to do is select the “Use Mic & Speakers” option for the computer. The presenter may also choose the “Use Telephone” option. The default RHUB conference call number with integrated audio will be used.

Presenters can take advantage of numerous advantages by using the option to share computer audio with their meeting participants. For instance, not all learners are the same. Many individuals learn better through audio. As a result, by sharing audio, you can increase learning effectiveness. Sharing audio also presents the opportunity to collaborate in a more effective manner. You may also find that sharing audio presents the opportunity to work more efficiently while reducing confusion. Furthermore, with this option, you can take advantage of the opportunity to offer live-motion training classes as well as product information to your employees, partners, and even clients. This technology can also be used for illustrating and promoting your services and products. As you can see, the ability to share computer audio with participants during a conference can set the stage for improved communication while also broadening your marketing capabilities.

Are you interested in learning how you can share your computer audio with your meeting attendees? If so, call us today at +44 (0)1925 659 523 or email us at rhub@collaboration-technologies.co.uk to receive a quick demo.

4 Video Conferencing Myths

Among the top reasons that many people give for not using video conferencing is that they believe it is too time-consuming or too complicated. Others believe it is too tech-intensive. Some companies often think that the quality is too low to adopt on a company-wide basis. Video conferencing has evolved significantly. It now provides an easy, quick, and simple way to improve communication and can be used even if you do not have any prior experience or a full IT department.

Employees and customers of RHUB now use the RHUB Web Conferencing Servers, which is the firm’s premier web video conferencing solution, for holding more than 100 meetings on a monthly basis with external attendees.

Debunking Video Conferencing Myths.

Given the abundant misconceptions regarding video conferencing, it is time to set the record straight:

1. Video Conferencing is Complicated (False!)

Many people often make the mistake of assuming that video conferencing is simply too complicated to use on a regular basis. In reality, video conferencing does not require a separate audio line or even a license key. With RHUB Web Conferencing Servers, it is possible to invite anyone to attend from any location and on any network. Even first-time users will find that RHUB Web Conferencing Servers are simple and fast. It only takes three easy steps to join a meeting, compared to 50 for a similar offering from the typical conference room/end point system.

2. Video Conferencing is Time-Consuming (False!)

There is often a misconception that it will take too long to join a video conference and the time spend getting started is a waste of time. In fact, it takes less than a minute for even first-time users to join a meeting using RHUB web conferencing servers. It takes longer than that to refill your coffee!

3. You Need an IT Professional for Video Conferencing (Myth!)

Along with presenting the opportunity to started faster and easier, RHUB Web Conferencing Servers offer robust updates. What this means for you is that you do not an IT professional to walk you through the process.

4. Video Conferencing Doesn’t Offer High-Definition (Wrong!)

Among the biggest misconceptions about video conferencing is that it will be low quality with a shaky, fuzzy picture. RHUB web conferencing servers actually display a high-definition video with crisp quality. User motion is smooth and features enhanced resolution. In fact, the resolution on video conferencing with RHUB is more than double that of standard television.

Video conferencing has developed significantly and the experience and quality provided by RHUB Web Conferencing Servers now makes it possible to take advantage of quality that will make it feel as though you are in the same room with your participants.

Are you excited to learn more and conduct your own video conference using RHUB Web Conferencing Servers? All it takes is one phone call. Contact us today at +44 (0)1925 659 523 or email us at rhub@collaboration-technologies.co.uk. We would be happy to provide a quick demo and answer any questions you may have.

RHUB Web Conferencing Servers Offer Solutions for Web Conferencing, Video, and Audio

While meeting in person has been the preferred option in the past, it is not always practical or even feasible today. A number of factors can preclude meeting in person, including scheduling differences and budget challenges. RHUB web conferencing server technology is often the best alternative when you are not able to meet with customers, partners, or colleagues in person. With this option, you gain the ability to meet as well as present, collaborate, and share on content with just a handful of participants or thousands, all from a single solution.

With just one box, you can benefit from everything that you need to get the job done right. Regardless of whether you wish to schedule a conference in advance or you need the capability to conduct a meeting on the fly, the one-click meetings from RHUB make starting conferences quick and easy. You can take advantage of the option to launch a conference directly from Microsoft Outlook, or you can use your own personalized RHUB URL, if you wish. You can also invite participants to your conference via instant message, text, or email. The choice is entirely up to you.

The multi-point video integration in both standard and high-definition in your virtual conference room also gives you the ability to incorporate real-time video. This can prove to be particularly beneficial, as multimedia content, application, and desktop sharing can provide your participants with a more effective and engaging experience. In addition, you can take advantage of the opportunity to provide participants with control, if you so desire. Presentations and documents can also be displayed in zoom mode or full screen without worrying about any degradation occurring in image quality or clarity.

RHUB web conferencing, video conferencing, and audio conferencing services also provide a number of important features, including integrated audio controls, polling, Outlook integration, support for PowerPoint animation and transitions, and desktop collaboration and application sharing.

You can also benefit from the option to record your entire desktop application or conference using the record and play back feature. If you ever encounter the need to check something from the conference in the future, it is available for future play back. Once it is saved, you also have the opportunity to send the record to participants so that they can listen and even view your recording offline for future reference.

RHUB technology gives you the opportunity to connect with anyone from any location and across devices and platforms so that you are not limited. Whether your participants are inside or outside your firewall, you retain the ability to connect with them quickly and easily.

If you would like to learn more about RHUB technology and how it can benefit you and your business, give us a call today. RHUB Conferencing offers a one-stop solution for all breeds of conferencing services, including web, audio, and video conferencing. Give us a call today at +44 (0)1925 659523 or email us at rhub@collaboration-technologies.co.uk

Use RHUB Remote Support Servers to Insert Ctr+Alt+Delete into RDP Sessions

Control-Alt-Delete is a computer keyboard command often used on Windows PC compatible computers to interrupt a function. Also sometimes referred to as the “three-finger salute,” Ctrl+Alt+Del is used by simply holding the Control and Alt keys while pressing the Delete key at the same time. 

The precise purpose of this function may depend based on the context in which it is used. This particular key combination is often used for rebooting the computer in DOS or in Windows 3.0 or even earlier Windows versions. Once Windows 3.1 was introduced, the command began to be used as a security component or task manager for facilitating the end of a Windows session.

Ctrl-Alt-Delete will bring up a window in Windows 95 and later systems that make it possible for users to view the status of all programs that are currently running and then opt to terminate any of those programs. This keyboard function will also provide users with the option to shut down the computer or restart the computer. The exact options offered will usually vary slightly based on the particular version of Windows that is running. For instance, if Ctrl-Alt-Delete is pressed twice consecutively in Windows 95 or 98, the operating system will automatically close all programs that are currently running and then restart.

With RHUB Remote Support Server, it is possible to take advantage of a Remote Desktop Client that will give you the ability to connect to Windows Workstations.

Suppose that you wish to send a Ctrl+Alt+Delete command to a workstation. Perhaps you are performing an upgrade on a remote server when Windows Explorer crashed. The only way that you would be able to restart Windows Explorer is by going to the task manager and beginning a new task in order to reach the Task Manager so that you can then then input the Ctrl+Alt+Delete Command.

Inserting these commands is very easy with RHUB remote server. All you need to do is click on Ctrl+Alt+Delte on the TurboMeeting top toolbar and the command will be sent to the remote session.

Benefits of Ctrl+Alt+Del
There are actually numerous advantages associated with using the Ctrl+Alt+Del command, including:

• If you attempt to reset any user password or administrator on a Windows server from manager-user/groups, you will receive a warning that password reset from the mmc console could result in data loss. Instead, you can use Ctrl+Alt+Del and then change the password.
• You can send Ctrl+Alt+Ins with virtual box when you are working on vmware.
• The Ctrl+Alt+Delete function can also be used to logoff/login.
• The Ctrl+Alt+Delete command can also be used to lock the remote computer.
• You can also choose to switch users with the Ctrl+Alt+Delete command.
• Ctrl+Alt+Delete can be used to invoke the Task Manager.

With RHUB, you can significantly expand your options.

Are you excited to learn more about Ctrl+Alt+Delete on remote computers using RHUB remote support servers? To learn more about RHUB products, call us at +44 (0)1925 659523 or email us at rhub@collaboration-technologies.co.uk.

6 Ways to Use RHUB Web Conferencing Servers to Make your Freelance Business More Effective

Around the world, the landscape of the business world continues to evolve and become more dispersed. It is now more common than ever for workers to telecommute. Freelancing has also become increasingly common. Even so, freelancers face an entirely new set of responsibilities. While a freelancer is able to set his or her own schedule, there is also the need to deal with invoices and maintain consistent communication with teams and clients regardless of your location.

The below tips can guide you through how you can use RHUB Web Conferencing Servers in order to effectively manage some of the most common freelance challenges.

Working on the go. More and more freelancers today are working while on the road. With RHUB Web Conferencing Servers, freelancers can take advantage of mobile apps for iOS, making it possible to attend and host meetings from any location.

Working with clients who have a restrictive firewall. Firewalls are a common and effective security strategy for blocking the unauthorized incoming and outgoing communications from a computer. RHUB Web Conferencing Serves are able to work from behind your clients’ firewall, thus providing complete protection from any unauthorized person who attempts to join your meetings. We also provide a step-by-step guide to ensure the complete satisfaction of you and your clients.

Communicating design changes to clients. If you need to transmit detailed design changes, screen sharing is an excellent way to do so. The built-in drawing tools in the RHB Web Conferencing Servers platform allow you to take advantage of robust online collaboration by circling, highlighting, and pointing precisely to the points that you need to reference on a screen.

Working with clients who aren’t “technical.” With RHUB Web Conferencing Servers, there is no need for your clients to possess a lot of technical knowledge. Joining a session is easy with an automatic download for first-time users and a single click to join meetings.

Need to time meetings. If you work on an hourly basis and need to time meetings, the Record button in the RHUB Web Conferencing Servers can also be used as a meeting timer. All you need to do is hit record at the beginning of your meeting. This feature also provides an information log for accounting auditing.

Prefer not to take notes. Do you dislike taking notes? The Record feature on the RHUB Web Conferencing Servers can also be used as an automatic note-taker. Everything that was said and displayed can be tracked by simply recording your sessions. You can opt to play back the recording for taking notes later or post the audio from the meeting online securely, allowing you and your clients to reference it as needed.

Attempting to facilitate collaboration while simultaneously keeping track of client information and working on a remote basis can be a challenge. RHUB Web Conferencing Servers can help you to benefit from clearer communication while managing your freelance business in a more organized manner.

To learn more about RHUB products, contact us at +44 (0)1925 659 523 or email us at sales@collaboration-technologies.co.uk

RHUB Remote Support Servers Offer Remote Support Software for iPad

If you have an iPad and use it for a variety of daily tasks, you may be excited to learn that you can also use your iPad to offer remote support. While there are numerous programs available that make it possible for users to take advantage of remote support on their iPads, RHUB Remote Support Server is the one that offers the secure access to computers remotely from any location using an iPhone, iPad, and more.

 

No matter what your location might be, RHUB provides you with the ability to provide support in a remote manner to employees and customers from the convenience of your iPad. This provides far more flexibility and portability than was previously possible. As you are likely already aware, an iPad is easy to take with you wherever you go so that you do not need to be tied down to a desktop or even a bulky laptop again. Additionally, the iPad is thin and small enough that you can carry it without feeling weighed down. Even better, it can perform a variety of remote support functions.

Technicians, in particular, are able to benefit from this by traveling when the need calls for it and still remaining productive. For instance, a technician can provide quality collaborative support from any location and at any time simply by using the RHUB iPad app. The iPad also offers the benefit of flexibility in regards to the way in which it delivers remote support.

Users are also able to begin a support session using iPad Remote Support from their iPad. This can save tremendous amounts of time. Users are also able to view as well as share screens remotely. In the event that the user needs to take control of the end user’s keyboard or mouse, this can be done directly from the iPad.

The iPad Remote Support App also provides another great feature and this is the ability to collaborate in an efficient manner. For example, users can have chat sessions with representatives and end-users.

With the RHUB iPad Remote Support app, your company or organization is able to become more flexible and efficient in terms of the way in which service is delivered. As long as you have your iPad on hand, you can quickly and easily communicate with colleagues and customers easily and quickly.

Are you interested in learning more about the benefits offered by the RHUB iPad app? If so, call us at +44 (0)1925 659 523 or email us at sales@collaboration-technologies.co.uk to find out more about how you can collaborate securely and easily with RHUB.

Enjoying the Benefits of Multi Monitor Support for Online Meetings with RHUB Web Conferencing Servers

Research shows that based on the type of work done, multi-monitors can provide the basis for increasing productivity by as much as 50 percent. Multi-monitor, also sometimes referred to as multi-display or multi-head, refers to the use of multiple physical display devices for the purpose of increasing the area available for computer programs that operate on a single computer system.

With RHUB Web Conferencing Servers, you gain the ability to support your customers who possess multiple monitors. Consequently, you gain the ability to navigate between monitors while in a session. In addition to helping you make a better impression, multiple monitors also help you to be more productive, provided that you know how to use them effectively. Read on for tips on how to put multiple monitors to work for you.

Using Multiple Monitors for Presenters
With RHUB, a presenter with multiple monitors can opt to display a specific monitor or choose to show the entire desktop, which is comprised of more than one monitor.

Using Multiple Monitors for Supporter

In TurboMeeting, an individual who is providing Remote Support to a computer with multiple monitors is provided with the option to display the entire desktop or display individual monitors.

For many of us, the use of multiple monitors has become so commonplace that we would find it difficult to give them up. If you have become accustomed to using multiple monitors, you may well have found that they help you to be more productive.

Below are several excellent reasons to use dual monitors:

• According to published studies, using a dual monitor in the workplace can increase productivity by as much as 50 percent. For instance, if you work as a computer programmer, you may find that the ability to display source code on one monitor and your program on the other monitor would be beneficial.
• In true multi-tasking, you need a sufficient amount of screen space to maintain two or more apps in full view at the same time. The ability to keep multiple apps completely open at the same time is a feature that you are certain to appreciate. Web designers and customer service reps are just two examples of professionals who would be able to benefit from dual monitors.
• Cutting and pasting between documents can also be accomplished much easier when you do not need to alt-tab between the documents and scroll between them. This feature can be particularly beneficial for creating PowerPoint presentations and newsletters.
• Video and picture editing can also prove to be much more effective with the use of dual monitors. You gain the ability to have all of your necessary editing tools in view on one screen while you actually work on the project on the other screen. With this option, you can compare before as well as after views of your project to allow for better results.
• You will also find it is much easier to compare products with dual monitors. For instance, you can opt to display the specs for two video cameras in a side-by-side manner in separate browser windows.
• Dual monitors also provide a much better experience for video and gaming. With this option, you gain increased visibility as well as the opportunity to stream video on one screen while working on another screen.
• New multi-monitor features are also available through Windows 8, including the ability to utilize various backgrounds on each individual monitor, use multiple taskbars, and have your background image span multiple screens.

Are you interested in having Dual Monitor Support? To obtain more information on how you can setup RHUB web conferencing servers for multi monitors, contact us at +44 (0)1925 659 523 or email us at rhub@collaboration-technologies.co.uk

The Benefits of On-Premise Collaboration Technologies for Enhancing Workplace Productivity

RHUB's CEO Larry Dorie highlights the advantages of on-premise collaboration solutions including improved security, branding and integration (with LDAP, etc.).

Enterprises are often faced with the challenge of increased demand on productivity, while operating under limited resources and tight budgets. But, with so many dynamics impacting workplace productivity, like managing connectivity across decentralized work teams, or, facilitating project coordination and communications among thousands of employees, more companies are now starting to deploy on-premise collaboration solutions to ensure optimal performance and consistent workflow, and all at a reasonable cost.  

But some companies are starting to realize that not all collaboration solutions are made the same. That’s why it’s important to factor in some key considerations when selecting a comprehensive collaboration solution that can be used by all major departments within an enterprise.

When considering a solution, start by collecting data from the user community to determine the various ways in which they need to collaborate and communicate internally or even externally with customers. What you will probably find is a collection of the following types of tool requirements:

• Interactive meeting tools for screen sharing, video conferencing and audio conferencing
• Webinar tools for making presentations to groups and training sessions
• Remote support tools for accessing user computers to provide technical support
• Remote access for accessing unattended computers. This mode can be used across an organization by IT reps for accessing servers and other enterprise computing resources, or, by individual employees for accessing a work computer or a home computer from home or while on the road.

These requirements can be met by a collection of hosted solutions or by on-premise solutions. On-premise has the advantage of providing all technology features within one framework and keeping the user environment consistent making it easier to support. On-premise also has the advantage of security, branding and integration. Security is enhanced because the system can sit behind the enterprise firewall and control access more stringently than hosted systems that use public servers. Branding, using the company’s unique imaging and logo, can be rather extensive making the user feel as if they are using the organization’s system. Integration can be a powerful function that makes these collaboration tools much easier for the user to find and access. By integrating with LDAP or AD, the IT user authentication load is greatly reduced and the user has a consistent mechanism for accessing the system. Other environments may also enhance accessibility via integration such as: an internal home page, key applications such as softphone clients and CRM systems. In all cases the goal is to make it a one-click step for the user to initiate a session when they want to.

Once you decide that on-premise is an advantage to your organization, the next decision is whether to go with a software solution or a dedicated appliance/server solution. The software solution does carry with it the added IT support of insuring compatibility every time a major component of the software stack is changed. If you plan to move to a newer OS or database, you need to insure that the collaboration software is compatible with the new OS or DB. If you change key applications on the shared server or upgrade the collaboration solution, you need to test that everything works well together. If, on the other hand, you select the dedicated appliance/server mechanism, there is virtually no IT workload beyond installation. All updates of the OS/DB and applications are managed by the vendor. In addition, this delivery approach can work very nicely with a private cloud implementation as just one of the components in the application stack.

Another thing to consider with a collaboration solution is its ability to deliver multi-media and interactive features. Modern multi-media collaboration tools provide a host of collaboration mechanisms, but when implementing these types of solutions, you will need a game plan for rolling out a consistent workflow approach in order to gain the most advantage. For example, a webcam video feature is a powerful tool for building relationships among team-members in disparate locations. Associating a name to a face is a part of our culture and helps us to better connect with team members. However, webcam video is a bandwidth consumer and can actually impact the overall performance of the system for other functions. A workflow practice that has been found to be effective is to start your meetings with a roundtable introduction by each team-member with their webcam active. After introductions, everyone turns off their webcam. If there is a main presenter in the group, it is helpful to have that person keep the webcam active during the formal part of the presentation and then turn it off for the more interactive part.

Since the multi-media feature of screen sharing is typically controlled by the meeting organizer, and can be passed from one person to the next as needed, it dictates a workflow that precludes ad hoc data sharing; and, therefore, it is less likely to consume a lot of bandwidth. The audio conference component uses very little bandwidth as well, and is usually controlled by the meeting host allowing the host to mute each individual attendee to keep the meeting flowing. For example, if a person on a speaker phone takes a cell phone call during the meeting and either puts the speaker phone on hold (with associated hold music) or just talks over it while on their cell, the host can keep this from interrupting the whole meeting by just muting the individual.

Interesting, even with all of the features and benefits of collaboration technologies, the collaboration solutions marketplace has only achieved about a 30 percent penetration of knowledge workers that would benefit from such tools. The analysts have identified two key inhibitors for deeper adoption: cost and ease of use.

Cost is a problem with hosted solutions because they are typically provided with a “named user” license. This means that the enterprise needs to procure a license for each user of the tool set, thus driving up costs and forcing someone to make a decision as to who can most benefit from such tools. On-premise software solutions also typically have a user license model and again drive up costs as the tools get allocated to more users. An approach that resolves this issue is to use a floating license/concurrent use approach. With this approach, the enterprise can provide tools to virtually everyone in an organization. The host licenses float among the entire user community and gets assigned in real-time on a concurrent use basis. If someone needs to host a meeting, they grab a meeting license, invite attendees by grabbing attendee licenses and this continues until all licenses are in concurrent use. The next person who wants to host a meeting has to wait until one of the active meetings is terminated. Once terminated that license becomes available to the next host etc. This approach makes maximum use of the tool in that seldom are all potential users actively holding sessions at the same time. With the “named user” approach, the license is only available to the specific user whether or not it’s being used.

In summary, the use of a floating license approach fully addresses the issue of lowering the cost to drive productivity tools deeper into the organization. In addition, the integration to corporate employee databases such as LDAP and Active Directory make implementing and managing the user community very easy. This entire process represents a no cost approach to improving productivity throughout the entire enterprise.

Deploy On Premise RHUB Remote Support Servers to Improve Remote Support Security

When it comes to working online, you can never be too safe. For quite some time, Internet specialists have been calling attention to the fact that numerous devices are exposed online, including surveillance cameras, medical devices, home monitoring systems, and more. Recently, a survey was conducted to identify computers with remote access software but with no password for security. Within just one hour, tens of thousands of computers were identified.

That is certainly a frightening prospect and serves to underscore the importance of ensuring that your remote support is completely secure. Once a prospective hacker gains access to your network, there are virtually no limits to the damage that can ensue. The recent spate of data breaches reported in the news, including breaches related to payment information from point-of-sale systems demonstrates just how serious this situation can be.

The question is what can you do to practice safe remote support computing? The solution is as simple as using RHUB remote support servers.

RHUB remote support servers assist in ensuring the remote access of your computers is secure while working from behind your computer’s firewall. As a result, you are able to view and take control of unattended desktops, servers, and even point-of-sale returns all within the convenience of real time and from any platform. Furthermore, you can do so with the knowledge that your system is protected by unparalleled security.

In considering how you can make your remote support more secure, it is important to remember that your security is only as strong as your weakest point. Unfortunately, remote support servers provide little in terms of access security. Additionally, remote support servers provide access to anyone who possesses a session ID and password. Such security can be compromised far too easily. All it takes is for the wrong person to read an email, gain access to someone’s calendar or use one of the many password cracking modules readily available. At that point, security is compromised and all of your confidential data could be vulnerable to an attack by a hacker. It can happen that quickly and that easily.

By comparison, RHUB remote support servers provide the opportunity to establish a virtual VPN between attendees and the host. Consequently, this limits the scope of the session’s attendance to only internal locations and addresses or specified external IP addresses. It should be noted that such policies are specifically designed to work alongside your internal security servers, including routers, firewalls, and other types of security devices that your organization may opt to use.

Ultimately, RHUB remote support servers offer the best possible security by restricting attendance to authorized attendees and locations. This works to prevent your systems and networks from hacker attacks. You gain the ability to work efficiently and with complete confident that your system is completely protected.

Take advantage of the opportunity to secure your networks and computers by utilizing RHUB remote support servers. To obtain more information, contact us at +44 (0)1925 659 523 or email us at rhub@collaboration-technologies.co.uk

5 steps for increasing web collaboration security for healthcare providers

Securing any enterprise is no small feat. This task becomes even more significant when it involves a healthcare organization. With the rapidly expanding use of web apps and collaboration tools in healthcare, coupled with the ongoing challenge of protecting patient data, it's no wonder that #healthcare institutions are now taking extreme measures to ensure that #security breaches don't occur within their organizations. http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/healthcare-information-technology/5-steps-for-increasing-web-collaboration-security-for-healthcare-providers.html

Make Webinar Presentations to More People for Less with RHUB Web Conferencing Servers

Did you know that you can conduct webinars on your own with up to 3,000 attendees? Were you aware that you can conduct such webinars for just a single one-time cost? Businesses are now increasingly looking for ways in which travel costs can be reduced while simultaneously reaching out to larger audiences in a global setting. Webinars provide the perfect solution and can be set up in just a few minutes. Furthermore, it is possible to set up a webinar without any support form IT while generating highly qualified marketing leads. With RHUB web conferencing servers, you can take advantage of the opportunity to make a presentation to literally hundreds of people from your PC or Mac. Those presentations can even be enhanced with HD video conferencing.

RHUB web conferencing servers allow you to quickly and easily manage your webinars, accept registrations online, retrieve those registrations and even integrate registration on your website by simply copying and pasting sample HTML code.

The steps below can help you to initiate a successful webinar registration in just a few minutes:

1. Begin by logging into your Web Conferencing Server management using your Turbomeeting Server address.

2. You will see three options displayed on the left menu. Those options are:

• A User Registration Form with your server URL, which can be used by your attendees for registering for your webinar.
• Webinar Management, which can be used as an option for retrieving webinars within a specified date range.
• Sample Registration Page where you can create your own registration page.

Configuring your Webinar Registration

With the Configuration Webinar Registration, you can specify a headline for your webinar to serve as a welcome message that can be displayed to your attendees. You can also determine which fields will be required to be completed by attendees. For instance, if you want to require that attendees enter a phone number while registering for your webinar, you can do so. It is even possible to enter a customized field based on your requirements. A confirmation page following registration gives you the ability to utilize the default message, which can be edited, or you can direct attendees to your own URL after they have registered for your webinar.

You also have the ability to select an option that will display all of the upcoming webinars scheduled for the next several days. This allows your attendees to see all of the upcoming webinars when they are registering.

Simply click on the Submit button to configure your Webinar Registration in the way you would like it to appear to your attendees.

Management

With the Management option, you can have an opportunity to retrieve all of your webinars from a specified date range. You can also create a new webinar. This option allows you to send out invitations by email to all of your attendees.

As you can see, you have a wealth of options available for your webinar registration and management using RHUB web conferencing servers. To obtain additional information about creating and managing successful webinar registrations, contact us at +44 (0)1925 659523 or email us at rhub@collaboration-technologies.co.uk

The Time to Increase Security Against Malware with RHUB Remote Support Servers Is Now

Security breaches have become so common, they are increasingly part and parcel of the day’s headlines. While not all of the breaches have common links, one thing they can have in common is poor remote access security. 

According to recent data releases, malicious hackers are now taking advantage of publicly available tools in order to specifically locate and identify businesses that utilize remote desktop applications. Remote desktop solutions such as Apple Remote Desktop, Microsoft’s Remote Desktop, Splashtop 2, Chrome Remote Desktop, LogMeIn, Pulseway, Join.Me, and others certainly provide a tremendous amount of efficiency and convenience when it comes to connecting to a computer via a remote location. Unfortunately, they can also serve as a gateway for hackers.

Once those applications have been identified, persons with malicious intent can attempt to force the login feature of the remote desktop solution. Once the suspect has gained access to what was previously a secure access account, it is possible to deploy a point-of-sale malware. As a result, the suspects are then able to remove consumer payment data using an encrypted POST request.

This dire situation has become increasingly common. Similar attacks have been seen in PoS malware campaign. Some studies now indicate that specifically targeting Remote Desktop Protocol through Bruteforce attacks is definitely on the rise.

In some instances, remote desktop access connections are provided for the purpose of allowing employees to gain access to their computer while working at home or from another remote location. Other remote access connections are established to allow outsourcers and IT administrators to manage and support desktops. Whatever the case may be, it has become crucial for such remote desktop connections to be secured. Since such connections often include critical admin-level permissions that can be exploited by hackers, securing those connections is of the utmost importance.

Some might argue that if an end-user is only using RDP for accessing a single desktop, there is no threat. This is not actually the case. Even in such a situation, it is possible for those credentials to be utilized for installed malware on the system. Once an individual desktop has been compromised, hackers can utilize that desktop to serve as a base for accessing other systems.

So, what can a business do to improve remote access security? The following guidelines can help:

• Begin by configuring account lockout settings so that user accounts are locked after a specified period of time. Account lockout settings can also be configured so that the account is locked after a certain number of failed login attempts, thus preventing an unlimited number of unauthorized attempts via an automated attack such as with Bruteforce.
• It is also a good idea to limit the number of users who are able to log in using RDP.
• Firewalls, both hardware and software, should be used in order to restrict access to remote desktop listening ports.
• Complex password parameters should be defined. Establishing an expiration time is also an excellent way to reduce the amount of time in which an attack can successfully occur.
• The installation of a Remote Desktop Gateway is another way to restrict access.
• Administrative privileges should be limited for users and applications.
• Systems should be reviewed periodically for dormant and unknown users.

In situations in which remote access is used for technical support, security can be advanced by following a few additional guidelines:

• Remote access tools should be consolidated so that all inside and external remote access can be managed and monitored.
• Once a central remote access solution is implemented, the need to open listening ports no longer exists. By blocking opening listening ports, such as TCP 3389, it is possible to shut off that access point for hackers.
• Two-factor authentication is imperative. Additionally, each individual should be issued unique login credentials. Vendors and IT teams all too frequently share logins in an effort to save money on the cost of licenses, but this serves to weaken 2FA, thus making it impossible to audit who is actually doing what on a system.
• Along with limiting admin privileges for applications and users, it is also a good idea to restrict when and where users are able to remotely access the system.
• Keep in mind that while reviewing the system for dormant and unknown users is a good first step, it is better to establish alerts for unexpected activity. For instance, you might set up an alert that will notify you when a login occurs on the weekend or overnight.

Being proactive is always better than responding after the fact. With a full audit trail capture of remote access activity, it is possible to establish a warning system before real damage can be done. Security is multi-layered and it is important to recognize that no single solution will provide all of the protection that you need from a potential data breach. By locking down the initial entry pathway even further, it is possible to significantly increase your chances of keeping hackers at bay.

Are you interested in learning more about how you can benefit from a more secure remote support? Contact us at +44 (0)1925 659523 or email us at rhub@collaboration-technologies.co.uk