In today’s work world, chat and video meetings are integral to getting work done.  But organizations need to pick solutions that are safe, cost-effective, and make sense for the business. And, given the global push toward remote work, employee engagement is key. Connecting employees in a meaningful way takes more than just an easy chat feature. It’s also ensuring that the information shared is reaching the intended audience — while meeting the regulatory standards of your industry. Providing your teams with a secure chat messaging accomplishes both important goals — connection and protection — freeing your enterprise from security and compliance concerns and creating more time to focus on doing great work. But what, specifically, makes secure chat important, and why should enterprise companies care? Employees are Already Using Chat Apps, but They Need Secure Messaging The reality is that most people are using a chat service to connect with colleagues. Knowing that should motivate enterprises to standardize the chat platform it offers its employees. Not offering a secure chat option won’t deter employees from using a messaging app, it will just result in them using whatever chat service they personally like, secure or not.  This is also known as a shadow IT problem. A universal chat solution can streamline workflow while enhancing the company's data transparency and keeping things secure. As mobile messaging platforms continue to grow in popularity and functionality, people accustomed to consumer messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger will incorporate those into their work life unless given an alternative.  Those consumer platforms are fine for personal chat, but the end-to-end encryption they include blocks access to communication data that is required in many enterprise verticals. The solutions your organization provides needs to be easy to use, secure, and modern. Enterprise systems must provide a collaboration...

Enterprise companies choosing a web chat platform value software that will protect vital data.  Ensuring secure messaging and the larger security reputation of the organization is not only a goal but a requirement.  And encryption is a fundamental pillar of that security.     But not all encryption is the same. And the differences matter.  Let’s cover some of the encryption basics and explain why end-to-end encryption isn’t always the best option for enterprises.    Here Are Four Insights Worth Knowing When You Go Shopping for Secure Chat Software  What is end-to-end encryption?     End-to-end has expanded in use due to messaging apps like WhatsApp and iMessage and is lauded for the closed channel it provides users weary of data breaches. End-to-end encryption ensures that only the sender and recipient of a message are able to read it; the message is encrypted on the sender’s end and can only be accessed when unlocked by a private key on the recipient’s end.     In this way the entire communication is blocked from outside examination, available only to the two parties: the sender and the recipient.  2. The downside of using encryption that is end-to-end  The same reason end-to-end is appealing to individuals — the impossibility of accessing data or messages from the outside — makes it less functional for enterprise companies that have regulatory and auditability requirements.  The same factors that protect perfectly legal and safe messages also protect illegal and illicit material, creating a safe space of sorts for malicious parties who can use end-to-end encryption to escape detection and cause harm.   In effect, the privacy upside of end-to-end benefits everyone, including individuals or groups intent on using that privacy for ill.    3. There are alternatives   Despite the growing awareness and popularity of end-to-end, there are alternative encryption methods that are important for enterprise customers to be aware of.  Just because encryption software isn’t end-to-end doesn’t mean it isn’t safe and protected.  In fact, many enterprise companies...

HCL Software announces the availability of a pre-release of HCL Sametime v11.5, the newest version of the trusted video meetings and persistent chat platform: Sametime — your meeting, your data, double the value. Sametime is built for how today’s modern organizations need to be working: nimbly, securely and remotely.   A) Sametime Pre-release v11.5 (Meetings and Chat)   HCL is offering the exclusive opportunity to try the latest version of Meetings and Chat for free in advance of our general product launch in November 2020.    HCL Sametime Pre-release v11.5 allows for secure conversations across any device, with the following benefits:  Rock-solid data privacy, encryption and auditability - Your data and conversations protected — in private cloud or on-premises. Instant meetings and chat with one click.  No waiting - You’re only seconds away from secure team chat, video meetings, and file sharing.  No installation required and no need to wait for a SaaS solution. Deploy on a secure private cloud or on-premises - Faster deployment with containers and scale with Kubernetes, simpler installs and fewer servers.  B) Sametime 11.0 FP2 Chat   HCL Software also announces HCL Sametime 11.0 FP2, for customers with existing entitlements to Chat only.    FP2 highlights:   Improvements to the web chat client UX, performance, chat handling, and contact management.  Added support for MongoDB 3.6 through 4.2 and password management.  Added support for JWT-based single sign-on.  Added support for handling cross-domain SAML login flows.  C) For more information:   For additional details on Sametime v11.0 FP2 and Meetings Pre-Release v11.5:   HCL Sametime 11.0 FP2 | HCL Sametime Meetings Pre-Release 11.5 Release Notes HCL Sametime 11.0 FP2 Fix List HCL Sametime 11.0 FP2 | HCL Sametime Meetings Pre-Release 11.5 System Requirements HCL Sametime 11.0 FP2 | HCL Sametime Meetings Pre-Release 11.5 Install and Administration Guide Whether you are an existing HCL Sametime, HCL Domino, or HCL Software customer and would like to learn more about this pre-release opportunity, please contact your HCL sales representative or an HCL Business Partner.  HCL Sametime Product Team   Disclaimer – HCL’s statements regarding its plans, directions, and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice at HCL’s sole discretion. Information regarding...

The decision about whether to deploy on a private cloud or on-premise storage is important — choosing the wrong enterprise deployment can have a dramatic impact on your entire business. Getting it right for your company starts with knowing the basic strengths and weaknesses of each option, and how they’d fit or not within the goals of the organization. You need to become familiar with the difference between private cloud and on-premise storage right now.    What is private cloud storage?  Cloud storage relies on external servers to store data, connect employees, and generally keep all manner of business operations flowing smoothly. These servers are managed by a third-party company which assumes the responsibility of maintaining service, installing new updates and software, and troubleshooting. The private cloud is popular for several clear reasons.   Advantages of a private cloud for enterprise meetings and chat solutions  Reduces IT responsibility. The cloud frees up a company’s IT staff by placing the burden of managing the data storage on the third party hired to do so. This allows employees to prioritize other work and avoid admin headaches entirely.  It’s cost-effective. Companies are able to save money by not having to buy, install and maintain expensive equipment to house all the data. The cloud also gives companies added budget flexibility by offering plan options to fit their storage needs. That way you only pay for what you need and are not locked into a payment system that doesn’t make sense.  It’s scalable. Cloud-based storage is built to scale, meaning companies can easily upgrade how much storage they use based on their needs. This gives fast-growing businesses the ability to quickly scale up (automatically) to handle increased usage and velocity. Regular data backups. The cloud does data backups quickly, ensuring that any temporary tech issue in the office won’t endanger data that’s kept on the cloud.   What is on-premise storage?  On-premise storage boasts its own set of distinct capabilities. On-premise utilizes physical infrastructure that stores and manages data at the company’s physical site, which does require investment in...

Virtual workspaces are now a common feature in business communication. Having a secure video and chat platform is vital, as it gives teams the power to connect and innovate within a safe digital environment. But how safe are these tools, and how important is that safety to the employees and overall operations of enterprise companies?   Why the experience platform is necessary  Having a smart and flexible platform that supports all enterprise communications is absolutely vital — and it needs to be safe from any security risk.  Modern enterprises must offer their teams the tools to communicate anywhere using any device, and if the Coronavirus pandemic has spotlighted one business trend that will certainly continue, it’s the dramatic increase in online meetings and the digital office.    There’s no going back to a workplace that doesn’t prominently include video conferences, virtual staff meetings, remote check-ins, and web-based chat.  The benefits of modern enterprise software are many and important.  The question, then, isn’t whether video and chat tools should be optimized, it’s how to do it safely and effectively.  The risks are real if your communication isn’t secure  The recent security breaches on meetings prove that virtual meetings can go dramatically wrong if not properly protected.  Personal information can be shared, your meetings could be hijacked from outside, sensitive data could be stolen, and time, money, and your organization’s reputation can be squandered. Such disruptions have plagued a spectrum of virtual spaces including online classes, local government meetings, and religious gatherings, garnering an FBI warning and putting the question of security in the spotlight in the process.     In the case of Zoom, numerous cases of “Zoombombing” exposed holes in both the company’s software and their messaging around privacy protection, putting a dent in what has been a narrative of amazing growth for the company.     For enterprise companies, the scope of risk extends beyond individual privacy and impacts the level of service they can provide to the industries they serve, which demand...