IT pros encourage desktop virtualization for improved mobility

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A recently released Forrester report has found that 63 percent of IT professionals believe competitive advantage can be improved by companies increasing focus on employee mobility. Those surveyed suggested it could help employees respond quicker to client needs and provide more effective service. When asked how to improve employee mobility, more than half of the respondents said organizations should implement desktop virtualization within the organization.

As the consumerization of IT gains strength, employees have more opportunities than ever to choose their own applications, devices and even operating systems.

“The consumerization of IT has enabled workers the freedom to choose their own devices,” says Paul Parke, vice president of product and corporate marketing at 1E, a specialist in IT operations management tools and solutions. “IT needs to become more user-centric in order to embrace users that really have gotten rather indifferent to the services and technology provided by IT.”

Because of this, a rising number of organizations are enabling their workers to participate in bring your own device, or even bring your own PC, programs. As this trend grows, desktop virtualization is gaining new adherents.

Improve BYOD, remote workers with virtualization‘s mobility
Virtualization provides employees with mobility as well as seamless access to their office desktop, which allows businesses to adopt BYOD programs while still ensuring data security. Through the use of virtualization, a desktop can be manifested on any endpoint while reducing operational costs and the complexity of managing traditional desktop hardware.

Among the respondents of the Forrester survey, local desktop virtualization, or client-hosted virtualization, seemed to be the most popular option. When using local desktop virtualization, an entire desktop environment is hosted within a protected system on an employee’s device, allowing programs to operate without relying on a high-performance network. Utilizing this type of virtualization enables workers to run business applications from an existing operating system, providing them with the flexibility to work anywhere while still offering a secure way to access sensitive data and personal files.

“IT can fully manage and secure the data and applications using the same policies that govern physical devices, making it easier to manage and support frequently traveling employees or those who work offline,” explained CIO contributor Thor Olavsrud.

Businesses are also able to be more agile when hiring new employees by utilizing virtual desktops, as new hires can be added to networks with just the click of a button, reducing the hassle of creating a new environment. New applications can also be provided to all employees with the same ease as they are part of a centralized management interface.

As well as offering greater mobility and agility, virtual desktops also provide cost-effective disaster recovery solutions that can be employed quickly and easily. Implementing this type of technology gives companies built-in resiliency at every level of the enterprise and ensures that business-critical systems and data are protected and will keep working if a data center is compromised.

Aid workers fight Ebola with unified communications

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As Ebola continues to spread across West Africa, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is partnering with Airtel, an Indian service provider, and the government of Sierra Leone in order to send health reminders through widespread text messaging campaigns.

Since last April, when the Ebola outbreak first began, officials have been utilizing the Trilogy Emergency Relief Application system to send nearly 2 million texts a month in the country. The messages provide the citizens of Sierra Leone with important health information and facts about Ebola to help educate the public, such as to avoid physical contact with others if they believe they have been infected, not to resist the aid of health workers in the area and other potentially life saving tips. The system is designed to send messages at off-peak hours to prevent network overload and recipients can opt out of the messages at any time.

Messages received by cell phone users include "People with Ebola who go to the health center early have a better chance of survival" and "Healthcare workers who take of Ebola patients have to wear protective clothes, do not be afraid of them." The service also allows text recipients to reply with basic health questions and receive and automated response regarding information about medical help, cleaning tips or treatment options.

Unified communications solutions have proved to be extremely effective in disseminating critical information during times of crisis. The TERA messaging system was also used in Haiti after the country's devastating 2010 earthquake and was first brought to Sierra Leone in 2013 to educate citizens about a cholera outbreak. Similar programs are used in the U.S. to send out information about severe weather or on college campuses to alert students about dangerous situations. 

Text messages reach a wider audience than emails
The messaging system was set up by the IFRC and is capable of sending a text to any cell phone that is turned on within a certain region. In areas like Sierra Leone, Internet access is not nearly as widely available as cell phone service and mobile phones are a vital lifeline for those trying to communicate with a large audience in the midst of a crisis. More than two-thirds of those in Sierra Leone have cell phone service, while only 9 percent have access to a 3G or cellular Internet plan, NPR reported. Because the messages are sent to cell phone users located in specific regions, the IFRC and Sierra Leonean Ministry of Health can tailor the texts to certain populations and provide regional advice.

In an interview with NPR, IFRC mobile operator relations officer Robin Burton noted that the system can also be used to make aid services more effective through feedback from recipients.

"We hope this will empower people to help themselves," said Burton. "They could send a message back to us saying, 'Thanks for the rice, but we have no way to cook it,' or, 'We don't eat pork here.' We call it beneficial communications because it helps everyone do better."

Burton also noted that the information sent in texts is saved on the phone and can be used for later reference, unlike information shared through the television or radio which is often quickly forgotten.

So far, more than 4,000 people have died as a result of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, and the rapid pace at which is has been spreading in the region has spurred the Red Cross into expanding the messaging program to seven other countries in the area; Tongo, Mali, Benin, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso and Gambia. Once the Ebola outbreak subsides, the TERA system will remain in use in those countries during natural disasters or times of conflict. 

More employees using personal devices for work, new study finds

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According to a new Gartner study, nearly 40 percent of U.S. professionals who work for large companies use their personal devices for at least some work purposes. The report, which included surveys of more than 4,300 American consumers, looked into technology use and attitudes toward mobile devices.

The study found that only a quarter of employees using their personal devices for work do so because they are required to by their employers.

The study went on to reveal that there are an estimated 770 million devices in the U.S., and that number will likely grow in the next 12 months. Gartner's research found that 32 percent of survey participants are planning to purchase a smartphone over the next year, 23 percent intend to buy a new laptop or notebook and 20 percent are looking to get a new tablet in that time period.

"While this is a large number, it is still a small portion of the potential number of Internet of Things devices people will own in five years' time," said Amanda Sabia, principal research analyst at Gartner. "Newer devices for the connected home and personal trackers are coming to market — these are the seeds of growth — not only for purchasing devices, but also for associated services and apps."

Mobile applications are also witnessing an increase in popularity, experiencing an rise in downloads.  The study found that 80 percent of consumers have downloaded an application in the last year.

Employees finds their own devices better suited for work
The report suggests that a growing number of employees are using their personal devices for work because they are better suited, more powerful and better equipped for the job than devices provided by the company. The survey highlights the need for enterprises to employ bring-your-own-device policies and the security procedures to protect the network devices connect to.

"The lines between work and play are becoming more and more blurred as employees choose to 'use their own device' for work purposes whether sanctioned by an employer or not," said Sabia. "Devices that were once bought purely for personal use are increasingly being used for work and technology vendors and service providers need to respond to this."

Companies looking to benefit from the advantages of implementing BYOD policies while avoiding the security risks that come along with them can utilize a third-party service provider to roll out an enterprise BYOD platform. By professionally developing infrastructure and policies for mobile device use, employees are more aware of the associated security risks and networks are better prepared for the new level of traffic.

New study finds mobile work options create more productive employees

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A recently released study by UK communication services provider Azzurri has revealed that employees are more productive when equipped with mobile devices and the ability to work from anywhere.

The majority of respondents – 62 percent – reported using their mobile devices for both the creation and consumption of content. The most common tasks completed by professionals on their devices are sending emails, sharing files and accessing company data. The ability to complete ordinary business processes at any time and any location seems to have invigorated employees, as nine out of 10 participants reported an increase in productivity.

The study, which included surveys from IT and telecom leaders at more than 180 firms, found that 93 percent of participants experienced greater productivity from staff members using mobiles devices outside the office. Almost 50 percent of those claimed the boost was substantial.

With mobile productivity boost, focus shifts to UC
Currently, companies are focusing on ways to enable mobile data access, but according to the report priorities are shifting toward the ability to provide remote business communication. Enterprises are increasingly focused on unified communications in general and workflow management and video conferencing in particular.

"Smartphones and tablets have transformed mobile devices from being for consumption to being used for creation and editing — and so are changing the way we all work," said Azzurri Communications CTO Rufus Grig. "The form factor shift towards devices with larger screens is enabling more meaningful work to be performed. Mobile productivity suites allowing proper editing of documents have made this a reality".

Video conferencing is currently ninth on a list of top priorities for IT specialists, but is expected to jump to second next year. Grig also noted that, as connectivity improves with increased access to Wi-Fi coverage and 4G mobile networks, a variety of services will become more prominent in the enterprise. Instant messaging, presence and Web conferencing will all become more valuable to companies in the near future.

According to the report, only 42 percent of organizations currently utilize tools for mobile device management. While another 17 percent have plans to do so soon, a large portion of companies employing bring-you-own-device and mobile work policies are woefully unprepared for the stress and risks such programs can cause to a network. Utilizing a third-party service provider to roll out an enterprise BYOD or mobile strategy is a reliable way to ensure that security is maintained and company networks are strong enough to handle the increase in traffic related to remote working.

FCC considering proposal on net neutrality regulations

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The Federal Communications Commission continues to consider proposed rules this week that would change the way broadband providers are able to handle traffic moving across their networks.

The FCC first enacted regulations on net neutrality – the concept of treating all Internet packets equally – back in 2010, barring Internet service providers from blocking or unreasonably discriminating against any type of Web traffic. However, a federal court struck those rules down earlier this year. Now FCC chairman Tom Wheeler is working to create new requirements that will be capable of surviving future legal challenges.

The proposal the commission is currently considering would ban providers from intentionally blocking or slowing down traffic to specific websites, but create the possibility for sites to pay for special access to faster service for their clients, essentially creating a tiered system. The proposed regulations have caused backlash amongst proponents of net neutrality, and the agency received a record 3.7 million public comments on the issue, many of them against paid prioritization.

“The U.S. government should ensure that entrepreneurs do not face arbitrary roadblocks that limit their potential to build products and services on the Internet,” National Venture Capital Association President Bobby Franklin said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. “If the FCC were to allow this, it would create a competitive advantage for well-established companies while disadvantaging entrepreneurs.”

FCC considering changing definition of broadband
Julie Veach, chief of the FCC’s Wireline Bureau, expressed interest in an agency blog post in the concepts proposed by educational and library groups that would create a new Internet reasonableness standard to ban fast-lane deals with broadband providers. A large group of net neutrality supporters have called on the commission to reclassify broadband Internet access as a public utility under telecommunications law, allowing it to be subject to greater regulations.

In an interview with NextGov, senior vice president of the non-profit public interest group Public Knowledge Harold Feld said he believes it’s a good sign that the FCC is seriously considering proposals that at least rely partially on reclassification, as it shows the agency’s seriousness in combating fast-lanes. However, in a speech last week, Wheeler emphasized his preference to avoid reclassification in favor of encouraging greater competition within the industry which he believes will lessen the need for regulation.

Global unified communications market to reach $75 billion by 2020

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A recent report conducted by Grand View Research projects the global unified communications market will exceed $75 billion by 2020.

The study found that enterprises were the largest market for UC applications last year and they were expected to continue maintaining their market share over the next six years. Small and medium-sized companies have also begun deploying the appropriate IP infrastructure to support unified communications, helping to accelerate market growth.

"Increase in mobile workforce as well as enterprise mobility is expected to favorably impact the global market over the next six years," stated a release accompanying the report. "Growing demand and proliferation of smartphones is also expected to fuel market growth over the forecast period. Increasing adoption of BYOD initiatives by large enterprises as well as SMEs [are] a driving force for the industry."

The adoption of unified communications by government and private-sector organizations have also helped to drive the market. UC platforms have proven the ability to provide improved emergency response capabilities, operational continuity and situational awareness, driving adoption.

The report also found that 60 percent of spending for unified communications systems went to on-premise kits. However, managed services, hosted systems and cloud platforms are projected to increase their market share as companies begin to adopt more of those technologies.

According to the study, North America makes up 35 percent of the global unified communications market. However, the European and Asia-Pacific regions are quickly growing and are expected to lead the market over the next six years. The fast-paced growth in these areas is due in most part to the need for effective communication systems and improved collaboration, as well as the savings that come with implementing UC platforms.

BYOD policies support majority of Americans who can't go 24 hours without their phone

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A recent survey from Bank of America found that 96 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 consider mobile phones to be very important. While that may not be so surprising, the fact that only 90 percent of the respondents in the same group reported deodorant as also being very important. The report involved interviews with 1,000 adults who owned smartphones and found that they were more important than most anything, including toothbrushes, television and coffee.

The survey also discovered that 35 percent of Americans check their smartphones constantly throughout the day. Forty-seven percent of respondents said they wouldn't be able to last an entire day without their mobile phone, and 13 percent went so far as to say they couldn't even last an hour.

As the Bank of America report proves, people are more attached to their devices than ever. Millennials are especially dependent on their phones and tablets, and they are also the group making up the biggest portion of new workers. Companies are increasingly able to benefit from implementing BYOD policies, as employees who have grown accustomed to their particular phone expect to be able to continue using that phone at work. Allowing workers to keep their own device increases productivity, as they aren't constantly checking an alternate phone, as well as boosting employee satisfaction.

Cloud or on-premises? Finding the right UC solution

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"Cloud or on-premises?' has become a defining question for IT departments. With the rise of high-speed Internet and managed services, many of the routine chores of IT – everything from storing application data to deploying new servers – can now be easily performed at a colocation facility or via a cloud service provider's resources.

Leading consumer services such as Netflix and Airbnb have gone exclusively cloud to reduce infrastructure management and reach users at scale. Still, despite the cloud's rapid ascent, on-premises IT is alive and well, and in many scenarios it's the right choice.

Unified communications: cloud or on-premises?
Take unified communications, which can be deployed either way. Having the entire UC systems hosted by third-party confers many advantages, including:

  • Lower cost of ownership: The platform is managed by the provider and requires no capital expenditures.
  • Compatibility with multiple devices: Hosted solutions can be accessed by smartphones and tablets in addition to in-office PCs.
  • Intuitive operating systems: It's easy to customize settings for each device and tweak the OS to company requirements.

These benefits can ease a small or mid-size business's transition from legacy telephony to comprehensive UC, with data and voice efficiently flowing over the same network. However, companies with high call volumes may need something more. To that end, on-premises UC provides the performance and reliability needed to deal with numerous concurrent conversations.

Never miss a call
Such a UC system can be designed and installed by an experienced provider to ensure its integrity. When put to the test, it can send calls to different devices, adequately distributing the incoming volume and relieving pressure on agents. For the business at large, this means quicker, yet higher-quality, responses to sales queries and support requests.

"The implementation of UC also ensures that employees need never miss a call again, as incoming calls can be routed to desk phones, twinned devices or apps," stated Jon Nowell, head of product management at TalkTalk Business, according to Information Age. "Reliability and dependability are major aspects of a business's reputation and are equally important to companies of all sizes."

Accordingly, the CAPEX of an on-premises systems more than pays for itself through a redoubtable communications infrastructure. As always, though, the "right" choice of cloud or on-premises depends on the organization. Some will want UC installed on-site, but, as indicated by a recent MarketsandMarkets report predicting that the UC-as-a-service market will top $23 billion by 2019, cloud solutions are also on the upswing.

HealthKit, healthcare and managing BYOD

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As smartphones become faster and increasingly capable of running sophisticated applications and services, health care organizations are faced with a dilemma. Do they allow doctors, nurses and staff to participate in bring-your-own-device policies and potentially unlock productivity gains that enable higher-quality care? Or do they hold back out of legitimate concerns about data security and compliance with regulations?

The growing interest of technology firms in health care tracking only complicates the situation. Individuals may now use devices such as wristbands, in addition to smartphones, to record and share health information, making it critical for providers to keep tabs on BYOD activity to ensure compliance.

HealthKit and the larger issue of sharing health information
At this year's Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple announced HealthKit, a platform built into iOS that underscores how healthcare on mobile devices is rapidly evolving and sparking questions about how sensitive data is handled. HealthKit isn't a discrete solution but a system of APIs that would allow, say, an application that tracks steps to share its information with medical software that could provide actionable advice.

Major health care organizations are already on board. The Mayo Clinic created an application that monitors vital signs and then relays anomalous readings to a physician. Given the already considerable presence of mobile applications in health care, HealthKit could give hospital and clinic staff additional tools for providing efficient care.

At the same time, HealthKit turns any iOS device into a potential compliance painpoint. Data that is stored on an iPhone, for example, would not fall under the purview of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, but if shared with a provider or one of their business associates, HIPAA would likely apply. Stakeholders will need time to adjust to the nuances of how healthcare applications interact with each other in the HealthKit ecosystem.

"The question would be whether the app is being used by a doctor or other health care provider. For example, is it on their tablet or smartphone?," asked Adam Greene of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, according Network World. "Where the app is used by a patient, even to share information with a doctor, it generally will not fall under HIPAA. Where the app is used on behalf of a healthcare provider or health plan, it generally would fall under HIPAA."

Tracking and securing privileged health information
HealthKit is just one platform on a single OS, but it is part of a broader shift in data control, away from centralized IT departments and organizations and toward end users. For healthcare, this change is particularly challenging since providers have to ensure that the same compliance measures are enforced, even as BYOD and cloud storage services become fixtures of everyday operation.

A recent Ponemon Institute survey of more than 1,500 IT security practitioners found that almost 60 percent of respondents were most concerned about where sensitive data was located. BYOD complicates compliance, and healthcare organizations will have to ensure that they have well defined policies in place for governing security responsibilities.

"People trained in security also view IT as accountable for the security domain," Larry Ponemon, chair of the Ponemon Institute, stated in a Q&A session on Informatica's website. "But in today's world of cloud and BYOD, it's really a shared responsibility with IT serving as an advisor, but not necessarily having sole accountability and responsibility for many of these information assets."

It's no longer enough to rely on IT alone to enforce measures. Security teams and IT must work together and implement BYOD security as well as network monitoring to ensure that only authorized devices can connect to the system, and that data is safely shared.

UC market continues to grow as IT becomes more consumerized

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Most enterprises are probably familiar with bring your own device, the practice of employees supplying their own hardware, typically smartphones and tablets, to supplement or replace traditional office PCs. Recently, the BYOD buzzword has given way to discussion of "shadow IT," a similar phenomenon that nevertheless is usually cast in a more negative light. Whereas BYOD is regularly construed as a potential boon to productivity, shadow IT is framed a threat to the IT department's control, especially as organizations increasingly migrate from on-premises to cloud-based software.

Unified communications' place as BYOD, shadow IT come to the fore
Unified communications solutions are in a unique position as BYOD and shadow IT infiltrate the enterprise:

  • UC may be hosted on-premises or provided through cloud resources, making it both a traditional and cutting-edge technology, depending on the implementation.
  • The widespread use of OTT voice, messaging and chat solutions – Apple, for instance, has pegged iMessage as the single most used iOS app – is changing how companies approach communications infrastructure. Circuit-switched telephony and email alone no longer suffice.
  • With such consumerization all across the enterprise messaging, technologies such as Wi-Fi are being advanced to make voice calls and Internet access more seamless.

Overall, UC has so far benefited from the widespread shift of IT toward the cloud and mobile devices. In a 2014 report, Infonetics Research estimated that the voice-over-IP market alone reached $68 billion in 2013, up 8 percent from 2012. Revenues could rise another $20 billion by 2018.

UC and Wi-Fi-enabled VoIP
Employees are now accustomed to seamless connectivity and high-quality, feature-rich software on mobile devices. For example, apps such as Skype and LINE are much more versatile than standard SMS and voice dialers.

A big part of achieving a better use experience with enterprise UC is getting the installation right. Firms that handle high daily call volumes may choose to host UC on-premises for maximum reliability. If VoIP is a major part of the solution, it is important to ensure that is supported by sufficient bandwidth and Wi-Fi access points.

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