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Intrada Webmaster

Is User Activity Monitoring Right for my Business?

by Intrada Webmaster in News and Events
24
Sep
523
0

user-activity

One of the fastest-growing challenges companies are currently facing due to the sizable increase of their employees working from home is productivity. According to a report by the Pew Research Center, only 7% of workers in the U.S. worked from home, pre-pandemic. Now, and not by choice, nearly two-thirds of Americans work remotely. When employees are working from their home office, how do employers know what they are doing? When and how often are employees disengaging? Is there an easy way that employers can monitor user activity and productivity? There is, and Intrada has a solution.

Intrada Technologies offers software that provides our clients with user activity monitoring for both the remote and on-premise users.

How does user activity monitoring software work?
David Steele, the co-founder of Intrada Technologies, states, “The productivity platform learns a baseline activity for each user. Reports and auditing start as soon as the low weight, hidden application is applied to the user device. But the platform also learns and builds a profile based on user activity. Once the profile baseline is established, the software will notify administrators of any changes in behavior, including apps used, time allocation, or even how email messages are worded.”

Human Resources and department managers can easily monitor computer usage and productivity by viewing easy to follow dashboards and reports. The software is customizable for your company’s specific needs to provide alerts based on rules or benchmarks.

The activity report provides information regarding the hours your employees are working, what they are working on, and monitors several actions, including email, print jobs, website history, keystrokes, web searches, and network access. It also recognizes when they may need extra support or coaching, as working from home isn’t an easy transition for some. And suppose your employee is spending their time watching movies on Netflix, chatting on social media most of the day, or engaging in any unauthorized or permitted activity during the workday? In that case, an alert will be sent to the administrator or HR department to review.

“While this software is very big brother, companies need to protect the security and privacy of company information,” Steele emphasizes. “Most companies are required to provide security and protection of company information under compliancy cyber insurance policies. This platform provides companies with accountability on the end-user and a consistent benchmark. Companies can have peace of mind by knowing users are monitored, providing a systemized approach to productivity, security, and accountability.”

If employee user activity monitoring is the direction you are going in, Intrada also recommends adding ransomware monitoring or EDR (endpoint detection and response) as an additional security option. EDR protects end-users, servers, or workstations by detecting, blocking, alerting, and restoring files that could be attacked.

How can Intrada help?
Is your business interested in determining what productivity looks like for your remote employees? Are you looking to discover and analyze trends in the most productive times of day and locations? Or are you concerned about data security with the sudden and continued growth of work at home team members?

Intrada Technologies views employee user activity monitoring software as a potential tool in your productivity toolbox. While it may work for some businesses, some other tools may work better for your business.

For a free technical assessment, contact us today at (570) 321-7370. We would be happy to explain the benefits and challenges in more detail so you can decide if utilizing productivity monitoring software or EDR is the right move for your business.

Last modified on Thursday, 24 September 2020 Continue reading
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Intrada Webmaster

Back to School – The Increasing Use of Technology and Its Challenges

by Intrada Webmaster in News and Events
16
Sep
250
0

online-schooling

As administrators and educators finalize plans and return to school this fall, an increase in educational technology is inevitable. Whether an in-person, hybrid, or fully-online return to school is planned, districts have learned valuable lessons from the Spring of 2020 and have obtained new levels of technological experience. However, supporting schools and their educational needs and expectations in a rapidly changing environment can significantly stress many departments – specifically the IT department.

Nearly sixty percent of teachers and administrators surveyed by Ed Week said their opinion of educational technology has grown more favorable due to the increased usage of technology during the coronavirus closures. Survey findings attributed the prevention of negative feelings to the significant role that school IT Help Desks likely played.

The increased workload for school IT departments is staggering. One district’s IT Help Desk reported an increased daily call volume increasing 800% during building closures, demonstrating just how critical the role of an accessible, experienced IT support system is for successful remote learning.

In the Spring of 2020, nearly 9 out of 10 teachers reported spending more time troubleshooting technology issues and, in many cases, devoting possible instructional time to managing technology challenges. Hopefully, some of those learning curves will have leveled off by now. As technology continues to evolve to meet demands, IT staff must continue to devote time to teaching other staff members, parents and students how to interface with the changes.

This is only one side of a multi-faceted issue, though. Recent polling by College Reaction/Axios of 800 college students showed that more than three-quarters of students felt distance learning was worse or much worse than in-person classes. From tech issues to distractions, motivation to lack of in-person interaction, college students struggled with understanding and succeeding educationally with a fully-online learning model.

Yet, schools with esports teams – teams of students that play a multiplayer video game competitively online for spectators and in tournaments – tout student engagement, college skills, future career opportunities and positive social engagement. Esports may be a consideration for schools as they strive to increase engagement, teamwork, and a form of socialization.
Mulling over all of these aspects begs the question, are schools - including public, private, and cyber schools - prepared to provide the best virtual learning options for their students? Obviously, the desired answer is a resounding yes, as countless hours of work and preparation have been poured into this very issue. For some schools though, the curveballs of unexpected or unanticipated technology hurdles may require additional support.

Intrada Technologies has years of experience planning and successfully achieving our clients’ goals. Think of us as an instant expansion of your IT department. From training and compliancy to network support and security, from hardware and software purchasing to live streaming events, we have the experience and expertise to meet and exceed expectations for your school’s technology needs.

Contact us today to learn more about how Intrada Technologies can assist your school’s technology needs by calling 800-858-5745.

Last modified on Monday, 05 October 2020 Continue reading
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Intrada Webmaster

Is Microsoft 365 Right for My Business?

by Intrada Webmaster in News and Events
16
Sep
473
0

microsoft-365

One of the most popular Cloud platforms for businesses is Microsoft 365 (formerly known as Office 365). This platform has changed how we work, allowing companies to become mobile and increase productivity. Licensed as a monthly or annual subscription, it offers a suite of online services, including email and secure communication tools.

Intrada Technologies has extensive experience with the management of Microsoft 365 configurations. We can explain the benefits and challenges that will help you decide if it is the right move for your business.

Intrada’s deployment and management of Microsoft 365 environments come with many different configurations to maximize user productivity. We work with clients to explain the Cloud's benefits and challenges to ensure clients are making the right decision. We also want to ensure that clients understand the difference between Cloud and on-premise servers, including usage, access, security, productivity, compliancy, and price.

Many vendors push Microsoft 365 as the solution, but we want to make sure it’s the correct solution at Intrada. Our position is to educate our clients to understand both the positive and the negative related to Cloud. We run a hybrid solution for most of our clients to deliver the best solution to meet their individual needs.

Benefits
Microsoft 365 has some incredible features that make mobile, remote, and multi-location configurations more productive.

Flexibility
Do some of your staff work from home? Do you have team members that travel a lot? Do you have multiple office locations? With Microsoft 365, employees do not need to use the standard cubicle office desktop to access files. Because they are stored on the Cloud, they can be accessed from a smartphone or a tablet--basically anywhere!

Customization and real-time collaboration
Microsoft 365 offers much more than the classic applications we are all familiar with, like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. SharePoint, for example, allows online collaboration between teams. Employees and groups can also work together using classic applications while making and viewing edits in real-time. With the auto-saving feature, time can be saved, and productivity can be improved.

Elimination of onsite server needs
Because files are stored on the Cloud, the need for onsite servers are reduced or eliminated.

Subscription-based = Money-saving
Because you only pick and choose what applications work best and decide how long to use them, it is easy to project our monthly or yearly costs. You select the plan you need without a multi-year commitment. Most companies are used to purchasing a license and running it for years, but now software companies prefer to charge monthly. Moving to the Cloud will require a new budget model.

However, now you will have a monthly cost for each employee and an exact list of tools used to complete that job function. You also will have the latest Microsoft versions and no extensive software upgrades. And if you need to downsize, turn off that license. There is typically around a 3-year price comparison for the outright purchase versus a monthly purchase for those who still prefer to purchase a license. You can even buy licenses and purchase only Cloud collaboration features.

Added Security Features
When moving to the Cloud, the security of your data is always a concern. With Microsoft 365, some added security features include mobile device management, threat intelligence, and encrypted emails. Mobile device management allows your IT department to have full control over your business’ mobile devices. Threat intelligence offers a proactive approach to cybersecurity, not reactive. Encrypted emails make sure no one other than the actual recipient can read your email.

Challenges
While there are many benefits to Microsoft 365, there are some challenges.

Data privacy
Although additional security features have been added, you aren’t entirely in control of your data privacy. When employees are working remotely, employers do not know what they are truly doing. Additionally, how do businesses know their data is protected if it can be accessed from anywhere? A lack of complete control over who can access your company’s sensitive information is one of the many security concerns with switching your data storage over to the Cloud.

Intrada’s management of a Microsoft 365 configuration employs the latest security standards, including dual authentication, archiving, and backups. We can also monitor all data transmissions and exchanges, providing a complete history and accounting for company digital assets, supporting all compliancy standards. Ensuring clients' data is secured, and compliant is our priority.

Employee Productivity Monitoring
One of the fastest-growing challenges companies are facing related to the Cloud, and remote users is productivity. Are remote users actually working? Intrada uses a product to provide our clients with user-activity monitoring for both the remote and on-premise users.

This tool not only provides productivity reporting but also monitors for behavior changes in employee activities. Managers can monitor user computer usage and productivity with viewing dashboards and reports.

Compatibility issues
Let’s say you did your due diligence in researching options, and you are ready to purchase Microsoft 365 for your business. After your subscription is confirmed, you then come to realize your current system is not compatible with Microsoft 365 and is outdated.
Before you decide to take the plunge, we always recommend speaking with IT professionals (like Intrada Technologies’ staff), so you don’t have to deal with unnecessary headaches like this.

How can Intrada help?
Intrada Technologies views Microsoft 365 as a potential tool in your productivity toolbox. While it may work for some businesses, it may not work for others. For a free technical assessment, contact us today at (570) 321-7370. We would be happy to explain the benefits and challenges in more detail so you can decide if it is the right move for your business.

Last modified on Wednesday, 16 September 2020 Continue reading
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Intrada Webmaster

Computer Basics Explained: What is the Cloud?

by Intrada Webmaster in News and Events
24
Jul
500
0

phishing

Computer Basics Explained: What is the Cloud?

Now more than ever, at work, at home, everyone is talking about the Cloud. And no – not the type of cloud you learned about in elementary science class.

When defining computing terms, a visual example can help wrap your head around a specific concept. With that said, let’s picture this…a local storage facility in your hometown. The storage facility, in computing terms, is the Internet. The storage units together make up the Cloud.

Benefits of the Cloud

Have you ever worked on a document for hours, forgot to save it, and the power went out? Or have you ever experienced the notorious ‘black screen’ and were unable to access any files off your computer? Losing information you have worked on for hours is frustrating. The Cloud can help prevent this from happening, which is why it has become so popular.

The Cloud allows anyone to store and access data and programs via the Internet instead of their own computer’s hard drive. Therefore, you could view files from anywhere, not just from your corner office desk.

One of the most popular Cloud platforms is Office 365. This platform has changed how we work, allowing companies to become mobile and increasing productivity, accessibility, and security. The Cloud offers many features like multi-user file access, auto-save features, and the ability to share files with individuals outside your organization, like clients or customers.

Cloud Concerns

While the Cloud has its benefits, it has its challenges, specifically security concerns and license creep (better known as an IV drip).

Security Concerns
When employees are working remotely, how do employers know what they are truly doing? How do businesses know their data is protected if it can be accessed from anywhere? A lack of complete control over who can access your company’s sensitive information is one of the many security concerns with switching your data storage over to the Cloud.

License Creep
License creep, also known as your monthly Cloud IV drip in the computing world, is another concern.
All the Cloud providers have made the customization of your account easy. It is also easy to add services. Need more disk space? Press a button. Need another account? Press a button. Before you know it – your monthly costs associated with using the Cloud turns into a lot more than you budgeted – hence the term IV drip (it slowly adds up).

How can Intrada help?

While Intrada Technologies is not PRO-Cloud, we look at it as a tool in your productivity toolbox and we can help you do the same. We are very experienced in the management of the Cloud and, specifically, Office 365 configurations. We can explain the benefits and challenges so you can decide if it is the right move for your business. For a free technical assessment, contact us today at (570) 321-7370.

 

Last modified on Monday, 27 July 2020 Continue reading
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Intrada Webmaster

Live Event Streaming and Solutions

by Intrada Webmaster in News and Events
27
May
1280
0

Rotary Youth Exchange 2019

Now, more than ever, organizations are engaging larger audiences using live streaming technologies. Not only can you reach more people with your messages, but all activity is tracked with real-time measurements. Live streaming also gives the ability for remote attendees to be included.

Most people can capture a video on a mobile device, but the audio/visual quality may suffer. Live streaming requires detailed planning, production, and technological know-how to ensure your event goes off seamlessly.

Intrada Technologies has years of experience planning and successfully achieving our clients’ audio/visual, event management, and web streaming goals. From small to large events, we have anticipated needs and proactively supported clients locally and nationally.

Intrada’s Approach to Live Event Streaming

Level 1
Our team visits your site and live streams your event. We test lighting and sound and use technical know-how to live stream on the platform (Facebook/YouTube) of your choice.

Level 2
Intrada takes on a greater role and works with your team to plan out your event. We hold pre-event calls as well as take on the role of directing, producing, and managing your virtual event.

Why consider live streaming (or live event streaming)?

Live streaming an event has many benefits, including a greater reach, engagement, future audience views, and can grow your website traffic. While offering more visibility, it also gives your event a longer shelf life.

Online video consumption is one of the most popular internet activities worldwide. With 93.7% of businesses using Facebook and over 2 billion users accessing YouTube’s website monthly, live streaming makes sense.

Intrada’s Live Streaming

Rotary Youth Exchange 2019

Ribbon-Cuttings
Live streaming a ribbon-cutting allows additional customers to join the celebration. Intrada Technologies has successfully live streamed several regional ribbon cuttings over the past few years.

The footage that is streamed tells a story of growth, stability, and introduction to a prospective client and, over time, will provide a historical value on a platform available to everyone. The video can be viewed again, not just a memory framed in an office lobby.

Conferences
Rotary International District 7360, covering parts of Pennsylvania and Maryland, hosts a youth exchange conference each year. Intrada has been charged with live streaming the event on Facebook since 2018.

At the conference, foreign exchange students supported by the schools in the district, present a program for attending Rotarians. Each student is involved in singing, dancing, performing, or speaking.   Livestreaming the event allowed 2,000 views in over 30 countries, in addition to the 400 people attending.   Family members were able to see loved ones and send messages via Facebook Live. Over the next several weeks, views and shares exceeded 10,000 expanding the program's reach 25 times. Rotarians were able to share this event with others interested in Rotary's exchange program.  

Educational Seminars
For attendees unable to attend educational seminars, Intrada has partnered with organizations to stream short synopses of content. We refer viewers to sections of the client’s website for more information. These videos can be archived and viewed at a later date.

Start Streaming with Intrada

With two decades of experience creating and delivering key messaging, Intrada Technologies manages the creative process for our clients and provides the technical production of live event streams. The live streaming process begins with speaking with Intrada’s seasoned and knowledgeable team.

After defining the target audience and event scope, our team builds the entire production configuration, including onsite audio and video needs.

Live streaming is one of the most powerful and cost-effective delivery platforms your organization can have in its digital media toolbox. Give Intrada a call to obtain a free estimate and discuss our live event streaming process.

Last modified on Wednesday, 27 May 2020 Continue reading
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