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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?

1. 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 tool that can handle a fluid workflow while simultaneously meeting the security protocols of the industry they serve.

2. Enterprise Collaboration Tools Need Enterprise Data Security

Popular free apps are fine for individuals communicating with friends and family, but when that use drifts into the workplace it becomes a reality check for enterprise companies.  The inability of companies to monitor these apps can pose a security risk and create a dilemma if called upon to provide stored employee communications records for auditing purposes.

The staff at a local government agency might find iMessenger perfectly convenient, but when that agency is audited to ensure compliance with federal regulations… it’s not going to end well. Reviewing all the electronic communications involving that partnership is now required but will be nearly impossible since iMessenger communications can’t be viewed due to encryption settings that aren’t enterprise compatible.

The result? The company is vulnerable to legal action or worse.

Encryption software is vital: it maintains the privacy of employees while giving enterprises an archiving and auditing tool that protects them and their clients.

This is critical for enterprise companies working with financial institutions and government entities, industries with strict compliance and regulatory standards.  There are a wide array of tax and accounting obligations, legal requirements, and data protection laws that must be met, and for which transparently archived data is needed.  If there are employee communications that cannot be documented and audited it can be a serious problem.  Lawsuits can result, professional reputations can be tarnished, millions in fines can be spent.

That’s why consumer messaging apps aren’t secure enough for enterprise needs.

3. Enterprise Security + Consumer-Level Ease of Use  

A secure enterprise messaging app must have similar functionality to that of a consumer messaging app, but with the additional capability to ensure secure and auditable communications for employees.

It starts with data safety and compliance. But what if you also had modern, easy and straight-forward usability? A secure enterprise chat platform, such as Sametime from HCL, has encryption software built in to the core that protects all chats, files, and videos from external threats while providing the auditability needed to meet all industry regulations. It also has one-click meetings, no need to download software to start a meeting, persistent chat to preserve all collaboration even after a meeting has ended — plus it works on any device, even while at rest.

4. On-Premise or Cloud Deployment

With secure enterprise chat you get the functionality of a consumer messaging chat service, along with peace of mind knowing your data is protected and your communications are compliance-ready.

And, with both on-premise or private cloud available as deployment options, service is customizable, security is specifically tailored, and adoption is cost-effective.

Secure enterprise chat can be the difference between a company communicating effectively, or sporadically and without cohesion.  Utilizing it can enhance data archiving, boost compatibility with compliance standards, and protect organizations from legal repercussions and regulatory discipline.  Not using it can open a door to all those outcomes, creating untold headaches for companies and clients.

Improve your business outcomes with secure enterprise communication.  Your employees and your clients will thank you for it.

Ready to level up your secure internal communications? Check out Sametime

The post The 4 Keys to Enterprise Chat Apps. What is secure enterprise chat, and why do I need it? appeared first on HCL SW Blogs.

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 

1. 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 are in industries which lean on non-end-to-end encryption due to the regulatory and legal requirements of their business.    

Don’t get bogged down in thinking end-to-end is the only encryption method.   

4. When non end-to-end makes sense 

Any communication tool used by enterprise companies will need encryption software that protects all the chats, files, and videos being exchanged daily, with auditability that allows for compliance and regulatory standards to be met.   

End-to-end encryption cannot be audited or easily examined, which can leave companies in the dangerous bind of having some poisonous or questionable exchange inside their network and no good avenue for investigating it.   

Financial and government entities specifically are expected to meet numerous regulatory standards that are enforced via audits and intensive data reviews.  Having encryption software that provides both safe messaging and auditability gives companies the best of both worlds.   

This is why non-end-to-end encryption makes sense for many enterprise companies — and is food for thought when shopping for secure chat software.

Look to HCL Sametime for a chat and meetings platform that is totally safe, but allows for auditability.  

The post Why End-to-End Encryption Isn’t Always What You Want: 4 Important Insights appeared first on HCL SW Blogs.

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:  

1. Improvements to the web chat client UX, performance, chat handling, and contact management. 
2. Added support for MongoDB 3.6 through 4.2 and password management. 
3. Added support for JWT-based single sign-on. 
4. 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 potential future products is intended to outline our general product direction and it should not be relied on in making a purchasing decision. The information mentioned regarding potential future products is not a commitment, promise, or legal obligation to deliver any material, code or functionality. Information about potential future products may not be incorporated into any contract. The development, release, and timing of any future features or functionality described for our products remains at our sole discretion. Performance is based on measurements and projections using standard HCL benchmarks in a controlled environment. The actual throughput or performance that any user will experience will vary depending upon many factors, including considerations such as the amount of multi programming in the user’s job stream, the I/O configuration, the storage configuration, and the workload processed. Therefore, no assurance can be given that an individual user will achieve results similar to those stated here.

The post HCL Sametime Pre-Release v11.5: Try It Out Now! appeared first on HCL SW Blogs.

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 the installation and upkeep of the equipment, but it means that you control, literally, where your data is stored. 

You will need dedicated admin staff to operate the equipment and fix it when something goes wrong, or you could create a future with a dozen employees packed inside the server room tugging randomly on wires and staring hopelessly at a user manual.  

Advantages of on-premise for secure enterprise chat and meetings solutions 

• You control the uptime or downtime. Having on-site servers gives companies an internal network that guarantees service no matter what else is happening in the area. An interrupted internet connection could slow other companies to a standstill, a problem on-premise storage avoids.  

• Stronger security. Your data is not sitting in server room with a bunch of other servers in a building nowhere near your organization. Cloud storage can be more vulnerable to data breaches, whereas on-premise data is buttressed by superior security protocols. Having the servers on-site means access to them is more restricted, and if there is sensitive data being stored some companies want to control the security. Organizations and industries overseen by strict data-privacy laws or require governmental regulation often prefer an on-premises deployment.
• More control over server hardware. Increased access to the servers means the ability to upgrade and modify the server hardware to better fit the company’s needs. A company with a talented and experienced IT team could use this to their advantage by simply responding themselves to any needs they have, ending any reliance on outside tech support.  

 Sometimes the best kind of choice is not having to choose 

The decision on how to store your chat and meetings data can spark some serious debate about what to prioritize. Data security or scalability? Convenience or guaranteed service? Consistent backup of data or persistent control over the hardware? End-to-end encryption or auditability?  

What if the secure enterprise meetings and persistent chat solution you wanted was available on both? Sametime from HCL can be deployed on a secure private cloud or on-premises — wherever it makes sense for the business. It’s simple to install, with a fast deployment.  

 Learn more about HCL Sametime. 

The post Is Your Head in the Cloud(s)? Choosing Between Private Cloud or on-Premises for Deploying Enterprise Meetings Solutions appeared first on HCL SW Blogs.

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 a premium level of transparency and compliance.  There simply isn’t room for error when it comes to choosing a video and chat platform.  

Data security solutions 

Video and chat capabilities are safe when they are safeguarded properly. It starts with the right encryption for your enterprise needs.  Many chat and communication services use end-to-end encryption, which can only be read by the sender and recipient of a message, making it popular with organizations that don’t need to record, archive, or audit their meetings and chat data.   

For enterprise companies, including those dealing with financial and government clients, there is the additional requirement of maintaining compliance with security standards and regulations.  The ability to archive all electronic communications, including chat apps and video messaging, isn’t some minor security feature. It’s required by law.  Failure to do so can mean hefty fines, legal consequences, and irreparable reputational damage.   

This added layer of responsibility makes the archiving and auditability prowess of any enterprise encryption very important.  You want a secure video and chat platform that comes bundled with the kind of encryption that meets not just your security needs but the regulatory needs of the industries you serve.  

So, are video meetings and chats safe?  Yes, they are, as long as you choose a communication tool that has rock-solid security — and auditability.  Join a secure, industry-compliant meeting today. Join Sametime. 

The post Are Work Video and Chat Platforms Safe? How Virtual Meetings Can Become Very Real Headaches. appeared first on HCL SW Blogs.