CC&N Tech Tools Blog – Tip #6 Security

As iPads infiltrate the workplace, many companies are grappling with how to secure these mobile devices so that only authorized users can access corporate services and that critical data is protected. Here are some iPad security tips to ensure the safety of your information and your business.

Passcodes – Device passcodes are the front line of defense against unauthorized access and can be configured and enforced in the cloud. iPads use the unique passcode established by each user to generate a strong encryption key to further protect mail and sensitive application data on the device.

Settings & policies – Establishing strong policies for access to work-issued iPads is critical to protecting corporate information. iPads offer secure methods to configure the device in an enterprise environment, where specific settings, policies, and restrictions must be in place. These methods provide flexible options for establishing a standard level of protection for authorized users, as well as a layered approach to keeping your information secure.

Remote wipe – In the event of a lost or stolen iPad, the device can be configured to automatically initiate a wipe after several failed passcode attempts. If a user repeatedly enters the wrong passcode, iPad will be disabled for increasingly longer inter­vals. After too many unsuccessful attempts, all data and settings on the device will be erased.

Whether accessing corporate e-mail, visiting a private website, or authenticating to the corporate network, incorporating these security measures will help ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive corporate information.

CC&N Tech Tools Blog-Tip# 5: Web browsing

Our next topic we’re covering is web browsing, possibly one of the most popular feature of the iPad.

Apple claims that once you see the Web on an iPad, it’s hard to view it any other way. And I have to say I agree. The iPad’s Safari browser lets you hold your iPad like a book and flip through screens like the pages of a magazine. Web pages load almost instantly and the tap technology lets you open new links or move back and forth between tabbed pages quickly and easily.

The Safari browser makes it easy to demonstrate your business capabilities online – just use your fingers to navigate your company web site, and zoom in on specific images or text. Whether you’re searching for images to make last-minute updates to an important presentation, or you need to access on a competitor, you’re guaranteed to find it quickly with iPad’s Safari browser.

CC&N Tech Tools Blog-Tip# 4 Mobile Meetings

Put the personal touch back into electronic communication with business video conferencing solutions that allow colleagues and clients to interact even if they’re not in the same room (or on the same continent for that matter!). Here’s a sampling of mobile meeting apps available:

• Fuze Meeting HD (free): Host online meetings via iPad and see real-time screen sharing and HD content. Lets you share documents, control slide presentations, and send instant messages to other attendees.
• WebEx (free): With the WebEx for iPad app, you can participate in a WebEx meeting you’ve been invited to join even if you don’t have a WebEx user account. Simply open the WebEx app for iPad and enter the meeting number. You can participate actively by chatting with the host or other attendees or view shared content. Connect to the audio portion of the meeting through VoIP, or join a teleconference via two-way video conferencing.
• LifeSize ClearSee (fee-based): This virtual machine software from LifeSize enables businesses to extend HD Video to mobile devices like the iPad and Android tablets. Designed for organizations that need to broadly deploy HD video communication to hundreds or even thousands of users , LifeSize ClearSee is simple to deploy and scale across the enterprise.

CC&N Tech Tools Blog-Tip# 3 Document Access and Management

Information is only useful if you can easily organize it and access it. And with well-organized content and an easy-to-access document library on the iPad, business users can turn impromptu meetings into sales transactions and access important business information at a moment’s notice.

• One of the easiest ways to organize your files and folders on your iPad is with file-sharing apps like Dropbox or MobileMe. Both of these reasonably priced apps allow users to sync and share files online and across computers.
• If your company uses Microsoft SharePoint in-house, then SharePlus – Microsoft’s SharePoint Mobile app is a must for your iPad. For $14.99, you’ll be able to sync your iPad with your company’s network, enabling you to collaborate with work colleagues, and share documents, calendars and task lists no matter where you are.
• Showcase presentations with applications such as Keynote, which allows you to open, edit and present both Keynote and PowerPoint presentations. Keynote provides the ability to use templates, transitions and graphics resulting in professional-looking presentations.

CC&N Tech Tools Blog-Tip #2 Email

For this post, we’re exploring E-mail use with the iPad.  Please feel free to comment if you have questions on this topic or would like to contribute to the blog. Thank you.

E-mail has become the main form of communication and document transfer in most business environments. The iPad includes support for a number of different types of email accounts and calendars. You can set up and view multiple e-mail accounts simultaneously.  You will need to choose whether you want separate inboxes for each account or if you prefer to put all your accounts in one inbox, you will see all your messages at once.  There are pros & cons to each approach, depending upon what your accounts focus on.

The iPad works with the most popular providers, including Google Gmail, Microsoft Exchange, Yahoo! Mail, Hotmail and AOL — along with most industry-standard IMAP and POP email systems.

With this wide range of functionality, you don’t have to worry about security either, as you’re able to adjust your security settings to suit your specific needs. If you’ve used other e-mails tool previously, you’ll easily be able to operate e-mail on the iPad.  If not, just shoot your questions my way for a little set-up assistance.  (Note that I will address Security Settings in my next post, so be sure to take a look on the 31st of the month)

In the meantime, enjoy the Holidays,

Chris

CC&N Tech Tools Blog-Tip# 1 Note Taking

Chris Hill, Mobile Device Specialist

Are you old enough to remember when computers took up an entire room? After that came the PC, then the laptop, then handheld smart data devices. Technology has now ushered in the age of the tablet computer. The tablet concept has actually been around for about 10 years, but it wasn’t until Apple introduced the iPad in 2010, that the format really took off. The consumer technology giant didn’t recreate the wheel, but instead took an already successful device (the iPhone) and converted it into a user-friendly tablet format. Other equally user-friendly tablets like the Android are quickly coming to market.

Companies are quickly discovering that the iPad can be ultra-useful in a business environment. An avid iPad user myself, I provide customer support to CC&N customers who use iPads for their business. In this blog, I’ll be advising you how to turn your tablet into a valuable business tool, as well as reviewing practical tablet applications for business use. Ultimately, these quick tips are designed to enhance your iPad experience! So, here we go……..

Throughout my blog posts, I’ll reference apps that can be conveniently found in Apple’s App Store – at no cost or for a nominal fee. I invite you to share your discoveries and experiences as well.

Tip #1 – Note-taking
Note-taking is a must in any business environment, and the iPad comes with preloaded software, including onscreen keypad, to facilitate easy note-taking.
Whether you’re brainstorming with co-workers, attending a webinar or making a to-do list, jot your thoughts down with the built-in Notes app. It goes everywhere you do – the conference room, the lecture hall, even the grocery store. In portrait view, the screen looks like one big sheet of notebook paper. In landscape view, a clean sheet is ready and waiting, along with a list of all your previous notes. Tap the screen to add, delete or flip through what you’ve recorded. The Notes app circles the current page in red so you can see where you are at a glance.

For advanced note-taking, you can supplement basic iPad software with the following apps:
Idea Sketch (free): If you think more in images than words, get this app for easy diagram drawing. With Idea Sketch, you can mind map, concept map and create flow charts. Use the app to brainstorm new ideas, illustrate concepts, make outlines, plan presentations,create organizational charts and more.
Sundry Notes (free): If you’re still more comfortable with the old-school way of taking notes, download this app so you can use a stylus or tablet keyboard for data entry. Sundry Notes also allows real-time WiFi collaboration and seamless syncing to other devices. Another user-friendly feature is the ability to copy and paste pictures into your notes.

Welcome to Tech Tools

Stay tuned for helpful iPad and tablet tips for the business environment