Categories
Cloud Computing

Benefits of Using Intranet Software To Build Knowledge Base

Companies with a large number of employees need to find an easier way of communicating, collaborating and sharing information. The best way to do this would be by using a knowledge base. Managing everything through this software would make the workflow quicker and better.

But how do you build a knowledge base? Well, a secure – and a highly beneficial – way of doing it would be by using intranet software. This is a private and safe website that enables communication, productivity tools, and many more things for your employees to use. This way, only your employees would have access to it and it helps ensure security. Also, the software is hosted online, and maintained as such.

It is obvious that intranet software has a plus side, and could benefit your company. Having said that, here are a few advantages of using it to create a knowledge base.

Access everything via the internet

With a SaaS knowledge base software all the information you have will be stored online. Whether it is a financial report, employee information, FAQ page or any other content, it can all exist in the online format; there will be no need to have physical copies, which only require extra storage, and work.

Moreover, the SaaS provider will be the one maintaining the software, including the performance quality, access or functionality. There is no need for any hardware or additional software when everything you need exists in one place. More importantly, the only ones who could get to your valuable documents are the persons granted the access, no one else. This fact makes a great case for using this type of knowledge management, because there is no risk of having your information leaked or misused.

Another benefit is the ability to access the cloud via any device, and from any place or any time. It is a great tool for remote workers, those who are traveling or need to get something while they are not in the office.

You can separate corporate and customer services

Knowledge base can be used for providing customer service with manuals, user guides, as a replacement for a call center or as an online FAQ software. It is a rather convenient tool with which you can share these documents on your website, all with the aim of helping your clients. However, knowledge base can be used as a corporate tool, as well – a tool that would be used only by the employees, not outsiders.

This option provides privacy, even within the company. For instance, you can have several knowledge bases. One would be for the clients, another for the employees, and one more for superiors or for separating different projects. Certainly, having two separate bases would be the best, as you avoid various risks, like the theft of confidential documents.

Easier co-working, and learning

As previously mentioned, online storage of documents enables simplified co-working, and cooperation among workers. With the ability to upload single files or whole folders to the cloud, they create a chance to edit, read or comment on them while online. No longer will the workers need to download and then upload again. Moreover, this can be done from anywhere and whenever.

Furthermore, if only a specific number of people are working on one project, that single group can upload the project online, and work on it directly on the cloud. What they are offered is flexibility, which is much needed in any line of work.

Another thing that benefits from intranet knowledge base is your company’s learning program. For example, if you hire a new batch of employees, or need to teach the old ones something new, you will need to organize a training program. This, of course, requires tons of work. Additionally, it could require extra tasks to be done by some people, or even require you to hire new ones. The point is that a lot of new, unnecessary expenses could arise, as well as too much work for your already busy employees.

In order to avoid this, create a training program that you would upload online. From there, each employee could access it, learn and participate whenever they have time for it. A knowledge base learning center provides a way for speedy knowledge acquirement, sharing of that same knowledge, as well as some other benefits. For instance, things like participating in discussions or answering questions.

Lastly, with this online working space, there would be no more repeated tasks, same questions asked over and over again, because with the easy search option any information can be found and retrieved quickly. This increases productivity, as it is highly efficient, and it also saves your workers’ time.

In summary, there are a lot of benefits coming from creating a knowledge base with intranet software. Not only will you have everything in one common place, shareable within the company, but the efficiency and quality of the work would be much better. More importantly, everything on this cloud is kept private and secure, which is important for any business. Therefore, it is time to start using this, and make your company a superior one.

Author Bio:- Robin is a Technical Support Executive with a combined experience of 6 years. He is well acquainted with various Knowledge base tools and is currently associated with ProProfs. In his free time, Robin enjoys reading and traveling.

Categories
Software and Apps

10 Tools You Must Explore For Android App Development

If you are keen to take your mobile app development company to the next level, then it is critical to start building a library of tools with your developers to help streamline the development process. But, mobile tools should be simple to use and add value to the development process. So, if you find that a favored tool does not deliver consistently good results, then it is time to consider other options.

To help you consider your options, we put together a list of the top 10 tools (both free and paid) for Android app development that every mobile app development company needs to know about. We field tested these tools and believe that they will bring you appreciable, time-saving results and offer real value.

GenyMotion

If there is one thing that most Android app development companies can agree on, it is that the official Google emulator is somewhat painful to use. This is where GenyMotion proves useful.

Geny

It is a fast booting emulator with seamless integration with the two most popular development platforms, namely Android Studio and Eclipse. Testing your app has never been simpler

MobiCart

iPhone app development companies have their hands tied when developing sales apps through their platform. We are lucky that Android development is not tied up in the same Apple-related issues. If you have a client who wants to integrate PayPal into their app, MobiCart offers simple-to-use shopping cart integration for Android.

Material Design Icons

As one of the simplest tools for any mobile app service, Material Designs is a useful tool that does exactly what it says on the box: It helps you create your material design icons quickly and simply. It is a multi-platform tool and so it can be useful to iPhone app service providers as well.

Android Debug Database

If you are tired of running your Android app services over and over again to try to find that one glitch, then this is the tool for you. It is incredibly simple and allows you to collate and view your databases and shared preferences right in your browser.

SwebApps

Another tool that is as useful for tracking iOS app services as it is for Android apps, SwebApps allows you to create your app online and then update the content in real time. This is a paid tool and so there is a one-time development fee alongside hosting costs. But, the native tracking abilities are well worth exploring.

LeakCanary

Concerned about memory leaks in your app? Considering hiring a mobile app developer just as a Beta tester? LeakCanary steps into the breach. This nifty tool detects issues in both Java and Android.

Android asset studio

This tool may well prove to be the last asset tool you will ever need as it offers a plethora of options. It can assist you with icon generation, internal app styling, and more, making development simpler, easier, and more satisfying.

UserTesting

UserTesting offers you real-time video feedback from a team of testers assembled by the app. As a Beta testing tool, it performs remarkably well and offers a host of detailed metrics to assist you in the final improvement of your product.

UserTesting

App Annie

If you are not a fan of detailed math, but still want to access all the juicy data hidden in your app’s store metrics, then App Annie is the right Android app tool for you.

You will receive analytics of your app’s performance and downloads alongside the store data. It can also cater to international app stores.

Apptimize

Apptimize offers A/B testing for both Android and iOS, allowing you to securely test your ideas before a public launch. It also offers full Android libraries to ensure a seamless user experience and reports user behavior in real time.

There is no longer a need to hire iPhone app developers just to migrate apps to a safer platform. Android is getting better in leaps and bounds and, with the help of these nifty tools, your custom mobile app development goals have never been easier to meet.

Have you found a particularly useful Android app tool that did not make the list? Why not share it with us below!

Bio:

Shishir is the founder of ChromeInfotech., a well-known name in the Indian mobile app development and designing industry. With years of experience in the domain, he has now acquainted himself with all the nitty-gritties of what goes into making an awesome app in the least possible time.

Categories
security Telecom

Stealing data via a desktop telephone?

Data protection is a hot topic. In many countries worldwide new data protection laws are implemented. These laws are created to ensure that personal data as stored and processed by companies and organizations will be protected against theft and modification.

A well-known example is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as approved by the EU last year, which will become active in 2018. It will become law in all member countries. It is not a directive which can have different interpretations and timelines per country but will be the same law in all member states.

Data protection regulation is relevant when data can identify or provide information about a specific person. Personal data can be anything. Names, addresses, etc. of course. But also photos, financial documents or medical data. And – taking the European laws as an example – not just for the data owner, but also for third parties processing the data (e.g. cloud service providers) on his behalf. It also means that most regulation crosses international borders. The EU regulation applies to all companies who process personal data of European citizens.

What does data protection regulation cover? Typically, companies need to have a proper administration of which data are stored where (including local spreadsheets with customer data). They also should make it possible for customers to have their data erased and the design of their systems should guarantee data protection (called ‘privacy by design’). Finally, they have to inform the regulator and public about data breaches that occurred and penalties are increased to the level which can mean a serious financial risk for a company.

However, it is not just about your data infrastructure

Of course, everything is data nowadays. Also, voice telephony is a data service, and that is specifically the case for VoIP infrastructures and services as deployed in many companies and organizations. We noticed however that the key focus of many data protection projects is on traditional ICT infrastructures. VoIP is often a blind spot.

While…it is also about voice communications

Ignoring VoIP could mean a serious mistake, however. Let’s have a look for example at a medical institute. Patients definitely don’t like the idea that their information becomes public. Nevertheless, the phone can provide easy access to these data. First of all, a modern desktop telephone provides access to the complete contact list of the user of that extension. A customer list, or – in the medical institute – the list of patients for example. This is just a beginning. The desktop phone also gives direct access to the voicemail system, which may disclose some very sensitive information. For example, if one medical specialist shares his diagnosis with a colleague. The biggest risk is however that office phones are the perfect social engineering tool. If someone has unauthorized access to a business telephone, just his caller ID makes him a trusted person to other employees of the organization as well as staff from other organizations. This trusted personal contact is the best way to acquire sensitive information and other personal data.

So, are your business telephones secured?

Most people think that advanced business desktop telephones can be secured by a PIN or something similar. Which is true. However, this security is often not used. The security mechanism most of the time means that employees have to enter a username (for example an email address) and PIN via the very basic keypad of their telephone, which is a very inconvenient procedure. So in many occasions, once logged in, people keep their phones logged in as long as possible. Or the login mechanism is disabled completely. There are examples of professional service managers actually giving such advice to their end-users.

The impact is that many office telephones provide open access to private and other sensitive data. Not at a level that millions of customer or patient records can be downloaded at once. But still, via the telephone, private documents and other information can be stolen from your organization right now. Therefore, protecting your office telephones may be an essential step in your companies data security plans.

Categories
Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing Trends To Watch Out In 2017

Over the past decade, cloud computing has evolved to become a ubiquitous tool for developers and users alike. Businesses of all sizes have migrated to the cloud over the past few years, whether they choose to use private or public cloud solutions. But now that the cloud has become a widely accepted component of our daily computing lives, what is the next step? In 2017, you can expect to see cloud computing evolve and become increasingly efficient. Here are a few of the top trends to watch for this year.

Greater enterprise migration

Forrester research envisions that the biggest trend this upcoming year is an increase in enterprises. Boosts to security and an array of benefits for businesses means that the cloud is prepared for enterprises. Enterprises have larger budgets, complex applications, and correspondingly complex needs. While in the past cloud platforms were still growing in scope, this year they’re mature and secure enough to please even the most cautious enterprises.

Services on a regional level

Although more enterprises will be migrating to the cloud this year, they may not necessarily commit to one provider. Many users are opting to work with a variety of different providers in order to create a more personalized end solution. This means that there will be an increased demand for cloud services at the regional level, as well as the larger companies. The public cloud market is expected to grow at a rapid rate, including services from tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. Yet at the same time, smaller providers will be there to fill in the coverage gaps to ensure all enterprises benefit from customized solutions.

Shift to containers

A major trend from 2016 was the use of containers to help manage software code for cloud apps. These Linux containers will be an integrated component of most public and private cloud platform throughout next year. This allows developers to manage their own micro-services, which is useful on many levels.

Integrated security

Cybersecurity is at the top of everyone’s wish list when it comes to any new application. Major telco cloud providers like Nokia Networks have vastly improved their ability to provide security at all levels, and smaller providers are following suit. Expect to see all cloud solutions offering built-in, fully integrated security features with a data-centric focus.  Security features must be built into each layer of cloud infrastructure to protect users from costly breaches.

Reduction in costs

Finally, along with the growth of ever more efficient, secure cloud services comes a drop in pricing. This will open up the cloud to nearly everyone. As it becomes more cost-effective to create cloud services and apps, consumers and enterprises alike will reap the benefits. Because there’s a blend of both big-name public cloud service providers and smaller niche providers, you can mix and match these offerings and scale them up or down as needed. Cloud costs should be more readily contained in 2017, helping the industry to grow even further.

Categories
Future Tech

The Future of Home Broadband Speed

Broadband technology has certainly come a long way. No one uses dial-up anymore. If anyone wants to connect to the Internet its through one of the many broadband technologies available to people. Compared to the old dial-up technology, broadband is faster and more secure. But people aren’t just contented with this. A lot of innovations are coming in the future and each one promises more speed, wider coverage, and a more secure way of connecting.

A good example of the innovations for the future concerns DSL, one of the most commonly used broadband connection at homes. A new technology is being developed overseas with the capability to increase DSL speeds dramatically – up to 30 times that of its current speed or more. The new DSL protocol, called “G.fast”, can be applied on existing DSL networks and improve its speed without the need to change existing cables. This means that if successfully developed, it can be deployed fast to anywhere that has an existing DSL network making it cheap.

DSL isn’t the only one getting an upgrade with speed using G.fast. Mobile company, Nokia is currently testing out its XG.fast technology, derived from the G.fast technology they developed. They rolled out XG.fast in the UK last year. Nokia hopes that they can get as much as ten million households subscribed if their technology proves successful.

Speaking of mobile broadband, 5G technology, the next standard for mobile and wireless networks is predicted to be fully deployed in 2020, according to The Next Generation Mobile Network Alliance and Broadband Commission, offering faster mobile Internet, wider coverage, and more stable connection. Right now, a few companies like Samsung and Google have already been developing 5G technology while Qualcomm had presented the Snapdragon X50, the first 5G modem in October last year.

Fiber Optic technology, too, is getting possible innovations. In 2014 there’s a report about a new fiber technology that could let users experience speeds up to 21 times faster than the current home fiber-broadband speeds, that have reached around 30 Mbps (not bad a for a typical home connection). This so called “multicore fiber optics” is described as “turning a one way road into a seven-lane highway”. This is because ordinary fiber today has only one core. As the name implies, multi-core fibers have multiple cores, enabling much more data to be sent through. Though this technology hasn’t been made commercial yet, according to the Journal of Lightwave Technology in its 34th volume, published in January of last year, it is already “expected as a good candidate for overcoming the capacity limit of a current optical communication system”.

Another innovation currently in development concerning fiber speed is coded modulation. In a technique similar to how wireless devices sort out signals, scientists at the University College London have created a special device made to catch different light pulses sent in different wavelengths through the optical fiber. It creates a so-called “super channel”, enabling data to be sent at speeds of around 1.125Tbps.

Finally another possible improvement in fiber concerns how much the light pulses need to be renewed as they travels through a medium before they deteriorate to keep the signal reliable. In fiber broadband this is done every 60 miles. In 2015 however researchers were able to find a way to increase the accuracy of data being sent via a frequency comb which uses signals that are precise and spaced evenly to encode information before it is transmitted, enabling them to transmit data over farther distances without the need for data to be regenerated. This would also increase the capacity of sent data and is said it might make be less expensive compared to other networks as the need to renew the light signals is reduced.

Though these improvements look exciting, we may need to wait a bit more time to see them commercially available. Bring on 2017.