Tag Archives: VPN

iPads are not just for play

If you think iPads are just for leisure or for entertainment, think again. With nearly 86 percent of Fortune 500 companies in the US report deploying or testing the iPad, this revolutionary device has become a tool for business too!

Manufactured by Apple, these easy to hold, easy to transport, and easy to use devices use the same operating system as iPod Touch and iPhone. They do not use input devices like the mouse or keyboard and require you to use your fingers to touch and navigate. Thanks to the availability of hundreds and thousands of applications that range from entertainment, media and education to even productivity and business, the iPad can be used as one powerful device in all areas of life and your workplace is definitely no exception.

Here are reasons why you should bring your iPad to work:

Presentations: Presentations are made so much easier by iPads. First off, they are portable and secondly, they contain applications that allow you to import and edit PowerPoint presentations, and even accessories to connect the device to a monitor or projector. You can also do virtual presentations as there are iPad apps that let you stream your presentation via the Internet.

Communication and Collaboration: If it is communication and collaboration you want, the iPad is the name of the game. With the iPad, you get built-in applications for emailing and you also get to add more to support audio and video conferencing. You can manage meetings with the built-in calendar and address book apps and also use the built-in support it has for third-party mail and calendar applications like Microsoft Exchange, Google Mail, and Calendar. If you want, you may also download and use additional applications to help you manage your tasks, monitor projects, share files, post and view your social networks! And the iPad’s larger screen is definitely a plus!

Field assignments: The iPad is the best device for people on the go as it is light weight and portable. You can install and configure VPN clients to securely connect to your office network when in the field, or even use any of the business applications (mainly cloud based ones) you use in the office. Managing your itinerary while on assignment also becomes much easier with the iPad, thanks to the built-in productivity tools.

Travel: With the iPad, you can carry your whole world as you travel. Besides the apps that help you manage your travel itinerary, there are built-in communication and collaboration tools that let you touch base with your office and find out what progress is being made. When you are not using your iPad for work, you can use it as a media viewer or news reader for information and entertainment.

Industry-specific apps: There are many industry specific apps that let you use the iPad for various purposes. You can use it as a point-of-sale display, or even as a point-of-sale device and much more!

You should discuss the best way to deploy your iPad with your trusted Hamilton IT support specialists. Give us a call today and we can help you with all your business mobility needs.

Can Teleworking Save Ontario Companies Money?

Earth Day is April 22nd; what is your Canadian firm doing to help improve the environment?

Canadian corporations who promote teleworking and allow key employees to work a minimum of twice a week from home can help save over $53 billion dollars annually. That is not all there is to it; you could reduce greenhouse gases by a considerably huge amount and save almost 390 million litres of gas, says Canada’s first major national whitepaper on telework.

“WORKshift Canada: the bottom line on telework”, a report released by Calgary Economic Development in collaboration with the Telework Research Network, used census data and analysis of over 400 case studies, research papers and other documents related to telework to show the positive implications that the proper and regular implementation of telework could have on the country’s economy, environment and society.

Adopting telecommuting a minimum twice a week can help employers save $10,000 a year, and employees will also be able to save as much as $600 – $3,500 annually as a result of reduced commuting and work-related expenses. Other positive changes we will be seeing are an increase of 20% in productivity, a 7% reduction in attrition and increased employee empowerment and morale.

Teleworking will also be playing a major role in protecting the environment from degradation through greenhouse gases. And money is not the only thing teleworking will be saving. Teleworking can emerge as a quick fix to solve labour shortages and reduce energy consumption and pollution. With so many things that teleworking could help you change, you should not be wasting any more time ignoring teleworking. If you are an employer, incorporate teleworking into your organization; and if you are an employee, go convince your boss now.

Thinking it isn’t possible? It is. According to Kate Lister, principal researcher and lead consultant at the Telework Research Network, four in ten people can do their jobs at home (at least part-time) and eight in ten can do all their work from home.

As a Southern Ontario IT security focused company, Solve-IT can help your business set up secure remote access systems which promote secure teleworking. If your Niagara and area business is looking into the possibility of allowing key employees to work from home or other locations, consider contacting us today for a review of your VPN and remote access solutions.