Service Alert: Photo Sharing in Hangouts Chat

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The photo-sharing functionality in Hangouts is changing. Going forward, the ability to share photos and other multimedia in Hangouts Chat will be set by the Picasa Web Albums service rather than by the Google+ service.

Here’s what you need to know:

  • If Google+ is enabled in your domain, no further action is necessary. Google+ requires Picasa Web Albums so you can continue to share photos using Hangouts Chat just like you always have.
  • If Google+ is not enabled for your domain and you want to use the photo-sharing functionality in Hangouts Chat, you must turn on the Picasa Web Albums service in your Admin console.

Please note that Google+ and Picasa Web Albums are additional services and aren’t subject to the core terms of service for your Google Apps account agreement. The functionality change will take effect in the next few days.

If you have any questions at all, feel free to visit the Google Apps Help Center or contact us immediately to learn more about using Hangouts in your organization.

Top File Sync and Share Cloud Services and Best Practices

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File sync shareFile Sync and Share Cloud Services

One of the most popular cloud applications for small and mid-size enterprises is file sync-and-share. File Sync and Share (FSS) cloud services, also known as cloud storage and file sharing services, are online platforms that allow users to store, synchronize, and share files and data across multiple devices and with other users. These services are designed to provide a seamless and efficient way to access and manage files from anywhere with an internet connection.

It makes sense: people need to share files, and most file sync-and-share services are easy to install and use. If not properly managed, however, file sync-and-sharing can result in data breaches and loss and can place your company in legal jeopardy. To minimize these risks, we recommend all businesses enact a simple set of policies that are easy to communicate, explain, and follow.

8 of the Best File Sync and Share Cloud Services

  1. Dropbox: One of the pioneers in the cloud storage industry, Dropbox allows users to store and share files, collaborate on documents, and synchronize data across devices. It offers various plans for personal and business use.
  2. Google Drive: Provided by Google, Google Drive offers a generous amount of free storage space and integrates seamlessly with other Google services like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides for real-time collaboration.
  3. Microsoft OneDrive: Integrated with the Microsoft Office suite, OneDrive is designed to work smoothly with Microsoft products, making it an excellent choice for users who heavily rely on Office applications.
  4. Box: Box is primarily focused on business and enterprise users, providing robust security features and collaboration tools tailored for corporate environments.
  5. Apple iCloud Drive: Geared toward Apple users, iCloud Drive enables seamless synchronization of files across macOS, iOS, and Windows devices.
  6. Amazon Drive: Amazon Drive is part of Amazon’s suite of managed cloud services and offers a straightforward cloud storage solution for individuals and businesses.
  7. Sync.com: Known for its strong emphasis on security and privacy, Sync.com provides end-to-end encryption and compliance with various privacy regulations.
  8. pCloud: pCloud is known for its client-side encryption and the ability to extend storage by linking multiple accounts.

These services typically offer a certain amount of free storage space, with the option to purchase additional storage through subscription plans. They often include features like file versioning, selective synchronization, sharing controls, and collaboration tools to enhance productivity.

When choosing a File Sync and Share cloud service, consider factors such as storage capacity, security measures, compatibility with your devices and operating systems, collaboration features, and pricing options. Also, be aware of the terms of service and the provider’s approach to data privacy and security to ensure that it aligns with your needs and requirements.

Best Practices: Policies for Using File Sync-and-Share Services

To make the most of File Sync and Share (FSS) cloud services while maintaining security and efficiency, consider implementing the following best practices:

  • Employees may use file sync-and-share services, provided they have an business need to do so, use only company approved and managed services, and adhere to company policies.
  • Only company approved services should be used for file storage and sharing; employees may not use free, consumer, or public apps or services.
  • Employees must keep their usernames and passwords for file sync-and-share services secure, and must manage these passwords in accordance with company policies.
  • Only relevant business information may be stored are shared using the company’s file sync-and-share services.
  • Unless otherwise instructed, file sync-and-share services are intended for temporary sharing of files. Original versions of files should reside on company file servers or services.
  • Access to files should be removed, particularly by external parties, when no longer necessary.
  • Copyrighted, private, or secure information should only be shared if both the sender and recipient are authorized to view and/or use the information. This information should be encrypted by the file sync-and-share service, or a separate tool, before it is shared.
  • The company’s file sync-and-share services are subject central administration and management, including access controls and permissions.
  • Use of the company’s file sync-and-share services is subject to all relevant company policies regarding professional and personal conduct. The company’s file sync-and-share services are subject to company monitoring in accordance with company policies.

With these policies in place, you can provide employees with vetted file sync-and-share services that both meet employees’ needs to share and collaborate, while protecting your data, your regulatory compliance, and your business.

Embracing the Cloud: Unlocking the Top Benefits of Migrating from On-Premise Infrastructure

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Moving from On-Premise to CloudMoving from on-premise to the cloud can offer numerous benefits for businesses and organizations.

Most of the businesses, nonprofits, and local governments we help move to cloud platforms see both tangible and intangible benefits shortly after deployment. Whether they focus on improved availability and reliability, easier secure access to files, lower capital expenditures, or the benefits of improved collaboration and access to video conferencing services, very few businesses regret the move.

Top Benefits of Moving From On-Premise to Cloud

  1. Cost Savings: Cloud services eliminate the need for upfront capital expenses on hardware and data center infrastructure. Instead, businesses can opt for a pay-as-you-go model, where they only pay for the resources they use. This cost-effectiveness can significantly reduce IT expenses and is among the top benefits of moving from on-premise to cloud.
  2. Scalability: Cloud providers offer the ability to scale computing resources up or down based on demand. This flexibility allows businesses to handle fluctuations in traffic, application usage, and storage requirements without the need for overprovisioning or hardware upgrades.
  3. Accessibility and Mobility: Cloud services enable access to data and applications from anywhere with an internet connection. This accessibility fosters remote work, collaboration and enhances productivity as employees can work from various locations and devices.
  4. Data Redundancy and Reliability: Cloud providers often have multiple data centers across different regions, ensuring data redundancy and high availability. This minimizes the risk of data loss due to hardware failure or disasters.
  5. Security and Compliance: Reputable cloud providers invest heavily in security measures and comply with industry-specific regulations. They often have dedicated teams to monitor security threats and implement robust data protection practices. This is another key benefit of moving from on-premise to the cloud, as it provides essential resilience and continuity for a business.
  6. Automatic Updates and Maintenance: Cloud services take care of software updates, security patches, and system maintenance. This frees up IT staff from routine tasks, allowing them to focus on more strategic initiatives.
  7. Faster Deployment: Cloud infrastructure can be provisioned and deployed quickly, speeding up the time-to-market for applications and services.
  8. Innovation and Access to Advanced Services: Cloud providers frequently introduce new services and technologies, empowering businesses to leverage cutting-edge tools without investing in research and development.
  9. Global Reach: Cloud services have a global presence, enabling businesses to expand their operations to new markets and serve customers worldwide with reduced latency.
  10. Environmental Benefits: Cloud computing can lead to reduced energy consumption compared to on-premise data centers, as cloud providers optimize data center operations at scale.
  11. Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery: Cloud services often include robust backup and disaster recovery features, ensuring data resilience and continuity in the face of unforeseen events.
  12. Collaboration and Workflows: Cloud-based collaboration tools facilitate seamless teamwork, enabling employees to share and collaborate on documents in real-time, enhancing productivity.
  13. Competitive Advantage: Adopting cloud technology allows businesses to stay agile and respond quickly to market changes, gaining a competitive edge over competitors still reliant on traditional IT infrastructure.

Other Indirect Advantages of Shifting from On-Premise to Cloud Solutions

Many organizations do not look beyond the scope of their cloud implementation for other, indirect or subsequent benefits. Cloud migrations often create opportunities for additional IT simplification that can improve the users’ experience as well as further lower costs.

Most common across our customer base is the ability to simplify wide area networks. Organizations with multiple locations rely on wide area networks to connect offices, servers, and people. We see several common architectures, each with limitations.

  • Centralized servers require all users not at the server location to access data remotely, at lower speeds.
  • Distributed servers provide performance, but require more complicated backup solutions and/or data synchronization.
  • Spoke and hub networks connect all sites, typically over leased/dedicated lines.  Bandwidth between sites is limited and relatively expensive, with a single path (or, hopefully, redundant paths) to the Internet.
  • MPLS (Multi-Protocol Layer Switch) networks provide a managed network, better security, and greater Internet bandwidth, but still rely on leased/dedicated bandwidth to the carrier.
  • Lan-to-Lan and PC-to-LAN VPNs can securely connect machines and sites over private or public lines, but VPN services add overhead that hurts performance, increases admin costs, and makes it more difficult for users to connect.

When files and other data are centrally located in the cloud, you can simplify your wide area networks and lower costs.

Because your data is centrally located, you may no longer need point-to-point connections between your offices. Replacing point-to-point, VPN, and MPLS links with Direct Internet Access Links can have up to a 100X benefit, as many carriers can provide you with up to 10x the speed at as little as 1/10th the cost. At these price points, building in redundancy is affordable and can protect your businesses from carrier outages.

As you move to the cloud from on-premise software and infrastructure, reassess the role of your wide area and Internet links. Simplification and modification of your architecture can save you time, money, and overhead, while providing faster, more reliable service.

If you would like to review your network for opportunities, or discuss the potential benefits from moving to the cloud, please contact us for a no-obligation discussion.

 

Chrome for Meetings Grows Up

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CFM Large Rooms
Chrome for Meetings has given organizations an affordable, effective way to integrate HD video conferencing services.  This week, Chrome for Meetings grows up with the addition of a hardware bundle designed for larger conference rooms.

Designed for rooms with up to 24 people, the new bundle includes:

  • Pan-Tilt-Zoom Camera
    Enjoy professional video quality with the USB-enabled 1080 HD PTZ camera
  • Dual Microphone/Speaker
    Capture conversations in longer rooms with an additional mic and speaker
  • Dual Connections
    Connect two monitors to the PTZ camera and dual microphone/speakers, for the richest video conferencing experience

Pricing starts at $1,999, inclusive of the first year management and support fee of $250.

Contact us for more information, to arrange a demo/trial, or obtain a quote.

 

 

Google for Nonprofits is Global

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Google for Nonprofits LogoDid you know?

Google’s programs and products for non-profits are available to non-profits and non-governmental organizations across the globe.

This Google for Nonprofits support article lists and provides links to all programs for available for non-profits by category and by country.

If your nonprofit would benefit from guidance or assistance moving to Google Apps for Nonprofits, please let us know.

 

Cloud File Services: How to Define Their Role and Manage Data Better

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What Are Cloud File Services?

Users can store, access, and exchange files and data via online platforms known as cloud file services, also referred to as cloud file storage or cloud-based file sharing services. Without the use of physical storage devices or on-premise servers, these services offer a practical and effective solution to manage files from numerous devices and places.

Cloud file services can fill many different roles for your business. Often, the use of cloud file services begins with employees using consumer products, like Dropbox, to share files with customers and each other. While sync-and-share can be an effective way to manage files, you should always rely on the business editions to ensure that the business is in possession of, and is managing, your data.

That said, this use of file sync-and-share tends to be transient in nature. At the other end of the spectrum, many businesses are replacing on-premise servers, NAS, and SANs with cloud file services, which become the primary file service.

To help you plan how to create the best cloud file service for your business, consider these working definitions and considerations with respect to data protection and management.

Define the Role of Your Cloud File Service

Transient File Service

  • Transient file services are used occasionally for storage and sharing of files.
  • Often a sync-and-share service (Dropbox, box.net, etc) or a peer-to-peer service (Drive, etc.), files are copied to the file service and shared.
  • In most cases, files sync back, or are manually copied, to their primary location. As the primary location for files is protected by backups and permissions management, transient file service generally don’t need or have backup protection.
  • Permissions management is often the responsibility of the individual users. As such, transient file services should not be used for sensitive or protected (PHI, PCI, etc) information.

Secondary File Service

  • A Secondary File Service will fill the role that the Transient File Service provides, but will also be the home — the system of record — for some information.
  • Companies create Secondary File Services to handle information that is used collaboratively, but wants to keep internally-used data and critical business information in-house. An architecture firm, for example, might have active projects residing in a cloud file storage service while keeping past project data and internal operations (HR, finance, accounting, strategy) on in-house systems.
  • While sync-and-share can serve the needs of secondary file server, peer-to-peer and managed file services provide better control over your data.
  • As a Secondary File Service will be the system-of-record for important information (i.e., the data is not synced or copied to other storage), these file services should be protected by Backups.
  • Secondary File Services may or may not be used for sensitive or protected information. If they are, then active permissions monitoring and management is advised to prevent inappropriate disclosures, leaks, or breaches.​

​Primary File Service

  • A Primary File Service becomes the system of record for most, if not all, of your company’s files and data. As such, the cloud file service will hold sensitive and protected data.  Access, permissions, and protection are as critical in the cloud as they are on-premise.
  • Backup/recovery and active permissions management become critical components for ensuring data reliability, security, and privacy, and may be required for regulatory or industry compliance.
  • While smaller businesses can use the peer-to-peer, larger businesses or those with larger numbers of files find that a managed and structured file service works better.
  • Centralized ownership and control over permissions improves security and efficiency.
  • Sync-and-share services may still be used to support off-line work, but should be managed closely to ensure sensitive and protected data remains secure.

 Hybrid File Service

  • A Hybrid File Service exists when the Primary File Service is split between on-premise servers and cloud-based file services.  A Hybrid File Service differs from the use of a Secondary File Service in that the Hybrid File Service sees both on-premise and in-cloud as equal components of the ecosystem. Data location is based on access needs and usage rather than on the type of data.
  • For some organizations, Hybrid File Services represent a transition period from on-site to cloud file services. For others, Hybrid File Services reflect a broader hybrid cloud strategy that mixes SaaS and IaaS services with on-premise systems.
  • As Hybrid File Services create a cloud-based extension of on-premise servers, a managed file service with central ownership and permissions control is most often the best structure.
  • With a Hybrid File Service, the cloud component requires backup/recovery and permissions protection on-par with your in-house servers.

By understanding and defining the role of your cloud file services, you have a better understanding of the type of managed cloud services to use — sync-and-share, peer-to-peer, or managed file services. You can also best determined the level of backup/recovery, access, permissions, and encryption you want and need to meet your business’ needs and any regulatory or industry requirements.

McAfee MXLogic Update May Stop Inbound Email

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McAfee
Earlier this week McAfee MXlogic added a new “Spam Flood Prevention” feature with the intent of stopping hailstorm and snowshoe style attacks that flood inboxes with email from specific IP addresses.  The feature will defer and eventually expire any more than 100 email messages per day from a single IP address.

While this sounds like an easy fix to a troubling problem, most cloud-based email services route email through a limited number of IP addresses. If you receive enough email from senders using Gmail, Google Apps, Office 365, or from senders with gateway services like Reflexion and Zixmail, MXlogic will likely block and discard legitimate messages.

And since you likely don’t know the sender’s email service, you will have no idea why, or how much, information is missing.

We recommend that you perform the following workaround steps in MXLogic:

  1. Log into the Control Console.
  2. Select Email Protection > Policies.
  3. Highlight the desired inbound policy (usually Default Inbound) and clickEdit.
  4. Click the Spam tab, which will default to the Classifications sub tab.
  5. De-select the check box for Enable Spam flood prevention.
  6. Click Save. Please allow 20 minutes for full replication of settings across the servers.

More information can be found on the following McAfee Support Article.

If you would like to reduce the time, effort, and cost of managing your email services and protecting your data, please contact us to learn more.

 

 

The End of Postini is Really Happening

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The End of Google Postini is Really Happening

After nearly three years of planning, data migration, and enhancements to the spam/virus protection within Google Apps, June 15, 2015 marks the day when Google Postini email security and compliance solutions truly ceases to exist. As of the 15th, mail flow through Postini message center systems will halt.

Google Postini customers that have not updated their MX records will stop receiving email; messages will bounce back to the sender

For customer migrating from Google Message Discovery (aka Postini archiving), the MX records need to change, even if the data migration or validation processes are still active.

Have questions about Google Postini coming to an end? Contact our service team for help.

 

 

Don’t Lose It, Use It (for PD)

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Mobius TPD Icon
June has arrived and the 2014-2015 school year is almost at a close. Now it is time to turn our attention on the summer and beyond. As the next academic year approaches, it’s important to consider how to continue improving the classroom experience and incorporate techniques that appeal to a wide range of learning styles.

As always, here at Cumulus Global we are ready and excited to help with any technology needs you might have, but we are sensitive to the fact that budget can be an issue. So, to celebrate the end of this school year and to welcome in the next, we are offering special pricing on our Professional Development and Training services.

For a limited time, you can save money with prepaid professional development services.

20% off on-site or live web training sessions

  • Full Day On Site Training – $1995 now $1,596
  • One Web-Based Session – $695 now $556
  • Series of Three Web-Based Sessions – $1925 now $1,540
  • Series of Six Web-Based Sessions – $3,500 now $2,800

10% off our Professional Development planning services

  • Basic Professional Development Plan – $995 now $895
  • Full Professional Development Plan – $1,995 now $1,795

A great opportunity for surplus funds, you can use your prepaid services anytime during the 2015/2016 fiscal year (subject to availability of a Certified Google Apps for Education Instructor).

For more information or to discuss your options, please contact us or fill in the form, below.

Cloud Computing Services in Decatur, Georgia

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Cloud Computing Services in Decatur, Georgia

Responding to the continued increasing demand for business-effective cloud solutions and professional services, Cumulus Global (www.cumulusglobal.com) has opened an Atlanta-area office. Our cloud computing services in Decatur, Georgia will be adding to our Boston area headquarters and regional office in New York. The regional office located in Decatur, GA will focus on the Southeast and Southern regions, in addition to supporting Cumulus Global’s sales and service efforts throughout the US and Canada.

“While the nature of cloud computing enables us to work with businesses regardless of geography,” notes Allen Falcon, CEO of Cumulus Global, “our Atlanta area office brings us closer to our customers and the business communities we serve with our managed cloud services.”

Growing Cloud Adoption Drives Southern Expansion for Cumulus Global in Decatur, Georgia

Cumulus Global has seen rapid growth over the past few years, landing at #349 on the 2014 Inc. 500 list of Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. A Google (GOOG) Premier Partner, Cumulus Global helps small and mid-size businesses leverage Google for Work and other cloud solutions to achieve their business goals and objectives.

“We always start with our clients’ needs and priorities,” stated Falcon. “We then research, design, and build the cloud solution that fits best. In addition to offering standard packages for basic needs, we mix-and-match products and services to create custom solutions — even if that means referring a client to a solution we do not sell. We’re really looking forward to offering our cloud computing services in Decatur, Georgia”

This level of service has helped Cumulus Global maintain some of the best customer satisfaction and retention rates in the industry. Give our cloud experts a call in Decatur, Georgia today, and take advantage of a free cloud computing consultation.

Top Cloud Services to Take Advantage of in Decatur, GA