Posted on Thu, May 10, 2012 @ 09:58 AM
I have a friend that works in the international department for a bank, and frequently has her assistant print and FedEx necessary documents when she and other in the department travel to other cities and other countries. For her, picking up the documents was always a seamless process, as she knew where and when her documents would be ready and planned accordingly.
However, when her boss took a similar approach during a trip to China, the experience didn’t go quite as well. First, the packages containing the documents had to go through customs—a complicated process that added delays to the delivery. 2nd Day shipping turned into nearly a week. Then, when the packages were finally delivered, the hotel refused them because the boss hadn’t checked in yet. It was just a mess. Many hours were spent on a Sunday talking to the carrier trying to get the packages delivered to the hotel prior to Monday morning. A big mess…
The moral of the story: When traveling for business, it's vital to understand your print options, and schedule print into your day.
Know Your Print Options
While you can print documents ahead of time or have them shipped to you, the above example demonstrates that this isn’t always the best option. Sometimes, you’ll have to print on the go. When this is the case, it’s important to map out what print devices will be available to you. Some examples:
- Hotel printers: These are good for small-volume, non client-facing items, such as boarding passes. Typically, they are B&W only. In cases where a hotel color printer is available they are cost prohibitive to use for lengthy documents or multiple copies.
- Print-as-a-service: Companies such as FedEx Office, The UPS Store, and Office Max offer mobile and self-service print options at locations across the U.S. All you have to do is download an app to your smart phone or take a USB file to their location to print the files from their machines. Similar service exist in countries around the world. While the cost per page is high, the overall cost difference is minimal after factoring in the cost of freight and someone’s time to print the documents in your office.
Think through printing as part of your overall travel plans; know where print locations are, the services they offer and how printing will fit into your schedule.
Plan Accordingly
There are numerous Items to consider when evaluating print options and planning them into your day. These include:
- Length of document
- Document recipients (i.e. internal use, client, etc.)
- Color versus B&W
- Number of images, graphs or charts included in document
- Quality output desired
- Printer locations and distance from hotel
- Print services offered and associated costs
- Acceptable file formats for printers
- Procedure to submit files for printing (i.e. via a mobile app, USB drive, etc.)
- Shipping costs to have documents mailed to you
- Associated pick up locations and times
- Luggage size/weight requirements
- Completeness of documents prior to departure
- Print turnaround time
This level of additional planning and detail will make your life easier when travelling, and save your company money. By preparing ahead, you’ll be more likely to select the most cost-effective print option, instead of scrambling to find any print option.
How Do You Avoid Mobile Printing Headaches?
What solutions have you used when printing on the go? Which were most successful, and which didn’t work out as planned? Share your experiences below.
By the way, check out our May 31 webinar on mobile printing with Sridhar Solur--the founder of HP's cloud printing practice, ePrint Enterprise. He'll talk about enabling network printing on the go through the iPad and other mobile devices.
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Jeffrey Goldstein is Senior Consultant at MCPc and is responsible for the delivery of hardcopy and value-added services within the Imaging and Printing Group. Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn.
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Posted on Fri, May 04, 2012 @ 01:46 PM
This month, our collection of top industry articles highlights the consumerization of IT, virtualization of Tier 1 applications, open cloud computing and tech industry headlines.
IT Transformation
According to Network World’s Johna Till Johnson in her article on Consumerization and the Next Wave of IT Transformation, IT has been replaced with enterprise technology (ET), as it is no longer restricted to workplaces. Instead, it permeates throughout enterprise, and includes mobile, display and sensor technologies, next-generation computing, big data and more.
Says Johnson, “ET, in a nutshell, is the combination of technologies that enables embedded, networked, intelligence.” At MCPc, we see ET as the anyplace workspace.
Note: Want evidence of ET in action? Consider the tablet, which some predict may become our primary computing device.
In addition to a change in technologies and infrastructure, the shift from IT to ET has propelled industry professionals into a more strategic role within organizations, making them increasingly more important to bottom-line successes. In fact, more than one-third of IT budgets are now spent on the cloud, with a quarter of respondents indicating that the cloud will help shape business strategy.
For tips to capitalize on future trends like cloud and ET, read CIO’s Creating Culture of IT Innovation Includes Rewarding Failure.
Virtualization of Tier 1 Apps
To gain the most benefit and value out of private clouds, organizations need to take their tech to the next level by virtualizing even mission-critical applications. However, this is an area where many environments lag behind.
To help you make the transition; CIO’s Thor Olavsrud (@ThorOlavsrud) offers six steps to maximize success:
- Understand vendor-specific considerations related to your VM hypervisor.
- Discuss architecture needs with your system integrator/consultants.
- Inventory your current infrastructure, noting what needs to be upgraded.
- Update and align processes and policies for a virtual environment.
- Develop a backup strategy.
- Consolidate physical and virtual components for centralized management.
Open Cloud Computing
Open clouds—such as OpenStack and Citrix’ newly released CloudStack—may not compare with proprietary technology just yet; however, they are a disruptive force that should not be overlooked, as explained in Open Clouds: Immature or Good Enough? by ReadWriteCloud’s Joe Brockmeier (@jzb).
This is because open technologies standardize and commoditize the IaaS market, offering a lower price point than proprietary alternatives, without vendor lock in.
In fact, with growing interest in open clouds, there is an increasing demand for trained IT professionals with expertise in the area, and a possibility for certification programs down the road.
IT Industry News
- Google introduced Google Drive, a cloud-based, online storage platform. While great for individuals, this collaboration hub opens up a can of worms for IT departments, as it isn’t built with enterprise security in mind.
- Windows 8 Editions, the newest Windows operating systems for PCs and tablets, were unveiled. Among other upgrades, editions feature the Windows App Store and a flexible, fluid experience whether accessed via a touch screen or keyboard. For enterprise-level security, management, productivity and virtualization, the company announced Windows 8 Enterprise.
- HP’s newest cloud service, Converged Cloud, syncs with OpenStack software. The result: A private IaaS solution that is compatible with public offerings, making hybrid cloud implementations more viable.
- Cisco and NetApp expanded their FlexPod offering with cost-effective, pre-validated design architectures ideal for smaller workloads (500-1,000 users). Wondering if FlexPod is right for you? Check out our recent blog post for evaluation tips.
- Dell grew its cloud offerings with the purchase of Wyse Technologies. Plans are underway to use Wyse’s thin client and desktop virtualization technologies to offer an end-to-end cloud solution.
- Microsoft reengineered its certifications program to better prepare professionals to build and manage cloud environments. The change reflects a larger industry shift in the skill sets required of today’s IT professionals.
What articles did you enjoy last month? Please share your thoughts and additional resources in the comments below.
This post is an MCPc blogging team collaboration.
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Posted on Tue, May 01, 2012 @ 12:35 PM
Years ago, I used to do a lot of business with a giant pharmaceutical company in Pittsburgh. I remember a time when they decided to replace their IBM 360/20 running under TOS (Tape Operating System). It had 12k (YES that's K—12,000 bytes) of memory, 4x tape decks, a 1-card reader, 1-card punch and a 1-line printer (which used 15x11 inch 'fanfold' paper). And it came in a box of 2500 sheets. They had paid several million dollars for the computer, its software and peripherals, and wanted to recoup what they could. So they requested bids on it. The sole bid came from a man who said that if the company paid him $750, he’d cut the mainframe apart with a chainsaw and haul it away.
They took the bid.
I think of this now because it occurs to me that the iPad many people are carrying around has the potential to be a far greater computing system than those multi-million dollar mainframes ever were. Most of us love our iPhones and iPads but don’t think of them as supercomputers. When you take them out of the box they’re not, and that’s where anyplace workspace comes in. The phrase is MCPc's, but the concept behind it is experienced by everyone, whether you're an IT manager looking for an easier way to manage applications or a college student listening to Spotify. The principle behind anyplace workspace is the cloud. Somewhere, everything you need is available. It might be documents about your organization’s financial status, an S&P report on a potential customer, a news story on how flooding in the Far East will affect supply lines or a picture from your daughter’s dance recital. Whatever it is, anyplace workspace lets your iPhone, iPad, Android device or Windows device get to it and use it. anyplace workspace combines the power of your network with thousands of apps, Google, Facebook, Linkedin and the rest of the Internet. That little battery powered device in your pocket becomes a supercomputer.
And it doesn’t stop there—2012 is the year everything is becoming connected. Laptops, desktops, TVs, set-top boxes, tablets and smartphones are all starting to share content seamlessly. Already your kids are able to start watching a movie from Netflix on an iPad in the backseat of the car and finish watching on your home TV. Spreadsheet too small to see on your Android phone? Move it to your 60-ft flat-screen with a swipe of your fingers.
Streaming video to your computer is nothing new. What about streaming video to big-screen TVs? Most TVs being sold now are Internet-ready, and as new wireless standards become available this year, streaming video straight from the internet to a TV will go mainstream. If you only want Netflix, that’s easy. But if you want to start videoconferencing, sharing content, collaborating on wikis or creating social media events, you’ll need an architecture like anyplace workspace.
anyplace workspace is the infrastructure allowing each and every one of your devices to transcend its limitations to function as a network endpoint. anyplace workspace is about connecting everything, everywhere.
And of course all this technology is constantly evolving. I’m old enough to remember when phones had cords and TVs had knobs. While I could envision TV remote controls, it never would have occurred to me that my phone might be one someday. So what’s next? Do you become the remote control? Or the phone? Or maybe even the TV? Will we soon be checking our email from our glasses? Stay tuned. The anyplace workspace is going to get even more interesting.
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Bill Cannon is a long-time member of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and a sponsoring member of the 802.11 Standards Committee. He participated in IEEE’s deliberations of the formal definition of both cloud computing and its studies on the relationships between cloud computing and virtualization. He currently serves as a Partner Manager for key technology manufacturers. Connect with Bill on LinkedIn.
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Posted on Mon, Apr 23, 2012 @ 03:20 PM
With today’s anyplace workspaces, business travelers can easily take their devices, applications and data with them on the road. For example, you can access company information via virtualization and cloud technology, and give presentations over telepresence or using iPads.
But what about the contracts, strategy documents, project briefs and other documents that require hard copies? These printed materials are still necessary in many business encounters, but require a bit more planning and preparation.
While you could print at your office prior to departure, necessary paperwork doesn’t always fit in your luggage and can be costly or difficult to ship. In addition, fast-paced work environments often lead to last-minute changes. If you’re on the road for an extended period of time, materials may not even be finalized when you leave your home base.
So what’s a modern, mobile professional to do? Mobile printers, Google Cloud Print and HP ePrint Enterprise are efficient and cost-effective alternatives for on the go printing—ensuring that you have the documents you need, when you need them.
Mobile Printers
For convenience printing, frequent travelers may want to invest in mobile printers, such as the HP Officejet 100. These devices are battery-powered and use Bluetooth to print without wires. Similar to a laptop, you could charge your mobile printer at night, and then take it on the road with you during the day.
The main challenge with mobile printers is that they require you to pack the printer and extra ink cartridge in your bag. In addition, they aren’t designed to print documents en masse or at client-ready quality.
Google Cloud Print
Google Cloud Print connects your home or work printers to the web, making them accessible from your smart phone, tablet, laptop or PC.
With this option, you can print on the road to any cloud-ready printer (i.e. those that don’t require a PC to set up) or classic printer connected to a computer with Internet access.
Consider security requirements with platform printing options like Google’s. One of the drawbacks is that your documents are moved outside of corporate infrastructure, and placed in Google’s cloud. Data is no longer as secure as it is within your firewalls, and in some industries, may violate compliance regulations.
HP ePrint Enterprise
While Google Cloud Print works well for individuals, it is not designed to support enterprise-level security or management. This is why we recommend HP’s ePrint Enterprise as a more complete solution. Truly an in-source model, HP ePrint Enterprise lets you connect to all the printers in your environment, and public ePrint-ready printers, while remaining within your corporate firewall.
This keeps your data secure, allows for high-quality output in both color and B&W, and gives your internal IT department control of documents and information flow.
Printing on the Move
When it comes to mobile printing, plan ahead as much as possible. Know what you need to print, and how and where you will access printers. Also, keep in mind how mobile printing fits within your company’s internal policies surrounding security and management.
As a mobile businessperson, what struggles do you face with printing on the move? How have you overcome them? Share your experiences below.
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Jeffrey Goldstein is Senior Consultant at MCPc and is responsible for the delivery of hardcopy and value-added services within the Imaging and Printing Group. Connect with Jeff on LinkedIn.
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Posted on Fri, Apr 13, 2012 @ 07:47 AM
If you’re like many of your IT peers, you’ve probably built and deployed your IT infrastructure using distributed technology and infrastructure components on an application-by-application basis.
While historically this approach was sufficient, when IT operated essentially in a silo, as IT becomes more central to all elements of the business a downside comes to the forefront. App-by-app infrastructure development results in fragmented, silo-specific data centers that, when required to meet the needs of multiple departments, are ripe with inefficiencies.
Virtualization can change that by creating a consolidated data center that is efficient, easy to manage and has reduced power demands. And building this type of environment can be very simple when you use a building-block storage solution like FlexPod.
FlexPod offers a set of pre-validated infrastructure building blocks that allow you to build a private cloud or virtualize your data center working with your existing infrastructure. All FlexPods are built on a baseline configuration that includes servers and switches from Cisco, storage from NetApp, and a virtualization component from Citrix, VMware or Microsoft (depending on your manufacturer preference).
The Key to FlexPod? Flexibility, of Course!
All FlexPod solutions start with a standard blueprint, which you can modify to suit your unique needs. The solution will work, as long as the modifications are made within supported manufacturer standards and overall interoperability.
Think of it in terms of building a house: The standard blueprint calls for a 10’ by 10’ picture window; however, you want a 12’ by 16’ picture window. How do you know the larger window will work? Your builder inserts the dimensions of the new window into the blueprint and sees that it doesn’t interfere with any other structure.
The same is true of FlexPod. You have complete flexibility over the build, as long as it fits within the larger framework. For example, you can:
- Buy new, or mix in existing software.
- Purchase the server blades in the quantity and configuration desired.
- Buy as many server chasses, software products, NetApp storage array combinations of Cisco network switches, etc., as you want.
- Deploy VMware View, Microsoft Hyper-V or bare metal.
- Integrate management software (or not).
Making it even easier to get started, smaller organizations can benefit from FlexPod’s new, entry-level design architectures, which are still pre-validated, but priced and sized for smaller workloads.
Am I a Good Fit for a FlexPod Solution?
You’re a strong candidate if you use NetApp for storage, but not if you use EMC. Don’t use either? The following are a few key questions to determine if FlexPod is right for you:
- What is your desired use case (e.g. VDI, DR, new application, re-platforming, virtualization (Phase I or II), etc.)? Note: Understanding the end goal is the single greatest key to success.
- What virtualization investments have you already made? Can you integrate FlexPod in a way that builds on them rather than rips and replaces?
- What is the age of your infrastructure? Must it be reused or is greenfield possible?
- How quickly do you want to be up and running? Speed to market is often a business advantage, if not an absolute requirement.
What Do You Think?
Are you looking to build out FlexPod or exploring other options in virtual infrastructure? What solutions are of interest? Share your experiences and thoughts below.
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Bill Cannon is a longtime member of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and a sponsoring member of the 802.11 Standards Committee. He participated in IEEE’s deliberations of the formal definition of both cloud computing and its studies on the relationships between cloud computing and virtualization. He currently serves as a Partner Manager for key technology manufacturers. Connect with Bill on LinkedIn.
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Posted on Fri, Apr 06, 2012 @ 01:14 PM
This month’s collection of top IT industry articles takes a look at IT talent, mobile management, disaster recovery (DR), the post-PC era and business strategy, as well as a few industry headlines. Enjoy!
IT & Business Strategy
Cloud computing affects every aspect of your business and stimulates disruption through automation. To be truly effective, it Calls for a Rebuilding of Enterprise IT, not simply a swap out of existing technology. For this reason, CIO.com’s Bernard Golden (@bernardgolden) recommends a complete reevaluation of IT processes and skills for the cloud, with a focus on the following:
- Remove legacy IT costs by moving to SaaS applications when possible.
- Re-architect the application development process to speed production and simplify ongoing management.
- Restructure IT operations to eliminate manual installation and configuration.
- Use real-time feedback and analytics, and application characteristics to guide financial decisions.
When creating your strategy, remember that IT strategy no longer stands alone; it must be integrated into a larger business strategy.
IT Job Demand
The number of cloud computing jobs posted online grew 92% in the past year, with opportunities mostly stemming from service providers, such as VMware, Microsoft and Amazon, according to a report by Wanted Analytics.
Due to this staggering growth, the talent pool is unable to meet demand. This makes it harder for companies to find and recruit qualified cloud professionals, particularly software engineers, systems engineers and network administrators. However, it opens up a wealth of opportunities for those candidates that do have the required skill sets.
Feeling rusty? MCPc offers advanced Citrix training through our Citrix Authorized Learning Center. Learn more about upcoming classes in XenApp and XenDesktop.
Post-PC Era
Gartner Says the Personal Cloud Will Replace the Personal Computer. Instead of relying on a single device, consumers will shift between several (i.e. smart phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) with the cloud enabling seamless transitions between them.
This trend is driven by several factors, including: consumerization, virtualization, app-ification, the ever-available self-service cloud and the mobility shift. It’s also the driver behind our recently announced anyplace workspace architecture.
For more on the growth of smart phones and tablets, and device usage, check out Business Insider’s The Future of Mobile.
Mobile Management
In the post-PC era, mobile device security takes center stage. Pamela Lewis Dolan (@pdolan_amnews) provides tips on How to Ensure a Lost Mobile Device Won’t Cause a Data Breach. While recommendations are geared toward the medical community, they are applicable across industries:
- Pick the right mobile device and security apps based on your usage needs and data types. Use product reviews and recommendations to sift through available products and find the most trusted providers.
- Encrypt data and phone calls.
- Employ passcode locks and application passwords to prevent unwanted access.
- Set your device so that data can be wiped if lost or stolen.
- Restore the operating system back to factory settings before disposing of any device.
DR in Virtual Environments
Robert L. Scheier (@BobScheier) recommends using virtualization and data replication technologies to achieve cost-effective disaster recovery in his article, Disaster Recovery on Double Duty.
As you account for DR in traditional server environments, so you must in the cloud. If a server fails, virtualization enables you to shift critical workloads off it and onto a server that hosts less critical workloads—deferring non-priority workloads until later. This way, DR is achieved using existing hardware, instead of paying for equipment that sits idle during normal operations.
In addition, replication software lets you copy data and transfer it to a recovery site in near real time (instead of having to ship tapes offsite). Like virtualization, this saves time and money, without sacrificing network uptime.
In the News
- Wyse Technology introduced the T10 zero client that provides a low-cost, secure and zero management solution for virtual desktops built on Citrix, Microsoft, Quest and VMware platforms.
- Apple released the iPad 3. With the best (arguably?) and most cost-effective tablet on the market, the company may be ushering in the post-PC era.
- A Citrix study found that 93% of organizations will implement “workshifting” policies by the end of 2013, providing greater flexibility and mobility for employees.
- Nearly 1 billion connected devices (PCs, laptops, smartphones and tablets) were shipped in 2011. IDC expects this number to double by 2016. (Source)
What articles did you enjoy last month? Please share your thoughts and additional resources in the comments below.
This post is an MCPc blogging team collaboration.
Posted on Thu, Apr 05, 2012 @ 07:20 AM
Last week, I published an article on Computer Technology Review titled, Reality Check: Busting Through Cloud Computing Myths.
In the article, I cover the top 10 cloud myths we hear at MCPc—and bust them with a dose of reality.
If you’re interested in integrating cloud services in your environment, but are unsure about issues such as security, reliability, data management, application deployment, or other common concerns, I encourage you to read it.
As I mention over at CTR (paraphrased here):
The key to finding success in the cloud is to to find the solution that supports the needs specific to your business—from access, to security and compliance, and everywhere in between.
In this age of IT Consumerization and mobility—not to mention the impact of social media and the expectation for instant on, always available collaboration—having an effective cloud strategy is no longer a nicety. It is a business requirement! And, as the article alludes to, a properly executed cloud strategy can be a business differentiator and a competitive advantage.
Click here to learn how to bust the cloud myths that dwell within your organization.
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Andy Jones is Senior Vice President of Sales. He has more than 15 years of IT industry experience, and is an expert on cloud, virtualization and managed services solutions. Connect with Andy on LinkedIn.
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Posted on Fri, Mar 30, 2012 @ 02:10 PM
This blog post discusses highlights of Andy Jones’ interview for the Forrester report: Building A Successful RFP for Desktop Virtualization, by Clarence Villanueva (@cvillanu). For the Forrester blog post and link to full article, click here.
With demand on the rise for greater workforce mobility and mobility management in the enterprise, desktop virtualization (DV) is a sound solution that:
- Allows for controlled and secure employee access to enterprise information across multiple devices.
- Converts devices into thin clients, lengthening lifecycles of those devices.
- Enables IT management updates and enforced compliance requirements from a central source.
I know what you’re thinking: “Sounds great, Andy. Let’s put out an RFP to go with a virtualized desktop solution.”
Before you do, note that Forrester research finds that during the DV RFP process, incomplete or unclear information and project goals are often sent to potential vendors, and the result is unfulfilled RFP requirements and misguided DV proposals.
Earlier this year, I had the chance to discuss desktop virtualization with Forrester’s Clarence Villanueva (@cvillanu), specifically in regard to the RFP process. Interview findings combined with Forrester’s Forrsights for Business Technology survey results detail four key elements companies should incorporate in the RFP process to avoid said missteps.
4 Steps toward Your Successful DV RFP
To complete a successful desktop virtualization RFP, companies must consider the full scope and impact of desktop virtualization. It includes everything from a completely assessed IT inventory to defined goals and DV impact analysis.
- Define Project Goals. How will you know that DV implementation is a success? Give potential vendors a measuring stick to work toward so they can develop the right strategy to achieve your most important business goals.
- Describe Current IT Ecosystem (in comprehensive detail). When we receive an RFP, the first questions we must address to propose a workable solution center around the client’s existing environment. What type of user environment, network, security, storage and licensing processes are in place? Each is highly impacted by a move to a virtualized environment, and therefore must be included in the original RFP.
- Develop Vendor Questions. Now that you know what you’re working with and the end-goal in mind, develop questions to differentiate potential vendors—both in terms of product offering and service offering. Use this stage of the vetting process to know what you can expect in terms of completed implementations, industry expertise, and specifics on the recommended DV solution.
- Assess Impact and Environmental Changes. How will implementation change the environment, and does it align with your organization’s short- and long-term IT and business goals? Think about how DV affects people, processes, infrastructure and SLAs/SOWs.
For more information and resources that will help your company further develop its virtual desktop RFP, read the Forrester blog post and detailed report findings.
Final Thoughts
Virtualized desktops mean better access and security for a mobile workforce, as well as better IT management and control.
If you have questions about taking your enterprise to a more virtualized environment, or would like to share successes and challenges along the way, please post in the comments below.
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Andy Jones is Senior Vice President of Sales. He has more than 15 years of IT industry experience, and is an expert on cloud, virtualization and managed services solutions. Connect with Andy on LinkedIn.
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Posted on Fri, Mar 23, 2012 @ 01:30 PM
We’ve spoken with many caregivers and healthcare IT providers who want to follow patients’ progress throughout the health system, across varied healthcare organizations, and from multiple locations and devices. Last month, our team traveled to Las Vegas for the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society’s (HIMSS) annual conference and expo, where based on sessions and general sentiment, we became further convinced that this industry advance is here to stay.
Imagine being able to provide your health systems’ caregivers this daily routine: They wake up, check the morning news and weather on their mobile phones, put on the coffee, and check their tablets for updates on their most critical patients and workflows.
For some healthcare providers, this is no longer on the wish list—it’s actually a part of the daily routine and business-as-usual. And you can deploy it, too.
Mobile healthcare IT solutions allow for at-a-glance medical history and updates. It moves away from compartmentalization, toward a more holistic and accurate diagnosis for the best possible patient care. As doctors, nurses, administration and insurers move from the traditionally siloed data to more “follow-me patient data,” it’s critical that concerns about data privacy and access are met by IT.
Challenges Facing Mobile Healthcare IT
- Compliance: As patient information moves to electronic formats (EHRs, EMRs), it can be virtualized for better accessibility and more holistic patient information. However, private patient data must remain within compliance regulations.
Ensure that your healthcare IT is engineered to meet the requirements of HIPPA and HITECH to start. Then, run regular management reports to check your compliance posture regularly.
- Security: Multiple device access to healthcare data and applications, on- and off-premise, is a strong desire of busy medical professionals, but with this flexibility comes security concerns. The last thing an IT manager wants to hear is that a mobile phone with access to private information was lost or stolen, and does not have security measures in place to keep patient data locked down.
Enforce a strict mobile device policy for end-users to opt into—one that allows remote wipe capability along with other management software installation. Button up contracts to keep mobile employees and your organization from risk, and regularly monitor for known and unknown threats within the IT infrastructure.
- Access: Not all users need access to everything—doing so can put high-level data and processes at risk. Segment users and consider who needs access to certain servers, data and applications.
Also, consider access in certain locations and to specific software or applications. If there are areas of your facility where access to camera apps should be disabled, put the processes in place for this type of limitation. Maintain a list of white- and black-listed software and applications that users accessing the network must maintain.
- Control: Maintaining control over mobile devices that access your health system’s IT network is critical for supporting mobile clinicians and remaining compliant. Centralized control, maintenance, support and usage analytics can be maintained with backed software, like Citrix’s AppDNA.
Ensure your mobile device policy clearly states ownership details of the device, data and applications it accesses. Also, consider sandboxing personal and professional accounts and log-ins, so that the organization does not have access to, or is liable for, personal information.
- Technology: Does more devices equal more IT maintenance for your team? If your team was stretched thin servicing the technology owned and operated on-premise, an influx in devices accessing the network could make IT managers apprehensive about having to service multiple devices per person, rather than one. Make sure your mobile device policy spells out ownership in terms of device repair, replacement, upgrades, and more.
Achieving Modern Healthcare Infrastructure
The move toward more virtualized healthcare IT signals the need for organizations to provide surgeons, nurses and other end users with reliable and ready access to shared data and applications. A secure cloud infrastructure enables this access at anytime, from anywhere, and from any device. Theses concepts are at the foundation of MCPc's healthcare IT architecture, anyplace workspace for the mobile clinician—a solution that packages technology from VMware, NetApp, Citrix, Cisco, Apple and other manufacturers with flexible options for environment support.
With challenges of compliance, security and control, the ideal cloud architecture for healthcare organizations is the private cloud, as it maintains control and ownership of all software and assets on their own physical premises.
What are your thoughts, challenges and solutions on the cloud for a more mobile healthcare solution? Please share your experiences and comments below.
Related articles:
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Mike Riley is Director of Business Development - Healthcare, focusing on the impact of technology on medical organizations and patient care. Mike has more than 18 years of experience delivering IT solutions to Fortune 500 enterprises. Connect with Mike on LinkedIn.
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Posted on Wed, Mar 21, 2012 @ 02:26 PM
If you’re a regular MCPc blog reader, you already know that our team gets “geeked” by mobile, collaborative technologies that prove impactful on organizational IT ecosystems and business bottom lines.
That’s why we’re very excited to announce the launch of the anyplace workspace.
What Is the Anyplace Workspace?
The idea of the anyplace workspace is just what it sounds like. Our mission is to help clients create environments that enable employees to work anywhere, anytime, from any device, while maintaining security and management oversight. The concept is grounded in five core pillars of the IT environment: devices, desktops, network, data and support. It leverages technology from all major vendors, and aims to provide a validated framework for the cloud while still being highly customizable to the unique needs of individual organizations.
Why Now?
Just take a look at some of these statistics on the growing mobile workforce:
- 60% of the workforce feels they don’t need to be in the office to feel productive.
- 32% of employees rely on more than one device on any given workday.
- Web-based email usage has fallen 6%, while mobile email rose 36%.
- Mobile users access smartphones for information management, web conferencing, office suites and more.
Clearly, the consumerization of IT has dramatically changed the way employees interact with, access and store company information and data. Outdated environments simply can’t handle the influx—or the risks—this shift presents.
How Is It Different?
With the anyplace workspace approach, we can help organizations build IT environments around the way modern workforces want to operate.
More importantly, by focusing in on specific business goals, and the possibilities enabled by modern technology, we hone in on how employees could operate if given the proper tools, and set out to achieve this IT utopia.
A well-designed and managed anyplace workspace will drive previously unheard-of levels of flexibility, mobility, productivity, efficiency, innovation and support.
Who’s On Board?
After talking about our ideas for the anyplace workspace with contacts at leading technology manufacturers, we found an outpour of support through sponsorships. Thus, the architecture behind an anyplace workspace ecosystem is truly the best available, from vendors, including: VMware, NetApp, Cisco, Citrix, Eaton, HP, Apple and more.
The anyplace workspace is a commitment from MCPc that captures the heart of what we do for our customers. It’s an approach dedicated to helping organizations gain real business benefits driven by an innovative, holistic approach to IT.
Connect & Share Your Story
What would your ideal anyplace workspace look like? What challenges have you had along the way toward implementing it for your organization? Leave your thoughts and questions in the comments below.
To learn more about the anyplace workspace, visit anyplaceworkspace.com, or contact us today to speak with an anyplace workspace architect.
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Jed Ayres, Senior Vice President, Partner Management & Marketing, is responsible for driving MCPc's relationships with industry partners as well as the overall go-to-market strategy of the organization. He has more than 17 years of IT industry experience. Connect with Jed on LinkedIn.
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