Latest from ITPro UK in Business-apps

Everything you need to know about Euro-Office, Europe's open source alternative to Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace – including features, launch dates, and how to access it

ross.kelly@futurenet.com (Ross Kelly) — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 11:29:03 +0000

Europe's rival to Microsoft Office and Google Docs, Euro-Office, is set to start shipping next week as part of the bloc's move towards sovereign technology.

First announced in March, Euro-Office has involved a collaboration between a number of European companies and organizations, including IONOS, Nextcloud, Eurostack, XWiki, OpenProject, Soverin, Abilian, BTactic, OpenXchange and Office.eu.

It's a web-based editor integrated into other products that handle documents, for example file-sharing solutions, online wikis, or project management tools.

It allows users to view, edit and work with others on spreadsheets, documents, presentations and PDF files, as well as other file formats including DOCX, PPTX, XLSX, PDF, ODT, ODS, ODP, and TXT.

Users can edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentation files with others in real time and save the document back to the application used to open it, or download in various file formats.

The inspiration behind Euro-Office

The Euro-Office project comes as part of a growing trend to try and reduce EU reliance on US software.

The new office suite will be released as an integration in solutions from participating companies from the start, including the latest Nextcloud Hub 26 Spring version.

IONOS Managed Nextcloud customers will follow, with the roll-out to IONOS’ Nextcloud Workspace offering planned for later this summer.

French company XWiki expects to integrate it in the fourth quarter of this year, while Netherlands-based Office.eu also plans to roll it out.

“Our top priority was to provide a version that people could actually work with. First, we had to clean up the code, implement some security updates, and integrate Euro-Office with existing solutions,“ said Frank Karlitschek, CEO of Nextcloud.

"The next step is to work on the desktop and mobile apps and integration features. For a truly sovereign solution, it is also important to fully support open standards such as ODF formats, and this will be on top of the agenda for the next release."

In order to make it as easy as possible for contributors to join the open source project, automated testing has been set up, code comments have been translated into English, documentation has been improved, and the code has been cleaned up.

Controversy surrounding Euro-Office

There's a bit of controversy around the project. Euro-Office is based on the code of open source productivity suite OnlyOffice.

In March, project maintainers issued a statement accusing Euro-Office of violating the software’s licensing terms and international intellectual property law.

OnlyOffice is distributed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3 (AGPL v3), with a few additional requirements, OnlyOffice said.

These include preserving OnlyOffice branding in derivative works, providing proper attribution to the original technology, and fully complying with open source distribution obligations.

"These conditions are not optional. They are a fundamental part of using the software legally and ethically," the firm said.

"Any argument that a modified or derivative version of the software may be distributed under a “pure” AGPLv3 license, excluding the additional conditions imposed pursuant to Section 7, is legally unfounded."

Euro-Office is available on GitHub, here.

Legacy tech isn’t just harming productivity and finances, it’s affecting workforce morale – research shows 20% of workers are ‘exhausted’ and ‘demoralized’ by outdated tools

ross.kelly@futurenet.com (Ross Kelly) — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

The impact of legacy technology goes beyond enterprise efficiency or workforce productivity and has a direct effect on employee experience and retention, according to new research.

In a survey from Pegasystems, more than two-thirds (68%) of respondents said outdated tools are eroding productivity and slowing down processes.

The company noted that many workers are forced to navigate “complex, demoralizing systems that slow work and sap momentum”.

Indeed, just 28% of respondents described the technology they use at work as helpful. Notably, over one-third (38%) said they would consider leaving their employer if improvements weren’t made.

Pegasystems said the study highlights the significant impact legacy technology has on both productivity and general staff wellbeing.

Nearly half (45%) of respondents reported feeling frustrated due to outdated tools and systems while around one-fifth said they’re “exhausted” and “demotivated”.

Perception of tech adequacy was also a key problem flagged in the study. Less than half (48%) of respondents said their employer provides “modern technology” that is both reliable and relevant for their specific tasks.

Don Schuerman, chief technology officer (CTO) at Pegasystems, said legacy technology can create a “hidden tax” on employee engagement - and it’s one that “many organizations fail to recognize until it’s too late”.

“When workers spend their days fighting slow, frustrating tools, it doesn’t just hurt productivity, it signals to talented employees that the organisation doesn’t value their time or enable their best work.”

For enterprises that invest in modernization, Schuerman said the benefits are two-fold. First and foremost, they’re equipping staff with tools that are up to the task and contribute to productivity gains.

They’re also “protecting their talent” pipeline, which prevents brain drain and ultimately provides huge long-term benefits.

Modernization is easier said than done

Legacy tech has become a recurring pain point for IT leaders and tech teams in recent years, and the financial impact can be severe. Previous research from Pegasystems found outdated technology is costing enterprises hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

Yet only marginal improvements have been made to remedy the situation, and many businesses are still hindered by an array of outdated systems and tools.

30% of respondents to Pegasystems’ recent survey revealed their organization still uses legacy tech for “one of more business functions”.

Around 70% were unsure, which the company noted suggests the actual footprint of legacy systems “may be far larger than reported”.

Desktop-only applications, for example, are still used by 19% of firms, while 8% continue using mainframe systems. The company said these both have an adverse effect on workforce efficiency and performance.

“These desktop-bound workflows and mainframe remnants can constrain speed, usability, and integration, shaping frustrating daily experiences,” Pegasystems noted.

What do workers want?

In terms of what workers want from workplace tools and technology, Pegasystems said respondents identified three focus areas. These included:

Faster speed/performance of tools (46%)
Automation of repetitive tasks (30%)
More accuracy/fewer errors (24%)

Similarly, investments that cut latency and modernized user experiences were also flagged. The company noted these were among the “loudest pain points” identified by workers.

Watch your tone at work, Atlassian warns: Poor communication and blunt messages are confusing colleagues – and it's having a serious impact on productivity

Emma Woollacott — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 09:30:00 +0000

Poor workplace communication is inflicting a serious toll on employee productivity and morale, according to new research from Atlassian.

Research conducted by the collaboration software provider found 87% of staff are wasting an average of five hours a week clarifying confusing emails and fragmented discussions in messaging platforms.

More than eight-in-ten (83%) UK workers told the company they'd experienced misread messages that have triggered real consequences at work – from damaged coworker relationships (38%) to HR escalation (32%).

Two-thirds (64%) have even been reprimanded by their bosses because a message they sent was misunderstood, or the tone came across the wrong way. In some cases, this has gone even further, with 14% saying that miscommunication was a factor in a colleague being dismissed.

Atlassian warned this has become a major source of stress for workers, with 61% saying they have replayed the fallout from a misinterpreted message long after they’ve logged off.

Nearly three-in-ten (29%) said they'd considered quitting altogether after a miscommunication at work. 

Going back to basics

The issue has reached such an extent that one-third of workers said they prefer engaging with colleagues in-person or through virtual face-to-face calls when discussing activities.

Just over than three‑quarters (76%) said even a short recorded video message would help prevent miscommunication by conveying tone, intent, and context more effectively.

“Miscommunication isn’t a personality flaw or a minor quirk of remote work. It’s a measurable drag on productivity, culture, and wellbeing,” said Jesse Feldman, Head of Loom PMM at Atlassian.

"Written communication will always matter, but we can't always outsource complex, sensitive, or nuanced messages to AI writing tools,” Feldman added.

“In the modern working world, leaders and managers need to set the tone by choosing richer formats when it really counts – sometimes a short recorded video is the best way to deliver an update with emotional resonance.”

The firm advises paying more attention to the way written communication such as email or chat is used, and when to consider richer formats of communication.

Using async video, rather than, say, a one-line direct message, can remove uncertainty when tone really matters.

"If you’re about to send something that could reasonably be interpreted three different ways, that’s your cue to switch to a richer channel instead of another text‑heavy message,” Atlassian said.

Dropbox layoffs continue as firm cuts another 20% of staff

george.fitzmaurice@futurenet.com (George Fitzmaurice) — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 11:53:48 +0000

Dropbox will cut staff for the second year in a row, CEO Drew Houston has announced, with an additional 528 layoffs - 20% of the workforce - expected in the coming months.

Taking full responsibility for the decision, Houston explained that the layoffs come during a transitional period in which Dropbox is looking to focus on products such as ‘Dash for Business,’ an AI tool.

“Our FSS business has matured, and we've been working to build our next phase of growth with products like Dash. However, navigating this transition while maintaining our current structure and investment levels is no longer sustainable,” Houston said.

He also targeted internal management issues, saying staff have complained about overly complex organizational structures at the firm slowing things down.

Houston said the firm is not delivering at the level its customers deserve, or in line with industry peers.

“So we're making more significant cuts in areas where we're over-invested or underperforming while designing a flatter, more efficient team structure overall,” he told staff.

Dropbox will support staff through the layoffs by giving all impacted 16 weeks of pay, with an additional week of pay for each year of completed tenure at Dropbox. Staff on the corporate bonus plan will receive a lump sum payment equivalent to their bonus target.

The announcement marks the second batch of layoffs in as many years for Dropbox, with the company having already cut 16% of its workforce in 2023, equivalent to around 500 staff at the time.

These layoffs were also justified by the firm due to the fact it was underperforming. At the time, the company also revealed it planned to focus heavily on AI-related products.

Houston also blamed a dearth of AI skills in the company, explaining that the firm’s stage of growth required a different mix of skill sets in AI and early-stage product development.

Layoffs continue to mount

Dropbox is just one tech company of many to announce layoffs this year.

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While overhiring during the pandemic led to a surge in layoffs across 2023, this trend has continued throughout 2024 - albeit at a smaller scale.

The year opened with hundreds of job cuts at Google and Amazon, as well as at smaller tech companies like Duolingo. Nearly 11,000 staff were laid off globally at the start of 2024, according to some estimates.

More recently, Meta announced cuts to its WhatsApp, Instagram, and Reality Labs divisions, and Intel announced 15,000 layoffs in August on the back of poor returns on AI investments.

Migrating to enterprise voice: A strategic approach for modern businesses

Mike Nowak — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 12:58:23 +0000

The shift to hybrid work has pushed organizations to rely on a combination of phone systems, VoIP services, and various communication apps to keep their teams connected. This strategy can lead to integration challenges, however, leading to inefficiencies that hinder productivity and performance. These issues disrupt seamless communication between remote and in-office environments, making it difficult for companies to maintain smooth operations and effective collaboration.

Issues like these are more than just an inconvenience – they have costly consequences, too. According to a recent study, poor communication – such as bad voice connections or confusing emails, costs businesses an estimated $1.2 trillion annually (£904.7 billion) due to lost productivity, increased operational costs, and misunderstandings. To mitigate problems caused by disjointed communications systems, organizations are transitioning to cloud-based enterprise voice solutions.

What is enterprise voice?

Enterprise voice is a comprehensive, unified communication system that integrates various voice communication tools and services within an organization. It typically includes VoIP, call management, conferencing, voicemail, and mobile integration. These solutions have been around for years, but capabilities and adoption have drastically evolved to support the collaboration and operating needs of modern hybrid work environments.

Enterprise voice solutions provide a consistent and reliable communication experience that enhances collaboration, productivity, and operational efficiency. Companies considering adopting cloud-based enterprise voice should follow several best practices for evaluating solutions and preparing to migrate these critical voice communications.

Challenges of enterprise communication and hybrid work environments

Managing a workforce across various locations requires multiple communication tools, but disparate voice platforms often need more integration to create a truly cohesive experience. Compatibility issues between different systems can cause communication breakdowns, frustrate employees, and disrupt workflows.

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For example, a company using separate systems or collaboration tools for remote workers and office staff might experience issues with call quality, synchronization problems, and increased administrative overhead, ultimately hindering effective collaboration and reducing overall productivity. While enterprise-level voice solutions have been around for years, research shows that many enterprise organizations still have not made the move to a cloud-based phone system to power their business interactions.

The reason for the reluctance varies by business and industry but is often due to the complexity of integrating different systems, high maintenance costs, and potential business disruptions during the transition. Additionally, businesses may hesitate to change because they have already invested substantial amounts into existing systems, making it challenging to justify the switch to modern solutions.

Businesses need integrated communication systems that support real-time collaboration – ensuring workers can connect to clients, customers, and coworkers without disruption. A unified enterprise voice solution can meet these demands, providing a streamlined and efficient communication framework supporting flexible work arrangements and business growth.

In addition, partnering with a reputable UCaaS provider can deliver enterprise-grade features like remote call forwarding, call transfer, and phone number management, among others, further enhancing the communication system's capabilities and effectiveness. In addition, choosing a reliable, comprehensive UCC platform that can deliver enterprise-grade features such as chat, video meetings, file sharing, and intelligent voice call management further enhances the effectiveness of an organization’s communications strategy.

Understanding your organization’s current communications challenges

Before transitioning to enterprise voice, businesses should conduct a comprehensive assessment of their existing communication infrastructure. This step involves auditing your current systems to understand what works well and where gaps or inefficiencies exist. Knowing this will help tailor the migration plan to address specific needs and improve overall communication capabilities.

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For instance, some companies might find that their current setup leads to missed messages, a lack of real-time presence, or a lack of a consistent dial plan, including the ability to do extension dialing or have all employees in a single directory. Furthermore, others might experience issues connecting remote workers to in-office meetings. During this evaluation, enterprises should also verify that their existing hardware and software are compatible with the new enterprise voice solution and replace or upgrade equipment as needed.

Evaluating solutions and providers

Developing, implementing and maintaining communication infrastructure in-house can be costly. Businesses should assess enterprise voice providers and solutions that can help them avoid potential operational and cost roadblocks. When evaluating modern voice providers, important factors to consider are the solution’s reliability, scalability, security features, and support services.

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Choosing a provider that includes professional services and specialized experts ensures a smooth and efficient transition from the start. For example, a leading education institution partnered with an enterprise voice provider to upgrade from outdated systems to a modern, cloud-based solution, enhancing its communication capabilities and supporting a hybrid work model. This successful migration demonstrates the benefits of choosing a provider with a proven track record in cloud-based solutions. Their expertise in migrating from PBX and UCC to platforms like Microsoft Teams and Cisco is evident.

Once a provider and solution are selected, it’s time to implement the transition. Companies should work with their IT teams and selected providers to develop a detailed migration plan with clear timelines, responsibilities, and milestones.

Five best practices for successful enterprise voice migrations

Businesses can follow several best practices to make the transition to enterprise voice as smooth as possible. These guidelines help streamline the migration process, reduce disruptions, and maximize the benefits of the modern enterprise voice system.

Address department-specific requirements

Each department may have unique needs, such as call transfer, recording, and integration with CRM software. In addition, you need to decide how your requirements for real-time presence, having all employees in a single directory, file sharing strategy, and preferences for video meetings, and if you want to have AI tools, such as Copilot and Teams, integrated into your environment. Understanding these requirements ensures the new voice solution supports all necessary features and enhances departmental productivity. By considering these specific needs, you can ensure a seamless transition that meets each team's functional demands.

Develop a detailed migration plan

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Going digital to go green

Create a comprehensive migration plan for your organization’s unique requirements and future growth. By integrating scalability into the design, the system can grow with your business, preventing the need for frequent overhauls. In addition, developing a migration plan tailored to the organization's size and needs is crucial. While migrating all at once may be feasible for small teams, large enterprises benefit from a rolling approach that allows for a systematic, phased integration.

Test and pilot

Set up test environments to ensure proper configuration and to familiarize your IT team with new features. Conducting pilot tests with a subset of users helps identify potential issues before full-scale deployment. This phase allows for adjustments based on real-world usage and feedback, ensuring a smoother transition when the system goes live. Leveraging expertise from a specialized provider can help your IT team thoroughly test the system and conduct an organized pilot.

Track progress with timelines and milestones

Set clear timelines and milestones to keep the migration on track and ensure each phase is completed on schedule. Regularly review progress against these milestones to allow for timely adjustments and maintain momentum. A structured timeline helps manage resources efficiently and keeps the project aligned with business objectives.

Collaborate with a trusted enterprise voice provider

Partner with a seasoned voice provider to ensure your system is reliable, secure, and scalable. A trusted provider can handle network management, offer 24/7 support, and provide advanced features without requiring a dedicated in-house team. This collaboration ensures a hassle-free transition and ongoing optimization of your voice communication systems.

Helping businesses overcome collaboration challenges

Migrating to enterprise voice offers significant benefits by unifying communication platforms and streamlining operations. Despite the long-standing availability of cloud-based solutions, many enterprises hesitate to transition from legacy systems due to the perceived complexities. However, embracing this change is essential for enhancing connectivity, collaboration, and efficiency.

With a strategic approach and the right partners, businesses can overcome these challenges and seamlessly implement modern enterprise voice solutions, transforming into a more connected, productive, and competitive environment.

Slashing staff attrition in healthcare through digital employee engagement

Steve Ranger — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 05:00:00 +0000

A Californian ambulance service has cut operational costs and significantly reduced its employee attrition by rolling out a new employee engagement app.

Lifeline Ambulance provides critical emergency medical services and patient transport and has 22 locations and around 500 employees, providing services to the communities of Los Angeles, Orange County, and the San Gabriel Valley.

The company faced high operational costs and communication inefficiencies alongside a turnover rate of 100% per year for some frontline workers.

On a mission to overturn these poor results, Lifeline Ambulance implemented an employee engagement app from Blink, which brings news and information, employee surveys, secure chat, shift bids and paystubs into a single dashboard. This gives frontline workers access everything they need through one app, while also providing managers with the tools to enhance engagement.

Danielle Thomas, COO at Lifeline Ambulance, tells ITPro the firm has streamlined its communication processes, improved transparency, and enhanced resource accessibility across all levels of the organization via its adoption of Blink.

In addition, the platform’s data analytics capabilities allow Lifeline’s management team to monitor employee behavior, identify trends, and address potential issues before they escalate.

“Our staff feels more informed, valued, and connected, which has been instrumental in retaining talent and reducing the need for new hires,” she says.

A “pipeline of positivity”

The Blink app aims to replace traditional email systems and make it easier for employees to access vital information and stay engaged with company updates and policies.

Lifeline said that the app contributed to employee retention by enhancing key areas of its operations: it streamlines and automates onboarding and training processes so that new hires feel prepared and ready for their roles quickly. The app also provides access to essential tools and systems, making it easier for employees to perform their jobs efficiently while out on the road.

“Starting with an organization or upholding all of the important components of an EMS role while caring for patients can be a challenge. Using Blink allows the mobile workforce to easily access the tools they need to be compliant and operationally excellent,” Lifeline said. Beyond this, Blink incorporates a “progressive content delivery feature” where videos are distributed at specific intervals.

This structured approach helps unite the team by reinforcing key messages and aligning everyone around what’s important at each stage. “Consistent and standardized communication ensures that all employees are moving in the same direction and strengthening their connection to the company’s mission and values,” Lifeline tells ITPro.

The company also noted the app has made it easier for employees to share feedback – making them feel more valued and connected to leaders, which has been crucial in retaining talent and reducing turnover.

Blink is designed to help bridge the digital divide between deskless and desk-based employees, enabling effective communication and engagement in distributed organizations where frontline staff often lack easy access to the systems, data or information that they need. Blink says that, on average, each user opens the app an average of seven times a day, with each visit helping lower frontline workloads.

For its part, Lifeline estimates savings of approximately $460,000 due to the efficiencies gained from using Blink, while employee attrition has dropped 58%, Thomas says.

Thomas adds that Lifeline Ambulance saw the importance of continually seeking improvements, even as a well-run organization.

“While our operations were efficient, we identified areas where communication inefficiencies and information sharing could be enhanced. Additionally, we saw an opportunity to reduce operational costs and further stabilize our workforce.

“By implementing Blink, we aimed to streamline communication and information sharing across our team. This proactive approach allowed us to achieve these improvements, realize monetary savings, and increase workforce engagement.”

Thomas tells ITPro that implemented Blink had “created a pipeline of positivity for the organization beyond what we would have predicted”.

The implementation of Blink was completed over a period of a few months, in which time Thomas says the process was straightforwardly with Blink’s support.

“We learned the importance of having a cohesive communication platform that caters to the needs of both frontline workers and management,” Thomas says. “The key takeaway was that an effective employee engagement tool can significantly impact operational efficiency and employee satisfaction.”

Lowering communication barriers

Lifeline has found that accessing Blink as an app is the best way to achieve its engagement goals, as it aligns with the needs and habits of the company’s workforce.

“Unlike desktop solutions, which can limit widespread access, the app ensures that every employee, regardless of their location or role, can easily find everything they need to do their job. The workforce is used to utilizing online resources for protocols, guidelines, and EMS education. This fits in well with what they know,” Lifeline writes.

The app’s chat feature allows crew communication without having to give their personal info like phone number or personal email. That means if someone wants to swap a shift they can reach out to a few workers they had not met in person previously, “taking away the awkward,” the company explained.

In addition to strong engagement rates, the company states it has received encouraging survey feedback, indicating that employees feel more connected.

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Thomas said the company plans to continue leveraging Blink’s advanced features and analytics to further enhance employee engagement and operational efficiency. “We aim to explore additional integrations with other systems we use and to continuously gather feedback from our staff to improve the platform’s effectiveness,” she explains.

Thomes says that having the right technology is only part of the solution, while effective communication and engagement is essential for operational efficiency and employee satisfaction.

“It’s just as important to have the top leadership support the implementation and ongoing use of the platform,” she says.

“Leadership commitment ensures that the necessary resources are allocated and that the importance of the platform is communicated throughout the organization. Involve your team into the implementation process and continuously seek their feedback to ensure the platform meets their needs. By doing so, you can create a more cohesive and productive work environment.”

Slack AI agents shift looks to “unify” enterprise data and drive team synergy

ross.kelly@futurenet.com (Ross Kelly) — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 18:28:32 +0000

Salesforce has unveiled a raft of new updates and features for Slack as part of an effort to foster greater operational synergy for users of the workplace collaboration platform.

Announced at Dreamforce 2024, Salesforce said the updates will help “unify” data across Slack and Salesforce, bringing together enterprise data, apps, and automation in a more aligned and easily digestible manner.

Key to this overhaul is the integration of Agentforce in Slack, which has been a major talking point at the CRM giant’s annual Dreamforce conference.

Under Agentforce, enterprises are able to build customizable, autonomous AI agents aimed at both assisting human workers and taking over aspects of their daily work.

As part of the integration, Slack users will be met with a new interface designed specifically for agents, allowing teams to “talk to their data, surface insights, and take action on tasks”, according to the company.

“Users can ask questions or give instructions in natural language, and they’ll receive trusted responses grounded in both structured CRM data and unstructured conversational data,” Salesforce said in a statement..

“Agentforce can provide a status update on opportunities and cases, recommend next steps, draft emails and action plans, share those details in a direct message or channel, and more.”

Salesforce's AI agents will be embedded within Slack (Image credit: Salesforce/Slack)

Agent integration within the platform isn’t limited to Salesforce’s in-house offering, however. Third-party AI agents and assistants from a range of partners can also be deployed within Slack moving forward.

This includes agents from firms including Cohere and Adobe Express, the company revealed. More third-party agent options from Anthropic, Perplexity, IBM, and Amazon Q Business will be “coming soon”. Exact details on a timeline for these rollouts are yet to be confirmed.

In addition to Agentforce integration, Salesforce also announced the launch of several new features, including Salesforce Channels. This new feature connects Salesforce CRM records to channel conversations within the platform.

The company said this will give teams a “comprehensive space to collaborate on every account and opportunity, increasing alignment”.

Slack AI is delivering results

Salesforce has given Slack’s AI features a slight boost as part of this latest update, with new capabilities such as huddle notes and improved AI search within the platform to deliver more accurate results.

Slack AI launched in February this year with a host of features aimed at streamlining productivity for users, including automated thread, channel, and meeting summarization capabilities.

The company isn’t alone in launching AI-powered productivity tools, however, with Microsoft and Google both rolling out similar features across their Microsoft 365 and Workspace platforms.

Zoom, meanwhile, offers similar tools for users. With the widespread rollout of AI-powered features within leading productivity platforms, questions have been raised over exactly how providers can differentiate themselves.

Speaking to ITPro, Rob Seaman, interim chief product officer at Slack, said updates to the platform over the last year aim to make Slack “more of a work operating system” for enterprise applications.

Slack AI is also delivering results, Seaman told ITPro, with users reporting productivity improvements and consistent time savings on a weekly basis.

“Our research team surveyed existing Slack AI users and it’s saving people an average of 97 minutes a week,” he said.

These time savings are largely bolstered by automation of the search function within the platform, Seaman noted. “People spend a lot of time searching for information, so it makes that faster,” he said.

Similarly, the recap function for channels and threads is also delivering marked improvements for users.

“Recap, which is where you can add a bunch of channels to recap every morning and it gives you a daily digest, if you will,” he explained. “It summarizes what’s happened in those channels. Previously, you had to read the entire channel.”

“It’s a bunch of micro improvements and time savings that, at least self reported by the customer, add up to about an hour and a half a week.”

Additional research from Slack reported a 47% increase in overall productivity among users, and since launch customers have summarized more than 600 million messages, saving a collective 1.1 million hours.

Snowflake’s vision to be Netflix not YouTube serves up more watchable content for customers

Maggie.holland@futurenet.com (Maggie Holland) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 20:46:01 +0000

Snowflake’s launch of an external marketplace last year led to much desire from its customer base to work the same magic but for internal consumption by myriad firms.

It took that request and ran with it, resulting in the launch of a private preview of an internal version of the marketplace at the firm’s Snowflake Summit last month.

But it’s not a marketplace for a marketplace's sake. It’s backed by requests from real users and an appetite for investment and not just delivering on but exceeding expectations on the Snowflake side of things.

So says Christian Kleinerman, executive vice president of Snowflake, who made comments about the launch and positioned it in the wider context of what the firm is trying to achieve in a 1:1 interview with ITPro.

When we spoke with him at the firm's Summit last year, he was keen to ensure Snowflake delivered something more akin to Netflix rather than Youtube when it came to an application marketplace.

This year, he was keen to talk about how things have moved on quite quickly.

“A year ago we were in preview and early adoption for application providers for the marketplace. But we already had three years of being in production with lots of data providers [behind the scenes]. So it's very important for me [to ensure the distinction] that the momentum has been there, but it was a different situation,” Kleinerman said.

He added: “Since then, at the beginning of this year, we have gone generally available with native apps on all clouds. One of the data points that I was trying to highlight in my keynote [at Snowflake Summit] is that we have a couple of hundred applications that are live on the marketplace.

“It was very important for me to say - and back to the Netflix analogy - here are things you could watch. [And then ask] 'Are people watching people getting value out of this?'"

During Snowflake Summit, Kleinerman was joined by three customers on stage: AT&T, CN Railway and Pizza Hut who were all able to show how they have taken the app vision and turned it into a successful reality for their businesses.

“[These customers were talking] about how they found an app, deployed it, got value, and then got business impact. So when it's generally available to invest here, a couple of hundred applications are published,” he said.

“I think there's another couple of hundred of partners working on deliverables. And the impact is there. And I love that last time we spoke you highlighted the Netflix/YouTube analogy, because I still very much believe that.”

A quest for simplicity in an ever-complex world

These marketplaces feed into the bigger picture of Snowflake’s ambition to reduce complexity and provide simplicity and choice for its growing ecosystem.

“That is core to who we are,” Kleinerman said. “[It’s about] quality over quantity, for sure. Also, if you think of it from the perspective of the consumer, it is much easier to show up to a marketplace that has fewer high-quality selections than has all of these things. [Because then] you don't know what's real, what's useful, who has a serious organization behind it or not.”

He added: “We say don't focus on the infrastructure, focus on your data and your business. The problem is the same, the focus is on making things easy.”

In addition to customers and partners benefiting from their direct interactions with Snowflake, part of the attraction lies in the ability to collaborate and, at times, work with would-be or historic competitors, on common goals.

“The external [marketplace] is going extremely well. The main metric that I use to track that success is the concept of stable edges. That is defined as a connection between two companies via the marketplace,” Kleinerman added.

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According to official Snowflake statistics, as of the end of the last financial year (ending January 2024), the number of stable edges has grown by a staggering 93% year-on-year. Almost one quarter (23%) of customers now have at least one stable edge, which is up on the 18% that did so the year before.

When you look at $1 million consumption customers, the picture is even more positive with 65% of them having, on average, six stable edges, according to Snowflake.

“I am very happy it has been going up as it means a third of our customers are getting value out of this. It is my aspiration to get to 100%. The marketplace is effectively connecting two unrelated organizations and getting them to do business together. It is quite phenomenal and very powerful.”

Does Salesforce have competition brewing? Low-code CRM startup Creatio just raised $200 million to fuel global expansion

Steve Ranger — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 17:00:53 +0000

Low-code CRM automation company Creatio has raised $200 million at a $1.2 billion valuation to fuel further growth.

Creatio’s software allows enterprise customers to build, deploy, and personalize applications for use cases across CRM, case management, and workflow automation.

The firm offers a set of apps, connectors, and templates to speed up development on top of its platform, and boasts clients including AMD, MetLife, OKI, Top Build, and Saudi Telecom Company.

The investment round is led by Sapphire Ventures, with participation from StepStone Group and current investors, Volition Capital and Horizon Capital. The investment is aimed at fueling Creatio’s global expansion, according to CEO Katherine Kostereva.

“With this investment, we will continue to disrupt the traditional enterprise software approach, helping our clients to accelerate time-to-value and use technology as a competitive differentiation in their business.”

Following the investment round, Creation said it plans to double down on its investments in R&D, focusing on expanding AI-assisted development and copilot capabilities. It said it will expand its portfolio of ready-to-use components and templates for verticals, including financial services, insurance, manufacturing, and distribution.

Around 50% of Creatio’s business comes from channel partners, and the company plans to expand its channel activities globally. The company operates in 25 countries and said it will expand staffing across key areas such as R&D, customer success, marketing, and sales.

“Creatio addresses the complexity and inflexibility of traditional software vendors and enables organizations to seamlessly replace legacy technologies, delivering market-leading ROI,” said Sean Cantwell, managing partner at Volition Capital.

While the sales automation software market has been around for some time, it’s still a key part of the extremely competitive enterprise software world. The market grew 14.4% to an estimated $10.7 billion in 2022, according to tech analyst Gartner.

Creatio noted that its no-code platform has been positioned as the only leader in the recent report, The Forrester Wave: Low-Code Platforms for Citizen Developers.

“Creatio is an obvious choice for its SaaS customers and a leading option for enterprises that want well governed citizen development and superior automation at scale,” said the report.

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Forrester has estimated that the combined low-code and digital process automation market reached $13.2 billion by the end of 2023. Nearly nine-in-ten enterprise developers use low-code development platforms for at least some of their development work.

And, just as AI coding copilots are already common in development, so generative AI tools could help support further growth in so-called ‘citizen development’ with analysts predicting that AI-infused platforms could drive the low-code and digital process automation market to $50 billion by 2028.

Sage wants to "revolutionize" accounting for small businesses, and generative AI will do the heavy lifting

george.fitzmaurice@futurenet.com (George Fitzmaurice) — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 13:20:12 +0000

Sage has unveiled the launch of a new generative AI tool aimed specifically for use by small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

Dubbed Sage Copilot, this new offering will lead SMBs and accountants into the “generative AI era”, the company said. The AI assistant will help users automate routine tasks, offer business insights, and aid decision making.

The aim is for Sage Copilot to become a “trusted member” of SMB teams, whether that's senior leadership members, chief financial officers (CFOs), accountants, or HR leaders.

Sage Copilot will handle administrative and repetitive tasks in “real time,” helping to automate workflows, identify errors in work, and generate practical insights for individual business use cases.

“Sage Copilot revolutionizes small and mid-sized businesses and accountant productivity by bringing trusted AI into the heart of their operations — automating tasks and providing insights to fuel growth and efficiency," said Sage chief executive Steve Hare.

"It's not just an AI feature; it's a commitment to building a future where businesses can focus on their goals, supported by AI they can trust from Sage”.

Sage sells this new offering as a jack of all trades in enterprise-level AI by listing a number of the tools key features.

It fares well in task management and automation, simplifying tasks into personalized lists and prioritizing objectives based on urgency, while simultaneously integrating with services such as Microsoft Office to further improve workflow.

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According to Sage, the copilot tool can also prepare and send messages with the correct “tone and timing,” such as customer invoices or employee reminders.

Taking advantage of the large scale data capacities of AI, Sage Copilot will be able to provide data analysis capabilities as well including insight and custom report creation that aids decision making in areas of cash flow and finance.

Streamlining cash flow is also a key a feature in Sage’s new tool; it's been designed to provide users with options to improve cash flow that include suggestions to “accelerate customer payments, enhance working capital, and support smarter financial decisions.”

All of these features then translate into Sage’s operating style, as each interaction helps create a more personalized understanding of individual user preferences.

Microsoft Teams classic users now have more time to upgrade

george.fitzmaurice@futurenet.com (George Fitzmaurice) — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 11:30:36 +0000

Microsoft Teams classic users will now have more time to make the shift to the newer version of the productivity app following changes to Microsoft's end of availability deadline.

Microsoft had originally slated the end of March 2024 as Classic Teams’ end of availability, after which the firm had planned to automatically upgrade users from the old version to the new.

Now, Microsoft will give certain users “access to the classic Teams client” until the start of July 2024.

More specifically, users who have “encountered issues moving to new Teams or who don’t meet the prerequisites to upgrade” will be able to utilize the extended deadline.

“This will give admins more time to address any issues encountered during this process,” Microsoft said in an update.

Microsoft also cited the “concerns around our timeline” as a reasoning for the decision.

This is in reference to the backlash the firm received when it first announced the end of availability for Classic Teams and the automatic update to the new client.

Many responded vocally to the decision on social media, criticizing Microsoft for forcing the new Teams client on them.

Taking on board these criticisms, the firm has opted for a longer and more phased approach to rolling out the new Teams client.

Microsoft Teams classic upgrade: How to make the shift

For classic users not encountering migration issues or those who do meet the prerequisites to upgrade, there are two client update processes available.

The first places the burden on Microsoft itself, in the form of a “microsoft-managed rollout.”

For those who leave policy controls on default settings, Microsoft will continue to roll out the new Teams client on systems as per the original schedule. It will, however, refrain from uninstalling the Classic Teams client for 14 days.

If a user has established their own admin privileges on teams, then they can opt for the second choice, the “admin-managed rollout.”

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In this instance, admins can exert a level of control over the new Teams rollout as per Microsoft’s “Upgrade to the new Teams using policies” guidelines.

New Teams will still become the default client but the toggle to return to Classic Teams will remain available until mid-May. Again, Microsoft will then attempt to uninstall classic Teams after a period of 14 days.

According to Microsoft, the new Teams is twice as fast and consumes 50% less memory than the classic version.

Google confirms Gmail is “here to stay” amid speculation over plans to scrap the email service

ross.kelly@futurenet.com (Ross Kelly) — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 08:27:33 +0000

Gmail users took to social media overnight to voice concerns over speculation that Google plans to scrap the email service. But it was all a hoax.

An email purporting to be from Google began circulating online on Thursday 22 titled ‘Google is sunsetting Gmail’.

The user notification claimed that as of August 1, Gmail will “officially be sunsetted, marking the end of its service”.

“We are reaching out to share an important update about Gmail,” the fake notice read. “After years of connecting millions worldwide, enabling seamless communication, and fostering countless connections, the journey of Gmail is coming to a close.

“This means that as of this data, Gmail will no longer support sending, receiving, or storing emails.”

Users duped by the hoax were, naturally, concerned, with some taking to ‘X’ to voice complaints over the decision.

this is insane. I hate this company pic.twitter.com/pXBRezPAyXFebruary 22, 2024

Google has since issued a response to the hoax with a five-word post on X, confirming that "Gmail is here to stay".

Gmail is going nowhere

The notice appears to have been an altered version of a previous legitimate email sent to users last year informing them that Gmail Basic HTML view was being wound down.

Gmail represents a core product line for Google as part of its Google Workspace productivity suite. The platform boasts more than 1.8 billion active users, according to statistics.

Google has a reputation for scrapping product lines. There's even a website dedicated to projects consigned to the scrapheap.

But axing the platform would be a highly disruptive move from Google, especially considering the tech giant has unveiled a raft of new AI additions in recent weeks.

(Image credit: Future)

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Earlier this week, Google announced new features for Workspace powered by Gemini, its flagship large language model (LLM).

‘Gemini for Google Workspace’ will bring new AI capabilities to Workspace apps including Gmail, Google Docs, Meet, and Sheets.

“Today we’re launching Gemini Business, a lower price offering to help organizations big and small get started with generative AI in Workspace,” the company said.

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“This plan gives them access to Gemini for Workspace — including experiences like Help me write in Docs and Gmail, Enhanced Smart Fill in Sheets and image generation in Slides — for as low as $20 per user per month with an annual commitment.

“Customers can also purchase Gemini Enterprise, which replaces Duet AI for Workspace Enterprise. Gemini Enterprise offers the same capabilities as Gemini Business with more usage. It also includes additional capabilities for AI-powered meetings, where Gemini can translate closed captions in more than 100 language pairs, and soon even take meeting notes.”

Getting started with WhatsApp Channels for business

Jonathan Weinberg — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 12:50:58 +0000

When WhatsApp launched WhatsApp Channels in June 2023, many were skeptical whether the platform’s users would welcome yet another way to be contacted by brands and fed with information.

Fast forward six months and while the exact number of Channels set up so far in the UK is unknown, they appear to have been adopted far and wide.

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Premier League football teams such as Spurs and Liverpool are on there, news organizations including the BBC and Financial Times have created theirs and major personalities like Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg are connecting with audiences new and old.

In September, WhatsApp announced WhatsApp Channels would be rolled out to more than 150 countries, with its ultimate goal being to “build the most private broadcast service available”. At launch, the company promised it would pave the way for admins to build a business around their channel using WhatsApp’s expanding payment services.

The use cases of WhatsApp Channels for business are clear and the platform could become a new and vital stage for audience-facing interactions at the enterprise level.

What is WhatsApp Channels and how is it different from WhatsApp?

WhatsApp Channels is a one-way broadcast tool where admins can send text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls to their audience of followers.

WhatsApp Channels differ substantially from individual WhatsApp accounts and can be found under the Updates tab. Users must opt into them proactively, but any business with a WhatsApp account can create one. The phone number and profile photo of admins won’t be shown to followers and the details of followers also are not visible to those within the same WhatsApp Channel.

Nicole Mezzasalma, a senior consultant for innovation at social experts Battenhall, believes this presents an opportunity for brands to “create a closer community” while also giving followers “the feeling of being insiders”.

She cites the Mercedes-AMG F1 team as a good example; it shares exclusive clips from the drivers alongside behind-the-scenes content to its 400,000+ followers. Elsewhere, Netflix – which has more than 26 million followers on its WhatsApp Channel – takes an “interesting approach”, suggests Mezzasalma, “adopting the role of an eccentric, slightly over-excited Gen Z friend and using approachable language”.

Features of WhatsApp Channels for business

Built as a communications channel for businesses, WhatsApp Channels has received a host of new features since launching. It now has an enhanced directory for users to find channels to follow and these are automatically filtered based on their country. There is also the option to view new or most active channels, as well as those most popular based on followings.

WhatsApp only keeps Updates in WhatsApp Channels for 30 days before deleting them from its servers, which keeps activity fresh. And while users can’t engage with each other, Channels does support Reactions on posts using emojis while posts can be forwarded to friends with a link back to the channel so they can find out more.

Maria Opre, a cybersecurity expert and senior analyst at EarthWeb, says there has been a “growing affinity” towards WhatsApp Channels as the service “offers an intimate bridge to the consumer that emails or other platforms might not provide”.

Organizations looking to branch out with their digital marketing could use WhatsApp Channels as a direct path of communication for their audience. But Opre warns against overreliance on the platform: “There’s a tightrope walk between engagement and intrusion. Over-message, and you risk being labelled as spammy. My advice is treat your WhatsApp Channel like a conversation with a friend: meaningful, timely, and not overwhelmingly frequent.”

The limitations of WhatsApp Channels for business

Mezzasalma also has a warning for WhatsApp Channel admins when she raises the danger of repetition with other social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X and Threads.

“Brands that only use the same content are missing an opportunity to build their communities,” she explains. “As always with new platforms or features, testing and iterating is key, as is being true to your brand voice and personality.”

However, as a newbie in the social network field, WhatsApp Channels still understandably lags behind other offerings. Karim Salama, founder of web and digital marketing agency e-innovate highlights the current lack of the tools to target specific demographics.

But he adds: “The fact people who choose to follow you are private can make the platform appealing to some users who may not be on other platforms. This could mean WhatsApp will have a reach that’s not accessible through other forms.”

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Harvey Morton, author of Succeeding as a Young Entrepreneur and founder of his own Sheffield-based digital agency, also raises the limitations of WhatsApp Channels. But he suggests understanding these from the start will ensure brands “set realistic expectations and develop strategies to overcome them”.

Unlike email marketing or other social media advertising, businesses cannot segment their audience, Morton adds, with messages “broadcasted to all followers, regardless of their specific interests or needs”. The lack of two-way communication is also an issue, he adds, explaining WhatsApp Channels relies on users actively checking the Updates tab. Notifications are muted by default but these can be turned on for each channel.

However, Morton does identify one major positive: cost-effectiveness. “Unlike traditional marketing channels, such as SMS or email, WhatsApp Channels do not incur additional charges for sending messages,” he notes.

“This makes it an attractive option for businesses of all sizes, allowing them to connect with their audience without breaking the bank.”

How to start the WhatsApp Channels journey

Organizations looking to set up their own WhatsApp Channel will need a WhatsApp Business account. The platform advises admins to ensure they have two-factor authentication (2FA) switched on for their account to enhance security of the Channel.

Opening one is easy:

Click on the Channels icon.
Click Create Channel, then follow the on-screen prompts.

Admins can always change the name if they wish and each Channel can be customized with icons and descriptions.

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The new WhatsApp Channel can then be shared via a dedicated link found by clicking on the Channel name.

At present, unlike normal chats, WhatsApp Channels are not end-to-end encrypted. However, the platform is looking into use cases where this might be appropriate in the future such as within healthcare.

Reactions have been positive. On its blog, WhatsApp writes: “We’ve appreciated all the positive feedback from our initial start in 10 countries. This is just the beginning, and we’ll continue to add more features and expand Channels based on feedback we get from users”.

For Christoph Cemper, founder of AIPRM – an artificial intelligence (AI) prompt management platform for ChatGPT with almost two million users – the future looks bright for WhatsApp Channels. He cites the fact they are “intimate, direct and less crowded than other platforms” although he adds, “...for now anyway”.

Cemper explains: “The big appeal is that real one-on-one connection you get with customers. WhatsApp Channels can be powerful tools when used right, but it takes a mix of being relevant, injecting personality, and good timing to really connect in a meaningful way. Use them as just another broadcast lane and they lose their magic quickly.”

What you need to know about the new Microsoft Teams app

ross.kelly@futurenet.com (Ross Kelly) — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 12:40:15 +0000

Microsoft has announced the general availability of the new Microsoft Teams app for Windows and Mac, which it billed as a far more efficient platform.

The new Microsoft Teams app will offer users a “faster, simpler, smarter, and more flexible app”, the tech giant said in an announcement this week.

The launch follows a lengthy preview phase which began in March as Microsoft sought to improve latency and quality of life-related issues on the productivity platform.

Initial testing during the preview phase found that the new version of Teams was “up to two times faster” while using 50% less memory.

“We have made notable progress since the launch of new Teams in public preview,” said Anupam Pattnaik, Microsoft’s product lead for Teams.

“We have focused on providing high-quality performance and enhancing the basics in areas such as reliability, security, and IT management to make sure that new Teams meets the evolving requirements of your organization.”

New Microsoft Teams: Key features and changes

In its announcement, Microsoft said the new Teams is a “faster app optimized for performance on multiple platforms”.

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The latest version of the productivity platform has been built on the React framework, which Microsoft said has enabled it to improve speed and performance of the app for Windows users.

Microsoft also highlighted a reduction in memory usage as a key talking point in its statement. The new app uses Edge WebView2 as the host for the platform, which has reduced memory usage and disk space.

This, the firm said, is because resources are shared with Edge.

“Our efforts to update the core technology have been a good move towards providing a more efficient and dependable Teams app,” Pattnaik said.

The speed optimization changes mean that Teams users will be able to load the app, join meetings, and switch chats and channels up to two-times faster on average compared to classic Teams.

New Microsoft Teams: “A simpler user experience”

There are no major differences between the new and classic Teams apps from a cosmetic point of view. However, Microsoft said the new app will offer a “simpler user experience” and will be an all-round easier-to-use platform.

Microsoft revealed that it will also roll out “enhanced personalization options” that allow Windows and Mac users greater control over the user interface.

The new app will automatically pick light or dark mode and switch based on a user’s system settings, which Microsoft said will help the application “better blend into your workspace”.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Improved support for users with color sensitivity has also been added. This uses Windows 11 contrast themes so users can select specific color palettes based on their individual preferences and needs.

“New Teams offers a simplified and streamlined user experience that makes it easier for you to personalize experiences, stay on top of your notifications, and get more done in fewer clicks,” the tech giant said.

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Notification tracking features added to the new Teams app also aim to improve quality of life for users. This includes a “mark all as read” feature in activity. A similar function will be available in chats and channels in due course, the firm said.

In addition, users that use keyboard shortcuts or screen readers will also see improvements and a more optimized platform. Keyboard shortcuts will be easier to use and enable users to “seamlessly” navigate between list items, such as activity feed and chat threads.

“We've made some usability improvements for our users who use screen readers. These enhancements make it simpler to avoid repeated information, interpret the common tasks more easily, and arrange channel conversations more effectively, whether they are original posts or responses to posts, and more.”

New Microsoft Teams app: Optimization for Mac users

Mac users can expect a significant boost in terms of speed and optimization with the new Teams app, Microsoft said.

So far during the preview phase, the company has delivered “significant performance improvements”. This includes the ability to switch between chats and channels faster, much like Windows users.

The source of this performance boost is down to a “more efficient use of device resources”, Microsoft said.

New Microsoft Teams app: How to upgrade

Microsoft said it “only takes one click” to upgrade to the new Teams for current users of the productivity platform. For enterprise users, a toggle button to upgrade to the new edition will be available in the Teams client, the firm said.

The new app won’t require any extensive changes for users. The tech giant said that, upon upgrading, users can “resume exactly where you left off” in classic Teams.

This means that chat messages, channels, and third-party applications will still be available once upgrading.

BlueJeans closure highlights stifled state of post-COVID unified comms industry

itpro@futurenet.com (Ross Kelly) — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 13:36:51 +0000

Verizon’s recent announcement that it will begin decommissioning the BlueJeans communications and conferencing platform shows the pandemic-fueled remote work goldrush is coming to an end.

In early August, the firm issued a notice to users that the video conferencing platform will begin winding down. Verizon said at the time that the decision to decommission BlueJeans was due to a “changing market landscape” that made the continuation of the app untenable.

The decommissioning project will first see basic and free trial tiers closed down by 31 August. Meanwhile, other users will still be able to access services until December 2023.

“We want to share that we have made the difficult decision to sunset our suit of BlueJeans products,” the firm said in an email notice to users.

“BlueJeans is an award-winning product that connects our customers around the world, but we have made this decision due to the changing market landscape.”

Why is the BlueJeans platform closing?

Verizon’s announcement brings to a close more than 13 years of operations for BlueJeans, which launched officially in 2011 and was later acquired by the US communications giant in April 2020.

The acquisition came at a pivotal time for Verizon and the growing necessity of video conferencing - the first batch of global lockdowns in response to the surging COVID pandemic.

Verizon invested heavily in the platform following the deal, but in recent months the platform appears to have fallen flat amid an increasingly competitive business landscape.

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The dissipation of the pandemic, a return to office work for many companies globally, and deteriorating economic conditions would, at first glance, appear to be the primary cause for BlueJeans’ demise.

However, the unified communications as a service (UCaaS) industry is still experiencing impressive growth, research shows.

Analysis from IDC found that revenues in the market increased by 7.2% year-on-year to over $15 billion in Q1 2023. Similarly, for the full year, IDC anticipates that revenues are set to growth by 8.2%.

With impressive growth in the space, BlueJeans’ failures appear to lie firmly in the conditions under which industry stakeholders are operating.

What are analysts saying?

Major industry players like Zoom, Microsoft, and Google have built somewhat of a stranglehold in the space since the onset of the pandemic, according to Gary Barton, research director for enterprise technology and services at Global Data.

The reality is that the industry has become increasingly stifled and difficult to maintain growth in a battle against firms with deep pockets and a widening array of products.

“The UC market has grown at double-digit percentage rates since the end of the pandemic and will continue to do so until at least 2026, highlighting the ongoing strength in the market despite a gradual return to the office,” he said.

“Despite this growth, Microsoft’s decision to ‘give’ Teams away with its wider suite of services such as 365 and Dynamics has given it a crucial market advantage that has seen even Cisco and Zoom begin to suffer.”

Pointing specifically at Microsoft, Barton suggested that the “depth of its R&D resources” highlight the strained conditions that BlueJeans was forced to contend with.

Microsoft invested heavily in its 365 product line during the onset of the pandemic, positioning it as one of the leading suites during this period.

In recent months, Barton noted, the generative AI ‘boom’ and the firm’s investment in supporting users with tools such as the 365 AI copilot differentiated it and created difficult conditions for competitors to keep pace.

BlueJeans isn’t the only post-pandemic communications casualty reported in recent weeks.

Hopin, which achieved unicorn status off the back of a surge in pandemic-era business and was once valued at over $8 billion, sold its own digital events business for just $49 million.

Microsoft launches collaboration platform Loop, its answer to Notion

Zach Marzouk — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 11:46:47 +0000

Microsoft has launched a new platform built for collaboration to try and simplify how teams work on projects together.

The new platform, Microsoft Loop, is currently in public preview and allows teams to organise everything they need for a project into one unified workspace, including documents, files, and tools. The aim is to make it easier for teams to work together without having to jump between apps.

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Loop consists of three main features: Workspaces, pages, and components.

When you create a workspace, Loop will suggest content based on what you name it. The content includes Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, notes from meetings, and more. This content will then be organised into pages to make it easier to view.

Microsoft described pages in Loop as 'flexible canvases'. In pages, users can leave comments or emoji reactions to share and work on ideas.

Users can also turn part of a Loop page into a 'component' which can then be copied and pasted across Microsoft 365 apps, including Teams or Outlook.

The tech giant said this can help to share information with different teams easily. Components automatically update, no matter where they’ve been shared, to allow teams to stay updated with any changes.

For example, a team may create a to-do list and share this as a component outside of the workspace in an external Microsoft Word document. Once a task is completed and struck off the list in the workspace, this will be automatically updated in the document.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Loop also comes with progress trackers, custom labels, and notifications to help teams stay aligned. Teammates can be assigned tasks which sync through Microsoft Planner and To Do so users can know what work they need to get done.

Microsoft is also bringing Copilot to Loop to provide AI-powered suggestions on how teams can work or collaborate, although this feature is in private preview for now.

Users can give it a prompt, such as “help me create a mission statement”, or it can guide users through prompts like create, brainstorm, or describe. It can also provide summaries of each workspace’s page to help teams understand what each section is about quickly.

“At its core, Microsoft Loop is about people – people who want to create together with ease, no matter where they are or what tools they use,” the company said. “It’s a transformative co-creation experience that brings together teams, content, and tasks across your tools and devices.”

(Image credit: Microsoft)

The new platform is similar to Notion, a popular app that provides an all-in-one workspace for note-taking, task management, and project management.

It also has a similar layout, with the platform dividing its different parts into Teamspaces, Projects, and Docs. However, it lacks the component functionality that Microsoft has created.

SAP's $7.7 billion Qualtrics sale branded a “win-win” situation

Zach Marzouk — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 12:26:25 +0000

SAP has sold its stake in Qualtrics for $7.7 billion (£6.4 billion), after buying the company in 2018 for $8 billion.

The German software company sold its 423 million shares, a 71% stake, it announced this week as part of an acquisition of Qualtrics by technology investor consortium Silver Lake and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.

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With a purchase price of $18.15 per share, this values the company at around $12.5 billion in total, SAP said. The number of customers using Qualtrics has risen from 10,000, when it was acquired by SAP, to 18,000.

"Since we acquired Qualtrics in 2019 the company has more than tripled its revenue while delivering profitability,” said Christian Klein, CEO and member of the executive board of SAP SE. “SAP intends to remain a close go-to-market and technology partner, servicing joint customers and continuing to contribute to Qualtrics' success."

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2023. The company will continue to be led by CEO Zig Serafin and remain headquartered in Provo, Utah and Seattle, Washington.

“We are incredibly excited to partner with the team at Silver Lake, who deeply understand our business and will help us continue to build a high-performing company, invest in our innovation, and expand our ecosystem to help our customers succeed,” said Serafin.

Ilona Hansen, Gartner vice president in the ITLTP Applications Group, told IT Pro the deal is a “win-win” situation for Qualtrics.

She suggested the firm will come even stronger into the market and more open to other business relationships they weren’t able to have before under the SAP umbrella.

Hansen said that Qualtrics was acquired under the leadership of former SAP CEO Bill McDermott. However, when he left in 2019, the strategy around what to do with the company wasn’t driven forward anymore.

Taking the company publis in 2020 was a 'clever idea', she said, it gave freedom back to Qualtrics. SAP was essentially saying it would support Qualtrics with this move, but not to expect it to rip or tear it apart, or even integrate it further into SAP’s offerings.

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SAP acquired Qualtrics for $8 billion in November 2018, four days before it was meant to go public, with the company revealing at the time it had more than 9,000 businesses on its books across the world. SAP was aiming to boost its cloud offerings and integrate Qualtrics’ platform into its portfolio.

In July 2020, the German software firm decided to make Qualtrics public and announced it would retain a majority stake in it.

At the time, SAP said it would lower its ownership of Qualtrics from 100% but said it wasn’t planning on divesting or spinning off the firm.

Getting the best value from your remote support software

Jane McCallion — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 12:40:28 +0000

Business software can be an expensive business. Whether you’re opting for perpetual licensing or a cloud-based subscription service, there’s always an outlay involved.

IT departments have always been tasked with doing more with less while still delivering value. In times like these, when everyone’s feeling the pinch, they need to use their budgets very wisely. While the foundations of remote and hybrid working are now settled, some areas – such as IT support – still need to be figured out.

Not too long ago an office worker could pick up the phone and call the IT team if there was a problem with their device and someone would come to their desk to help.

With the rapid move to hybrid and fully remote work, organisations are increasingly reliant on remote support software to look after their employees’ IT needs. With this becoming such a critical part of IT strategy – and with budgets being scrutinised – it’s important to ensure you are getting the best possible value from your remote support software in a way that goes beyond simple break/fix.

It pays to integrate

Cloud computing has been a reality for over a decade and touches every area of business and IT. In the software as a service (SaaS) area in particular, there’s been heavy investment in everything from customer relationship management (CRM), to enterprise resource planning (ERP), to accounting, finance, and beyond.

With this in mind, it pays to find a remote support platform that can integrate with the SaaS solutions already in use – particularly if you’re providing support to customers as well as internal users within your own business.

Rescue integrates with some of the biggest SaaS platforms that likely have a place in your business’ operations, including Salesforce, ServiceNow and Microsoft Dynamics. This means all your support tickets and interaction logs can be recorded in a single place, reducing the need to search for information on a client or individual and eliminating duplication of effort. If your CRM or ERP system of choice isn’t yet on the Rescue roster, have no fear – you can make that integration happen manually with Rescue API.

Thanks to all this, IT support professionals and technicians are able to start a Rescue support session from within the other SaaS platforms, saving valuable time that would otherwise be used flitting between programs and platforms throughout the day.

Multi-platform is a must

It’s commonplace for users to have multiple devices to do multiple tasks and while this can make life easier for them, it can prove a headache for IT.

These devices often span multiple manufacturers, numerous form factors and wildly different operating systems. Even within one organisation, departments may have a variety of hardware requirements and device types that need to be supported; the sales team may be using Chromebooks while the finance department uses Windows laptops and the design team uses Macs. Despite these differences, they’re all equally likely to need IT support, irrespective of whether they’re remote or office based, or what department they work in.

Having a different platform to manage each different type of hardware or operating system isn’t a viable way of doing business. It’s expensive to invest in multiple tools, both in terms of the cost of the software itself and the time required to maintain it all – not to mention getting to grips with using them.

You need a remote support solution that is able to handle all device and OS types in a single, easy-to-use, secure platform.

One way to achieve this is to ensure the solution you choose is based on the public cloud. Don’t be shy to drill down into what exactly a provider is offering – some will claim that their product is ‘cloud’, when in fact they’re hosting it themselves. While this may not sound like too much of a problem at first, on premises software can often be less responsive and slower to load than one that lives on Amazon Web Services (AWS) or one of the other hyperscalers. It also may not be compatible across all devices and operating systems.

Rescue is a truly cloud-based solution, which means it can offer support on any device, is quick to start sessions and latency is super-low. It also means uptime of 99.9% and above, so your tech support session isn’t going to be interrupted by technical difficulties of its own.

Unlike some other remote support systems, Rescue isn’t limited to software, though. With its camera-sharing features, Rescue allows technicians to see exactly what the user can see at a hardware level. This can help with everything from troubleshooting loose connections to guiding them through the remote setup of a new device.

Bringing security to the fore

Security is a must for any remote support software – if a user is to trust a support technician to remotely access their device, they have to know the connection is secure and their data remains safe.

Rescue has multiple levels of control and permissions that mean everyone has access to what they need to do their job, but no more than that. Within the platform’s admin centre, master admins can set up user groups and apply bulk permissions. They can also delegate to admins, who in turn can change settings as needed for groups or individual technicians within the bounds set by the master admin.

This means that depending on who the technician and the end user are, functions such as screen recording, data transfer, remote control, or copy and paste can be turned off. This can be to ensure compliance with regulations such as HIPAA in the US or simply to reflect the needs and desires of the customer.

All Rescue sessions are secured using end-to-end 256-bit AES encryption and ultimately it’s the user who remains in control: They initiate the session and they can end it at any time.

Remote IT support is vital in a world where hybrid working has become the norm and customers are more flexible about where their contractors are based. Rescue brings best-in-class functionality, security and more to help you ensure business success in the long term.

Why you need a cloud solution for your remote support

Jane McCallion — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 07:17:04 +0000

For as long as computers have been part of working life, we’ve relied on IT professionals to help support businesses and keep things running smoothly. And, while people may joke about turning the device on and off again and checking it’s plugged in, the reality is solving the day-to-day minor issues can often be as important as dealing with the big ones that crop up less frequently.

Much has changed in the way we work over the decades since the digital revolution began. In many ways, the role of IT support has become increasingly important. Computers have been commonplace on desks since the 1990s and by the 2000s it was a rare office job that didn’t involve one. Steadily, desktop computers were replaced in many cases by laptops, and mobile devices started to make their way into the hands of senior management as Blackberry phones. In 2007, Apple launched the iPhone and within just a few years smartphones of all different kinds were everywhere, bringing with them the conundrum of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD )vs centrally provisioned handsets.

Back then, though, workers were still largely office-based, with the odd exception role. But that, too, started to change with the rise of cloud computing and an increase in remote and flexible working. The Covid-19 pandemic, which started in 2019 but saw its peak in 2020 and 2021, gave everyone a sudden and unexpected shove in the direction of full-time remote or hybrid working. While it took some getting used to, companies are now seeing the benefits of remote and fully-hybrid working, with most actively embracing it.

Whatever the merits of remote working, one thing’s certain: You can’t have someone drop by your desk to look at your computer if you’re working from home. Yet the need for IT support remains the same, if not greater, than before when the office was the main place of work.

With cloud having underpinned all the changes to the way we work over the past 10-15 years, it makes sense to harness this same technology to provide tech support to workers and customers wherever they may be.

The advantages of cloud

One of the key advantages of cloud computing is as a cost-effective business enabler. When software as a service (SaaS) was rising in popularity, one of its main selling points was that it was often cheaper than traditional perpetual licence purchasing models. Similarly, for certain projects it’s cheaper to use infrastructure as a service (IaaS) than build out extra on-premise infrastructure ‘just in case’.

Enabling business is about more than just the price of software, though, and the flexibility and security offered by the cloud shouldn’t be overlooked either. Indeed, it’s part of the reason organisations have not only stuck with cloud computing but also brought in more. Rescue, built by GoTo, offers the same cloud-based benefits for IT departments and support technicians, plus extra functionality not found in many other remote support platforms. For example, Rescue is truly cloud based rather than hosted remotely, and was designed that way from the ground up rather than being retrofitted. This means it’s quicker than many competitors, there’s no hardware maintenance to take into account and uptime will be higher – 99.9% and above.

Rescue is also flexible and can scale and flex according to the size of your IT support team, who they’re supporting and what kind of support they’re carrying out. Additionally, it integrates with leading SaaS platforms such as Salesforce, ServiceNow and Microsoft Dynamics , which are found in businesses up and down the country and around the world.

People working all areas of moved to a hybrid or fully remote way of working, including many in IT and support roles. Opting for a cloud-based solution like Rescue supports those business practices, allowing people in these jobs to work as efficiently from home as they would have on site.

Support inside and out

Flexibility in the cloud doesn’t just mean easy scaling and flexible pricing, it also enables greater versatility. In the context of remote support, this can mean using a single platform for both internal and external support.

If you provide remote support to customers, there’s no need to invest in a separate solution for technicians taking care of that side of the business from what your internal support professionals are using. This means simplified deployment and more streamlined training, allowing technicians to get on with the job more quickly and confidently.

Rescue also allows for peer support and collaboration – technicians can consult one another if there’s a problem they need a second opinion on instantly even if they’re not in the same room or even the same city, thanks to the cloud. If they think it needs a more specialist eye, they can easily escalate it to someone with greater expertise and even learn new skills in real time by watching how the fix is carried out.

Secure and compliant

Security is one of the biggest concerns for businesses at all levels and in all verticals. A data breach of any kind can have serious repercussions, such as IP theft, financial losses, and fines if laws around protection of sensitive information are broken.

The creators of Rescue take these issues as seriously as you do and built the platform with security in mind. When a support session is initiated, the connection is secured by best in class methods, including AES-256-bit encryption and TLS 1.2 transport security. It also features two-factor authentication (2FA), providing enhanced protection against an attack using stolen credentials.

The platform also features permissions-based security and for support technicians. Administrators can establish, monitor and adjust access levels based on roles or group different level technicians together meaning they only have access to what is deemed necessary and nothing more. They can also see each operative’s logs and even monitor them in real time if the need arises, while still remaining fully GDPR and HIPAA compliant.

Seamless integration

A remote support product may look good on paper, but if it can’t integrate with your existing business software – particularly ERP and CRM solutions – then it’s going to throw up more problems than it solves.

One major advantage of cloud-based remote support software is it often has greater interoperability with these types of platforms than a traditional, on-premise or hosted solution might. As mentioned previously, Rescue integrates out of the box with some of the biggest names in the SaaS business like Microsoft, Salesforce and ServiceNow, as well as Freshdesk, Zendesk, Autotask and more. These integrations allow you to launch Rescue sessions directly from within the other platforms, meaning all the data related to a single ticket and/or customer can be kept in one easy to find location.

When choosing a remote support solution, whether for use internally or with customers, opting for a cloud-based one is the right choice in almost every scenario. Look for a true SaaS product – not just one that’s hosted in a provider’s data centre under the guise of being cloud software – that is secure, flexible, easy-to-use and can integrate with existing SaaS choices. When you have the right solution in place, you’ll wonder how you ever worked without it.

A roadmap to Zero Trust with Cloudflare and CrowdStrike

itpro@futurenet.com (ITPro) — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 17:32:27 +0000

Every security leader understands the challenges that cloud migration and distributed workforces pose to their corporate network and endpoints, and the importance of moving to a Zero Trust architecture. But the journey to Zero Trust can seem complex and difficult.

This recorded session shares how Cloudflare offers one uniform, composable platform to make this journey extremely simple and effective for organisations of all sizes.

Watch now to discover how joint customers of Cloudflare and CrowdStrike use both platforms to achieve end-to-end protection across endpoints, networks, and applications.

Provided by

Canon opens two new business centres in the UK and Ireland

Daniel Todd — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 10:32:53 +0000

Canon has cut the ribbon on two new business centres based in Crawley, West Sussex, and Munster, Ireland, which will provide print and document management expertise in collaboration with local Platinum Partners.

The new hubs, which operate under the names Canon Business Centre Munster (CBC Munster) and Canon Business Centre SOS (CBC SOS), follow in the footsteps of the firm’s successful Newcastle-based Canon Business Centre North East, which opened back in 2020.

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The first in their respective regions, Canon says both CBCs will provide local businesses with advice and technology solutions that are tailored to their individual needs.

To do this, the pair will combine its portfolio with the expertise of a local reseller and Platinum Partner in each region – SOS Systems in Crawley, and Cantec Group, based in Waterford, Ireland.

“Cantec and SOS are two trusted partners we have been working alongside for many years and share many of the same values, including an ambition to deliver the best customer service and innovation to our customers,” said Stuart Miller, director of B2B indirect sales at Canon UK&I.

“By partnering together to create these two new CBCs, we hope to deliver even stronger support to local businesses, offering award-winning solutions which will help them to grow in these challenging times.”

Established in 1985, long-standing Canon collaborator SOS Systems boasts a customer base that stretches across the South of England across multiple sectors.

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With a focus on customer service, flexibility, and innovation expertise, the company provides print, document, and information management solutions, as well as guidance on wider business initiatives such as digital transformation.

“We’re delighted to be collaborating with Canon on this exciting project – which marks a huge step in our 32 years of working together,” said Chris Sills, managing director at SOS Systems.

“Today more than ever before, local businesses are seeking out ways to save costs, boost profits and optimise processes – our new CBC SOS supports this ambition and we’re looking forward to helping local businesses grow and succeed.”

Fellow Canon Platinum Partner Cantec specialises in delivering integrated hardware and software solutions. The firm was founded in 1994 as a photocopier dealership and has since grown to become a prominent name in the provision of technology solutions, opening offices in Limerick, Mullingar, Dublin, and Cork.

“After 28 years of partnership with Canon, we’re excited to be opening the first CBC in Ireland – offering us the opportunity to support local businesses and find new ways to help them enhance their processes,” said Greg Tuohy, CEO at Cantec .

Canon UK&I said will continue to work alongside other partners in the regions and across the UK.

Zoho Assist Enterprise: Uncomplicated cloud-hosted remote support

Dave Mitchell — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 11:00:06 +0000

A great choice for SMBs that want uncomplicated cloud-hosted remote support, Zoho Assist has been updated with a range of features that make it appealing to larger companies as well. Zoho's flexible plans mean you only pay for the features you need and can upgrade, downgrade or cancel the contract on a whim.

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The generous free plan supports one technician, unlimited sessions, remote control, chat and clipboard-sharing tools, plus five unattended desktops that permit secure access without the user being present. More demanding support departments can choose from Standard, Professional and Enterprise plans, with discounts for monthly or yearly contracts. Unattended access is a separate module with two pricing plans. All remote support plans, including the free one, come with five complimentary licences; if you want more, you'll need to purchase separate licences, with each price tier enabling 25 sessions.

The Enterprise plan on review unleashes a wealth of tools and yet costs only £19 per technician a month. It takes everything from the Standard and Professional plans and adds departmental grouping, session recording and auditing, voice and video chat, service queues and more.

The technician web portal is consistent across all plans, and a recent redesign makes it even easier to use. When creating on-demand support sessions, the portal loads a web page with a unique nine-digit code plus options to copy the web link and send an invitation via email or SMS. Users enter these details in their browser or click on the email link to download the Assist runtime app and permit the connection.

Zoho is well aware of the risks of unsolicited invitations and cautions the user to only accept legitimate requests. For extra reassurance, you can create custom email templates with company-specific information. When the user gives permission, the technician portal loads a web page with an active remote session while users receive a system tray app with options to stop sharing, chat, swap screens, annotate and end the session.

Technicians can open up to six sessions simultaneously with a sidebar on each one providing quick access to tools such as remote reboot, screen sharing, voice or video chat, file transfer and inviting other technicians to join in. Multiple client monitors are supported and the new live monitor feature shows them all on one screen.

For always-on access, the Assist unattended app is installed on client devices with versions provided for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and Raspberry Pi. It's preconfigured for your account and, once installed, systems appear in the technician portal for one-click access.

Mobile device support is superb. Zoho provides free Assist iOS and Android technician and customer apps with the latter providing screen-viewing, screenshot and file-transfer features. Field technicians will love the new live camera assistance; support staff can access the camera on iOS and Android mobiles from their web portal, though this requires the Zoho Lens app, which is an extra purchase.

Service queues in the Enterprise plan allow users to access a custom web portal or an embedded link in the company website and raise support requests. Post-session URL redirection can be used to gather client feedback by sending them to another web page, with one URL per department allowed.

Zoho Assist Enterprise packs in a remarkable number of remote support features and is a great choice for larger businesses. The slick technician portal is easy to use, platform support is tops and the flexible licensing plans make it equally appealing to SMBs.

Splashtop Business review

contact@sergueisolokhine.com (Serguei Solokhine) — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 10:18:05 +0000

Splashtop Business is affordable remote desktop software that offers access and support functionality for businesses and IT teams. You can use Splashtop to enable team members to access their work computer remotely, perform remote tech support, or perform routine maintenance and updates on your entire computer network.

Splashtop Business review: Snapshot

Splashtop Business offers an impressive set of features for its affordable price point. These include unattended access, live chat-enabled remote desktop tech support, and easy-to-set-up remote access for employees working from home.

It stands out from competitors like ConnectWise Control and Zoho Assist because it enables simultaneous support for an unlimited number of devices by one technician. It also allows for unattended access to an unlimited number of computers with its SOS Unlimited plan, at a fraction of the price charged by competitors for that level of access.

Where Splashtop falls short is in the lack of voice chat, even on its dedicated collaborative meeting tools, but its text-based chat should be enough for most tech support situations. If you’re looking for a functional and affordable remote desktop platform for your business or IT team, Splashtop Business remains an excellent choice.

Score: 4.5/5

Read on for our full and detailed Splashtop Business review.

Splashtop Business’s competitors

How does Splashtop Business compare to its main competitors?

	Splashtop	ConnectWise Control	Zoho Assist
Score	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5
Pros	- Affordable - Unlimited unattended access - Easy to set up	- Fully customizable UI - 100+ third-party integrations - VoIP-enabled voice chat	- Free plan available - Affordable pricing - Voice chat
Cons	- No voice chat - No free plan	- Expensive - No free plan	- Limited third-party integrations - Unattended plans capped at 25 devices
Verdict	Splashtop Business is remote desktop software with a robust set of features for its price point.	ConnectWise Control is powerful, feature-heavy remote desktop software priced at a premium.	Zoho Assist offers remote desktop functionality at a very low price, and is great for small business users.
View deals	Visit site	Visit site	Visit site

Splashtop Business: Key features

Splashtop’s package for individuals and businesses is designed to enable users to work from home by connecting remotely to their office computer. Pricing is scaled based on the number of computers that you would like to connect, with volume discounts for more than 10 machines.

Users can access their work desktop from a Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, or Chromebook device, transfer files, and print remotely. Users that purchase a Pro tier license gain access to advanced features, like the ability to connect two users to one computer, chat, and remote booting.

Splashtop’s Support plan is intended for management service providers who need to perform remote work on a computer when it is not in use. This work can include anything from routine maintenance to basic troubleshooting or software updates.

The Support plan offers unattended access to an unlimited number of technicians for a monthly rate that scales with the number of computers you need to service. You also get unlimited concurrent sessions, meaning there is no limit to the number of technicians working at once.

Splashtop SOS is a product designed specifically for attended support, which is active remote desktop tech support that takes place while the subject computer is in use. This usually takes the form of a tech support session, where the technician takes remote control of the end-user’s computer to resolve an issue.

Splashtop SOS is great for users that want basic but functional remote desktop tech support. The system operates with little or no lag between the technician and end-user’s computer, and the built-in chat function provides an avenue for the technician and the user to communicate. One drawback we found is the lack of voice chat functionality, but this is not a serious concern, and can be circumvented by a telephone call if voice chat is absolutely necessary.

Licenses are billed per concurrent technician. This means that if you would like to have two remote sessions running at once, you will need to purchase a second license. Every SOS license also provides a certain number of unattended access licenses, and you can even purchase unlimited unattended access with SOS Unlimited.

Splashtop Business also provides remote access and collaborative learning tools for educators. Students can connect to an educator’s computer and view content, and the educator can annotate the content live as they teach.

Splashtop has two products in this category—Mirroring360 Pro and Classroom Cloud—which are nearly identical except that Mirroring360 Pro is for desktop computers, while Classroom Cloud shares the screen of a mobile (iOS or Android) device.

In addition to its built-in features, Splashtop offers over 30 integration options with third-party programs. Popular integrations include Microsoft Teams, which allows for remote desktop support with chat through the Teams app, and ServiceNow, which connects Splashtop’s tech support with ServiceNow’s service ticketing system.

Splashtop Business can also integrate with a number of popular CRM and IT support platforms, including Freshworks, Zendesk, and Spiceworks.

Splashtop Business: What’s new in 2022?

Splashtop introduced several new features throughout 2021—notably, desktop shortcuts for remote computers and connection pools.

Users that regularly connect to the same specific computer remotely—typically employees connecting to their office computer from home—can now take advantage of the new desktop shortcut feature to create a shortcut that takes them to their remote machine with one click. This bypasses the need to enter Splashtop’s app and locate your computer from the drop-down list, saving users a lot of time.

Connection pools are great for users that need access to a remote computer but not to a specific device. Administrators can lump a series of computers into a connection pool, and when a user needs to connect they simply select the pool and receive access to the first available device. This feature is available for Windows, Mac, and iOS, once again reducing the need to spend time searching for an available device from a list.

Splashtop Business: Pricing

Splashtop Business offers four different pricing models for its services: Access, Support, SOS, and Splashtop for Education.

Access is charged on a per user basis, starting at £5 per user a month, billed annually. This plan provides users with simple remote access to a computer, without any remote tech support features. The Support plan is for unattended access, and prices increase based on the number of computers you need access to.

Support starts at £33 a month for an annual plan or £38.90 a month for a monthly plan. SOS is a remote tech support plan, which bills per concurrently operating technician. Plans start at £14 a month, billed annually. Finally, Splashtop for Education costs £23.99 per teacher a year.

Splashtop Business SOS's pricing plans

Plan type/feature	SOS	SOS+10	SOS Unlimited	Splashtop Enterprise
Cost per month	£14*	£15*	£27*	Pricing on request
Cost per year	£159	£179	£319	Pricing on request
Remote tech support	✔	✔	✔	✔
Unattended access	✖	10 devices	Unlimited devices	Unlimited devices
Management and reporting	✖	✖	✖	✔

*annual billing only

Testing Splashtop Business

As a simple but affordable software platform, we would expect Splashtop to be easy to set up and use, as well as being effective in its primary function as remote desktop software. To determine how well Splashtop meets these key benchmarks, we downloaded the software and gave it a spin.

How easy is it to set up Splashtop Business?

Setting up Splashtop was quick and easy (Image credit: Splashtop)

To test ease of setup, we first created an account with a username and password, then downloaded the Splashtop Business app to the device we wanted to connect from. Once Splashtop Business had downloaded and we had inputted our login credentials, it was ready to use. The entire process took less than five minutes, and the majority of that time was spent on the download.

Unattended access took a little longer to set up, as we had to download another application, Streamer, on every computer that needed to be accessed. This can take a bit of time, especially if you have a large number of devices, but the process is still straightforward. Overall, though, we were impressed with how easy setup was.

How easy is it to use Splashtop Business?

Splashtop’s connection system is intuitive, and requires no prior technical knowledge to operate (Image credit: Splashtop)

Once Splashtop was installed, starting a remote desktop session was quick and intuitive. We tested the remote connection with a Windows desktop computer and an iPhone. The desktop user had to go to sos.splashtop.com: opening that webpage automatically downloaded SplashtopSOS onto the desktop, and provided a unique nine-digit code, which we then input on our end to initiate the remote connection.

Upon inputting the code, we immediately had full access to the desktop computer. The entire process took about two minutes. Connecting to the iPhone was a similar process, but with a few extra steps. The iPhone user also navigated to sos.splashtop.com, at which point they were prompted to download the SplashtopSOS app from the App Store.

After downloading the app, they received a unique nine-digit code, which we then input to initiate the connection. The iPhone requested that the iPhone user grant us permission to broadcast their screen. Once permission was granted, we had access. However, since the iPhone was a touchscreen-based device, while our computer was not, we were mostly limited to observation, with little ability to directly interact.

Overall, we found that establishing a remote desktop connection through Splashtop Business is quick and easy.

How fast is Splashtop Business?

Splashtop operates with no noticeable slowdown (Image credit: Splashtop)

Even the best remote desktop connection will experience some small amount of latency between the two devices, but we didn’t notice any significant slowdown when running Splashtop on mobile or desktop. We tested Splashtop’s speed by running Google’s stopwatch on the remote desktop, and seeing the difference, if any, between the clock on the remote desktop and the actual one.

We noticed that on the remote desktop the milliseconds would go up in bursts of about 20, while they rose continuously on the actual desktop. Also, the stopwatch on the remote desktop was behind the actual one by about half a second. This effect is totally negligible when browsing, and we were able to stream a YouTube video in 1080p quality with no noticeable lag.

Alternatives to Splashtop Business

Splashtop offers an effective and easy-to-use remote desktop platform that is priced in the lower midrange of the market. Two notable competitors are ConnectWise Control and Zoho Assist.

ConnectWise Control is considerably more expensive than Splashtop, but comes with a broader range of advanced features and third-party integrations. Zoho Assist is cheaper than Splashtop, but lacks some of its scaling capabilities, limiting it to small business users. Similarly, Zoho Assist’s Unattended Access plan is limited to 25 devices, while Splashtop can comfortably support over 12,000.

ConnectWise Connect also offers unattended access, but at a comparatively higher price point. However, ConnectWise allows you to automatically install its client software to all devices on your network, while Splashtop requires you to manually install Streamer on every device. This can be quite time-consuming with up to and more than 12,000 computers.

On the attended access side, Zoho has a very limited free plan and a cheap basic paid plan. Splashtop doesn’t have a free plan, and is a little more expensive than Zoho, but has features that Zoho lacks, like unlimited support sessions per technician. Again, ConnectWise Control is more expensive than Splashtop, but has more features like voice chat and support for remote meetings with more than three individuals.

Overall, Splashtop occupies the middle ground in terms of feature breadth, with a low price point for the number of features it offers. It’s best for small to mid-size businesses and teams that have the budget for a simple, reliable remote desktop platform. However, larger enterprise users might find its feature set limiting, and thus prefer the more expensive ConnectWise Control. On the other hand, small organisations or solo users might appreciate Zoho Assist’s low pricing and free plan.

Splashtop Business’ features compared to the competition

	Splashtop Business	Zoho Assist	ConnectWise Control
Free plan	✖	✔	✖
Simultaneous support sessions	Unlimited	Six	10
Support	Chat and phone	Email and knowledge base	Email and chat
Basic plan	£14 a month	£8 a month	£19.52 a month

Splashtop Business: Final verdict

Splashtop Business is a functional and affordable remote desktop solution that is particularly good for small to midsize businesses or IT teams. You can use Splashtop for remote tech support or to conduct routine maintenance on your computer network. It is also suitable as a remote work platform, enabling employees to connect to their work computer regardless of their physical location.

Compared to its competitors, Splashtop is priced affordably, although it is not the cheapest solution. Given its broad range of features and great performance, we think you will get excellent value for money.

The main drawback was the lack of voice chat. However, this is not a necessity for a remote desktop platform, and the built-in text-based chat is sufficient to handle most tech support tasks. Although it does not have a free plan, Splashtop Business does have a seven-day free trial, so you can try it out for yourself before making a commitment.

All in all, while fairly basic, Splashtop is easy to use, and has all of the core features you would expect from a remote desktop program. If you’re looking for a functional remote desktop solution that doesn’t break the bank, it’s hard to go wrong with Splashtop Business.

How to use remote desktop on Windows 10

Serguei Solokhine — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 10:18:03 +0000

For business owners looking to enable employees to connect to their work computers remotely, the best remote desktop software capable of reliably maintaining tens or hundreds of connections is necessary.

Fortunately, there are many ways you can connect to a remote desktop on Windows 10. We compiled this guide on how to make an effective remote desktop connection on Windows 10 with these types of programs in mind.

How to use remote desktop on Windows 10: Preparation

Before establishing a remote desktop connection with your Windows 10 PC, you must enable and configure your remote desktop settings. Navigate to the Start menu on your PC, and type Control Panel in the search bar. Click "Control Panel", then click "System and Security".

Under the "System" heading in "System and Security", click "Allow remote access". A pop-up window will open with several tabs. Click over to the "Remote" tab. Under the "Remote Desktop" heading, click the radio button that says "Allow remote connections to this computer".

Finally, tick the box that says "Allow remote connections only from computers running remote desktop with Network Level Authentication (NLA)" if you want to. NLA is a second layer of security that reduces the chances of a malicious actor taking control of your PC via remote desktop. You should leave this feature on unless you have a specific reason not to.

At this point, your PC is ready for remote connectivity. You can also add specific users from a drop-down list using the "Select Users" button. This will limit remote desktop access to only specific users. Otherwise, leave things as is—users with administrator access will receive remote desktop connectivity by default.

Initial setup

Step 1: Select a remote desktop software solution

There are a lot of different remote desktop software solutions available, including free software like Microsoft Remote Desktop and paid solutions such as TeamViewer, which is one of the best remote desktop software solutions available for business users.

TeamViewer has outstanding security features and built-in communication tools. It also has tools for rapid mass deployment across your organisation, which are vital for effective business use, but aren’t available with most free remote desktop solutions.

The rest of this guide assumes you chose to use TeamViewer for remote desktop access. That said, remote desktop programs are broadly similar, and you can follow along regardless of what program you choose. Just remember that specific menu buttons and locations will vary.

You can download and install TeamViewer without buying it, but you will need to log in to use it, which is only possible after purchasing a plan.
To purchase TeamViewer, navigate to its Buy Now page and select a plan that makes sense for you. Once you have made a selection, hit the "Buy" button under your plan of choice, review your order details, and click "Continue to Payment".
Once you have purchased a plan, navigate to TeamViewer’s home page and click the "Download" button at the top of the screen. Choose an appropriate version of TeamViewer based on your device. You can download TeamViewer onto a Windows PC, Mac, Linux machine, Chromebook, Raspberry Pi, Android, or iOS device. You can then use these devices to access your Windows 10 PC remotely.
Once TeamViewer finishes downloading and installing, you will need to choose your access type to proceed.

There are two types of remote access sessions: attended and unattended access. With attended access, someone is using the PC while you access it from a remote location.

This type of access usually comes with a text-based chat enabling the remote and regular user to communicate. This is good for remote tech support, presentations, and other tasks that require shared screen control and collaboration. Unattended access means that nobody else is using the PC at the time of remote access.

Most remote desktop programs enable both access types, but you should decide which one meets your current needs, since the process to implement them is quite different.

This guide has instructions for running both types of sessions. To proceed, follow the instructions below for unattended access or skip ahead to the instructions for attended access.

Unattended access

Step 1: Initiate setup

Check this box to grant unattended access to your Windows 10 PC via TeamViewer (Image credit: TeamViewer)

Download the TeamViewer installer to your Windows PC. Make sure that you install the correct version, either 32-bit or 64-bit, depending on your version of Windows. You can see what version of Windows you have by navigating to Settings > System > About and checking the "System Type" field. It should say either 32-bit or 64-bit operating system.

When you download TeamViewer to your PC, you will see two options: one to install it as normal, and another to install remote desktop on the current PC. Choose the latter, and wait for TeamViewer to finish installing.

Log on to TeamViewer on the Windows PC and tick the box labeled "Grant easy access" under the "Unattended Access" heading.

Enter your login credentials to connect the Windows PC to a TeamViewer account in the pop-up window. Click "Assign".

Finally, log into TeamViewer on the device you will be using to initiate remote access. You should see your Windows PC on your list of computers and contacts. Click on it to start a remote desktop session at any time. Note that the Windows PC needs to be on and connected to the internet in order for you to access it remotely.

Attended access

Step 1a: Connect with QuickSupport

Don’t forget to reset your passcode after every session (Image credit: TeamViewer)

QuickSupport is user-friendly and walks users through requesting support step by step, making it a better option for large organisations.

Setting up attended access with QuickSupport in TeamViewer is quick and easy. First, install TeamViewer’s QuickSupport utility onto your Windows PC. Next, click "Send Your ID" to quickly share your support ID with a support person via SMS, email, or a messenger program of your choice.

The support person will then receive an email with a link for them to connect. Once the support person clicks the link, they should receive complete remote control of the Windows PC from their chosen device. They can also communicate with the PC user via video, voice, or text-based chat.

If you have a small team, you can set up a connection in just two steps without QuickSupport. First, the PC user should email their ID and password to the support person. Next, the support person should enter the ID and password into TeamViewer on their end and press "Connect".

That’s it! You now have an active remote desktop connection to your Windows PC. Note that this method can quickly get out of hand with a large organisation, with many email requests coming in at once. Hence, it is only suitable for a business with relatively infrequent support sessions.

It’s also important to reset your password after each session.

Remote desktop on Windows 10: Summary

Now you know how to use TeamViewer or a similar remote desktop program to connect to your Windows 10 PC from any device. You can set up an unattended access session to control your PC from another location, or assist an existing PC user through an attended access session.

How to use remote desktop on Mac

Serguei Solokhine — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 10:18:01 +0000

Remote desktop technology enables you to connect your computer to another one through the internet and take control of its keyboard, mouse, and display as if you were using it directly.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to use remote desktop on Mac. To connect to a Mac remotely, you need one of the best remote desktop software platforms; if you want to remote desktop from one OS to the other, we've covered how to remote desktop from Mac to Windows, too.

How to use remote desktop on Mac: Preparation

Before accessing a Mac remotely, you will need to enable "Remote Login" and configure your preferences for remote users in "Remote Management".

Navigate to System Preferences > Sharing on the Mac, and select "Remote Login". On the Remote Login screen, choose "All Users" or "Only These Users".

Don’t worry about unwanted connections if you pick "All Users". It does not open up your computer to just anyone, and users will still need login credentials to connect.

If you chose "Only These Users", you will see a list of the users on your local network. Specify who you want to provide access to from the drop-down list.

Configure remote users’ permissions in the Remote Management menu (Image credit: Apple)

Once you have set up remote login to your liking, navigate back out to the Sharing menu and select "Remote Management". Here you can configure the exact level of access remote users will have to this Mac. On this screen, you can set up several features.

For example, you can choose whether remote users can take complete control of your Mac, or if they can only observe it. You can also decide whether or not they can open applications, delete and replace files, and more. You can also change the access privileges from "All Users" to "Only These Users" from this screen.

Once you have completed these steps, any other computer—regardless of what type of device it is—should now have the ability to connect to your Mac remotely. That said, it still needs remote desktop software to take advantage of this capability.

Initial setup

Step 1: Choose a remote desktop program

While all remote desktop programs serve a similar purpose, they are not the same. Some are faster than others, some don’t work on Mac, and some enable you to connect to multiple computers simultaneously while others do not.

Overall, one of our top picks for the best remote desktop software is RemotePC. Despite the name, it works equally well on Mac. It is very competitively-priced, simple to set up, and has many built-in tools.

Once you have chosen your remote desktop program, the next step is to select between attended and unattended access.

Step 2: Choose access type

There are two different kinds of access available for most remote desktop solutions: attended or unattended. With attended access, someone else is using the computer while you access it remotely. You can use this for remote tech support or other similar tasks. Unattended access is the best option for personal use, such as logging into your work computer from home.

In either case, the following instructions are written with RemotePC in mind, although the steps will be broadly similar for most remote desktop software.

Purchase RemotePC from its website. The type of subscription you will need will depend on your remote desktop needs. Suppose you only need to connect two computers for personal use. In that case, the Consumer plan for two computers is sufficient.
If you are setting up a network of business computers for remote access, you might need a more expensive, robust plan. Choose the right plan based on your needs from the Pricing page, and sign up.
While RemotePC is our pick for the best remote desktop software, other options are available, including some free programs. Check out our list of the best free remote desktop software for an in-depth look at these options.
You will need to install RemotePC, or whichever program you choose, on the computer that you will use to connect to your Mac remotely. For RemotePC, navigate to the Download page and choose the version of RemotePC that is appropriate for your connecting device. You can use RemotePC to connect a Windows PC, Mac, iOS, or Android device to your Mac.
Once you have downloaded the appropriate application, RemotePC will automatically be installed on your device. To begin, enter the login credentials you acquired when you bought the program.

Keep reading if you would like to proceed with an unattended access session, or skip ahead to the attended access instructions.

Unattended access

Step 1: Add your Mac to the device list

To connect to your Mac remotely at any time, you will need to enable "Always-On Remote Access". Download and install RemotePC on your Mac, the same way you did on the other device above. Enter the login credentials you acquired on purchase to log in. You will see a screen that looks like this:

Once you log in to RemotePC, you should see a blank screen like this (Image credit: RemotePC)

Click "Configure Now" and enter a name and personal key for your Mac. Ideally, your personal key should be unique and should consist of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. It will act as a password to access your Mac from the other device.

Hit "Enable Now": your Mac should now appear on the list of devices like this:

If you did everything right, your Mac should appear on the list of devices here (Image credit: RemotePC)

Step 2: Connect to your Mac

Log in to RemotePC on the device you will use to connect to your Mac if you haven’t already. You will see your Mac’s name on the list of devices. Click on your Mac, then click "Connect".

You should now have full access and control of your Mac from the other device. You can end your remote session at any time by closing the program, and restart it by logging in again and clicking "Connect". You will not need to repeat the previous step, since your Mac is already set up in the system.

Step 3 (optional): Enable Wake-on-LAN for your Mac

Typically, if your Mac is off, you will not be able to access it for a remote desktop connection. You can get around this with RemotePC’s Wake-on-LAN (WOL) feature.

Log in to RemotePC from any device, then hit the settings button in the top right. Click "Configure", then select "Wake-on-LAN Through Local Network" from the drop-down list. Click the plus icon, then click on the name of your Mac from the pop-up list. Click Ok.

You will now see a small button on the right side of the screen next to the name of your Mac. Click it if your Mac is off to wake it up and access it remotely.

Click the little icon on the far right to wake your Mac remotely (Image credit: RemotePC)

Attended access

Step 1: Contact the Mac user

On the device you want to access your Mac from, open RemotePC and click "Attended Access" in the bottom left corner.

This is the main window you will use to connect with your Mac through an attended access session (Image credit: RemotePC)

A pop-up window will open requesting a session code. Click "Invite Customers" at the bottom of the window. A second pop-up will appear with a default set of instructions for the Mac user. You can edit these or leave them as is. Fill in the email address of the current Mac user at the bottom of this window and hit send.

The Mac user will now receive an email from you with a download link. They should click the link to begin downloading the client version of RemotePC. Once it has finished downloading, they will receive a one-time code and the option to share that code with you.

When you receive the one-time code, enter it into the session code field in the pop-up window that’s still open from the previous step. Wait for the session to connect. Once the session connects, you should be able to observe the Mac user’s screen, communicate with them via chat, and take control of their PC remotely as needed.

Remote desktop on Mac: Summary

Now you know how to enable a remote desktop connection to your Mac from any device, and how to use RemotePC or a similar remote desktop program to access it.

VNC Connect review

Richard Sutherland — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 10:16:52 +0000

VNC Connect is a remote desktop administration solution from RealVNC, one of the longest-running companies in the remote admin industry. VNC Connect uses the venerable VNC (virtual network computing) platform as its base, but adds some important features like encryption and cloud connectivity.

In our VNC Connect review, we discuss these features to help you decide whether it’s worth paying for a VNC Connect subscription over a free VNC solution, and if it deserves a place as one of the best remote desktop software solutions for business.

VNC Connect review: Snapshot

VNC Connect is a remote desktop solution SMEs should consider for their remote admin needs. It has excellent security, granular access controls, and a multitude of clients. And with cloud connectivity, it’s easier to set up and use than most VNC remote desktop apps when your network is atypical.

Admins who have used free VNC tools for decades may balk at paying for a VNC solution, but we feel VNC Connect’s added quality-of-life features make the annual price well worth the investment.

Score: 3.5/5

Read on for our full and detailed VNC Connect review.

VNC Connect’s competitors

How does VNC Connect compare to its main competitors?

	VNC Connect	TightVNC	Microsoft Remote Desktop
Score	3.5/5	3/5	3/5
Pros	- Cloud connectivity - Fine-grained security options	- Free and open-source - Small footprint	- Built-in to most versions of Windows - Efficient protocol
Cons	- Peer-to-peer connections require the most expensive plan - Latency issues compared to more modern protocols	- Poor encryption - Windows-focused	- Server runs on Windows only - Requires additional router setup on many networks
Verdict	An improved version of VNC in nearly every way, VNC Connect includes all the security features SMEs require.	A free VNC server and client, TightVNC lacks the simplicity of VNC Connect’s cloud connectivity features.	Faster than VNC clients, Remote Desktop is a solid alternative if you exclusively run Microsoft Windows.
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VNC Connect: Key features

VNC Connect is built upon the VNC platform, a remote access protocol that’s been in popular use since 1999. But VNC Connect adds some useful features in an attempt to patch some of VNC’s issues. Most notably, VNC Connect has built-in 256-bit AES encryption and cloud connectivity.

Cloud connectivity

Enterprise editions of VNC Connect allow for cloud connections and direct peer-to-peer connections (Image credit: VNC Connect)

One of the common challenges of setting up remote administration software is that a peer-to-peer connection between the server and client must be maintained. This is easy enough for simple across-the-LAN connections, but when connecting over multiple networks or the internet, it usually requires setting up port forwarding in your routers or other workarounds.

VNC Connect has a cloud service that automatically brokers connections between devices wherever they are. Acting as a type of proxy, this cloud service solves many of the headaches involved in setting up remote administration on complex networks.

Cross-platform clients and servers

The RealVNC Viewer app for Android can be used with any VNC server, not just the VNC Connect server (Image credit: VNC Connect)

VNC Connect has servers for Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi, Solaris, HP-UX, and AIX. This is a formidable lineup that far surpasses most remote administration tools. The connecting device will use VNC Viewer (or any other VNC client, if you prefer). VNC Viewer is available for all the above operating systems, and there are also versions for Android and iOS.

Overall, VNC Connect is a highly versatile choice if you work in a multiplatform environment, and one of our top picks for the best remote desktop for Linux.

You can choose to use your local printer while connected to the VNC Connect server (Image credit: VNC Connect)

VNC Connect: What’s new in 2022?

VNC Connect typically sees updates every few months. In October 2021, VNC Server 6.8.0 was released that added screen recording, dark mode support for macOS, and several bug fixes.

In November 2021, the latest version of VNC Viewer was released (6.21.1109), which fixed a bug in the chat system that could leave the remote computer unresponsive.

VNC Connect: Pricing

VNC Connect has two plans for remote administration under its Device Access tier—Professional and Enterprise. Both must be purchased on an annual basis. You can get a free 30-day trial of both versions.

Pricing is based on a per-device model, so you pay for the number of servers you want to connect to. There is a discount of around 20% for purchasing multiple device licenses at a time.

A different pricing model, Instant Support, is available if you want to use VNC Connect as an instant support service for IT support teams. This starts at £11.99 a month per technician per month, billed annually.

VNC Connect’s pricing plans

	Professional	Enterprise
Cost per month	£2.49 per device	£3.29 per device
Cost per year	£29.88	£39.48
Peer-to-peer connections	✖	✔
Cloud connectivity	✔	✔
Web-based management console	✖	✔
End-to-end encryption	✔	✔

Testing VNC Connect

We performed several tests on VNC Connect to understand how well it performs at typical office remote administration tasks. We connected to a Windows 10 PC over an 802.11ac wireless connection from Windows 10 and Android devices to test the quality of the remote experience over a LAN.

To test remote connections over the internet, we installed VNC Connect on a Microsoft Azure-hosted virtual machine running Windows Server 2019. By connecting to this US-based server from a computer in South East Asia, we were able to test the effects of latency on VNC Connect.

How easy is VNC Connect to install?

VNC Connect has an onboarding process that’s easy to follow (Image credit: VNC Connect)

VNC Connect has a great onboarding process that begins with an introductory email that links to a website filled with details on getting started with the software. Additional emails explaining further details of the software are sent over the course of your trial period.

Installation is a multi step process. You download and install the server software on the computer you want to remotely connect to, then do the same with the client software on the platforms you want to connect from.

The software performs some checks when starting up, such as assessing whether the required ports are available. This can help new users avoid common issues.

On the other hand, we reached out to RealVNC during our two-week trial period of the software and received no response. While VNC Connect does have a good knowledge base and FAQ, it appears difficult to get in touch with RealVNC support should you need to.

How fast is VNC Connect?

The Remote Framebuffer (RFB) protocol VNC Connect uses is relatively simple, which is a big reason it’s possible to use VNC on so many platforms. It works by sending information about sections of the remote screen that have been updated back to the connecting client.

This works fine for most business uses, but the more “busy” the screen gets, the more screen tearing and latency you’ll notice. You wouldn’t use VNC Connect to watch a video across the network, but it can work fine for general tasks such as word processing or server administration.

How secure is VNC Connect?

VNC Connect has a comprehensive list of security settings you can use to keep your remote administration sessions secure (Image credit: VNC Connect)

VNC Connect can be considered secure out of the box. Connections are all encrypted end-to-end, and you have a lot of control over which devices can connect to your remote sessions.

There are multiple options for password protection. You can use specific passwords for different VNC Connect users. Alternatively, you can use System Authentication, whereby the user must enter their Windows login credentials, for instance. Further options like Single Sign-in Authentication, Smart Card Authentication, and RADIUS Authentication are configurable.

When correctly set up, VNC Connect is one of the most secure options for remote administration on the market today.

Alternatives to VNC Connect

VNC Connect faces a lot of competition. The VNC protocol it uses is also the basis of many free remote administration software solutions. TightVNC is a popular free VNC server and client for Microsoft Windows. The price is right, but SMEs may find TightVNC’s lack of built-in encryption and the complexity of setting up secure remote connections over the internet to be deal-breakers.

Another free option, as long as you only want to connect remotely to a Microsoft Windows machine, is Microsoft Remote Desktop. This is built in to most versions of Windows (with the notable exceptions of the Starter and Home editions), and has a more efficient data transfer protocol (RDP), making for a smoother remote experience.

But, once again, if you need to connect remotely to a computer over the internet then there is usually some additional setup required in your router.

VNC Connect’s features compared to the competition

	VNC Connect	TightVNC	Microsoft Remote Desktop
Encryption	✔	✖	✔
Screen sharing	✔	✔	✖
Support	Knowledge base and FAQ	Mailing list, paid commercial support	Support site, live chat
Basic plan	£2.49 a month	Free	Free

VNC Connect: Final verdict

For longtime users of free VNC remote admin solutions, paying for VNC may seem odd. But VNC Connect’s main selling points come in its ease of use when connecting over the internet, thanks to its cloud connectivity and robust, built-in encryption.

Few remote access solutions offer VNC Connect’s many client authentication options, too, making it a good choice when you need to allow multiple people access to sensitive remote resources.

VNC Connect also gains points for its outstanding documentation, knowledge base, tutorials, eBooks, and webinars. All its various features are well explained and documented.

If you only need to connect to a remote computer over the LAN from time-to-time, the cloud connectivity and enhanced security features might not be worth the VNC Connect annual fee. Instead, you could just use one of the many free VNC solutions available today.

But for SMEs looking for a robust, secure, cross-platform remote admin tool that can be used across the internet, VNC Connect ticks all the important boxes.

TightVNC review

Richard Sutherland — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 10:16:50 +0000

TightVNC is one of many remote desktop software solutions that use the virtual network computing (VNC) graphical desktop-sharing system. It relays the mouse and keyboard events from one computer to another, and sends graphical screen updates back, effectively allowing you to use your computer from a remote device.

In our TightVNC review, we look at whether this software—first released in 2001—is still one of the best free remote desktop software platforms with which to control a computer remotely.

TightVNC review: Snapshot

TightVNC is a remote desktop tool that works well on low-bandwidth connections. It’s a good option for low-end computers and devices like the Raspberry Pi, as it’s very lightweight and uses few resources. It’s easy to set up for basic remote admin tasks over a local area network.

The VNC protocol that TightVNC uses results in quite high latency, though, which you’ll notice if you try to use it for more than occasional remote screen sharing and computer administration. It doesn’t have built-in encryption, so you’ll need to take additional steps to secure connections if you want to use it over the internet.

In summary, while it just about does the job, better options exist for SMEs looking for a robust and complete remote administration solution.

Score: 3/5

Read on for our full and detailed TightVNC review.

TightVNC’s competitors

How does TightVNC compare to its main competitors?

	TightVNC	VNC Connect	Microsoft Remote Desktop
Score	3/5	3.5/5	3/5
Pros	- Lightweight program - Open-source	- Encrypted VNC - Good support channels	- Fast protocol - Built-in to Windows
Cons	- High latency - Limited support	- High latency - Relatively expensive	- Windows-centric - Security concerns
Verdict	A helpful backup tool good for small remote administration tasks, TightVNC lacks security features.	A more polished VNC service with cloud connectivity and built-in encryption.	Another quick remote admin tool that’s great on Windows but less useful for cross-platform admin.
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TightVNC: Key features

TightVNC offers a few unique features that could make it the right choice for your remote administration needs.

TightVNC has various options for session sharing (Image credit: TightVNC)

TightVNC, by default, will disconnect existing remote sessions when a new session is made. You can change this setting so that multiple remote users can view or control the server simultaneously. Alternatively, you can block new remote sessions until the initial session is complete.

This versatility can come in handy when you have an application that must accommodate multiple remote users, potentially at the same time.

Java Viewer

Connecting to a remote server using TightVNC Java Viewer (Image credit: TightVNC)

There are two versions of TightVNC—TightVNC for Windows and TightVNC Java Viewer. TightVNC Java Viewer can be run on any system that supports Java SE 1.6 or later. This includes pretty much any modern operating system, including most versions of Linux, macOS, and Windows.

This makes TightVNC Java Viewer a handy tool for working in cross-platform environments. But it doesn’t include the server component, only the client, so you’ll only be able to use it to view remote sessions (as opposed to accepting remote sessions from another device).

TightVNC has an interesting feature, whereby you can specify that only a part of the screen be shared. You can set exact pixel coordinates to be shared or a window class name (e.g., WMPlayerApp for Windows Media Player, or OpusApp for Microsoft Word).

TightVNC allows multiple connections to access different parts of the screen (Image credit: TightVNC)

Going even further, TightVNC can be set to listen on multiple ports and serve a different portion of the desktop on each one. You could set one remote session to have access to the left side of your desktop, and another to have access to the right side of your desktop, for instance.

This may only have niche applications, but it’s a clever way to share resources remotely with multiple remote users.

TightVNC: What’s new in 2022?

TightVNC doesn’t get updated often. But in September 2021, TightVNC for Windows got a security update that patched a severe security issue in the TightVNC Viewer application. Fast screen-grabbing techniques on Windows 8 and later versions were improved, and a few minor bugs were rectified.

In 2020, a few updates were released, with the most notable change being support for Unicode clipboard transfers (UTF-8) in November 2020.

TightVNC: Pricing

TightVNC is open-source and free to use commercially, and ranks among the best free remote desktop software solutions as a result. If you want to buy a license to the TightVNC source code, it costs around £10,308.

GlavSoft LLC does sell a few complementary products that can work alongside TightVNC. The first is Remote Ripple 2.0, a VNC-compatible remote client for Android, iPhone, and iPad that costs around £3.25.

The other is MightyViewer, first introduced in 2020. It’s an application for Windows that can show multiple VNC sessions concurrently on one screen, allowing you to oversee many remote computers at once. MightyViewer starts at £56.13 for a single-user license.

TightVNC’s pricing plan

	TightVNC
Cost per month	Free
Cost per year	Free
Session encryption	✖
Concurrent sessions	✖
Remote audio	✖
Access local devices	✖

Testing TightVNC

We first tested how easy TightVNC is to use by running the TightVNC Server application on a Windows 10 Professional computer, and connecting to it using TightVNC Viewer from a laptop running Windows 10 Professional. This test was performed over an 802.11ac wireless network to simulate a typical office environment.

Another test was performed to evaluate TightVNC’s use over the internet. We connected to a TightVNC server running on a US-based Windows Server 2016 machine from a Windows 10 Professional computer in Southeast Asia. This helped to ascertain how much latency could be expected when using TightVNC over a longer distance.

How easy is TightVNC to use?

It’s not always clear what the settings in TightVNC do without performing further research online (Image credit: TightVNC)

TightVNC has a short installation program you use on both the client and server computers. You can choose between running the server as a service (so it’s always available) or an application (where you start and stop the server as and when you need it).

When connecting over the internet, you may need to set port forwarding in your router settings. You’ll also need to allow access to the TightVNC port in your firewall settings.

TightVNC can be considered a tool for intermediate users. It has quite a lot of advanced available settings that aren’t explained, and there isn’t a built-in help system. To better understand what these settings do, you need to search online, as many aren’t even discussed in the TightVNC documentation or FAQ. Furthermore, there’s zero support available for free copies of TightVNC.

How fast is TightVNC?

When connecting to a remote server in our testing, full-screen updates could take up to five seconds to relay (Image credit: TightVNC)

TightVNC’s “tight” protocol was its main selling point when it was first released. It uses fewer bytes and CPU resources to transfer screen update data than the VNC clients that came before it. This makes it an excellent choice for extremely low-bandwidth applications or for old computers.

Nowadays, bandwidth isn’t usually such a big concern, and because of its simplicity, TightVNC’s RFB Protocol’s performance lags behind most new remote desktop protocols. In short, TightVNC suffers from more latency than most remote desktop solutions, so it can feel sluggish to use. The more complex the changes are on the screen, the more noticeable the lag.

How secure is TightVNC?

TightVNC can be set to only allow connections from specific IP addresses (Image credit: TightVNC)

TightVNC encrypts VNC passwords, but the rest of the traffic is sent unencrypted. So, if you have any security concerns, you’ll need to wrap your connections in a secure tunnel. If your remote server is running SSH, it’s possible to set up TightVNC to connect through SSH so all data sent is encrypted, but it’s not a straightforward process. Another option is to use a VPN.

You can choose to set a password for full-control, view-only, and administrator roles in TightVNC. But if you have many remote users, they all need to share the same passwords, which is a security risk. TightVNC also allows you to restrict remote access to specific IP address ranges, lowering the chance a malicious actor could gain remote control of your computer.

In summary, TightVNC is quite unsecure, unless you take several additional steps to secure it.

Alternatives to TightVNC

TightVNC is one of many remote desktop solutions that use the VNC protocol. Worthy alternatives include VNC Connect, a modified VNC solution with support for remote audio, faster video streaming, cloud connectivity, and encrypted sessions. TigerVNC is a similar VNC client to TightVNC, and includes end-to-end encryption options.

If you don’t specifically need to use the VNC protocol, your options widen even further. There’s Microsoft Remote Desktop, which is built into most versions of Windows and utilizes the RDP protocol. It’s faster than TightVNC, with better image quality and less latency. But its Windows-centric design makes it a poorer choice if you use many different operating systems.

If you’re happy to pay for a remote desktop solution, we like AnyDesk. It’s easier to use than TightVNC, with a more modern interface, and has apps for all major operating systems.

TightVNC’s features compared to the competition

	TightVNC	VNC Connect	Microsoft Remote Desktop
Encrypted sessions	✖	✔	✔
File transfers	✔	✔	✔
Support	Paid commercial support	Chat, email, phone	Knowledge base
Basic plan	Free	From £2.49 a month	Free

TightVNC: Final verdict

TightVNC has long been one of the go-to tools in a network administrator’s arsenal, and it still has its merits after over 20 years of service. It’s lightweight, so you can run it on older computers, and it works well even when your connection to the remote server is slow.

It’s difficult to recommend it for more than occasional use over the LAN, however, because it doesn’t have built-in encryption. Setting up a connection over the internet can often require port forwarding rules set in your router. Newer remote desktop solutions can offer a smoother experience with less latency, built-in encryption, streaming audio, and better image quality.

Microsoft Remote Desktop review

Richard Sutherland — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 10:16:47 +0000

Microsoft Remote Desktop is the remote access and administration tool built into most versions of Windows since Windows 2000. It’s part of the broader Remote Desktop Services platform, which also encompasses virtual desktop environments deployed on-premises or on the cloud via the RDP protocol.

In this Microsoft Remote Desktop review, we decide whether it remains one of the best remote desktop software solutions today, or if it’s been eclipsed by newer entries onto the market.

Microsoft Remote Desktop review: Snapshot

Available pre-installed on most versions of Windows, Microsoft Remote Desktop is a relatively straightforward way to access remote Windows installations over a LAN. Remote Desktop enables you to use a remote Windows PC as if you were sitting in front of it.

It’s easy to set up for simple tasks, has clients for most major operating systems, and the data transmission protocol it uses works well in low-bandwidth situations. Things get a little trickier when you want to connect to Windows over the internet, so Remote Desktop doesn’t scale particularly well for larger enterprise installations.

Microsoft’s new cloud-based Azure Virtual Desktop is generally a better option for scalable enterprise remote desktop solutions. For SMEs, Remote Desktop represents a free way to connect to Windows remotely. Its performance is good, both when connecting across a LAN or to a remote server installation.

You can also connect to your Windows machine from Android and iOS devices. But more user-friendly options like Chrome Remote Desktop might entice business owners looking for a modern plug-and-play remote solution.

Score: 3/5

Read on for our full and detailed Microsoft Remote Desktop review.

Microsoft Remote Desktop’s competitors

How does Microsoft Remote Desktop compare to its main competitors?

	Microsoft Remote Desktop	TightVNC	Chrome Remote Desktop
Score	3/5	3/5	3.5/5
Pros	- Network-efficient - Share resources between user profiles	- Platform-independent protocol - Lightweight application	- Intuitive interface - Easy to install - Works out of the box with most network setups
Cons	- Tedious setup on some networks - Works best on Windows machines	- High latency - Traffic is sent unencrypted	- No built-in file transfer tool - Can’t reboot the remote machine and connect
Verdict	Built into most Windows OSs, Remote Desktop can be a quick way to access your devices remotely.	TightVNC works on hundreds of operating systems, but it shows its age with slow speeds and high latency.	Chrome Remote Desktop is a free remote access tool that’s easy to set up, but it lacks functionality that power users will miss.
View deals	Visit site	Visit site	Visit site

Microsoft Remote Desktop: Key features

Besides being built into most editions of Windows, Remote Desktop has some unique features for Windows desktop users.

Microsoft Remote Desktop uses Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to transmit data between the local and remote computers. It’s designed to reduce the amount of data that needs to be transferred, increasing the quality of the image and lowering the latency.

You can adjust settings in Remote Desktop Connection to improve performance (Image credit: Microsoft)

RDP uses various mechanisms to achieve this, from bitmap caching to data compression. It generally delivers a smoother user experience than remote clients that use Remote Frame Buffer (RFB) protocol instead.

On Windows alone, there are technically three clients for Remote Desktop. There’s the built-in Remote Desktop Connection app, a modern-UI Remote Desktop client available in the Microsoft Store, and a new Windows Remote Desktop client that can only be used to connect to Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365. In most cases, the built-in Remote Desktop Connection is all you need.

When connecting to Windows using the Remote Desktop client for Android, the image quality and response times were good (Image credit: Microsoft)

While Remote Desktop was only available on Windows computers for a long time, Microsoft recently introduced several clients for other operating systems, including clients for Android, iOS, and macOS. You can use these to connect to your Windows PC from another type of device, but not vice-versa. In our testing outlined below, we found these to be slick and easy to use.

One thing that sets Microsoft Remote Desktop apart from most competitors is its tight integration into the operating system. It comes pre-installed and ready to use on most Windows computers, though it’s not possible to use Remote Desktop to connect to the Home or Starter editions of Windows.

You can set some of your local devices to be available to you even when you're connected to the remote machine (Image credit: Microsoft)

When connecting from another Windows machine, you can choose to keep access to local resources like your printer, clipboard, drives, and other plug-and-play devices. For example, you can work on a document on the remote machine and print it out on your local printer.

Microsoft Remote Desktop: What’s new in 2022?

In January 2022, the Remote Desktop app for Android got a significant update. The user interface was updated to make it easier to switch between remote PCs and apps, and support was added for Scroll Lock and Num Lock keys.

January also saw the discovery of a security flaw in Remote Desktop Protocol. This vulnerability affects all modern Windows systems running RDP, and users are advised to ensure they have installed the latest security updates from Microsoft that fix the flaw.

Microsoft Remote Desktop: Pricing

Microsoft Remote Desktop has server and client components. You need the server to be running on the host computer you will connect to. You also need client software on your connecting computer.

The server software is included for free on all modern editions of Windows, except for Starter and Home editions. You cannot use Microsoft Remote Desktop to connect to these specific editions of Windows. Client software, on the other hand, is included for free on all modern editions of Windows. It is called Remote Desktop Connection. It ranks among the best free remote desktop software solutions as a result.

Microsoft Remote Desktop’s pricing plans

	Microsoft Remote Desktop
Cost per month	Free
Cost per year	Free
Screen sharing	✖
Shared device access	✔
Windows server	✔
macOS server	✖
Linux server	✖

Testing Microsoft Remote Desktop

We first tested Microsoft Remote Desktop in a typical office setup, connecting to a Windows 10 computer from a Windows 10 laptop over an 802.11ac wireless connection. Then, we connected to the same server using the Remote Desktop App for Android, to test the functionality of the remote app.

Finally, we tested a remote connection to Remote Desktop running on a Windows Server 2019 virtual machine running in the Microsoft Azure cloud. We connected from South East Asia to an Azure host in the East US region on a 300Mbps internet connection, to measure how latency can affect the experience.

How easy is Microsoft Remote Desktop to use?

RDS can be installed on Windows Server 2016 using the Roles and Features Wizard (Image credit: Microsoft)

Remote Desktop is included in most versions of Windows, and only requires a few setting changes to get it up and running. We've separately outlined how to use Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection in greater detail.

Users enter their Windows login credentials to use Remote Desktop. Everyone who logs into a machine using their own credentials will see their own desktop and have access to their own files as if they were sitting in front of the remote PC’s monitor.

Separating user accounts is a neat way of accommodating all the different users who might use a single PC. But it also means that Remote Desktop is a relatively poor option for screen sharing applications and remote technical support.

How fast is Microsoft Remote Desktop?

When using Remote Desktop to connect to a Windows Server 2016 server in another country, the user interface remained responsive (Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft Remote Desktop uses an efficient remote desktop protocol, which bears out in its performance. When connecting over a LAN, image compression was barely noticeable. There’s a touch of latency on user input, but it’s only around 20 to 30ms.

Surprisingly, using Remote Desktop over the internet didn’t make this latency increase much, so interacting with applications remotely still felt responsive. You could use your remote session as your daily Windows desktop and barely notice you were using a remote computer.

How secure is Microsoft Remote Desktop?

By enabling Network Level Authentication in the Remote Desktop settings, many common cyberattacks against RDP can be thwarted (Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft Remote Desktop transfers data in an encrypted format. Users can also enable Network Level Authentication, which means the remote user must authenticate themselves before a Remote Desktop session is started.

Remote Desktop, in one form or another, has been included on most Windows desktops and servers for over 20 years, and has seen countless tweaks and revisions to bring it to its current version.

Its ubiquity makes it a prime target for hackers looking for poorly secured RDP servers. In 2012, 2018, and 2019, particularly critical vulnerabilities were found in the software and subsequently patched. RDP compromises were the single biggest attack vector for ransomware in 2020.

Microsoft Remote Desktop, therefore, requires administrators to keep on top of security updates, and employ further security measures such as a business VPN, for the use of Remote Desktop to be considered.

Alternatives to Microsoft Remote Desktop

Virtual network computing (VNC) software like TightVNC has long been considered Microsoft Remote Desktop’s chief competition, because these platform types have both been around forever and perform similar duties.

Where Remote Desktop surrenders complete control of the server to the connecting user, TightVNC instead works by displaying the current user’s desktop while allowing the remote user to control the mouse and keyboard.

While RDP is Windows-centric, the VNC protocol has been adopted by hundreds of operating systems, so it’s often a better choice if you work in a multi-platform environment.

Chrome Remote Desktop is a newer free alternative that runs within the Chrome web browser. While it lacks some features that Microsoft Remote Desktop has, such as shared access to local resources, it’s much easier to set up, particularly when you want to connect to computers over the internet.

Microsoft Remote Desktop’s features compared to the competition

	Microsoft Remote Desktop	TightVNC	Chrome Remote Desktop
Concurrent sessions	✔ (on Windows Server)	✖	✖
Screen sharing	✖	✔	✔
Support	Support site, live chat	Mailing list, paid commercial support	Knowledge base
Basic plan	Free	Free	Free

Microsoft Remote Desktop: Final verdict

Microsoft Remote Desktop has improved a lot over the past few years, with new clients for mobile devices and a modern-UI client option. It’s included by default on most modern versions of Windows, and if you only need to connect to a remote Windows computer on your LAN from time-to-time, it’s a quick way to do so.

Things get more complicated when you need to connect to a computer over the internet or your network configuration is atypical. You’ll potentially need to make changes to your router settings and use a VPN, so Remote Desktop loses out to more straightforward remote desktop solutions in these cases.

What is VNC?

Richard Sutherland — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 10:16:45 +0000

What is VNC?

VNC (virtual network computing) is a remote desktop-sharing system you can use to control another computer in a different location. VNC-based remote desktop tools are lightweight and versatile, making them some of the best remote desktop software available today, and are often free too, ranking among the best free remote desktop software platforms.

What does VNC do?

Enables you to remotely control another computer (known as the server)
Displays the remote computer’s desktop on your screen
Transmits your mouse and keyboard functions to the remote computer
Uses a server program for the machine to be controlled and a client/viewer program for the controlling device
Runs on a wide range of operating systems
Is the basis for many remote desktop applications, though not all remote desktop programs use VNC

How departments can use VNC

IT support and web dev teams are just two business departments that might use VNC (Image credit: Getty Images)

IT support

IT support can use VNC to troubleshoot issues remotely. VNC’s most common use is to make quick changes on a remote computer through a convenient, familiar interface. For IT support teams, it’s a big benefit to be able to troubleshoot an employee’s computer remotely.

When new software installations and updates are rolled out that would typically require an IT support technician to move physically from machine to machine making changes, VNC allows them to perform all the updates remotely from the computer on their own desk.

Web development teams

Web development teams can use VNC to remotely access web servers and cloud-hosted virtual machines. When your business has websites and applications hosted on the cloud, it can sometimes be challenging to update and administer them because the files are all stored on remote servers.

When you need to make significant changes to a cloud-hosted server or dedicated server, using VNC can be a convenient way to work on the server. It’s intuitive to work in a desktop environment, making changes to the server using the graphical interface of the operating system you are used to.

Call centre managers

Using VNC can be a quick way to display data on multiple screens for the whole sales team to see. One computer generates and displays statistics on KPIs (key performance indicators) such as call volume, queue length, and wait times. The screens throughout the office connect to this computer and mirror its display, keeping everyone informed of the current call centre status.

This is a relatively inexpensive and convenient way to roll out digital signage across the floor.

Remote workers

The remote desktop features of VNC can come in handy for any user that needs to remotely access a computer. For example, a software developer working from home can use VNC to access their office computer to run applications there, or get files that they need.

Because VNC can run on many platforms, it can be useful for people working in a cross-platform environment. For instance, you can sit in front of your macOS computer, yet use VNC to control your Windows computer. This way, they can run Windows applications that aren’t available for macOS.

Features and benefits of VNC

Services like TightVNC take advantage of ease-of-use and lightweight technology (Image credit: TightVNC)

VNC uses a lightweight protocol

VNC uses a robust but simple protocol called the RFB (remote framebuffer) protocol. It transports images and peripheral inputs back and forth between the server (the computer being remotely accessed) and the client (the device used locally to connect to the remote computer). Because VNC doesn’t use many resources like CPU and memory, it can be run on low-powered hardware.

VNC is practically platform-independent

The RFB protocol doesn’t need to know much about the operating system on which it is running. All it needs to be able to do is send mouse and keyboard data from the client to the server, and image data from the server to the client. This means that writing VNC server and client software for new operating systems is relatively easy, which is why VNC is so ubiquitous. You’ll find VNC software able to run on just about every popular platform, including mobile devices like Android and iOS and small-factor devices like the Raspberry Pi.

You can set VNC to keep the local user logged in when a remote user connects to their computer. In this way, control of the computer can be shared between both users. This can be useful in employee training situations. It also means VNC can be used as a customer support tool, where customers can see exactly what the remote technician is doing on their computer.

VNC, by default, listens on a single port and shares the entire screen to anyone who connects to that port and successfully authenticates themselves. But you can set up VNC to listen on multiple ports, and share different parts of the screen on each port. For an example of where this could be useful, we can again consider a call centre floor. Each of the LCDs on the floor can connect to different VNC ports on the server. Therefore, each display can show different data from each other, even when only one VNC server is used.

VNC allows for cross-platform use

VNC’s simple protocol means it works on lots of platforms. Though some remote desktop solutions are more responsive than VNC-based remote desktop solutions because they interact more directly with the underlying operating system, VNC-based remote desktop tools can be used to connect between different platforms. This makes them an excellent option if you work with Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and other operating systems daily.

How much does VNC cost?

There are free and paid VNC apps available, including VNC Connect (Image credit: VNC Connect)

VNC itself is a free, open-source protocol. Great free remote desktop solutions based on VNC include TightVNC, TigerVNC, and UltraVNC.

Some paid solutions that use VNC exist. These usually extend the features of VNC by adding built-in encryption, better user authentication, or cloud connectivity. VNC Connect from RealVNC, for instance, adds all these useful features. It starts at £2.49 a month per device.

VNC FAQs

How do I set up VNC?

VNC solutions consist of two parts—the server and the client/viewer. Install the server on the computer you want to connect remotely to. Install the client/viewer on the device(s) you want to connect from.

VNC, at its core, is a relatively simple protocol. So, you will typically need to enter the IP address of the server into the client/viewer to be able to connect to it. This can be inconvenient if your network uses DHCP (so IP addresses are often changing), or you’re attempting to connect to a computer that’s on another network.

Workarounds for these problems exist, but you should be aware of these potential snags before choosing a VNC-based remote desktop tool for your business.

Is VNC secure?

VNC is a protocol that’s over 20 years old, and it wasn’t designed with security as a chief concern. VNC passwords are sent encrypted, but the encryption protocol used is weak and could potentially be cracked. All session data is sent in an unencrypted format, too.

Again, workarounds exist for these shortcomings. For instance, VNC can be tunneled through an SSH connection, or you can use a VPN. Some VNC solutions, such as UltraVPN and VPN Connect, include their own encryption, essentially solving this problem.

Does VNC perform well?

VNC’s performance has pros and cons. At its heart, it works through a simple mechanism where any changes to pixels on the server are relayed to the client. The protocol needs to know very little about the underlying operating system being used, which makes VNC easy to port to new operating systems. It also makes the program lightweight, and it uses few resources on the server.

For basic admin tasks, VNC works well. But the simplicity of the protocol has its downside. When the server has a lot of data changing on the screen at a time, the amount of data sent across the network is increased, and latency gets worse. For instance, using VNC to watch a video remotely results in excessive screen tearing, and the interface can feel unresponsive.

Main takeaways

VNC is a remote desktop-sharing tool used extensively in IT settings
You can use VNC-based remote desktop tools to remotely view and control a desktop
VNC servers and clients exist for hundreds of operating systems and platforms
VNC, on its own, isn’t very secure; you should take steps to secure your connections, or choose a solution that includes built-in encryption
It can be challenging to set up VNC to work across networks; commercial solutions like VNC Connect add cloud connectivity that makes setup much easier

What is RDP?

Richard Sutherland — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 10:16:44 +0000

What is RDP?

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is the transmission protocol used in Microsoft’s Remote Desktop. To use RDP, you run an RDP server on the computer you want to remotely control, and an RDP client on the computer you are connecting from.

Thanks to RDP and the software that uses the protocol, you can view and control a remote computer’s desktop. Remote Desktop, Microsoft's software that uses RDP, is built into most versions of Windows. This convenience makes it one of the best remote desktop software options if you primarily work on the Microsoft Windows platform.

What does RDP do?

Transfers image data from the server to the client so you can see your desktop remotely
Can direct sound from the remote desktop to your local computer
Encrypts all data sent between the two computers
Authenticates users using Network Level Authentication (NLA)
Enables you to access your local files on a remote desktop through a system called file system redirection
Includes access to your local printer during a remote session

How businesses can benefit from RDP

Employees benefit from RDP through the use of the Remote Desktop application (Image credit: Microsoft)

RDP is simply a protocol, and most businesses benefit from it by using software that transmits data using RDP. In almost every case, this is through the use of Remote Desktop, the remote desktop tool that’s built into most editions of Windows.

Remote administration

IT technicians can use Remote Desktop to install new software and patch security issues on all of the computers in the company from the comfort of their own desks. Because they don’t need to physically go to each computer, the amount of time and manpower spent on these tasks is drastically reduced.

Remote technical support

When there’s a problem with an employee’s Windows computer, the IT support team can use Remote Desktop to log in remotely and troubleshoot the issue. RDP is an efficient protocol, so even if the connection is made over a poor internet connection or to a computer in another country, the IT support team should experience minimal latency. This makes Remote Desktop a convenient way to support Windows computers remotely.

Thin clients

RDP can also be used as part of a thin client and server setup to offer virtual desktop environments. In this setup, every computer in the office is a bare-bones computer with inexpensive hardware (also known as a thin client). Using RDP, these thin clients all connect to a single powerful Windows Server machine, which serves them a virtual desktop environment.

From the users’ perspective, they get a complete Windows desktop environment while leveraging the powerful hardware of the Windows Server machine. This setup can be much cheaper for the company than having powerful computers at every desk.

Features and benefits of RDP

You can use RDP to connect to servers as well as PCs and laptops (Image credit: Microsoft)

RDP is an efficient protocol

RDP is tightly integrated with the operating system it’s running on, as opposed to a protocol like Remote Framebuffer (RFB) used in virtual network computing (VNC)-based remote desktop tools that know very little about the operating system. Instead of always transferring image data, which is bandwidth-intensive, RDP can send basic instructions between the two connected devices. Because this uses less bandwidth, RDP is generally better than VNC, with better image quality and less latency.

RDP sessions are encrypted

Since Version 6 of RDP, which was released in 2006, all data transmission over the protocol is 128-bit RC4 encrypted. The use of TLS is possible if both ends of the connection are set up to support it. Other VNC-based remote desktop tools like TightVNC don’t have the same level of encryption. These require the use of a separate VPN to secure sessions, complicating their setup and use.

RDP has convenient and powerful user authentication options

RDP has NLA, so RDP clients don’t get to see a Windows login screen until they’ve authenticated themselves using their Microsoft account credentials. This makes denial-of-service attacks much more difficult for malicious actors to perform. This is also convenient for large organisations, because IT operations don’t have to keep a separate set of usernames and passwords for RDP. Users can log back into their own desktop sessions each time, retaining all their settings, files, and applications. RDP clients can also enable MFA, and require users to confirm logins through a mobile application or SMS text alert.

RDP offers access to the local and remote machines’ hardware at the same time

RDP has several features that make using a remote desktop more convenient. Printer redirection enables you to print out to your local printer. File system redirection means you can still access your local files during a remote session. Finally, audio redirection enables you to play audio on the remote computer yet hear the sound from your local speakers.

RDP can be used to run single applications remotely instead of a full desktop

The RemoteApp system was added in RDP Version 6. This enables administrators to set up specific applications on a Windows Server computer to be available remotely. From the user’s perspective, the application works just as if it was installed on their local computer. But it’s actually being run on the remote server, with updates being sent back and forth via RDP. RemoteApp can be useful if you want users to be able to use their local machine’s hardware for most tasks, but a remote server’s hardware for specific applications.

How much does RDP cost?

If you use RDP to facilitate thin clients using Windows Server, you must purchase a Client Access License (Image credit: Microsoft)

Remote Desktop, which utilises RDP, is built into most editions of Windows, and costs nothing extra to use. This is a principal reason many companies look at Remote Desktop when considering a remote administration tool for Windows, and why it ranks among the best free remote desktop software platforms.

But using RDP on Windows Server to facilitate thin clients as described above requires a client access license (CAL). There are two types of CAL licenses: you can choose a £210 User CAL for each user that accesses the server regardless of the device they use; alternatively, you can choose a £210 Device CAL for each device that will access your server, regardless of how many users share that device.

RDP FAQs

How do I get RDP?

The vast majority of RDP users run Microsoft Windows as the server using the built-in Remote Desktop service. Microsoft has released RDP clients for macOS, iOS, and Android, which enables you to connect to a Windows computer running Remote Desktop, but not vice versa.

It’s possible to use RDP on other operating systems by using a non-Microsoft implementation, too. Remmina, for example, is a free, open-source RDP client for Linux you can use to administer your Windows computers from your Linux desktop. FreeRDP is another popular choice.

If you want to connect your Windows machine to Linux, you can still use RDP. XRDP is an RDP server included in most major Linux distributions that accepts remote desktop connections from Windows, iOS, Android, and iOS.

How do I use RDP?

Microsoft Remote Desktop, which uses RDP, is included in most editions of Windows. There’s a server component that will run on the computer you want to connect to, and a client component used on the computer you want to connect from.

The server is included on all modern editions of Windows apart from Starter and Home editions. A Remote Desktop client called Remote Desktop Connection is included on all modern versions of Windows. There’s a slicker version for Windows 10 or higher available from the Microsoft Store. Additionally, clients are available for macOS, Android, and iOS.

Setting up Remote Desktop is simple, as most of the software is typically already installed on the computers involved. You merely need to enable the Remote Desktop feature and set up user accounts correctly.

Is RDP secure without a VPN?

As discussed above, RDP includes many security features like 128-bit encryption and NLA, so a VPN isn’t necessarily required. It should be noted though that RDP has had several high-profile security issues. As Remote Desktop is available in most modern editions of Windows, its ubiquity makes it a prime target for hackers looking for incorrectly-secured computers running Remote Desktop.

In recent years, Microsoft has released several security patches for RDP. The use of RDP can be highly secure, but it’s up to IT administrators to ensure security patches are installed, and remote users only have access to the hardware resources required to do their job.

Main takeaways

RDP is the protocol used in Microsoft’s Remote Desktop applications
It's useful to companies that mainly use Windows computers: employees can use the RDP-based Remote Desktop to control Windows machines remotely
It’s chiefly a Windows protocol, though third-party clients and servers are available for a few other operating systems
RDP is an encrypted protocol with advanced user authentication options
It’s an efficient protocol, so latency is minimised during remote sessions

Single-OS and cross-platform remote access are both important in the new hybrid work environment: learn how to use remote desktop on Mac, how to use remote desktop on Windows 10, and how to remote desktop from Mac to Windows.

Finally, if you're looking to find a more premium service, platforms like TeamViewer are recommended options.

How to remote desktop into Ubuntu

itpro@futurenet.com (Rene Millman) — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 10:16:39 +0000

Ubuntu ranks among the most popular Linux distributions, with more than 6 million active monthly users worldwide.

The popularity of the distro lies in both its compatibility with a wide range of hardware and its stability, making it ideal for IT professionals and enterprises using mixed environments.

Remote desktop access for Ubuntu is a critical requirement for IT professionals, enabling them to manage servers, provide remote IT support, or access development environments.

Older versions of Ubuntu made remote desktop access difficult, largely because they relied on Virtual Network Computing (VNC). However, with the arrival of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, and the more recent interim release of Ubuntu 25.10, native support for the https://www.itpro.com/mobile/remote-access/368105/what-is-rdp is easily accessible.

This offers users better performance, a more seamless experience, and removes the need for complex third-party installations.

Our guide explores the two primary methods for how to remote desktop into Ubuntu, including using its built-in RDP, VNC server (for sharing local screens), and installing the xRDP service (for creating independent virtual sessions).

Remote desktop options for Ubuntu

Remote desktop solutions for Ubuntu previously relied on the aforementioned VNC, and this remains an adequate cross-platform option. A significant shift has taken place since 22.04 LTS and later, however, and Ubuntu now defaults to RDP.

Notably, the current GNOME desktop environment offers users a high-performance RDP server out of the box, providing a smoother user experience with better security features compared to older VNC-based versions.

For IT professionals connecting to Windows, this is a very convenient feature, meaning they can now use standard Windows-based RDP tools to access an Ubuntu machine without installing third-party clients.

It’s worth noting, however, that if you require legacy support or are connecting from older Linux distributions, Ubuntu still allows you to toggle on the traditional VNC protocol within the system settings.

Similarly, if you need to connect from an Ubuntu machine to other Windows, macOS, or Linux systems, Ubuntu offers the Remmina Remote Desktop Client. Remmina is an open source tool that supports RDP, VNC, and SSH protocols through a centralized dashboard to manage remote infrastructure without switching applications.

Step 1: How to enable screen sharing on Ubuntu

Configuring a built-in Ubuntu server is rather straightforward. In this instance, we’re using Ubuntu version 24.04 LTS, which requires:

Accessing system settings: Click on the top-right menu or press the Super key (Windows key) and search for settings.
Navigating to remote desktop: On the sidebar, click System then select Remote Desktop (this was under ‘Sharing’ in older versions).
You can opt for ‘Legacy VNC’. but only toggle this if you need to connect from an older VNC viewer.
Unlocking settings: Click the Unlock button at the top and enter your password.
Enabling remote desktop: From here, toggle the switch to ON.
Selecting a protocol: It’s here that you can select RDP (our recommendation).
Setting credentials: Under the ‘login details’ section, note down the username and create a password.

Step 2: How to find the IP address of your Ubuntu device

Establishing a remote desktop connection will require you to know the network address of the Ubuntu machine in question. This will typically mean using the internal IP address, provided you’re connecting within the same local network.

To this, follow these steps:

Access network settings: Click on the network icon in the top-right system tray area. From here, select your active connection and click Settings.
Locate your IP address: In the window that pops up, look out for the IPv4 address (e.g., 192.168.1.105) - you’ll need this later.
We recommend configuring a static IP address in router settings so this doesn’t change.

With your IP address identified, you’re now ready to connect to Windows, Mac, or Linux.

How to connect to Windows, Mac, or Linux

Given that Ubuntu supports RDP natively, users won’t have to install any third-party software if working on Windows.

For Windows Users, opening the built-in remote desktop connection app will allow you to enter the IP address and connect. Once prompted, you can use the username and password previously set up.

For macOS users, you’ll need to download the Windows app (previously known as the Microsoft Remote Desktop app for Mac) from the App Store. The steps thereafter are similar, requiring you to ‘Add PC’ and enter the IP address, then save.

For Linux/VNC Users, if you enabled the ‘Legacy VNC’ mentioned in Step 1, you’ll need a viewer application like Remmina. Enter the IP address, and if necessary, the port - see Step 4 below for more information.

Alternative methods (for virtual sessions)

While the native RDP method mirrors your screen, if you want to create a new, independent session (such as a terminal server) or if you are using a desktop environment other than GNOME, we recommend you use xRDP, an open source RDP server for Linux systems.

To do this, follow these steps:

Open Terminal: Press Ctrl + Shift + T.
Install xRDP: Type sudo apt install xrdp -y and press Enter.
Enable Service: Type sudo systemctl enable --now xrdp.
TIP: You must log out of the physical Ubuntu machine before connecting via xRDP. This is because Linux usually allows only one graphical session per user.

Step 4: How to install a VNC client

If you need to install a VNC client (or VNC viewer), there is an array of open source options out there. These include:

TightVNC (this is a popular choice for Windows users)
TigerVNC (compatible with multiple platforms)
RealVNC Viewer (Offers remote access to Mac, Windows, and Linux devices)
UltraVNC

All of the aforementioned clients are lightweight, easy to use, and require minimal configuration post-installation.

In this guide, we used TightVNC on Windows. The steps were very straightforward - simply download the installer, run it using default settings, and it will be ready to use.

Once completed, this means your Ubuntu machine can now accept incoming RDP connections.

For additional information, you can refer to our guide on how to use Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection for any client-side specifics.

What you need to consider when using Ubuntu remote desktop

Security should always be a paramount concern when using Ubuntu remote desktop.

With this in mind, never open RDP or VNC directly to the internet. Threat actors actively scan certain ports. You can always use a VPN to connect to a local network first, however, or use SSH Tunneling to forward connections securely.

In terms of performance, wired Ethernet connections will typically outperform Wi-Fi for any remote desktop task.

We also recommend using Secure Shell (SSH) for command-line access. This remains the industry standard, making it perfect for file management or administration tasks.

Common troubleshooting issues on Ubuntu

Even if you’ve followed best practices to the letter, issues can always pop up. These include:

Black screen: This is among the most common issues and typically occurs when you’re logged in locally on a physical machine while starting a remote session. We recommend logging out of the physical machine or using the desktop sharing RDP built into settings instead of xRDP.
Connection refused: If this occurs, check that the service is active and that firewalls aren’t blocking the port.
Password rejected: This typically happens when you use the system login password, rather than the dedicated RDP password you set up in the settings menu. Make sure to double-check.

How to use Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection

Richard Sutherland — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 10:16:36 +0000

Remote Desktop Services (RDS) is a component in Microsoft operating systems that enables remote desktop connection access to a PC from another device, be that a mobile phone, a tablet, or another PC.

RDS has been built in to most versions of Microsoft Windows for over 30 years, and there are clients for Android, iOS/iPadOS, Windows Mobile, and Linux. If you’re looking to understand how to use Remote Desktop Connection (RDC), a Windows client for RDS, we’ve outlined the main steps below.

We consider Microsoft Remote Desktop one of the best remote desktop software options because it’s already included on most versions of Windows, and it offers a smooth remote administration experience. It's completely free, and as such ranks among the best free remote desktop software platforms.

But if you’re looking to offer support to customers or remotely access computers over the internet, paid solutions like RemotePC or Zoho Assist are more versatile and easier to set up.

How to use Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection: Preparation

Microsoft Remote Desktop works the same as Remote Desktop Connection, but has a more modern interface (Image credit: Microsoft)

Before getting started with Remote Desktop, it’s important to understand a few details on available versions of the software.

While RDS has been bundled into most editions of Windows since Windows 2000, the available functionality is different in each edition. Early versions were called Terminal Services, and Windows 7 and 8 included a sister tool, Remote Assistance, that required extra steps for remote connections to work.

Most importantly, with Remote Desktop Services, you can’t connect to a computer running Windows 7 Starter or Home, Windows 8 Home, Windows 8.1 Home, or Windows 10 Home. If you need to remotely connect to these specific editions of Windows, we recommend Splashtop or TeamViewer instead.

You can use RDS to connect to all other editions of Windows, including Pro, Enterprise, and Education.

Remote Desktop Connection is an RDS client automatically installed on most Windows computers, but an alternative client called Microsoft Remote Desktop has been available since 2012. It can be downloaded for free from the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft Remote Desktop and Remote Desktop Connection function the same way under the hood, connecting to the remote computer using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). There’s no performance difference between the two clients. So, the choice between using the classic Remote Desktop Connection interface or the more modern Microsoft Remote Desktop tool comes down to personal preference.

In this guide, we’ll use Remote Desktop Connection and connect to a Windows 10 Pro computer.

Step 1: Enable Remote Desktop on the server

Set "Enable Remote Desktop" to "On" in Settings (Image credit: Microsoft)

The computer you’re going to connect to needs to be set to accept Remote Desktop connections. On Windows 10, you’ll find the Remote Desktop settings by clicking on the Start button, choosing "Settings", and searching for "Remote Desktop" settings.

Here, ensure "Enable Remote Desktop" is set to "On". Note the name of the computer, too, as it will be used in a later step.

Step 2 (optional): Set the Remote Desktop port

The port Remote Desktop listens on is configured in the Windows registry (Image credit: Microsoft)

By default, Remote Desktop listens on port 3389. If your network setup requires you use a different port, or if you prefer to change the port for security reasons, you can do so by changing a setting in the Windows registry.

Press the Windows key and R to bring up the Run menu, and type RegEdit. Navigate through the registry on the left side of the tool to find: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-TCP.

Find the entry for PortNumber, right-click it, and choose "Modify". Set the radio box to "Decimal", enter the port number you want to use, and click "OK". Reboot the machine, and Remote Desktop will now be listening on the new port.

Step 3: Set a password on your user account

The use of Remote Desktop necessitates a password on your user account (Image credit: Microsoft)

Remote Desktop won’t work if your Windows user account doesn’t have a password set. This can happen if you solely use another method to log in to Windows, such as a PIN, or if you’ve disabled the requirement for a password to log in to the computer.

In the Windows settings tool (available in the Windows start menu), search for "Sign-in options". Check that under "Password", it’s stated that your password is all set up to sign in to Windows. Otherwise, click on "Add" and enter a new password. This will be used to log in to your computer when it’s locked, and will be the password used in Remote Desktop Connection.

If you’d prefer not to place a password on your main account, you can create a separate user account for Remote Desktop. However, this does mean that your main account will be automatically logged out when you remotely connect to your computer.

Step 4: Add your user account to remote desktop users

You can define who can remotely access your PC in the Remote Desktop Users setting (Image credit: Microsoft)

Administrator accounts automatically have access to Remote Desktop. Other accounts must be added manually. Open up the Settings dialog again, and search for "Select users that can remotely access this PC".

By clicking on "Add" or "Remove", you can adjust the user accounts that can use Remote Desktop. Enter your user account name, and click "Check Names". This function checks whether the user account name you enter already exists on the computer (which it must). Correct account names will become underlined. Click "OK".

Now those user credentials can be used to connect to the computer using Remote Desktop from another device.

Step 5: Connect to your remote computer

You can use the built-in Remote Desktop Connection software to access your remote computer (Image credit: Microsoft)

On the computer you want to connect from, open Remote Desktop Connection. You can find it by searching for Remote in the Start Menu.

The first page asks for the name of the computer you want to connect to (see step 1). You also need to enter the user account name and password of the computer you’re connecting to. If you want Remote Desktop Connection to store this username and password indefinitely, uncheck "Always ask for credentials".

Click "Connect".

Step 6: Use your computer remotely

Remote Desktop Connection has a basic blue toolbar added to the top of the session (Image credit: Microsoft)

The remote connection should now be established and, after you’ve been logged in, you will be able to see the remote computer’s desktop. You can use all your applications as normal, but expect a little delay in screen updates.

Remote Desktop Connection adds a simple toolbar to the top of the screen. You can use it to resize the remote desktop session and quit the program when you’ve completed your remote work.

Step 7: Adjust Remote Desktop Connection settings

You can adjust the speed of your Remote Desktop session to match your network conditions (Image credit: Microsoft)

The Remote Desktop Connection software includes many settings you can adjust. You can see them by clicking on "Show Options" in the user interface.

The "General" tab offers the option to save any local connection settings in an RDP file. This is useful if you want to share connection details with multiple people, as all they need to do is open the RDP file.

The "Display" tab can be used to change the size of the remote desktop window and the color quality. By default, the remote session window will open full screen and be in 32-bit color.

"Local Resources" includes settings about which local hardware devices you’ll be able to access when you’re connected remotely to a computer. You can set audio to play locally or remotely, enable access to your local printers and drives, and set up local screen-recording software.

In the "Experience" tab, you can force Remote Desktop Connection to use a specific connection quality. Setting the quality higher will result in better visuals, such as fonts being smoother, but it will use more bandwidth. Setting the quality lower should lower latency, but, for example, you won’t be able to see the desktop background.

Finally, the "Advanced" tab is where you can set up a Remote Desktop Gateway, a proxy for Remote Desktop that can allow you to access your corporate network across the internet. This does require mitigating security risks in RDP, though.

How to use Microsoft Remote Desktop connection: Summary

Most modern versions of Windows can be remotely connected to using an RDS client. Notable exceptions are Starter and Home versions of Windows, which can’t be connected to.

Remote Desktop Connection, an RDS client, is already installed on most Windows editions. You can use this client to connect remotely to Windows computers without having to install any additional software. Alternatively, you can download the Remote Desktop app from the Microsoft Store. There are also RDS clients for macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS so you can connect to your Windows PC from other types of devices.

You must set a password for Remote Desktop to work. Other options can be set in the Remote Desktop Connection options that affect the remote sessions. You can, for example, set audio to be played on the local computer or the remote computer.

While it’s possible to use Remote Desktop Connection over the internet by making changes to your router settings, you’ll need access to your router’s administration panel (like when you set up a home network for the first time). Remote Desktop has been around for a long time, and the best remote desktop software options eclipse it in simplicity and functionality.

AnyDesk review

Michael Graw — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 10:16:26 +0000

AnyDesk is remote desktop software launched in 2015 that enables both attended and unattended remote access to Windows and Mac computers, as well as iOS and Android mobile devices.

In our AnyDesk review, we’ll cover everything you need to know to decide if this is the best remote desktop software for you.

AnyDesk review: Snapshot

AnyDesk is capable remote desktop software for individuals and small businesses. It enables you to remotely access an unattended computer or to provide tech support through interactive remote sessions. Collaboration tools like text chat, a built-in whiteboard, and session invitations make it especially useful for working remotely in small teams.

This remote desktop software is easy to use, particularly for non-IT professionals who only need remote access to a single computer. If you’re looking for remote desktop software for personal use, AnyDesk is free, and you can get up and running in minutes.

AnyDesk is very inexpensive compared to remote desktop software like TeamViewer, which is geared more towards enabling centralised IT support at medium and large businesses. However, if you only need unattended access to fewer than 25 computers, Zoho Assist provides similar features to AnyDesk at a fraction of the price.

Score: 4/5

Read on for our full and detailed AnyDesk review.

AnyDesk’s competitors

How does AnyDesk compare to its main competitors?

	AnyDesk	TeamViewer	Zoho Assist
Score	4/5	4.5/5	4.5/5
Pros	- Inexpensive single-user business plan - Supports wake-on-LAN	- Built-in video conferencing - Mass deployment	- Inexpensive - Simultaneous remote support sessions
Cons	- Expensive for large numbers of devices - Email support only	- Expensive - Cumbersome security features	- Limited to 25 computers for unattended access - No plans for individual users
Verdict	AnyDesk is a capable platform for individuals and small businesses. It’s easy to use and offers good collaboration and security features.	TeamViewer provides medium and large businesses with remote access to a network of many computers.	Zoho Assist offers a cheap, easy way to enable remote IT support or unattended access to up to 25 computers.
View deals	Visit site	Visit site	Visit site

AnyDesk: Key features

AnyDesk offers features for both individual users who need unattended remote access to a work computer, and IT teams who need to provide remote technical support.

It enables unattended remote access to Windows and Mac computers, and to iOS and Android mobile devices. Just set up a password on the remote device, and then you can access it from an unlimited number of host devices without having to manually accept the remote session. You can also use wake-on-LAN to wake up a sleeping computer.

AnyDesk supports unattended remote access to devices - all you need is the device address and remote access password (Image credit: AnyDesk)

AnyDesk offers a built-in file manager to enable you to transfer files between a host and a remote computer. You can also copy and paste text or files across connected computers. However, AnyDesk doesn’t offer a sync folder or the ability to drag and drop files between devices.

AnyDesk includes a file transfer module so you can seamlessly move files between connected devices (Image credit: AnyDesk)

AnyDesk offers an address book to help businesses keep track of all computers for which remote access and remote support is enabled. Your address book is shared by everyone in your network, although remote users will still need a password to gain unattended access to any computer. You can organise your address book using custom tags.

AnyDesk includes an address book so you can easily manage and organise remote computers (Image credit: AnyDesk)

The platform also includes several tools for collaborating within remote sessions. A text chat box makes it easy to communicate for remote support. A virtual whiteboard enables you to draw on a remote screen and guide a user through actions you want them to take.

AnyDesk offers a chat box so you can communicate during remote support sessions (Image credit: AnyDesk)

It’s also possible to invite another user on your network to take remote control of your computer, which increases efficiency for support requests.

AnyDesk uses end-to-end encryption for all remote sessions to prevent unauthorised access to your network. The software also supports 2FA, and enables you to set up a whitelist so that only specific devices can access your computer. For remote support sessions, AnyDesk enables you to limit what control features are available to remote users.

AnyDesk supports 2FA, and enables you to create permission presets for remote connections (Image credit: AnyDesk)

AnyDesk: What’s new in 2022?

The AnyDesk team has been busy updating its software, and in November 2021, AnyDesk released version 7 of its software.

The new platform provides a more streamlined user experience than previous iterations of AnyDesk. Now, most in-session tools, including the file manager, can be found tucked away in a toolbar instead of crowding your screen. A one-click button lets you invite anyone in your address book to start a new remote session on your computer.

AnyDesk Version 7 also enables you to define permission sets, which you can apply automatically when a new remote support session is initiated. While a remote session is active, the software displays a coloured background or box around your screen as a reminder that someone else is accessing your device.

AnyDesk: Pricing

AnyDesk offers a free plan for personal use that allows you to provide remote support for an unlimited number of computers, ranking it among the best free remote desktop software solutions. If you need unattended access, the Essentials plan costs £9.90 a month, and enables one user to manage one remote device.

Businesses can take advantage of the Performance plan for £19.90 per user a month. This plan includes three remotely-managed devices per user. Users aren’t restricted to accessing only the devices they add, but rather can access any devices on your license.

If you need more devices, AnyDesk offers an Enterprise plan starting at £29.20 a month. All plans are paid annually, and to get more information about signing up, you'll need to get in touch with AnyDesk. You can try out the Essentials or Performance plans free for 14 days.

AnyDesk’s pricing plans

Plan type/feature	Free	Essentials	Performance	Enterprise
Cost per month	Free	£9.90	£19.90 per user	£29.90 per user
Cost per year	Free	£118.80	£238.80 per user	£358.80
Number of users	One	One	Up to 1,000	Unlimited
Number of remote devices	Unlimited (personal remote support only)	One	Three per user	Unlimited
Wake-on-LAN	✖	✖	✔	✔
Virtual whiteboard	✔	✔	✔	✔

Testing AnyDesk

We tried out AnyDesk’s software on Windows to see how easy it is to connect remotely to other devices, both for remote support and for unattended access.

How easy is AnyDesk to use?

AnyDesk enables you to invite anyone to start a remote session on your computer (Image credit: AnyDesk)

We thoroughly enjoyed the experience of using AnyDesk, and think it’s one of the most straightforward remote desktop platforms we’ve tested.

Once you install the software on your computer, it will automatically display your computer’s unique connection address. To initiate a remote support session with your computer as the host, simply give this address to a remote user, or send an invitation to any email address. You can choose from a list of permission presets to limit how much control a remote user will have over your device.

To connect to a remote device from our computer, all we had to do was enter the remote device’s unique address. The address book is integrated right into the address entry bar, making it easy to reconnect to devices that we use often.

Another thing we liked is that AnyDesk can automatically detect other AnyDesk-enabled devices in your local network. This eliminates the manual work of building your address book, and enables you to start using the software across a business within minutes.

Alternatives to AnyDesk

AnyDesk is capable software, but it’s far from the only remote desktop platform available for individuals and businesses. For medium and large businesses, TeamViewer is an alternative worth exploring.

TeamViewer is significantly more expensive than AnyDesk, with plans for businesses starting at £32.90 a month. However, TeamViewer’s Single User plan enables a single user to remotely manage up to 200 devices. The Multi User plan, which costs £61.90 a month, offers a license for 15 users to manage up to 300 devices.

TeamViewer is particularly well-suited for IT teams, both because of its one-to-many pricing plans and because of its advanced features. TeamViewer includes a command line interface in its remote sessions, and offers mass deployment, so you can seamlessly install the remote access software on hundreds of computers. These features are available for AnyDesk, but only with an Enterprise plan.

For remote support without remote access, Zoho Assist is a cheaper option than AnyDesk. Zoho’s remote support plans start at just £10 per user a month, and they don’t limit the number of computers you can access. Users can also have multiple remote support sessions open at once, which is a huge plus for busy IT technicians.

Zoho Assist does offer inexpensive unattended access plans, which start at £10 a month. You can have an unlimited number of users on a single plan, but the number of remote devices is capped at 25. Therefore, Zoho Assist can be a good option if you only need unattended remote access to a small number of devices. Otherwise, AnyDesk provides more flexibility.

AnyDesk’s features compared to the competition

	AnyDesk	TeamViewer	Zoho Assist
Unattended access	✔	✔	✔ (up to 25 devices)
Unlimited users	✖	✖	✔
Support	Email	Phone and email	Phone and email
Basic plan	£9.90 a month	£32.90 a month	£10 a month

AnyDesk: Final verdict

AnyDesk is an easy-to-use and fairly affordable remote desktop software platform for individuals and small businesses. It supports both attended and unattended remote connections across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices.

The service offers several important features to make managing your remote connections easier. An integrated address book enables you to quickly connect to any device in your network, or invite another user to connect to your computer. Communication tools like text chat and an interactive whiteboard enable collaboration. If you need to transfer files between computers, AnyDesk includes a simple file manager.

In testing AnyDesk, we found that it’s very quick to get started with, and doesn’t overwhelm users with options. It’s one of the most straightforward remote desktop software platforms we’ve tested, making it a great option for non-IT professionals.

While AnyDesk has a lot to like, it doesn’t provide the features or pricing options that medium and large businesses need. For tools like mass deployment and command line control, check out TeamViewer. TeamViewer is significantly more expensive than AnyDesk, but it also enables a single technician to manage up to 200 devices.

On the other end of the spectrum, Zoho Assist is a cheaper alternative to AnyDesk for businesses that only need remote support capabilities. Zoho Assist may also present a better value than AnyDesk for businesses that need unattended remote access to fewer than 25 computers.

Royal Caribbean Group taps SpaceX's Starlink for high-speed internet aboard cruise ships

Praharsha Anand — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 10:53:38 +0000

In a first in the cruise industry, Royal Caribbean Group has partnered with SpaceX's Starlink to enable high-speed, low-latency connectivity across its full fleet of cruise ships.

Per reports, Starlink’s broadband internet service will be installed on all Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises ships. New vessels akin to each brand will also avail of the service.

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“Deployment of the Starlink technology across the fleet will begin immediately, leveraging the insights obtained from the trial onboard Freedom of the Seas, which has received tremendous positive feedback from guests and crew,” confirmed Royal Caribbean.

Starlink’s deal with Royal Caribbean Group is anticipated to close within the first quarter of 2023. The low form-factor of Starlink dishes, which are a mere 19 inches long and can be relayed into a central router, makes them a good fit for expedited roll out across ships.

A trial of Starlink Wi-Fi recently took place on the Royal Caribbean ship Freedom of the Seas, which it says resulted in “tremendous positive feedback” from its guests and crew. Currently, Starlink customers receive internet at speeds of up to 104 Mbits/sec, although companies can sign up to Starlink Business to gain access to speeds of up to 350 Mbits/sec.

Photos shared on a blog by a Freedom of the Seas passenger appear to show an array of Starlink dishes along the ship’s outer wall, although it is not clear if this represents the final configuration that the fleet will use.

Royal Caribbean currently operates their own Wi-Fi service on board their cruise ships called Voom, and the Starlink deal is expected to supplement this with faster and more reliable speeds.

"Our purpose as a company is to deliver the best vacation experiences to our guests responsibly, and this new offering, which is the biggest public deployment of Starlink's high-speed internet in the travel industry so far, demonstrates our commitment to that purpose," said Jason Liberty, president and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Group.

"This technology will provide game-changing internet connectivity onboard our ships, enhancing the cruise experience for guests and crew alike. It will improve and enable more high-bandwidth activities like video streaming as well as activities like video calls.”

“Using Starlink is one more example of our continued focus on innovation and excellence for our guests, our crew, the communities we visit and our shareholders," added Liberty.

SpaceX only got official FCC approval to provide Starlink to vehicles in motion at the start of July, but the company has been in talks to provide Wi-Fi as a service to planes and ships for some time.

SpaceX bug bounty offers up to $25,000 per Starlink exploit UK-based OneWeb and French Eutelsat officially discussing major merger SpaceX and T-Mobile partner to create a satellite-based mobile network

There are now more than 3,000 satellites in the Starlink constellation, varying from a range of around 1,000 to 500 km above Earth, and the FCC has already approved plans for an eventual total of 12,000 satellites.

Satellite broadband can offer coverage to areas with traditionally poor network coverage, and Last week, SpaceX announced a partnership with T-Moble to boost cell coverage across the US, providing at least call and SMS service in some of the country’s most remote areas.

The US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has begun a years-long project to develop an LEO internet that could facilitate reliable communication across government, military and civilian satellite constellations. SpaceX is one of 11 companies, alongside Intel and an Amazon subsidiary, to further the DoD’s interests within the rapidly-growing sector.

DoJ will soon sue Google over non-competitive digital ads

Praharsha Anand — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 11:43:58 +0000

The US Department of Justice is set to sue Google for abuse of its dominant position in the digital advertising market.

Per Bloomberg, the lawsuit could be filed no later than September. The DoJ previously sued Google over its dominance in the search engine market and its alleged efforts to thwart competition in 2020. As matters stand, the 2020 lawsuit is still on the anvil.

The new antitrust lawsuit accentuates to American Innovation and Choice Online Act that prohibits big firms from performing certain practices, including giving preference to their own products, wrongfully restricting the availability of competing products from another business, or enforcement of supra-competitive terms of service among similarly situated users.

“Our advertising technologies help websites and apps fund their content, and enable small businesses to reach customers around the world,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement to MarketWatch.

“The enormous competition in online advertising has made online ads more relevant, reduced ad tech fees, and expanded options for publishers and advertisers.”

Earlier this month, the European Commission’s antitrust enforcers launched an investigation into Play Store's billing guidelines. The investigation focuses on Google's high developer fees as well as its refusal to allow alternative billing systems to collect payments.

Google strikes $90 million settlement with US developers over Play Store dispute

Daniel Todd — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 10:41:22 +0000

Google has agreed to compensate US app developers to the tune of $90 million as the tech giant moves to settle a lawsuit surrounding Play store policies.

Filed in San Francisco, the suit accuses Google of implementing and maintaining policies that forced them to use its billing system, which included a default 30% service fee for app purchases and in-app transactions.

Developers said this monopoly effectively prevented competition that would benefit all Android app developers across the ecosystem.

In a blog post, Google said the fund would be open to US developers that earned $2 million or less in annual revenue through Google Play each year from 2016-2021.

“A vast majority of U.S. developers who earned revenue through Google Play will be eligible to receive money from this fund if they choose,” it said. “If the Court approves the settlement, developers that qualify will be notified and allowed to receive a distribution from the fund.”

In a statement made by Hagens Berman, the law firm representing the plaintiffs, as many as 48,000 small app developers will be eligible to claim payment from the fund – with payments ranging from $250 to as much as $200,000.

“Today, nearly 48,000 hardworking app developers are receiving the just payment they deserve for their work product – something Google sought to profit from, hand over fist,” said Steve Berman, the law firm’s managing partner and an attorney representing the Android developers.

“With this settlement, developers will have more room to grow and more money in their pockets to promote their hard efforts.”

A case was originally filed against Google back in 2020, which accused the business of building a monopoly through tactics that included anti-competitive contracts, strategic abuses of its Android distribution dominance, as well as exploitation of users’ fear of malware.

In response, the company cut the figure to 15% on the first $1 million earned by developers in each year. Play Store fees were later reduced to 15% for subscription-based apps and 10% for apps in select categories.

Now, in addition to the $90 million developer fund, Google says it will also maintain several existing practices and implement several new benefits to fuel innovation and trust.

These include the continuation of its 15% commission rate for the first $1 million earned annually, as well as a revision of its Developer Distribution Agreement, which will make it clear that developers can contact users out-of-app regarding subscription offers or lower-cost offerings elsewhere.

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Additionally, Google is creating an “Indie Apps Corner” that will appear on the apps tab on the US Google Play homepage and will showcase independent and small startup developers building fresh and unique apps.

“We’re pleased that we worked with the developers to propose this agreement for the Court’s approval,” the Mountain View-based company concluded. “As the agreement notes, we remain confident in our arguments and case, but this settlement will avoid protracted and unnecessary litigation with developers, whom we see as vital partners in the Android ecosystem.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to building thriving, open platforms that empower consumers and help developers succeed.”

Intuit to pay $141 million settlement over misleading TurboTax ads

Praharsha Anand — Thu, 05 May 2022 11:23:22 +0000

Intuit has agreed to pay $141 million in restitution after an investigation conducted by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) revealed the TurboTax owner engaged in phony digital tactics to lure low-income Americans away from federally-funded free tax preparation services.

The multistate investigation, prompted by ProPublica’s conclusive report, also unearthed Intuit’s counterfeit “free, free, free” ad campaign to boost sales of TurboTax’s Free Edition.

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While TurboTax "freemium" products were free for approximately one-third of US taxpayers, IRS Free File products were free for 70 percent.

In its elaborate scheme to deceive taxpayers, Intuit also barred its IRS Free File landing page from search engine results in a bid to covertly deny the free filing option to eligible taxpayers during the 2019 tax filing season.

Under the terms of a settlement signed by the attorneys general of all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Intuit will dismiss TurboTax’s ad campaign and pay restitution to nearly 4.4 million taxpayers who were coaxed into using the company’s ‘paid’ TurboTax Free Edition for tax years 2016 through 2018, limiting their participation in the free IRS Free File Program offered through TurboTax.

Per reports, affected consumers will receive a direct payment of approximately $30 for each year that they were defrauded. In total, the state of New York will receive over $5.4 million for nearly 176,000 New Yorkers who were tricked into paying for free tax services.

“Intuit cheated millions of low-income Americans out of free tax filing services they were entitled to,” commented Attorney General James.

“For years, Intuit misled the most vulnerable among us to make a profit. Today, every state in the nation is holding Intuit accountable for scamming millions of taxpayers, and we’re putting millions of dollars back into the pockets of impacted Americans. This agreement should serve as a reminder to companies large and small that engaging in these deceptive marketing ploys is illegal. New Yorkers can count on my office to protect their wallets from white-collar scammers.”

Global enterprise application market to hit $468 billion by 2027

Praharsha Anand — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 11:12:17 +0000

The worldwide enterprise application market is slated to reach $468.2 billion by 2027, according to a new report by Research and Markets.

A compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.0% is anticipated for the forecast period, driven by the increasing demand for regulatory compliance, audit management, and the need for improved transparency in supply chain data and procedures to combat data leaks and breaches.

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Among the various enterprise application solutions are business process management (BPM) and software configuration management (SCM), which help organizations manage and control inventory and track production. These applications largely aid in boosting productivity and efficiency across the organization.

Commenting on the pandemic’s impact on the market’s burgeoning growth, Research and Markets notes that the closure of retail stores and malls has resulted in significant growth in enterprise application software adoption for managing web-based data.

For instance, among the deployment types of enterprise applications — on-premise, cloud, and hybrid — the cloud segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2020. However, data security and privacy concerns are market restraining factors.

“Data collection and transmission from one channel to another are part of enterprise content management. Many firms believe that enterprise content management solutions are expected to result in data theft in their highly abstracted data sets caused by a lack of sufficient information about security standards and their implementation,” according to Research and Markets’ report.

The report also states that Microsoft holds the majority of the enterprise application market share. Oracle, IBM, and SAP are among other leading vendors in the market.

Based on region, Asia Pacific registered a promising revenue share, owing to rapid advancements in economic growth, globalization, foreign direct investment, smartphone penetration, and increased internet usage among the workforce.

Wipro snaps up SAP consultancy Rizing for $540 million

Daniel Todd — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 09:51:42 +0000

Wipro has announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire US-based SAP consultancy business Rizing for $540 million.

The move will significantly expand Wipro’s range of capabilities in helping businesses “transform into intelligent enterprises,” it said in an announcement, with Rizing to form an extension of Wipro’s SAP Cloud practice and FullStride Cloud Services.

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The move is the latest in a string of acquisitions by Wipro, as the global IT services firm ploughs on with its growth plans. Rizing adds expertise and SAP consulting capabilities in enterprise asset management, consumer industries, and human experience management, which Wipro says will help the business tackle the most complex SAP transformations.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Rizing team to the Wipro family,” commented Thierry Delaporte, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Wipro Limited. “Rizing’s complementary consulting capabilities and strong client relationships will significantly boost our existing offering, creating one of the most differentiated SAP services in the marketplace. Together, we will be able to expand our presence in high-growth industry sectors.”

Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, Rizing has more than 1300 employees based in 16 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

As part of Wipro, the pair’s freshly combined offering will aim to help clients find unique business opportunities and competitive advantages through SAP cloud implementations. It will also help Wipro expand its position in oil & gas, utilities, manufacturing, and consumer industries, the firm added.

“Our clients’ digital transformation needs are rapidly evolving, and they are turning to us to help them become intelligent enterprises,” said Rajan Kohli, President of Wipro’s iDEAS (Integrated Digital, Engineering and Application Services) business.

“Rizing’s domain expertise, combined with our cloud and digital solutions, will allow us to help clients unlock new value and build agile businesses for a new era of digitalisation.”

Once the acquisition is complete, Rizing will operate as Rizing, a Wipro company, under the leadership of company CEO Mike Maiolo.

“This is the next phase of growth for Rizing. With Wipro’s backing, we will be able to enhance the value we deliver to our current clients and bring our differentiated offering to a broader universe of businesses,” Maiolo said.

“Combining the two firms will allow us to scale our services and expand our footprint in the market. We are thrilled to join a company that shares our values and vision, enabling us to grow in new strategic areas.”

Streamlining DevOps in hybrid, multi-cloud, on-premises, and edge environments

itpro@futurenet.com (ITPro) — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 08:15:18 +0000

Containers are increasingly being used to improve security and speed up application development - with businesses noting better app performance as a result - and are becoming standard practice for implementing SecDevOps workflows.

However, as organisations feel under pressure to launch new products and services at a faster rate, innovation can be limited when resources are focussed on managing infrastructure and security.

Download this whitepaper to learn how to address application development challenges with Red Hat OpenShift on IBM Cloud so you can focus on your business objectives.

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GitHub's ultra-fast onboarding tool Codespaces makes its way to public beta

Connor Jones — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 11:08:31 +0000

GitHub has announced it will be bringing its Codespaces feature, used by its in-house developers and enterprise teams, to the wider user base through a public beta.

Codespaces allow developer teams to quickly onboard new members by creating pre-built developer environments that significantly reduce first-time loading times, removing a key element of engineering friction.

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These pre-built environments act as ready-made templates that can be issued to all new starters or freelancers and include all project dependencies, editor extensions, commands, and configurations a developer needs to get started quickly.

“Prebuilds were a huge part of how we meaningfully reduced the time-to-bootstrap in Codespaces for our core GitHub.com codebase,” said Tanmayee Kamath, product manager at Codespaces. “With that, our next mission was to replicate this success and enable the experience for our customers.”

Before Codespaces, it wasn’t out of the ordinary for GitHub developers to experience wait times of up to 45 minutes, which included cloning the 13GB repository and getting other dependencies. Organisations involved in pre-beta testing also reported long wait times.

GitHub has said onboarding times for in-house projects have drastically reduced since switching to Codespaces. Through a series of optimisations, GitHub was able to reduce bootstrapping time to 5 minutes, and then later to 10 seconds. The change sped up developer workflows and was especially useful since the company’s developers were pushing hundreds of updates a day.

Pre-built configurations are available as a public beta now for GitHub Enterprise Cloud and Team plans. They’re built on GitHub Actions virtual machines, which facilitate the fast creation time, provide rich logs for effective debugging, and come with a dedicated support service for repository admins.

Admins can create pre-builds for specific branches and regions in their repository and these will automatically trigger an associated Actions workflow that will manage the pre-building of the devcontainer configuration and any subsequent commits for that branch.

GitHub has started 2022 by announcing a flurry of new features, including an opened-up Advisory Database to allow more security experts to contribute tot he wider understanding of known vulnerabilities affecting GitHub projects.

Last week it also announced an AI-driven code-scanning tool for projects written in JavaScript and TypeScript so developers can check their codebases for exposure to common security vulnerabilities affecting projects written in those languages.

Apple's App Store now allows unlisted apps

Connor Jones — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 10:48:41 +0000

Apple has launched a feature for developers that facilitates the publication of apps for "limited audiences" to its App Store on an unlisted basis.

The new app distribution service is targeting the business and education sectors specifically, and unlisted apps will not appear in the App Store under any categories, recommendations, charts, search results, or other listings.

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Possible use cases Apple suggested were apps built specifically for organisations, special events such as a corporate party or conference, research studies, or other employee resources. Feasibly, the feature would also be useful for businesses running remote workforces, but require business or sector-specific software on their staff's personal devices.

In addition to direct links, apps can also be accessed and distributed via Apple Business Manager - Apple's proprietary mobile device management (MDM) solution for businesses running Apple products, or Apple School Manager - its equivalent for the education sector.

Developers who have apps already approved and listed for public download on the App Store, and those whose apps have not previously been approved, can simply submit a request form to Apple which will then send them a link to their unlisted app.

Businesses who already have their app approved for private downloads in Apple Business Manager or Apple School Manager will need to re-submit their binary in a new app record within App Store Connect, and set the distribution method to 'public' before completing the request form. If approved, the app will be visibly shifted to an unlisted app within App Store Connect and developers can continue updating the app according to the normal app release process.

Apps that have previously been made public will keep the same unlisted direct link as they did when they were public but developers also have the option of converting the link via a URL shortener.

Apple recommends "implementing a mechanism within your app to prevent unauthorised use" as although the app won't be publicly searchable, the direct link could still be shared with unwanted audiences.

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Apple has had a similar private app distribution policy as part of its Apple Developer Enterprise Programme for a number of years now. Eligibility requirements include: developer houses to have more than 100 employees in the business, have systems in place to ensure only employees can download the app, and be legal operation, among others.

The programme was eventually abused by rogue developers as a way to distribute malicious apps or apps that otherwise violate the App Store policies. Illicit app stores were built to distribute such apps and Facebook was one of the higher-profile abusers of the feature, marketing a data-gathering app masquerading as a VPN in just one small branch of the much wider Cambridge Analytica scandal.

How to effectively monetise your apps

IT Pro — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 12:16:56 +0000

The success of smartphones is inextricably linked to the apps that run on them. These have enabled a whole gamut of new capabilities for users, but also a massive new source of revenue for app developers. By the end of 2021, this had reached $133 billion in income from consumers, with 143.6 billion new app installs in that year alone. But there are lots of ways to earn money with your apps, from subscriptions to ads, which can be delivered via platforms such as Huawei Ads.

The most obvious method to make money from apps is having a purchase price or subscription. However, you first need to prove that your app is useful, and unless you already have an extremely recognisable brand or product, you won’t be able to do this without them trying it first. This is why so many apps are offered via the so-called “freemium” model, where a certain portion of features are provided for free, or all features are made available for a limited time, after which the app must be purchased.

Other apps are paid for or offered via subscription. App stores do take a cut for purchases and subscriptions, however. Initially, this is 30% for both Apple and Google, for example. However, with subscriptions, after a year this drops to 15%, so keeping a subscriber for a longer period will be more profitable.

There are also a lot of free apps around, and if users can find the features they want elsewhere for free, they won’t want to pay for them with your app. Fortunately, there are alternative ways to monetise apps that are more subtle and behind the scenes than an overt app purchase or subscription. One of these is collecting data on your users and their behaviour, which you can then monetise with third parties. This is the model of free online services such as Google search and Facebook.

It’s worth collecting data about your users’ behaviour to optimise interface design, but with a popular enough app and sufficiently granular data points, it’s possible to glean considerable insights that provide wider benefits. This can then be sold on or used to inform advertising (of which more later in this article). Obviously, data collection requires transparency with users, so they know what you are collecting and what they get in return. It’s also imperative that recent data laws such as GDPR in Europe and California’s CCPA are followed.

A tried-and-tested monetisation model related to buying outright or subscription is in-app purchases. Like the freemium model, users download an app with plenty of useful functions available for free. But if they want extra premium capabilities, these can be bought in-app. Some apps, particularly games, provide virtual currency that can be bought and used within the software to obtain features and powerups. In-app purchases have the same fees as app purchases, so Apple and Google take a 30% cut.

For apps that provide a transactional service between users, the transactions can involve a fee. For example, if your users are selling their own items second hand, you can take a percentage or charge a flat amount per sale. The beauty of this compared to traditional classified listings is that users don’t pay an up-front fee, only a portion of what they receive if they make a sale. So there will be no downside to them trying out your service, and as your app scales its user base, the profits will grow accordingly.

With all these monetisation methods, it’s imperative that the user experience of your app remains front and centre. However, because users want as much as they can get for what they perceive to be “free”, in-app advertising remains the most popular and easiest way to monetise. This is why the lion’s share of app revenue comes from advertising.

Successful in-app advertising requires a platform that can deliver a wide range of ad formats to a global audience of devices and users, like that offered by Huawei Ads. These platforms serve as an intermediary between mobile publishers and advertisers, streamlining the process of in-app advertising so that you can manage ads without having to deal with each advertiser individually, as well as tracking impressions, conversions, click-through-rates and so on and allowing you to easily access that data.

The Huawei Ads platform reaches over 1 billion connected Huawei devices and over 730 million Huawei device users, covering over 150 advertisers, with more than 33,000 apps globally integrated with the Huawei Ads Kit as of September 2021. This provides huge opportunities for in-app monetisation.

Huawei Ads won the App Growth Awards in 2021 for the first time. It has also been praised for its tailored approach to advertising across devices, with strong performance among close partners. Partner solutions have seen efficiency and effective growth. One of the key partners, a top e-commerce service provider, has seen daily activations increase by up to 537%, improved CTR of up to 278%, while keeping the activation cost efficient, at well below 45%.

The platform is open and available to media agencies, as well as app publishers worldwide, incorporating Huawei’s smart ecosystem, which provides marketing advantages to bridge communication between its partners and device users. Huawei Ads can create niche audiences for partner ads, using the Data Management Platform (DMP) to accurately target the intended demographic.

Huawei has also worked to create a platform with an optimum user and partner experience. Users can access an in-app mini details page before downloading to keep everything within one page. A promotion program is also available for advertisers and certified agencies in Europe, providing free trials, early-bird incentives, and premium on-device media resources.

Huawei Ads’ success at this year’s App Growth Awards demonstrates the platform’s fast development in the world of advertising. It has also been described as ‘one of the fastest-growing platforms in Europe’ by AppsFlyer. In the coming years, Huawei Ads will continue to bring out new features to further improve its partner and user experience. Features such as cost-effective advertising offers are coming soon, designed to adjust bidding automatically in real-time, to boost conversions while reducing costs. This will make Huawei an even better platform for monetising your apps within a huge global user and device market.

If you’d like to find out more about Huawei Ads, please visit https://ads.huawei.com/

Go to Huawei Ads to register an account and download free Huawei Ads marketing guide for more information on how to succeed on this new marketing platform

Google settles tax payment in Ireland

Danny Bradbury — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 09:06:40 +0000

Google has reportedly agreed to pay €345.2 million ($387.1m) in back taxes and interest to the Irish government.

The payment, discovered by the Irish Times in Google Ireland's accounts filings, included €218 million in back taxes to the Irish government and €127.2 million in interest. The payments are a tax settlement between Google and the Irish government that forms part of a total 2020 corporate tax bill of €622 million.

Google Ireland made €48.4 billion in revenues during 2020, representing a year-on-year increase of €2.7 billion from €45.7 billion. It also made €2.85 billion in pre-tax profits that year, up 46% from €1.94 billion during the prior year.

In April, the paper reported that Google had used an accounting technique called the 'double Irish' to siphon money from its Irish operation. Google's Irish operation licensed intellectual property from its tax-registered entity in Bermuda, paying royalties in return. This allowed the company to use Bermuda (which has a zero percent tax rate) as a tax haven. The Irish government viewed the company as tax-resident in Bermuda, while the US considers it to be tax-resident in Ireland.

That arrangement, abolished in 2015, was finally phased out for existing users in 2020. Google restructured its tax operation that year, moving its intellectual property holdings back to the US.

In October, Ireland said it would join an international agreement that would set a minimum 15% tax rate on multinational companies, up from its previous 12.5%. It's part of an OECD initiative that calls for companies to pay taxes in countries where their products and services are sold.

Last year, an EU court ruled that Apple didn't have to pay €13 billion in back taxes after a long legal battle.

Big tech companies have come under fire in the past for using tax loopholes around the world that enable them to escape payments.

What should you really be asking about your remote access software?

IT Pro — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 14:24:11 +0000

Of all the tools underpinning modern IT management, VNC may be one of the most prolific. First developed in the mid-1990s by RealVNC, it’s spent the past three decades enabling IT teams to access remote systems throughout their estate, and has found its way into the toolbelt of every support technician.

It may seem like a simple tool – and in many ways, it is. The underlying RFB protocol that powers VNC-based remote access tools hasn’t changed all that much since it was first introduced, and although its open-source origins have resulted in a huge number of different VNC solutions, they all share most of the same core capabilities.

This can lead many organisations to treat remote access software as ”part of the furniture”; something that’s useful to have around, but not worth giving any particular thought or consideration to. Indeed, when selecting a VNC solution, many IT professionals simply gravitate towards the first option that comes to mind.

However, while remote access software may not necessarily be a transformative part of your IT stack, selecting a provider should be given a significant amount of scrutiny. Not only is it a foundational part of many operational tasks, making the wrong choice can have serious potential consequences further down the line, and there are a number of important questions that any IT department should be asking of their potential partners.

For instance, certain options may present unforeseen logistical challenges, like platform compatibility. Just because your chosen flavour of remote access software allows technicians to access Windows desktops doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to play nicely with every operating system, and that could be a problem if you also need to access Linux-based servers. Some providers will even support connections from mobile devices, giving technicians remote access even while on the go.

Deployment is also something that bears consideration. If you’re managing a large fleet of devices, you’ll need a remote access provider that supports automated remote configuration and deployment. If not, support staff will be faced with the tedious prospect of manually installing agents on every machine, one by one. Alternatively, you may want to opt for a provider that offers agentless, on-demand connections to reduce on-device footprints.

Connectivity, meanwhile, is frequently one of the most frustrating elements of IT support, particularly with remote access software that involves laboriously configuring firewalls and port access rules to permit connections. Modern enterprise-level vendors like RealVNC, by contrast, offer cloud-based connection brokering that bypasses fiddly firewall customisation, as well as direct peer-to-peer connections for high-security, privacy-conscious or offline environments.

You should look at performance, too. While the fundamental technology underpinning VNC may not have changed all that much in the last 30 years, it isn’t always implemented as efficiently as it could be, so pay attention to any performance guarantees offered by vendors in order to ensure that your remote sessions are as seamless as possible.

The biggest area of focus, however, should be security. The purpose of remote access software is to give IT teams an easy way to interact with systems from wherever they are, including back-end servers as well as employee desktops and laptops. By definition, then, this software will likely be installed on most – if not all – of a company’s machines.

While this is convenient for providing support to colleagues, it can be a double-edged sword under the wrong circumstances. If your technicians can access every computer in your estate from anywhere in the world, it also means that if an intruder gains access to your systems, then they can too. Think of it like giving your neighbour a spare key to your house; it can come in handy for a great many things, but you have to be absolutely certain that you trust them to keep it safe.

This isn’t just about making sure that potential suppliers provide robust privilege management and account authentication options – although these are essential for preventing account takeovers and exploitation by insider threats. It’s also about making sure you trust the security of the software itself.

Open source technology has a reasonably good record for security, but instances like the Heartbleed OpenSSL bug prove that it’s not immune from being compromised. Commercial vendors, on the other hand, can take the foundation created by open source protocols and layer additional protections on top of it, as well as proactively monitoring for potential bugs and vulnerabilities before they become an issue.

Of course, that’s not to say that vendors should be implicitly trusted. Over the last several years, we’ve seen a number of high-profile supply chain attacks on vendors like Kaseya, Solarwinds and more, which have allowed hackers to smuggle malware into customers’ environments. It’s therefore prudent to treat all vendors with a healthy dose of scepticism and to make sure that you’re comfortable with the level of security they offer, as well as the data they’re collecting and storing from your activity.

RealVNC’s offering, VNC Connect, has been built from the ground up for business deployments, specifically tailored to meet these needs. It offers a wide range of automated deployment options, integration with existing enterprise tools, comprehensive platform support and a battery of security protection, including 256-bit AES encryption, multi-factor authentication and granular permissions controls.

It’s also built by the original authors of the RFB protocol, so it’s optimised for performance with patented technology to help keep connections stable even when faced with low bandwidth. It also includes printing, chat and file transfer functionality, and a robust management console.

Remote access software may not be the newest technology in the world of IT, and it’s certainly not the sexiest – but that doesn’t make it any less important. It’s one of the most versatile and widely-used IT tools in the world, and it deserves to be chosen with an appropriate level of care. You wouldn’t leave the keys to your house under the doormat – so don’t do the same with the keys to your IT estate.

Learn more about RealVNC's services

Nikulipe: Has COVID democratised online payments?

Elliot Mulley-Goodbarne — Fri, 12 Nov 2021 08:00:12 +0000

Family shopping trips and keeping track of spending has arguably become much easier since the inception of the internet, especially in recent years. Although going cash-free has made spending more abstract, anyone in the world can download an app, or go online, to satisfy their shopping needs. This is instead of trawling through shopping centres and queuing up at banks. Instant check-outs, as well as till-free shopping, has further expedited this process, giving customers the ability to find a product and order it as quickly as possible while charging the cost to a card previously used.

It’s great for most Western countries, where markets revolve around plastic payment cards, especially with COVID-19 encouraging so many retailers to go cash-free. This isn’t the norm, however, in many other regions throughout the world, such as the Baltics, where credit and debit cards are scarce.

What’s next for e-commerce?

As Nikulipe CEO Frank Breuss explains, merchants often struggle to offer payment methods people are comfortable using. “When you talk to people in the UK or in the US, they often ask what the local payment methods are because they assume everybody has a card,” Breuss says. “But the reality is, in many markets around the world, the preferred method of payment isn’t card. In the past, local payment methods were called “alternative payment methods”, but if you look at the Netherlands, the alternative payment method has a 70% market share, so it isn’t the alternative – the card is the alternative.

“Similarly, in countries like Lithuania, online shops offer credit cards and PayPal, but the preference of consumers is actually to pay using their bank account. This could be a problem for merchants as they need to have a button on the check-out page for each bank, which adds complexity and can make the consumer think twice about their purchase.”

Unlocking new payments

These alternative payment methods include familiar ways to pay, such as direct exchanges from bank accounts rather than via debit cards, online wallets such as PayPal, AliPay and Tencent, as well as buy now, pay later services like Klarna. Other, less familiar payment methods include paying using direct debit and, in some regions, using cash, where customers can buy online but pay at their local post office or corner shop.

Nikulipe’s Banklinq platform collates the various methods and financial service providers across a region for consumers to use when purchasing products and services online. In practice, it means Banklinq becomes the only payment method merchants need to offer during the checkout process for potentially hundreds of different banks and payment methods, removing the complexity that currently exists for many vendors. This is made possible thanks to the Payment Services Directive (PSD2) open banking legislation that makes it compulsory for banks to offer application programming interfaces (APIs) for third parties to securely, and with permission, pull information from customers’ accounts.

The API is based on the NextGenPSD2 framework created by the Berlin Group, an association of more than 40 banks based in the EU, and was modified to match Nikulipe's implementation. The NextGenPSD2 framework offers an open and interoperable set of APIs to ensure the safest and most efficient way to provide data securely.

The technology powering the future of shopping

It reduces complexity and costs when it comes to accessing accounts, referred to in the industry as XS2A, and addresses the problem of multiple competing standards in Europe. It also shares the same goals as the Euro Retail Payments Board, enabling European banking customers to benefit from banking as a service (Baas) products by granting third parties safe and secure access to their bank accounts and financial data.

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Despite this legislation, Breuss laments that one of the challenges Nikulipe has had to overcome is the quality of the APIs they integrate with. “Nikulipe has been able to take advantage of the technical and legal opportunity open banking has created,” he says. “However, although the legislation is very clear that the banks have to offer an API, the reality is that the quality and the promise of these APIs is very different from the APIs the banks deliver.

“It sounds very easy to connect to open banking API's but banks often do the bare minimum to enable these integrations because they see it as enabling competition, which has been tricky to overcome while providing a smooth and efficient solution to consumers.”

Falling at the final hurdle

The need for banks to provide APIs so people can make online purchases more easily may have been hard to envision in Northeast Europe two years ago. Breuss paints a picture of people stuck in their ways, especially in the rural areas, but the pandemic, he continues, has forced more people to go online for more of their products. This has created a necessity for merchants to offer payment methods that many more people are comfortable using.

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Although there are no specific future plans for expansion, he adds, Nikulipe will continue to enter markets where payment methods offered by merchants don’t match the preferences of customers. “I think the pandemic has affected the growing markets in three ways,” he explains. “Firstly, merchant industries that were reluctant to go online are now online. Second, I think new consumer groups have been met, and finally, mainly outside Europe, the lockdown opened up the market for streaming products and has meant consumers are used to subscription models.

“Now, the trend for local payment methods is not a new one and it's not one that’s come from the pandemic, but I think this is a trend that all businesses need to be focussed on. Merchants should not only think about how the local market wants to pay, because anyone who doesn’t want to pay with a card, for example, will not purchase from them. The worst thing that can happen is you invest money to get a customer to your website and put something in a cart, just to lose them because they can’t pay as they want to. That’s why offering local payment methods will be a key success factor for businesses going forward.”

SAP and Qualtrics debut Concur Experience Optimizer for hybrid workplaces

Praharsha Anand — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 09:42:47 +0000

SAP and Qualtrics have joined forces to streamline travel and expense management in hybrid workplaces.

Dubbed Concur Experience Optimizer, the jointly developed solution combines Qualtrics’ employee experience management platform with SAP’s Concur data.

Organizations can also capitalize on the expertise of SAP Concur Experience Management consultants, included within the platform, to implement continuous employee feedback loops.

“Our research shows that demand for business travel is returning to pre-pandemic levels, but getting the employee experience right is more nuanced and complicated than ever before,” said Jay Choi, chief product officer at Qualtrics.

Choi added, “It’s critical for organizations to understand how employees feel about the new world of travel and use that experience data to meet their evolving health and safety needs.”

Concur Experience Optimizer offers critical insights into employee buying decisions and organizational spending patterns, allowing early detection of potential saving opportunities and better coordination of policies and processes.

Businesses can also track employee sentiment with science-backed feedback templates and analyze the results with simple, intuitive dashboards that correlate sentiment with operational data metrics.

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Additionally, the platform aids organizations in identifying risk factors in employee programs, preventing non-compliant and potentially fraudulent expenses.

“People are a company’s greatest asset, and it’s no secret that retaining employees has become even more critical,” said Mike Koetting, area lead of SAP Concur solution at SAP.

“A company’s travel and expense programs can directly impact an employee’s experience. Concur Experience Optimizer helps organizations understand the reasons behind employee behavior so they can make adjustments that are in line with both employee sentiment and business objectives.”

Comparing serverless and server-based technologies

itpro@futurenet.com (ITPro) — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 14:22:09 +0000

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The popularity of serverless strategies is growing because they provides the opportunity for faster time to market by dynamically and automatically allocating compute and memory based on user requests.

A serverless strategy also provides cost savings through hands-off infrastructure management, which enables organisations to redirect IT budget and development resources from operations to innovation.

In 2019, Deloitte introduced a framework for comparing the total cost of ownership (TCO) for both serverless and server-based applications, factoring in infrastructure, development, and maintenance costs. Read this eBook to learn more about the TCO of serverless and server-based apps.

Build mobile and web apps faster

itpro@futurenet.com (ITPro) — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 14:10:44 +0000

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The business value of Red Hat Runtimes

itpro@futurenet.com (ITPro) — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 09:17:12 +0000

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Migrating to microservices is a key step to speeding up development and innovation, and Red Hat Runtimes - a collection of cloud-native and enterprise standard runtimes for developing Java and JavaScript applications - can help take the headache out of the process.

This whitepaper is based on the findings of IDC interviews with organisations using Red Hat Runtimes solutions, revealing how using Runtimes as a foundation for applications in hybrid and multi cloud environments has increased agility and performance.

Download this report now to see how Red Hat Runtimes can:

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