Info Advantage Blog

Mobility is proving to be a major pain point for businesses, especially when it comes to implementing new technology solutions. It’s become crucial to consider how mobility can influence the growth of your business and improve operations, particularly with the cloud gaining ground and mobile devices becoming omnipresent in the workplace. How will your business learn from this influx of mobility?

Here are four ways that mobility trends have infiltrated the enterprise environment, and why your business can (and should) apply them to its own technology strategy. Doing so keeps you one step ahead of the curb on this important industry topic:

• Security is important: Regardless of what types of devices your business uses, it’s primarily how they access data that you need to be concerned with. Data security is crucial, especially for mobile devices that may be connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi hotspots while out of the office. A virtual private network, or VPN, is a valid choice to mitigate the risk associated with potentially dangerous connections, while a mobile device management solution can allow you to restrict access to sensitive corporate information on a per-user and per-application basis.
• Increased focus on the cloud: The cloud lets your business store data and applications in an online environment, where they can be accessed from any location with an Internet connection. This makes collaboration and communication much easier, as no matter where your employees are, they can connect to your base of operations and access the resources they need to do their jobs.
• The convergence of desktop and mobile: Windows 10, Microsoft’s latest operating system, was an attempt by the software giant to create an OS and applications that work on a myriad of different devices, be it a desktop workstation, or a smartphone. This suggests that solutions that work on a universal level can improve the productivity and flexibility of a workplace. After all, you can get more done with a full version of an app built for a smartphone than you would with a watered-down version.
• Regulation and oversight are critical: Your business needs control of its data if you want to thrive. Mobile devices might have the benefit of flexibility, but you need to ensure that users can be held accountable for their actions - including how and why they use sensitive corporate data. In most cases, it’s important to restrict access to data in order to protect it from those who have no business viewing it.

There’s certainly a lot to consider when implementing mobile technology solutions, but you don’t have to do it alone. Info Advantage can help your team make an educated decision about how to use mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops, to their advantage. To learn more, reach out to us at (585) 254-8710.

Face it, your laptop isn’t indestructible. There are only so many times you can throw your laptop in a cramped bag or have it drop from your hands before you see some damage. While many laptops can be saved with something as simple as a sturdy case, many modern professionals work in conditions that make it very difficult to protect the technological equipment needed for businesses to run smoothly. That is why many manufacturers are creating lines of ‘rugged laptops,’ which can withstand even the harshest of work conditions.

What Are Rugged Laptops?

A “rugged’’ laptop is a PC that has been designed to withstand very harsh environments and conditions, such as heavy traveling or factory work. These laptops are built to withstand just about anything, including drops, spills, extreme temperatures, and much more. There are a variety of different types of rugged laptops, each built for a specific purpose. Many rugged laptop vendors offer an assortment of rugged laptops that are classified into three ‘levels’ of ruggedness; semi-rugged, fully-rugged, and ultra-rugged. Semi-rugged laptops are typically enhanced versions of commercialized laptops with more protection, where an ultra-rugged laptop is built from the inside-out to resist even the harshest environments.

What Classifies a Laptop as Rugged?

Most rugged PC manufacturers use the MIL-STD-810 environmental durability standards to test how rugged their laptops are. The MIL-STD-810 was originally created in the 1960s by the US Department of Defense as a guideline for designing military-grade technology that can be used in high combat areas. The standard provides a variety of different test methods which can be used to ensure equipment is suitable enough to be used on the field of combat. This includes tests for temperature, vibration, impact, water resistance, altitude, sand or dust, and more. Manufacturers are also known to reference the Ingress Protection Code, which classifies the degrees of sealing protection of electrical equipment, and the NEMA classification, which describes different electrical enclosures and how they hold up in different environments.

Who Should Be Using Rugged Laptops?

While rugged laptops are typically designed for people who work in extreme conditions, just about any business professional can find value in a rugged laptop. While you may not be using your laptop underground or at sea, your personal computer may be taking on more damage than you think. Laptops are often shoved in bags or airplane compartments, or left in places they could potentially get damage, such as a bathroom or kitchen. Therefore, just about anyone who takes their business on-the-go can find benefits from ruggedized laptops.

If you’re interested in a more rugged laptop but don’t know what level of protection you need? Contact the technology experts at Info Advantage today at (585) 254-8710 to talk about what technology solutions will best fit your business.

[Photo: DoD]