TechSperience Solutions

Episode 113: The Technology Link - Enhancing User Experience

In a recent Forrester report, 77% of full-time employees said PC devices play a critical factor in their ability to do their work. In today’s climate of hybrid and remote environments, how do you determine what technologies users need and what's at risk if user experience isn't prioritized? Listen to this podcast to hear why developing persona-based solutions is critical to user productivity, onboarding, and overall happiness.

Host: James Hilliard

Guests:

• Rhett Livengood, Director of Digital Business Enabling at Intel

• Tim Burns, Vice President of Product Management and Workplace Transformation at Connection

Explore Your Wherever Workspace to learn more about persona-based bundles or visit the Intel showcase to discover their latest technologies.

You can hear us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, or Podbean. 

 

Episode 112: Hybrid Cloud Strategies for the Modern Data Center

Research by IDC show that 90% of enterprises around the world are relying on a mix of on-premises, or dedicated, private clouds, as well as public clouds, and legacy platforms to meet their infrastructure needs. Data center cloud solutions need to change as business needs fluctuate. This episode covers the best practices of a hybrid cloud strategy featuring experts from Intel and Connection.

Host: James Hilliard

Guests: 

• Vijay Bandari, Cloud Solution Architect at Intel
• Steve Fowler, Cloud Solution Architect at Intel
• Kiran Agrahara, Cloud Solution Architect at Intel
• Kevin Slate, Senior Director of Cloud Services and at Connection

 

Cybersecurity Awareness Podcast: Spotlight on Higher Education

Colleges and universities are prime targets for cyber attackers. From the large volumes of PII to medical and research data, higher education institutions are a gold mine for bad actors. The pandemic also added new attack vectors as institutions turned to remote and hybrid learning environments. CISOs, CTOs, and IT teams within higher education have a very challenging task when it comes to cybersecurity and data protection. With open networks, diverse user types, and limited resources, what can colleges and universities do to enhance protection? Listen to this podcast for tips on how to develop a cybersecurity risk management plan for your institution.

Host: James Hilliard

Guests:

• Bobby Sears, Senior Vertical Alliances Manager, Higher Education at Connection
• Steve Nardone, Senior Director of Security and Network Solutions at Connection
• Tim Allen, Director of Operations and Technology at Connection

 

For additional cybersecurity resources, visit: https://www.connection.com/cybersecurityawarenessmonth.

Thank you for listening. You can hear us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and Podbean. 

Follow Connection on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or read our latest insights.

 

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Spotlight on K-12

K-12 is a highly targeted sector when it comes to cyberthreats. In a recent report by CoSN, cybersecurity is a top priority among CTOs. Remote and hybrid environments have drastically increased the volume of devices to support the needs of educators and students. And each device is a potential point of entry for bad actors. There’s also a lot of PII available on these networks, making school districts a prime target for data breaches and ransomware. Listen to this podcast to learn what school districts can do to enhance cybersecurity measures.

For additional cybersecurity resources, visit: https://www.connection.com/cybersecurityawarenessmonth.

Host: James Hilliard

Guests:

• Pam Aulakh, Vertical Alliances Manager, K-12 at Connection
• Steve Nardone, Senior Director of Security and Network Solutions at Connection
• Tim Allen, Director of Operations and Technology at Connection

Thank you for listening. You can hear us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and Podbean. 

Follow Connection on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or read our latest insights.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Spotlight on Manufacturing

Host: James Hilliard

Guests:

• Ryan Spurr, Director of Manufacturing Strategy at Connection
• Steve Nardone, Senior Director of Security and Network Solutions at Connection
• Tim Allen, Director of Operations and Technology at Connection

The pandemic, smart manufacturing initiatives, and Industry 4.0 trends has shifted manufacturing into a digital transformation. As such, the industry is now experiencing a dramatic uptick in ransomware attacks. The majority of these attacks target operational technology (OT) systems by gaining access through compromised home networks and the devices of remote workers. Manufacturing organizations have highly complex infrastructure and environments. Having an accurate picture of security vulnerabilities is a challenge in itself. Listen to this podcast to explore how manufacturing organizations can mitigate their cybersecurity risks and find a more secure path forward.

For additional cybersecurity resources, visit: https://www.connection.com/cybersecurityawarenessmonth.

Thank you for listening. You can hear us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and Podbean. 

Follow Connection on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or read our latest insights.

 

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Spotlight on Healthcare

Host: James Hilliard

Guests:

• Dr. Keith Nelson, Director of Healthcare Strategy, Connection
• Steve Nardone, Senior Director of Security & Network Solutions, Connection
• Tim Allen, Director of Operations and Technology, Connection

The value of patient medical information makes healthcare entities prime targets for cybercriminals. According to IBM’s 2022 Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average cost of a healthcare data breach is $10.1 million, the highest across all industries. With many healthcare providers expanding beyond the four walls into remote and virtual care, now is the time evolve your organization’s cybersecurity posture. Hear from our cybersecurity and healthcare experts on what measures will help you better protect your patients’ data and healthcare practice. For additional cybersecurity resources, visit: https://www.connection.com/cybersecurityawarenessmonth.

Thank you for listening. You can hear us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and Podbean. 

Follow Connection on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or read our latest insights.

 

Episode 111: Mobile Technology Trends for In-Person Industries

Mobile technologies play a critical role in today’s digital world. While there’s a big focus on our remote and hybrid workforce, there are many industries that are in-person. This podcast explores how mobile technologies have evolved since the pandemic – from the frontline employee and customer experience point of view – across healthcare, retail, hospitality, warehousing, and manufacturing industries.

Host: James Hilliard

Guest: Terry Price, Senior Sales Engineer, Zebra Technologies

Show Notes:

[1:20] Mobile contact tracing and tracking technologies have taken off since COVID. In-person industries had to implement social distancing practices and set maximum capacity limits to minimize potential exposure.

[3:03] Serviceability for customers has drastically changed in the last few years. Customers expect instant gratification and convenience. Mobile technologies have become more necessary as we are quickly becoming a cashless society.

[8:09] Ease of use and manageability are also at the forefront for consumers. It’s key to leverage mobile technologies that use a “common” operating system, such as Android, to deliver a streamlined interface that users are familiar with.

[10:17] Healthcare workers require more out of their mobile devices than any other industry. Healthcare practitioners rely on technologies for patient care and life-and-death scenarios. These use cases require ruggedized mobile technologies that are fast and efficient.

[13:20] Disinfectant-ready devices are must-haves in healthcare. Retail and hospitality industries followed suit by adopting healthcare-grade devices.

[15:07] For many industries, ruggedized devices are critical, but decision-makers are sometimes hesitant on the upfront investment. A consumer-grade device will likely require more replacements and overall management. Ruggedized devices will result in an overall lower total cost of ownership.

[19:00] Each industry defines cybersecurity in different terms. For instance, in healthcare, HIPPA compliance requires that data cannot be stored on the device itself. Zebra works with software companies to develop solutions that can meet or exceed cybersecurity requirements and needs.

[23:49] How can a business start a mobile-first transformation? Determine the wireless and physical security infrastructure needed, find the right technologies that can elevate the employee and customer experience, and partner with experts to guide you through the process.

 

Thank you for listening. You can hear us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and Podbean.

Follow Connection on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or read our latest insights.

Episode 110: Reimagining the Workplace Experience

James Hilliard welcomes Nathan Coutinho from Logitech to discuss why organizations should reevaluate IT and office space planning. With high-turnover rates and many employees feeling “burnt out”, now is the time to pause and think about what solutions are needed to encourage meeting equity and enhance collaboration among in-person and remote teams. Listen to this episode to discover other strategies companies should consider to better support employee wellness and productivity.

Host: James Hilliard

Guest: Nathan Coutinho, Head of Analyst Relations and Business Strategy at Logitech

Show Notes:

[1:00] Video applications have come a long way. From barely loading frames in the 1990s to our daily need for collaboration and building relationships; users today depend on webcams, video platforms, and audio equipment. And this need will continue to push forward the evolution of these tools.

[3:20] Office spaces have changed too. The workforce went from collaborative meeting rooms to remote work environments due to the pandemic. Hybrid and remote models are here to stay.

[4:10] Having the right setup at home is important. There are so many physical factors; the right desk, the right chair, and the right environment all play a big role in your health. From the technology side, audio and video are critical elements for users to be their authentic selves.

[8:20] Poor video and audio can lead to fatigue. But not sharing your camera at all or using your camera too much can also lead to fatigue. These factors tie into the overall work culture.

[11:10] Because we are all at different levels of tech savviness, it’s important to have an inclusive mindset and an understanding that connectivity or accessibility issues may happen. Not everyone has the same access to technology either. For instance, some employees may be able to manage their bandwidth by setting up mesh routers or getting duplicate lines, but the average person may not have the means or even the knowledge to do this.

[17:35] What is meeting equity? Making sure employees working remotely can still get the full context of a meeting that’s taking place in the office. Getting the right framing, being able to see and hear everyone, and the ability to read body language has been a problem for years. Today’s web cameras can smoothly pan to those within a conference room so remote/hybrid employees can have a better experience. Web and audio technologies will continue to advance over the next five years.

[23:39] Organizations should have a thoughtful strategy when it comes to equipping employees with the right gear. There’s no silver bullet but enabling managers to lead their teams based on how they want to work is key, along with having the support from senior leaders.

[28:00] Now is the time to reset. Re-evaluate your office space. Consider flex spaces based on what meetings are happening and how those groups engage. Often, organizations rollout office spaces and collaboration tools without asking employees what they need and want. Adoption will always be hindered until companies really understand how employees want to work.

[33:57] How we work will continue to change. So, what can organizations do? Don’t assume people know how to use technologies. Training should be part of the strategy and supported by all leaders and departments. Persona-based understanding can help develop the right package of equipment and solutions. The goal is to delivery technologies that are so streamlined that its nearly invisible.

 

Thank you for listening. You can hear us on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and Podbean.

Follow Connection on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or read our latest insights.

 

Clip of Episode 106: Navigating Supply Chain Challenges

The following is a 12-minute clip of Episode 106. Click here to listen to the full episode.

 

Navigating the complexities of today's IT global supply chain issues is a challenging undertaking for any organization. This audio clip highlights a few strategies businesses can implement to procure and deliver necessary technologies needed by their employees. 

Host: James Hilliard

Guests: Peter Waters, Senior Director of GlobalServe Solutions and Jessica Cerone, Director of Supply Chain at GlobalServe

 

Simplify IT procurement and deployment while empowering on-site, hybrid, and remote teams with customizable, best-of-breed hardware, software, and services bundles. Learn more at Your Wherever Workspace.

 

Clip of Episode 108: Current Trends and Challenges of IT Staffing

The following is a 6-minute clip of Episode 108. Click here to listen to the full episode.

 

From low unemployment rates to a high demand for IT professionals due to hybrid and remote work environments, traditional recruiting activities are no longer effective. Listen to this clip to learn what new strategies are needed to fill your IT positions.

Host: James Hilliard

Guests: Patrick Dja Konan, Lifecycle Services IT Staffing Business Development Manager at Connection and Timothy Duffy, Lifecycle Services IT Staffing Business Development Manager at Connection

Simplify IT procurement and deployment while empowering on-site, hybrid, and remote teams with customizable, best-of-breed hardware, software, and services bundles. Learn more at Your Wherever Workspace.