The world of technology is complex. Each episode of TechSperience will uncover helpful technology, cybersecurity, cloud, and workplace transformation tips to help the everyday IT professional. Tune in for advice from leading IT experts covering retail, manufacturing, healthcare, K-12, higher education, and more.
Episodes
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
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.
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Friday Aug 26, 2022
Friday Aug 26, 2022
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.
Friday Aug 26, 2022
Friday Aug 26, 2022
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.
Friday Aug 26, 2022
Friday Aug 26, 2022
The following is a 10-minute clip of Episode 109. Click here to listen to the full episode.
Host: James Hilliard
Guest: Rhett Livengood, Director, Digital Business Enabling at Intel
Today’s digital work environment has elevated cyber security risks for organizations. It’s no longer safe to only rely on software-based solutions. This podcast clip explores why IT teams should adopt a “zero-trust” mindset and how you can equip your employees with the right tools, software, and training to help protect against costly cyberattacks.
Wednesday Aug 03, 2022
Wednesday Aug 03, 2022
Host: James Hilliard
Guest: Rhett Livengood, Director, Digital Business Enabling at Intel
Today’s digital work environment has elevated cyber security risks for organizations. It’s no longer safe to only rely on software-based solutions. This podcast explores why we IT teams should adopt a “zero-trust” mindset and how you can equip your employees with the right tools, software, and training to help protect against costly cyberattacks.
Show Notes:
[1:00] PC security has evolved drastically since the pandemic. With remote and hybrid work environments the norm today, security risks are even greater. Data breaches are unfortunately more common and can cause detrimental impacts. In a recent report, the average financial loss is $4.2M per breach (IBM).
[3:36] We're in a zero-trust environment now. Companies should assume that employees and organizations are being attacked at all times. No links or external data can be trusted.
[5:00] VPNs are difficult to maintain and manage and are no longer an effective approach to protect employees. Adding more security software slows systems down and don't lead to a great user experience.
[6:30] Intel has looked at building security right into the hardware as a solution without slowing down PCs to better support remote and hybrid employees.
[7:10] People are the weakest link when it comes to cyber security. Organizations should implement a recurring training program with reminders about multi-factor authentication, using unique and complex passwords, and paying attention to links. Phishing attacks are getting more sophisticated so highlighting what employees should look out for is key.
[10:05] Security patches should be seamless while also considering employees' working hours. Offering the user scheduling options is ideal to minimize business interruptions.
[12:56] Security should be a holistic mindset. It requires consideration of the employee, technology, security threats, and training. Multilayer device protection should include software, application, and hardware.
[15:40] When deploying PCs to employees, IT teams should be mindful about the software that is being loaded. Each program will impact PC performance which, in turn, impacts the employee experience. Work with a partner to effectively integrate software and systems for optimal protection and user experience.
[18:00] Protecting data involves encryption. Zero-trust applies here too. Nothing can be trusted.
[20:15] Security assessments and audits continue to be in the forefront when it comes to balancing employees' needs and tools, various work environments, and organizational security protocols.
[23:48] In the future, Artificial Intelligence will play a key role in automating security checks to help minimize user error.
Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
Tuesday Aug 02, 2022
Internal hiring managers looking to fill IT positions are currently experiencing a wide variety of challenges. 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 the podcast to learn what new strategies are needed to fill your IT positions and how Connection's IT staffing services can help.
Host: James Hilliard
Guests: Patrick Dja Konan, Lifecycle Services IT Staffing Business Development Manager at Connection
Timothy Duffy, Lifecycle Services IT Staffing Business Development Manager at Connection
Show Notes:
[1:00] There are more IT positions open now than ever before.
[1:47] The power dynamic has switched to those seeking employment. HR teams are under a lot of pressure to fill positions.
[3:48] Hybrid and remote working environments has led to the significant demand of IT staff.
[6:10] Internal hiring managers are under a lot of stress with many open positions to fill and retaining staff.
[9:20] Hiring managers should understand the root need for the position. For IT and other specialized positions, working with a staffing company can help supplement the hiring team’s awareness of various industries and roles.
[12:32] Posting positions on every job board will result in many applicants that won’t qualify. Hiring managers should work with IT teams on the job description and understand the career path.
[17:20] Less than 2% of IT professionals are unemployed. A best practice to find highly qualified candidates is to approach those that are currently employed elsewhere.
[19:35] Nurture a talent pool by constantly interviewing and pre-screening candidates to build a database of potential applicants.
[23:10] Filling temporary positions and staff augmentation is another solution that may help for urgent project needs. There are many employees that enjoy contract or consultant work.
[26:05] Partnering with a company that specializes in IT staffing – that can serve as an extension of your HR team – can help businesses find the right candidate based on the need.
Thursday Jul 07, 2022
Thursday Jul 07, 2022
Today’s work-from-anywhere paradigm brings key challenges that organizations must address through IT transformation. This episode explores new PC solutions to address the needs of hybrid and remote employees while easing device management for IT staff. Topics include built-in security, accelerated compute capabilities, and automated data processing.
Host: James Hilliard
Guest: Rhett Livengood, Director, Digital Business Enabling at Intel
Show Notes:
[1:40] Top IT security and performance challenges we’re seeing with remote/hybrid working.
[3:50] Work-from-home challenges from the personal perspective.
[7:55] How Intel strategized and mobilized to support the new remote working environment.
[11:00] Most PCs are outdated which can negatively impact security and performance.
[12:30] 12th Gen Intel Cores extend battery life by 2x and have embedded security.
[14:00] Software in PCs can prioritize video conferencing usage for improved user experience.
[19:00] Benefits of hardware/software integration and partnering with the right provider.
[22:51] With the current supply chain limitations, developing an advanced plan, teaming with a solutions provider that can advise on the best of breed technologies, and access to global resources are critical.
[28:00] Modern PCs can accommodate for Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6 extended, 5G, and 6G to elevate the employee experience at home.
Thursday Jun 16, 2022
Thursday Jun 16, 2022
Navigating the ever-growing complexities of today's IT global supply chain issues is a challenging undertaking for any organization. In this episode, we'll dive into how GlobalServe, part of the Connection family, is helping customers to navigate these challenges.
Host: James Hilliard
Guests: Peter Waters, Senior Director of GlobalServe Solutions
Jessica Cerone, Director of Supply Chain at GlobalServe
Show Notes:
[1:11] Introduction of guests
[1:30] What's one of the biggest issues customers are struggling with today?
[2:06] What is the solution to those issues?
[3:33] How can customers start to be more flexible with OEM standardization?
[5:25] Are people more flexible today than 2 years ago?
[6:24] Are we seeing more examples of customers mixing in different providers?
[8:06] What does the landscape look like from a global perspective where certain regions can acquire certain products?
[10:10] How can companies plan so far out when they were accustomed to an on-demand world?
[12:45] Is there any possibility of going back to where we were prior to Covid, or have things fundamentally changed?
[14:15] What are we seeing with pricing challenges?
[15:25] Are customers willing to pay more now, or are they still expecting bargains?
[16:42] How are we helping teams navigate shipping costs?
[18:41] How can you get creative with helping customers with these new challenges?
[24:58] How have GlobalServe's connections established throughout the years helped them to navigate the challenges of Covid?
[30:35] What are some examples of customer success stories?
[36:22] How is the experience of working in so many countries?
[41:05] Contact information
Thursday May 19, 2022
Thursday May 19, 2022
When COVID-19 hit, school IT teams found themselves needing to reevaluate the tools they were using. Modern solutions from Microsoft including Autopilot and Intune can bring an array of benefits to the education space. In this episode, we'll explore how the education field can utilize these technologies in schools to benefit teachers, administrators, and students.
Host: James Hilliard
Guests: Lisa Trisciani, VP of State, Local and Education Field Sales at Connection
Rick Sabarese, Director of End-User Computing and Mobility at Connection
Show Notes:
[0:35] Introduction of guests
[1:00] What were the biggest things that IT teams have learned over the last couple of years?
[2:42] What was Microsoft Autopilot doing in other areas like the business world that the education space realized they could also benefit from?
[3:44] How have platforms like Microsoft Autopilot helped make it easier to get technology devices up and running for students?
[5:38] Why are education customers looking at Microsoft Autopilot today?
[7:51] Can a technology device be kept with an individual student and stay with them for their entire time in school?
[9:25] How can Microsoft Autopilot alleviate technology responsibilities from teachers so that they can focus more on teaching?
[12:45] What benefits does Microsoft Autopilot provide to parents of students?
[15:06] What are some of the early feedback from school districts that have adopted Microsoft Autopilot?
[18:32] How does our team work with a school district to set up Autopilot so these machines can hit the ground running as soon as they hit a student's hands?
[20:20] In a hybrid environment, can Autopilot be utilized to manage Google devices?
[23:00] Are our students more well-versed in technology platforms today?
[24:44] How are schools funding new technology solutions? What are some of the funding opportunities out there?
[30:20] Contact information
Wednesday May 04, 2022
Wednesday May 04, 2022
Does your IT team need an IT team? Here are insights into our managed services and how they help teams to secure their environments.
Guest: John Chirillo, Managed Services Director at Connection
Guest: Tony The, Services Businesses Development Manager at Connection
Host: James Hilliard
Show Notes:
[0:45] Introduction of guests
[1:35] What are the top security breach challenges that IT teams are facing today?
[4:26] Is stealing credentials still a security issue?
[7:03] Are customers currently more interested in investing in security?
[8:11] What is the foundation and framework of Connection's managed services?
[9:49] Is the mindset of the organization more important than a specific technology?
[11:15] How do customers prioritize their security issues?
[12:36] How would Connection's managed services framework mitigate specific security risks?
[14:29] Where do certain technology toolsets fit in?
[17:07] How can we get teams on their best security footing for them?
[18:30] Is there still a wide variety of acceptable risk levels?
[22:00] What's the process for teams to understand and prioritize their security risks?
[24:05] How do you recommend that customers not get too far behind within their security environments?
[27:25] What's some memorable customer feedback you've received?