Do iPhones, iPads, and Androids seem to be multiplying at your school location? While the proliferation of mobile devices brings huge advantages for teachers, administrators, and students in terms of anytime, anywhere access, they introduce major headaches for IT for the same reason: anytime, anywhere access. With students and staff now relying on personal devices for work purposes, school IT administrators are faced with a major test – how to support necessary information exchanges and real-time collaboration, while keeping users safe and data secure.

Institutions such as Harvard Business School, Anchorage Public Schools, and Pepperdine University have passed the “Consumerization of IT” exam with flying colors – turning to Accellion’s secure workspaces and mobile file sharing capabilities to support around-the-clock information access directly from users’ desktops and mobile devices.

Users at elementary schools all the way through to the country’s top universities, are doing some pretty cool things with Accellion via a range of devices: including sharing financial aid information, collaborating on research around the globe, sharing design files for campus magazines, patient data from the on-campus health center, lunchroom planning documents, and faculty research, to name just a few.

Consider a school board that sets the educational curriculum for the upcoming school year, and shares this information via Accellion with affiliated school principals. The principals then review and provide comments, with Accellion automatically notifying the board when changes have been made. The updated curriculum is opened up to department heads and teachers, where they, in turn, create and submit corresponding lesson plans. That’s the type of collaboration that’s happening via Accellion today.

When it comes to “smart” file sharing and collaboration, students, faculty and administrators at schools, colleges and universities need to be able to easily and securely connect via devices of their choosing. And, that’s exactly why they choose Accellion.

Today Google announced the launch of Google Drive, a cloud-based file storage and synchronization solution touting 5GB of storage for free. Google Drive just compounded the IT security nightmare already created by free unmanaged consumer file sharing services such as Dropbox, iCloud etc.

Unmanaged file sharing in business environments is never a good idea because of the heightened risk of data loss and exposure. In the case of Google, a company that’s built its legacy on extensive search engine and targeted advertising capabilities, you also have to question Google’s intentions with storing business information. Just how equipped is Google to handle confidential business data?

If this latest Google Drive announcement is leaving you confused about what to do for business file sharing, you’re not alone.

To help you navigate your way, we’ve outlined six questions to ask when considering a file sharing and storage solution for business use:

1. Is this truly a solution for business? The rapid of adoption of free consumer file sharing services such as Dropbox and iCloud, by business users may have you wondering if the lunatics are running the asylum. But, your instincts are correct if you are wary of unmanaged cloud file storage for business use, if a file sharing solution doesn’t have IT administrative and management tools then it isn’t a business solution.
2. Am I being locked in? Is the file sharing solution from a company trying to carve out a proprietary niche, forcing you to use certain operating systems, devices, or applications? In the case of Google Drive it is part of Google Apps, but native applications are not available for  iOS devices like the iPad.
3. How will my information be used? Check the privacy terms carefully. Google must have a plan to make money from Google Drive customers somewhere, somehow, so carefully review Google’s privacy policy and their right to mine your valuable assets to their advantage.
4. Can I track and view all file activities? If your organization is subject to any type of compliance regulation such as HIPAA, GLBA, SOX then you need to know what’s happening with your organization’s files, otherwise how are you going to demonstrate compliance?
5. Can I set my own security and privacy standards? For business file sharing, you want to be able to establish customized policies and administrative controls related to file access, security, and storage – as strict or flexible as desired.
6. What mobile devices and apps are supported? From Androids to iPhones, make sure that files can be synced and accessed via any device.

While “free” is certainly appealing, in the case of file sharing it always comes at a cost. A security breach from business file sharing could mean exposure of confidential financial statements, upcoming product designs, or employee health information, with implications for privacy and compliance violations and fines, lost revenue, loss of competitive advantage and damage to a corporate brand. For confidential business information, using free consumer file storage and sharing can be a costly mistake.

With much fanfare Google Drive arrives... Yes But what's the true cost for IT? http://t.co/ypjOQ2l4 #InfoSec

April 24, 2012 5:11 pm via SocialEngageReplyRetweetFavorite

@Accellion

Accellion

Most people treat their mobile devices as an extension of themselves. People text, share, and play their way into two year relationships with the devices they use on a daily basis. In the typical mobile device “relationship,” individuals downloaded an estimated 83 apps in 2011, according to Piper Jaffray and analyst Gene Munster. While that number sounds high, it boils down to about 1.6 apps per week.

Many IT professionals have noticed this trend and are concerned about the use of free consumer apps in the work place. It’s hard to imagine that last week’s discovery of the security hole in Dropbox’s mobile app, by U.K.-based iOS app developer Gareth Wright, eased concerns about mobile security. Wright reported the security hole in Dropbox’s native mobile app that could be used to access personal information. PCWorld also confirmed that Facebook and LinkedIn mobile apps had the same core vulnerability. Widespread use, combined with security vulnerabilities, of consumer mobile apps have IT managers concerned.

Consumer mobile file sharing apps serve a purpose for users that want a quick and easy way to share and store things like family photos, recipes, and videos. However, these un-managed file sharing apps should not be used to send enterprise data of any kind. The security hole that Gareth Wright found in the Dropbox app is an unfortunate example that consumer mobile file sharing apps aren’t architected with the privacy and security measures necessary for an enterprise.

How can organizations prevent employees from using these consumer mobile file sharing apps? The answer is easy. Don’t give employees a reason to use these apps in the first place. Providing employees with an easy-to-use, secure file sharing and syncing alternative from the start is a great way to prevent the use of consumer file sharing apps. Employees should be able to send, share, and access files securely, while IT administrators ensure they’re protected from malicious content. Empowering employees with a safe and secure mobile application is the first step in the process.

IT-Thinking Twice About the Cost of Free Apps: http://t.co/l02np8vF #Mobile #Accellion Blog #InfoSec

April 12, 2012 12:48 pm via SocialEngageReplyRetweetFavorite

@Accellion

Accellion

Join Accellion® In the Cloud Sweepstakes

Accellion has always given you the freedom of choice when it comes to cloud deployments: Private, Hybrid, and Public. Starting today we’re taking that freedom to another level. Accellion is celebrating the launch of kitedrive by giving one lucky winner a trip to the clouds. Where you go once you’re in the clouds is up to you. Accellion is going to award one grand prize winner a $1000 travel voucher… from there the sky’s the limit.

Craving some beach time? Then maybe white sands, turquoise water and island hopping are your thing. There’s always something appealing about relaxing on a Caribbean cruise. Thinking you’d like a trip to Italy? Wandering the streets of Venice is always intoxicating. Perhaps it’s time to visit Mickey Mouse. Fancy some time across the pond?

Do any of these options sound appealing? Then you should head over and “like” Accellion on Facebook, and then enter the “In the Cloud Sweepstakes”. Once you’re up in the cloud, the options are limitless…

If that’s not enough we are going to have weekly prize packs that include: Amazon gift cards, cloud t-shirts, kites, and other cool swag.

This promotion starts on March 13^th and runs until March 30^th. So get over to Facebook and register!

Once you’re registered we recommend that you do the following:

• Tell a friend on Facebook or per email. Facebook.com/Accellion
• Follow @accellion on Twitter to be the first to know about Accellion news.
• Tell the world by tweeting out where you would go if you win the grand prize. Use #ToTheCloud @accellion
• Start sharing and collaborating in the cloud with Accellion.

Official “Join us in the Cloud” sweepstakes rules.

Enter the #Accellion Join Us in the Cloud #Sweepstakes on Facebook.Grand Prize is a $1000 travel voucher. http://t.co/3MUTR1Qw #ToTheCloud

March 15, 2012 10:05 am via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@Accellion

Accellion

RSA 2012 last week was a great event for Accellion. It gave us a chance to catch up with our customers, partners, and meet like-minded IT professionals. For those who’ve never been to RSA, it’s the biggest security conference in the US.  Attendance this year was phenomenal. The 23,000 people that attended RSA 2012 had the opportunity to visit 350 vendors on the packed showroom floor.  Several RSA veterans at the show told me that in previous years, attendance has been down, the expo floor was dull and attendance was sparse, limited mostly to vendors crying in the aisles. Last year was a bit better, but this year… well, this year can only be described as very cool and kind of crazy.

As we explored the conference, it was clear much of the buzz was around mobile devices and securing the cloud. I remember reading and posting blog posts about the beginning of the BYOD trend last year. Based on what we saw at RSA 2012, it’s clear that the old rules of mobility don’t apply anymore. The question at RSA 2012 was how to deal with the reality of BYOD and the flood of personally-owned devices in the workplace.

Another hot topic at the Accellion booth was collaboration and cloud deployments. I can’t tell you the number of  booth visitors who wanted to talk about private cloud deployments and their Dropbox problem. It was obvious that the widespread use of free, cloud-based Dropbox-type applications has created new security vulnerabilities that are on the minds of IT professionals from a wide variety of organizations from around the world.

RSA 2012 last week was a great event for Accellion. Read our RSA recap here => http://t.co/3NZFYqHi

March 8, 2012 11:34 am via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@Accellion

Accellion

Until recently, the thought of doctors using a mobile device to remotely monitor the health condition of a patient sounded like a work of science fiction. In fact, the potential benefits that mobile devices could provide the healthcare community have been discussed since the late 90s. With the recent innovation of powerful and easy to use mobile devices and innovative apps it was only a matter of time until the medical community joined the mobile revolution.

The uses of mobile technology in the healthcare sector seem limitless. The ability for medical professionals to access apps that provide up-to-date information about medical news, tools, procedures, and trends across multiple specialties keeps medical pros well informed. The ability for a doctor to send patient x-rays to a specialist for diagnosis using a mobile device or writing and then sending a prescription to the patient’s pharmacist is remarkable.

Currently, there are 17,000 healthcare applications available in the major app stores. Unfortunately, as more and more traditional healthcare providers join the mobile revolution they are using unmanaged, untracked, free file storage and file sharing apps, in direct violation of federal mandates such as HIPAA. The increased use of mobile devices, file sharing, and collaboration across multiple devices, tablets, and applications has healthcare IT professionals searching for secure solutions.

The idea of securing patient data anywhere, anytime is one of the reasons why Accellion announced a partnership  with BoxTone today. Linking the BoxTone EMM solution with Accellion’s secure file sharing solution ensures healthcare IT can instantly secure, manage and support thousands of mobile employee devices and apps, while retaining complete control over access and security of confidential document- and file-based patient information.

Healthcare professionals can learn more about the secure mobility solution offered by BoxTone and Accellion in Las Vegas at HIMSS 2012 Booth 12928 Kiosk #13 on February 20-22 in the Mobile Health Knowledge Center.

#Accellion and #BoxTone partner to deliver mobility management and content security solutions for healthcare. http://t.co/ER7yush7

February 22, 2012 10:20 am via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@Accellion

Accellion

Accellion In Action: Pepperdine Secures Copier Files

When Pepperdine decided to implement a university-wide copier replacement program, the mission was to make staff and students’ lives easier. With 90 copiers across four campuses, individuals could scan documents as needed, convert files to PDFs, and send them to an email account. Sounds great, right? But, the big question facing IT was – just how secure is the process?

For Pepperdine, all documents needed to be properly encrypted, keeping financial and other personal information out of the wrong hands and enabling the university’s clinics and counseling centers to comply with HIPAA regulations. But, the encryption needed to happen behind the scenes, as the university recognized that if the new copiers weren’t easy to use, they simply wouldn’t be used by students.

With Pepperdine already using Accellion Secure File Transfer to send and receive large documents – powering much of the university’s communications – the university decided to also use Accellion to support its copier rollout. How? Users simply scan desired documents, the Accellion SMTP Satellite forwards the file attachments to the Accellion appliance, and once users return to their PCs, they’ll have a secure link waiting with the scanned items. Users don’t have to do anything new – a huge perk. Plus, with all documents sent through the appliance, the built-in security aligns with the university’s HIPAA compliance practices.

“When you have an IT solution in place that can be used to support and secure other key business operations, it’s a huge win,” said Michael Lucas, CTO with Pepperdine University. “Our users know – and like – Accellion Secure File Transfer, so extending the product to our new copiers was a no brainer.”

Click here to read the full case study.

‘

Learn how #Pepperdine University extends usage of #Accellion solutions to boost data security & HIPAA compliance http://t.co/CxrDJMdg

February 16, 2012 10:15 am via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@Accellion

Accellion

A recent article in Fierce Content Management entitled “Survey finds many users blow by SharePoint security” reveals how cavalier some Microsoft SharePoint users are about maintaining security within the widely used Enterprise collaboration and content management solution.  According to the SharePoint security survey conducted by Cryptzone, an IT threat mitigation company, 92% of respondents said they knew that taking content out of SharePoint created a security risk; still 30% were willing to take that risk for the sake of convenience.  Even more eye-opening was that 43% took sensitive content out of SharePoint to work at home and 55% said they did that to give material to someone without access to SharePoint.

There’s a clear need to be able to share files externally from SharePoint that is not currently being addressed in many organizations.

To effectively collaborate today, users need to easily share content securely within their organization and with external partners across the firewall. But in order to securely share data with outside parties, organizations need to create a secure file sharing system within their SharePoint environment.  Unfortunately, it is not easy or inexpensive to build an external-facing SharePoint server farm.

In order to open up content in SharePoint to external users, IT needs to provision a license and also set up external facing SharePoint servers on the DMZ.  This is an expensive proposition. So organizations usually bypass setting up external SharePoint servers.  This often leads employees to create work-arounds rather than taking the time to put in IT requests.  However, this is a data breach waiting to happen.  Once a document leaves SharePoint “illegally” the ability to track and manage the file is compromised.  This is particularly important in industries subject to HIPAA and other regulatory compliance.

There is a solution to this problem for organizations who want to make the most of their SharePoint investment.  Accellion offers a plug-in for SharePoint that enables users to quickly, easily, and securely share any size file from within the SharePoint Document Library to both internal and external recipients.  The plug-in not only makes it easy to share files across the corporate firewall but also provides easy-to-use file tracking and reporting required to meet industry and government regulations such as HIPAA, SOX and GLBA.

So if your organization has made an investment in SharePoint but you haven’t yet implemented external sharing of SharePoint documents for your users please give us a call.   As the Cryptzone survey illustrated if a solution isn’t provided for external file sharing from SharePoint then users will come up with their own solution and security isn’t typically top of their list of requirements.

What I don't Love About #SharePoint: http://t.co/EaSD0R1w #Accellion [Blog Post] #cms #ecm #FileSharing #spbuzz

February 14, 2012 1:16 pm via CoTweetReplyRetweetFavorite

@Accellion

Accellion

For so many businesses, timely, proactive, and personalized communications is the secret ingredient that keeps clients coming back for more. So, what’s a company to do when “communications” goes well beyond daily email and phone check-ins, involving the need to not only send, but also collaborate on, extremely large documents, such as CAD drawings, contracts, and floor plans?

For Halsall Associates – a firm that has provided engineering services to clients worldwide since 1956 – its traditional methods of sharing information both with clients and among internal team members were not keeping up with its fast-paced business. For example, the firm oversees the tendering process for clients – managing incoming bids from various contractors for an approved project. With tendering packages released weekly and including up to a dozen bidders per project, sharing this information via an FTP site or a thumb drive was overwhelming, forcing clients to manage multiple files in multiple places and hindering Halsall’s ability to provide counsel until the files were manually returned.

Enter Accellion Secure Collaboration.

Now, Halsall’s employees simply need a client’s email address to create an Accellion workspace and can then upload and download files as often as needed. One workspace per tender package provides exclusive access to bidding contractors and eliminates document confusion – a win-win.

Similarly, for ongoing design and engineering projects, employees create a single workspace per property, providing a one-stop source for floor plans, surveys, and contract documents. Gone are days of Halsall employees hitting “send” and wondering if documents were received, who accessed them, and if the files were updated. With Accellion, employees maintain an active thread of conversation for all documents – adding comments, soliciting feedback, and easily monitoring past versions. Plus, there are added benefits for IT, providing an automated audit trail with access to file activity by sender, recipient, file size, or date sent.

“Now, our staff doesn’t think twice about how to share documents,” said Noman Ahmed, Infrastructure Specialist with Halsall Associates. “Accellion is to go-to source for all internal and external interactions, allowing employees to work smarter, faster, and more effectively.”

Click here to read the full case study.

#Halsall creates self-service collaboration giving the power of communication to employees. http://t.co/CBlFu13c #Accellion #Casestudy

January 26, 2012 11:10 am via CoTweetReplyRetweetFavorite

@Accellion

Accellion

Ever worked for one of those companies where you check your watch every five minutes, willing it to say “time to go home”? Where happy hour is always hours away? Where making instant coffee is often the highlight of the day? Yeah, we’re not one of those companies…

Accellion had a tremendous year in 2011. It was awesome to watch the amount of worldwide growth that took place, especially in the last six months.  Accellion’s management team of successful startup veterans have created an atmosphere that rewards innovation, offers opportunities for growth, and encourages a healthy work/life balance.

Accellion has started 2012 with a bang. As you are probably already aware, Accellion received a $12M investment  in January. After the record-breaking year and added investment to fuel our continued growth, the question is- what’s next for Accellion?  Great organizations need inspired employees with creativity who can get the job done. Do you want to be part of something BIG? Do you want to be innovative and creative? Accellion is an innovative startup with a difference; Accellion is profitable and growing rapidly.

Are you interested in growing with us?

Check out the positions we currently have open in engineering, marketing, sales and customer support.

Be sure to stay tuned to Accellion.com and check out our Facebook page for updates.

Come and Join the Accellion Team! http://t.co/62TfrFuT

February 2, 2012 6:14 pm via CoTweetReplyRetweetFavorite

@Accellion

Accellion