Someday, the daily struggle and uncertainty of the pandemic will only be a memory. However, the way we do business has been forever altered and remote workforces are likely here to stay.

In early 2020, companies were forced to rapidly transition to working from home. More than a year later, as vaccines roll out and the virus subsides, it appears as though the remote work trend won’t be going away any time soon. In fact, one found that 87% of professionals hope they can continue working from home.

Although the want teams to return to the office, employers are increasingly coming to the realization that they might have a hard time attracting and retaining top talent if they don’t allow their teams to work remotely. For this reason, the majority of employers are moving forward with plans to continue with a remote workforce or implement a , where some folks work from the office and others work from home.

To support hybrid or remote workforces, companies need to invest in powerful laptops that enable employees to do their best work, regardless of their location. Utilizing laptops is one way to be sure your users have the tools they need to be successful.

Here are five reasons the right technology will help your organization get to the next level and thrive in the new era of distributed work.

1. Boosting the employee experience

With the right tools in place, you’re equipping your team with what they need to reach their full potential. Instead of struggling to access resources or stay connected to the team, employees that are given Dell laptops are empowered to work productively day in and day out, using up-to-date technology that makes work easier and more enjoyable.

Utilizing new technology can also help your enterprise make a great first impression with new hires, which increases productivity and engagement while strengthening company culture. This, in turn, boosts retention.

2. Facilitating meaningful connections

A found that 45% of workers missed the social interactions they had with their coworkers after being forced to transition to remote work.

Although technology can’t completely replace face-to-face interactions, it can help remote workforces stay connected to their teams. New cloud-based project management tools and real-time chat platforms are allowing users to work collaboratively from home. And when coworkers need to talk through something in more depth, they can hop on a video call in a few clicks and “see” each other for a little face time.

That said, these new communication tools and platforms need hardware they can run efficiently on. There are few things more frustrating for employees than having to fight against their technology during video calls or missing important messages due to computer malfunctions.

With the right tools, your remote workforce can collaborate together on an increasing number of projects and form meaningful connections with each other, which makes work more social once again, just in a different way.

3. Keeping operations humming along

When you invest in modern technology, you enable your remote workforce to work with purpose and accomplish more. On top of that, you won’t have to worry as much about things such as incompatibility, slow-loading machines and a wonky internet connection that moves at a snail’s pace.

Worried that your employees will invariably download viruses and malware, misconfigure their devices and otherwise misuse their machines? Don’t be. You can also invest in modern PC lifecycle management platforms (MPCLM) that enable IT to manage machines remotely.

4. Future-proofing your tech infrastructure

By embracing the power of modern devices and tools that enable IT to easily manage them over the internet, organizations are able to future-proof their technology stance. When new solutions emerge, IT administrators can roll them out to the machines of all users automatically, empowering companies to always ensure they’re providing their employees with the best tools for the job.

Thanks to MPCLM technology, IT can deliver bespoke digital solutions to employees rapidly, without having to endure lengthy procurement and provisioning processes on a continuous basis. At the same time, IT can also test laptops and desktops remotely to ensure they are operating at optimal capacity. They can also train employees to make sure they can use every tool productively.

5. Accelerating innovation

Each of these benefits adds up to the biggest one: innovation.

By ensuring that your employees have the tools they need to succeed, and that those tools evolve with the times, you empower your team to reach their full potential at work every day. Through real-time connectivity and collaboration, the hardware you rely on can enable your team to brainstorm, test and implement new ideas faster than ever before.

This, in turn, helps you bring new products to market faster, accelerating innovation and driving competitive advantage while working more diligently to delight your customers.

Utilize Dell Laptops For Your Hybrid Workforce

What it boils down to is this: Choosing which laptops and desktop devices will power your operations is one of the biggest decisions you can make.

With so much on the line, you really can’t afford to pick the wrong models. And this is precisely why it makes sense to join forces with a partner organization that can help you build the perfect solution for your business instead of doing it on your own.

come at variety of price points and offer different options for storage, operating systems, and features. Dell laptops can also be tailored to suit the needs of each user to match the work they will be doing.

Dell also offers a number of 2-in-1 models that function as both a laptop and tablet, offering increased flexibility for your users for meetings, presentations, note taking, and more.

Are Your Looking For A Partner To Support Your Remote Workforce?

is committed to helping enterprises transform the way they do business. To support this, innovation is at the forefront of all their solutions, enabling you to transform your infrastructure and accelerate the innovation you need to stay competitive. We have expertise across all Dell systems and can help architect a custom solution to achieve your desired business outcomes.

NEXT STEPS: Your business needs infrastructure that is flexible enough to support a hybrid workforce. Take a look at the TOP TEN reasons why enterprise IT leaders run their business on Dell VxRail in our paper below.

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I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “a company’s greatest asset is their employees.” However, they can only be your greatest asset when they have the tools they need to be successful. For this, and many other reasons, many enterprises are offering Apple products to their employees.

This is especially true as the need and desire for flexible working environments has grown. offers simplified deployment and management, all while offering superior security, interconnectivity between devices, and productivity benefits for users.

As an added bonus, Apple devices are a popular choice as personal tech devices, meaning there’s a good change your employees are already familiar with using Mac, iPhone, and iPad at home. This familiarity is an added productivity bonus, on top of letting your employees utilize devices they already know and love for work.

The Availability of New Technologies and Ease of Updates

There’s a reason why Apple is the gold standard for new and shiny pieces of tech. With frequent and significant upgrades to hardware and their signature operating systems, iOS, macOS, and now iPadOS, Apple offers your employees the latest and greatest in digital technology.

Recently, Apple announced a at , their annual worldwide developers conference. The news included the reveal of , , and All three will be available to the general public sometime this fall. In the meantime, it’s time for IT to see how these updates will impact the enterprise’s IT environment and get prepared for the switch.

Thankfully, Apple makes this easy too. While there are third-party alternatives for managing software patches and updates, Apple offers a cloud-based service called Software Update, which enables IT teams to apply security patches and operating system updates.

The service also publishes patches and updates for frequently used applications such as Safari and iTunes for added efficiency. Mac is pointed to the service by default, which automatically notifies end users of any patches and updates they need to apply, and then prompts them to execute the downloads. For enterprises, putting self-service in the hands of your users keeps them focused and productive and reduces IT support tickets.

Apple Offers Unbeatable ROI

Beyond all the previously mentioned benefits of Apple devices in the enterprise, your business will see additional savings when it comes to IT.

A found that when organizations decided to implement an employee choice program and offer Mac, they “reduced IT support costs, improved employee productivity and engagement, and improved overall security.”

By reducing the amount of time spent managing devices and responding to the help desk, Apple helps reduce overall costs and lets IT focus on more important and complex tasks.

BONUS: Read our 2-part blog series that shares the ROI highlights from Forrester’s TEI study about Mac.

Apple Helps Enterprises Keep Data Safe

Security is on everyone’s mind right now. New threats are popping up every day and the financial ramifications of a successful cyberattack just keep growing.

To help reduce the risk that cyberthreats pose, Apple has gone to great lengths to ensure the use of Apple devices in the enterprise does not pose a security risk.

Here are a few of the strategies and technologies utilized by Apple to ensure security:

• Secure startup processes
• Extensive system safeguards
• Strong passcode policies
• The Apple T2 Security Chip
• Runtime protection, sandboxing, and other tools used to ensure downloaded apps are only accessing data in pre-authorized ways

Over the last few years, Apple has emerged as an industry leader when it comes to user data privacy and security and has taken a firm stance on data protection as a corporation. Find out more about Apple’s security strategies from Apple CEO Tim Cook’s presented at the most recent Computers Privacy and Data Protection (CPDP) Conference.

Apple Authorized Resellers Can Help Enterprises Get Started

Enterprises looking to implement Apple devices can work with Apple Authorized Resellers to get started, as well as utilizing them for ongoing maintenance and support. As an Apple Authorize Reseller, WEI can help you quickly and efficiently integrate Apple into your enterprise with full lifecycle support, so you can deliver the user experience your employees have come to expect.

Are You Ready to Empower Your Employees with Apple In The Enterprise?

Implementing Apple for those employees who consistently request them drives productivity, collaboration, and creativity throughout the enterprise. Many of our customers have already made the transition to a blended Windows and Apple environment that enables employees to enjoy how they use technology in their jobs. Find out how WEI can help you create efficiencies with Apple device management and how our specialized services can help you roll out a user experience that will empower your employees to do their best work. Contact WEI today to find out how we are helping our employees deploy and manage Apple in the enterprise with full lifecycle support.

NEXT STEPS: Get our official guide to everything you need to know to prepare for offering Apple in the Enterprise in our exclusive eBook below.

The post Why Apple Is Gaining Traction In The Enterprise appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

For many enterprises, devices have become the next step forward in offering employees the user experience they want. However, the implementation and administration of Mac, iPad, iPhone, and other Apple devices have created unique challenges for many IT organizations that were unfamiliar with the Apple provisioning model. As part of our commitment to helping enterprises start their Apple journey on the right foot, we’ve compiled the top 5 most frequently asked questions we receive about deploying Apple in the enterprise and our answers.

1. Are Apple Devices Secure Enough?

Security is often top of mind whenever new technology is being introduced at the enterprise, and for good reason. Thankfully, , with advanced security built into every product from the ground up.

From system security, to data security, to app security, Apple has gone to great lengths to ensure the use of Apple in the workplace does not pose a security risk.

Here are a few of the strategies and technologies utilized by Apple to ensure security:

• Secure startup processes
• Extensive system safeguards
• Strong passcode policies
• The Apple T2 Security Chip
• Runtime protection, sandboxing, and other tools used to ensure downloaded apps are only accessing data in pre-authorized ways

In fact, Apple is emerging as an industry leader when it comes to user data privacy and security and has taken a firm stance on data protection as a corporation. In case you missed it, you can watch 12-minute opening keynote presented at the most recent Computers Privacy Data Protection (CPDP) Conference.

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Real Tech with WEI Customer Question video series

Misconceptions of Apple in the Enterprise

2. Is Implementation More Complex?

Once the decision has been made to begin offering an Apple as a Choice program to employees, the next step is to plan for implementation. To make the process of rolling out Apple in the enterprise as simple as possible, we can break down the process into four steps:

• Preparation – This phase includes planning for integration with your network and other key infrastructure, as well as setting up any other systems that are required for deployment.
• Set Up – In this step, enterprises define corporate policies for data management and security, as well as setting up your mobile device management (MDM) solution.
• Deployment – Once preparation and set up are complete, enterprises can begin deployment and distribution of Apple throughout the workforce.
• Management – The final step of the process is ongoing management and maintenance of devices, which is made easier through the selected MDM and by partnering with an Apple Authorized Reseller, like WEI.

To guide enterprises through the process of implementation, Apple has created a which goes into detail on each of the above steps.

3. How Do Apple Devices Compare When it Comes to Administration?

Ensuring your team is prepared for maintenance and provisioning is vital to successful implementation and administration. Working with an Apple Authorized Reseller like WEI is critical here. We can educate your team on best practices and build them right into your processes. Or you can offload a lot of the administration work to WEI’s team of Apple experts.

While there are third-party alternatives for managing software patches and updates, Apple does offer a cloud-based service called Software Update, which enables IT teams to apply security patches and operating system updates. The service also publishes patches and updates for frequently used applications such as Safari and iTunes for added efficiency. Mac is pointed to the service by default, which automatically notifies end users of any patches and updates they need to apply, and then prompts them to execute the downloads. Putting self-service in the hands of your users keeps them focused and productive and reduces IT support tickets. Which leads us to our next FAQ

4. Do Apple Devices Complicate the Help Desk?

When it comes to user support, it really is only as complex as you make it. Communication with employees and offering specific instructions to users that make it clear who they need to contact with questions goes a long way to simplifying the help desk experience for both IT and employees.

Another way of simplifying the user experience for those employees using Apple devices is to utilize self-service applications, which can act like an app store where IT can post software that has been tested, an additional browser, or a plugin for their email program, etc. Approved applications like these can be installed to machines automatically with a simple click. Users know the applications are safe to use, and IT does not need to be involved in the installation process.

Plus, there is a good chance an overwhelming majority of your employees have personal familiarity with from using Mac and iPad at home and doing almost everything else in their life with iPhone. Familiarity with Apple cannot be overlooked and your employees will appreciate using a tool they know and love for work.

5. Can WEI Help Enterprises Get Started?

Absolutely! We are experts in helping enterprises implement Apple, as well as providing ongoing maintenance and support. Our enterprise IT experts will work closely with your team to streamline the deployment of the new Apple technology. We can also show you all the tools available to ease the integration of new devices into your organization, and how to best use them to your advantage. We know the best practices based on our own experience and we’ve been partnering with Apple since 2012. We can help create efficiencies throughout the entire lifecycle: deployment, provisioning, and maintenance. Our customers consider WEI an extension of their team.

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Real Tech with WEI Customer Question video series

How to create efficiencies when managing Apple devices for the enterprise

Ready to Start Offering Apple in YOUR Enterprise?

Offering Apple as a choice to your employees drives productivity, collaboration, and creativity throughout the enterprise. It’s true, and we wrote a whole blog post about it here! Many of our customers have already made the transition to a blended Windows and Apple environment that enables employees to enjoy how they use technology in their jobs. It’s really about providing your employees with the power of choice so they can be happier in their jobs and do their best work. and we can help you get started and answer any questions you have.

NEXT STEPS: We’re here to help you prepare for Apple in YOUR enterprise. Our eBook below is jam-packed with insights, best practices, and guides to help you prepare your team for Apple. Check out the eBook below and then reach out to our team with your questions. We’re here to offer guidance and support as much as possible as you develop your Apple device management strategy.

The post Top 5 FAQs About Apple and Mac In The Enterprise appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

Deploying Mac introduces several “new” concepts for how to effectively provision and support the devices. Apple methods are different from traditional methods, such as those used in Windows environments, and therefore must be well-understood.

To help your IT team improve operational processes associated with managing Mac devices, this blog post highlights three tips for a smooth and successful deployment. We’ll also explore the tools and skillsets that can empower IT teams to provision and support the devices securely and efficiently, while delivering the best possible experience for end users.

1. Provisioning New Mac Laptops

An IDG Research poll found that 43% of IT decision makers feel their companies need to improve the efficiency of their Apple device management strategies. (Source IDG Research commissioned by WEI, March 2019) Most IT teams are accustomed to provisioning Windows devices. However, provisioning Mac devices is quite different. In a Windows environment, IT either wipes the devices and lays down a captured OS, or uses a thin-provisioning model. With Apple devices, these methods are not easy to achieve and therefore, not desirable. That’s because modern Macs include security features that can prohibit the devices from booting to network volumes or external drives to initiate an imaging process. In addition, some Mac models may include special drivers to help manage parts of the hardware, which can be difficult to capture in a traditional imaging workflow. While it is possible to work around these security features, it is often a multi-step process that is not considered best practice.

To overcome these issues, Apple provides a process that makes Mac provisioning easier, the Device Enrollment Program (DEP). Devices are registered into the program by the Mac reseller, and the company that purchases the Mac devices can access the program using Apple Business Manager, which runs in the cloud. Through Apple Business Manager, IT can register the serial numbers and enroll the devices in a Mobile Device Management (MDM) tool. In the MDM tool, IT sets up configuration profiles, which include the settings for the device as well as the user according to the designated user group. These settings might indicate, for example, which applications users should see on their desktop. The settings can also help devices auto-connect to a secure Wi-Fi access point and designate the level of security access for each user.

When end users boot their device and connect to the internet, their device serial number is picked up by Apple. Apple Business Manager then redirects the device to the organization’s MDM tool so devices can be enrolled into the MDM and automatically receive their designated applications and configuration settings. This Apple provisioning method uses the operating system that is pre-loaded on the , rather than wiping them clean. Because the MDM installs the applications and the settings to the devices via the Apple cloud, end users can start working immediately without IT having to physically touch their laptop.

If preferred, IT has the option to handle the devices, enroll them, and execute the downloads for applications and configuration profiles on behalf of end users. The IT team can then verify that the configurations work before delivering the devices, and employees can log in to start using their machines right away.

2. Securing Devices and Authenticating Users

For Mac security, two-factor authentication is the primary solution. There are two methods that go beyond requiring people to enter their user names and passwords.

• Sending users a code via text message that they have to enter to gain access
• Giving users a thumb drive that they must plug into their devices

Without either the code or the thumb drive, users cannot log in and authenticate their identity.

For user identity services, Active Directory is the primary tool in Windows environments, and it can also be used for Mac laptops added to the network. IT can bind the Mac devices to Active Directory so people can log into their devices with their local user name and password. This set-up is handy when users need to move back-and-forth from an Apple application and a Windows application, such as Microsoft Outlook, which Mac users may rely on for email. With one set of credentials for both systems, end users can work more efficiently.

However, many companies are moving away from this approach because Mac devices often perform better when not joined to Active Directory. Under certain circumstances, there may be password synchronization issues that prevent users from getting into their systems and doing their jobs. This also causes IT to get involved and spend valuable time resolving the issue.

To eliminate this burden, many IT teams use tools like Apple Enterprise Connect and Jamf Connect (formerly known as NoMAD). Both tools eliminate the need for local machines to be directly joined to Active Directory while also tracking account credentials on local machines. Users can log in with a local account rather than the credentials derived from Active Directory. The tools then synchronize the credentials to Active Directory for identity authentication. Apple Enterprise Connect and Jamf Connect also provide some additional features. As examples, an icon in the menu bar indicates how many days until a password expires to simplify the process for end users, and common network shares can be mounted automatically when the Mac devices are connected to the organization’s internal network.

With these advanced tools, when the credentials are changed, either on the local device or in Active Directory, the tools will synchronize the account again. This approach simplifies the login process for end users while still giving IT departments the ability to enforce policies, such as requiring employees to change passwords every three months.

3. Applying Patches and Updates

For applying security patches, OS updates, and updates for frequently-used applications such as Safari and iTunes, IT teams have the option to leverage a free service that Apple provides called Software Update. All Mac devices are directed to the service by default, which runs in the cloud and automatically notifies end users of any patches and updates they need to apply, and prompts them to execute the downloads.

Apple no longer provides an on-premises software update mechanism, but there are alternative solutions that IT departments can use to manage the Apple catalog of software patches and updates.

Available third-party open source update servers include Reposado and Jamf Software’s NetBoot/SUS Appliance. Both operate on-premises and can function on any OS platform, including Apple, Windows, and Linux, utilizing Python code that runs in the background. IT can utilize an MDM platform, such as and AirWatch, to point all Mac devices to the platform in order to control which updates are published to those devices. Managing updates in this manner comes in handy, for example, when Apple releases a security patch. IT can disable the notifications so end users won’t receive a message each time a patch or update is available for download.

By utilizing an on-premises patch management and update tool, IT can test the patch on different device configurations to make sure it doesn’t break the OS or any of the applications. Once the patch is ready for the machines to install, IT enables the patch through the open source tool. The patch then shows up as available for users to install, and IT can push the patch out through the MDM platform, where users can install it with just a few clicks.

In addition to managing updates, it’s also a good idea to buy extra Apple devices as testing devices. Ideally, IT will want to run machines with hardware specs and software similar to what end users have on their devices. IT can use the test machines to become familiar with user environments, as well as enroll the devices in the MDM platform to test how well the provisioning process and various services work.

Specific services to test include the ability to log into email, utilize VPN services, and access files in shared drives. It’s especially important to test when deploying antivirus software, which can sometimes break the OS and cause machines to have performance issues if not done properly.

Enabling Enterprises to Offer More Choices for End Users

Today’s end users want the freedom to choose when it comes to the desktop environments that they use to do their jobs every day. Increasingly, Mac laptops have been the devices of choice. WEI recommends embracing this trend, while giving your IT team the tools and skills they need to ensure the devices perform at a high level, employees are productive, and digital assets are secure.

If you’re about to bring into your enterprise, or if you’d like to work with a partner who has expertise in managing the devices that are already deployed on your network, we’re here to help. As an Authorized Apple Reseller, We specialize in helping enterprise customers roll out new Mac devices, along with providing ongoing maintenance and support. Many of our customers have already made the transition to a hybrid Windows-Apple environment to improve productivity and enhance the end user experience, and we’re ready to support you as you embark on the same journey.

NEXT STEPS:

Learn more about WEI’s expertise with all things Apple in our Apple Services Brief below.

The post 3 Tips for Deploying Mac Devices in the Enterprise appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

The transition by enterprises to cloud-based services is changing, at a fundamental level, the way branch wide area networks (WAN) are being architected. As end-users, IoT and BYOD devices are accessing internet-based applications, companies are seeking better ways to improve end-user experience and IT operations.

For engineers responsible for the WAN, the solution until recently has been to supplement existing connections with high-speed broadband or DSL. However, the lack of a unified management solution means that new moves, additions, and changes are required for each new connection.

A more sustainable approach to today’s digital transformation, as well as evolving performance and quality of service traffic demands, is Aruba’s SD-WAN solution which offers enhanced traffic visibility, automated route orchestration, and consistent security policies.

What Exactly Is SD-WAN?

Software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) technology is primarily a cloud-based management solution to increase an organization’s ability to simply and easily manage routing traffic over MPLS, broadband, and cellular connections, while also reducing costs. A unified view into the performance and health of each WAN uplink, and advanced features like Dynamic Path Steering and Policy-based Routing to optimize and direct traffic, are also included.

3 Challenges SD-WAN can help solve

Here are three of the most common challenges that enterprises today face, and how Aruba’s SD-WAN can help.

1. Corporate ؛£½اض±²¥ Are Hosted Outside The Network Perimeter

Cloud services, such as unified communications (UCC) and internet-based SaaS applications, are delivering many benefits that are recognized by IT and end users. The IT organization is no longer responsible for ongoing software updates, upgrades, and maintenance tasks. Users gain the ability to choose between web and mobile apps that are easy to use from anywhere.

Unfortunately, this also leads to increased security and risk implications, potentially exposing sensitive data to malicious users.

Solution: Design The Network To Extend To The Public Cloud

By deploying Aruba’s SD-WAN gateways at each branch, IT can gain new levels of insight into multiple points of egress – from inside the branch, from public cloud infrastructure, and from the internet.

The use of an Aruba Virtual Headend Gateway allows IT to securely connect branch networks directly to applications hosted in public cloud infrastructure. Unlike traditional SD-WAN vendors, Aruba provides full orchestration including deployment, configuration, routing, WAN health checks, and troubleshooting. This means IT can reduce the amount of configuration necessary to perform in their VPC or VNET environments.

Finally, Aruba SD-WAN includes web content filtering/classification that allows IT to create policies based on a site’s reputation and risk score.

2. Perceived Reliability Of Internet Connections

Private WAN connections like MPLS provide enterprises with unparalleled performance through guaranteed SLAs and adherence to policies. However, the market for MPLS is declining because organizations are capitalizing on the benefits of widely available and more affordable public broadband connections.

But even as enterprises are supplementing their MPLS connections with broadband or DSL, they still consider the public internet too risky from a performance standpoint – despite potential savings of up to 100 times the cost of MPLS.

Solution: WAN Health-Based Monitoring And Steering

By adding the ability to measure and see WAN health across every uplink in a branch, IT can now better control traffic behavior and improve the reliability of broadband connections. The ability to leverage context such as user role, Layer 7 application visibility, and dynamic path steering can be used for granular routing policies that improve network performance and utilization.

Factors such as real-time health insight also minimize disruption to the network. For example, if the minimum threshold for latency, jitter, or packet loss is reached, traffic can be re-routed over a secondary uplink, ensuring minimal impact to end-users.

3. The Traditional Way To Configure Networks Doesn’t Scale

Traditional WAN infrastructure is made up of multiple pieces of on-premises hardware and a varying number of WAN connections that are all managed separately. What this means is that every new or ongoing move, add, or configuration change will require a truck roll in every branch network. As more mobile and IoT devices, cloud applications, and social media are being used, the ability for IT to maintain visibility, make changes and quickly resolve issues is untenable.

Solution: Centralize Visibility And Control

By introducing a single pane of glass to manage a WAN environment, as well as Wi-Fi and wired infrastructure, organizations can reduce their reliance on setting up changes through their MPLS service provider. Aruba’s SD-WAN solution is managed via Aruba Central, a unified network operations and assurance platform that consolidates visibility, setting up routing policies and directly applying configuration changes to the WAN gateways.

Aruba’s SD-WAN gateways include unique branch and security capabilities that can be used with third-part firewall services – meaning that organizations can reduce their WAN footprint to as few as a single WAN edge device. This also means that IT now has the foundation in place to migrate away from legacy routers and WAN optimizers entirely to consolidate what is being managed in each branch.

Talk To WEI About Shaping Your Digital Transformation With Aruba

Aruba’s SD-WAN solution provides distributed enterprises with the full set of tools and features needed to prepare branch networks for the transition towards the greater use of cloud services. This includes key capabilities that optimize WAN routing, connectivity to applications hosted in the data center, public cloud, and directly to the Internet, as well as security features and integrations that protect corporate data.

NEXT STEPS: Learn more about WEI’s approach to wireless networking and the industry leading vendors we partner with to customize a wireless solution that meets the demands of your ever-evolving enterprise. Click below for the solution brief.

The post Top Use Cases For SD-WAN In The Distributed Enterprise appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

The landscape of today’s modern offices look nothing like they used to. Gone are the days of employees working from a single location on a single computer, accessing a single operating system – now they frequently switch between devices, is king, and applications are just as likely to be Windows-based as not.

Providing this anytime, anywhere, any device access can cause serious security and management challenges for IT teams. That’s where VDI as part of a comprehensive digital workspace strategy comes in.

What does a digital workspace look like?

Today’s employees regularly log in and out of legacy, desktop, mobile, SaaS, and web applications from a variety of devices, and expect to be able to do it without complications.

A modern model is needed that defines the following:

• How users leverage applications, information, and resources across devices
• How IT organizations deliver, manage, and secure these applications and services
• How businesses can capitalize on these new capabilities and styles of work to drive better business results

Just as the desktop computer was the dominant, defining model of end-user computing during the client-server era, so too will the digital workspace define the model for moving forward from today.

A digital workspace has the following requirements:

• End users want access to the applications they need, when they need them, and on the devices they choose to use.
• Lines of business are interested in delivering apps on whatever devices employees use in order to enhance productivity and improve customer engagement and collaboration.
• IT teams need to centralize policy management, maintain control, and service the organization across device types.

How does a digital workspace change IT priorities?

The digital workspace shifts the focus of IT away from managing things like phones, laptops and tablets, and towards delivering application and content experiences to employees. This outcomes-based approach to IT services decouples data and applications from the device and supporting platforms, so that any application can be accessed from any device. Untethering applications from devices delivers the ultimate experience in portability and gives users flexibility in how they access the applications and services they need.

By focusing on outcomes, the digital workspace also promotes efficient IT operations in three ways.

1. Simplifying access management

Today’s leading IT organizations are user-centric. IT must equip end users with quick and easy access to business-critical published apps, SaaS apps, and mobile apps, and create a flexible and efficient workflow by allowing simple access with barrier-free authentication across devices. This user-centric approach empowers users to choose the ways they work best, and facilitates delivery of a highly specific set of end-user services.

2. Delivering true application portability

Today’s users expect to access Windows applications alongside non-Windows-based applications, and demand the freedom to work anywhere, and on the devices and apps they choose.

To get the maximum benefit of a digital workspace, applications should be built for all popular operating systems, or otherwise abstracted from the endpoint to make them truly portable. For most organizations, this means many of the applications in their inventory.

3. Enabling unified endpoint management (UEM)

Migrating from device-based asset management to the digital workspace presents the perfect opportunity to rethink end-user-computing processes. Manual provisioning processes can be transferred to virtualized desktops and apps, with tremendous improvements in efficiency and compliance. With UEM, IT teams can also deploy and manage desktops, laptops, and devices, including OS deployment, configuration, user preferences, and software, from a central location.

The role of VDI in the digital workspace

Virtualization is a key component to providing a fast, flexible, user-friendly digital workspace environment while properly managing risk. When desktops or apps are virtualized, they run in secure data centers on-premises or in the cloud. In both scenarios, only the rendering of the user interface is transmitted beyond the firewall.

There are two primary methods for abstracting apps from their endpoints:

• Virtualizing the app itself with Microsoft Server Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH)
• Virtualizing an entire desktop environment with VDI

To rise to the challenge of today’s sophisticated workforce, IT teams are now embracing desktop, application, and network virtualization as part of an integrated approach to security. Virtualizing network functions – such as switching, routing, firewall rules, load balancing, and VPN – provides security for east-west traffic inside the data center and enables IT to quickly respond to data breaches, minimizing their risk and impact.

(HCI) solutions offer a modular approach to building a VDI environment, which simplifies the planning, design, and rollout of virtual desktops and applications. These solutions should include compute, storage, network, hypervisor, and management resources all in a single appliance which is tuned and pre-tested for specific workloads.

VMware delivers on the promise of a digital workspace

is a digital workspace platform that simply and securely delivers and manages any app on any device by integrating access control, application management, and multi-platform endpoint management. It is available either as a cloud service or for on-premises deployment.

Workspace ONE automates traditional onboarding and laptop and mobile device configuration, and provides real-time application lifecycle management that bridges the gap between legacy enterprise client-server apps and the mobile cloud era.

With Workspace ONE, organizations can:

• Benefit from seamless integration across all end-user applications and services
• Provision a new corporate laptop out of the box, anywhere in the world, from the cloud within minutes
• Set and enforce access and data policies across all apps, devices, and locations in one place

Talk with WEI about building your digital workspace with VMware

In the age of mobile and cloud, the need to access any app from any device at any time is shaping how businesses drive digital transformation. VMware supports employee engagement by delivering a digital workspace solution that is both simple to use and secure. Contact WEI today to talk about beginning your transformation today.

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WEI is committed to helping organizations accelerate their by leveraging their validated services delivery capabilities around advanced VMware technologies. Today we are proud to announce the successful achievements of the Datacenter Virtualization and Desktop and Mobility VMware Master Services Competencies.

“Few VMware partners have earned the distinction of achieving two Master Service Competencies,” said WEI President Belisario Rosas. “WEI is proud to have earned these technical achievements.”

“VMware is pleased to recognize WEI for achieving Data center Virtualization and Desktop and Mobility Master Services Competencies. This achievement shows customers that partners like WEI are dedicated and invested, and have validated expertise in advanced VMware technologies,” said Jenni Flinders, vice president and worldwide channel chief, VMware. “We value WEI as a VMware partner, and appreciate their efforts in achieving this VMware distinction as they work to increase their service delivery capabilities.”

These achievements will assist WEI in developing customer-centric solutions for our clients in four distinct areas:

• Cloud Management and Automation – Designates expertise in delivery of VMware Cloud Management and Automation solutions and services with deep understanding and execution of cloud management design principles and methodologies.
• Data Center Virtualization – Designates expertise in delivery of environments and digital infrastructure services with deep understanding of and execution in Data Center Virtualization design principles and methodologies.
• Desktop and Mobility – Designates expertise in designing, installing, and maintaining and solutions with deep understanding of and execution in desktop and mobility design principles and methodologies to deliver a scalable and reliable digital workspace.
• Network Virtualization – Designates expertise in the delivery of VMware NSX environments and with deployment and optimization of NSX environment capabilities.

Let WEI Help Guide Your Digital Transformation

When it comes to delivering or obtaining the right set of cloud services, WEI routinely pairs industry best practices with top-flight technologies and its own brand of innovation. The result? The right cloud-based solution at just the right time for any enterprise. Contact us today to get started.

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As businesses begin to realize the many benefits of mobility, both in terms of the increased productivity and the improved employee satisfaction that it delivers, the interest in enterprise mobility management (EMM) to organize and secure those efforts increases as well. The road to EMM implementation isn’t an easy one though, as enterprises often face a road fraught with serious complication that can overwhelm or undermine their EMM initiatives, and mobility efforts in general.

This blog looks at some of the pitfalls that organizations most often face when implementing an EMM solution, as well as some steps that they can take to mitigate those problems.

Mistake #1 – The Lack of a Clear Vision and Strategy

Have a clear idea of your objectives for EMM implementation from the earliest stages. Are there definable KPIs that you can establish to help you determine the success of your EMM program? Your EMM strategy should address core topics, such as:

• Email data sharing controls
• The separation between work and personal information on BYOD devices
• The power of your IT team to remotely wipe company data
• Questions around connectivity and file sharing security

While forming your EMM strategy, it may be helpful for your IT department to see the rest of your company as clients who are trying to serve in the same way they would an external customer. This mindset can help IT better measure end-user satisfaction and provides a sense of urgency and focus to EMM implementation and maintenance.

Finally, IT should do a good job communicating the value of this strategy to stakeholders. According to the Global State of Enterprise Mobility report, low stakeholder engagement undermined EMM deployment in 38.5% of the polled businesses. To convey the value of EMM, focus on tangible benefits like security and emphasize its strategic importance to future, mobile-first technology initiatives.

Mistake #2 – The Failure to Provide Holistic Security

Security is one of the leading reasons that organizations look to implement an EMM solution, but simply adopting an EMM platform doesn’t lead to tight security. Your EMM platform must be accompanied by up-to-date intelligence about the security challenges that your organization faces, a risk-based strategy to mitigate the most pressing threats, and vigilant maintenance of both your EMM platform and overall cybersecurity posture.

At the most basic level, this means supporting your EMM solution with an employee training program that covers mobile security best practices. Don’t overlook the basics of security in a rush to tackle the more technical aspects. A system for establishing and managing device passwords and lock-out mechanisms can provide a crucial line of defense when devices are lost or stolen, a common occurrence in medium-sized and larger enterprises. Other basics that shouldn’t be ignored involve how to identify and avoid suspicious content and best practices for safely using social media.

At a higher-level, security means paying close attention to mobile applications. According to a study from Adobe, while most companies (62% of those polled) see the value of maintaining an aggressive posture in terms of maintaining , more of them (66%) consider themselves on par or behind the curve in doing so. While EMM solutions can help automate certain aspects of application management, your IT staff must also be vigilant about choosing applications that meet the needs of your organization, and keeping those approved applications patched and updated to ensure that security holes are closed promptly.

Throughout the deployment, keep in mind that the biggest EMM security risk is your employees. A recent study conducted by the polled 18,590 endpoint security professionals who overwhelmingly pointed to “negligent or careless employees” as their chief security concern. By combining your EMM implementation with proactive education about the risks of increased mobility, you can help deliver true mobile security to your organization.

Mistake #3 – Not Responding to Shifts in the Technology Landscape

While EMM platforms are reaching new levels of maturity and can now provide high-granularity control of mobile devices, applications, and data, the goal of worry-free enterprise mobility is a moving target that must be followed closely to ensure long-term success.

This has several dimensions, the first of which is the shifting mobile security landscape. Just as new threats emerge to endanger traditional wired networks, new forms of cyberattacks target mobile networks and devices as well. Take the upsurge in mobile malware attacks that occurred in just the last twelve months as a recent example. The constant emergence of new security challenges will force your IT and security staff to aggressively monitor and adjust your EMM solution to meet new threats before they undermine the time and money you’ve invested in enterprise mobility.

Another important aspect to consider is changing regulatory and security frameworks, which may demand new forms of auditing or penetration testing to ensure compliance. Achieving compliance across several mobile platforms presents much greater complexity than doing so on a network of PCs. Building a complete database of devices that may contain regulated data and using software tools to regularly test your mobile devices can help make sure you don’t fall afoul of regulators.

WEI is Your Expert in Mobile Security

WEI is a trustworthy technology partner with a range of resources and services that will benefit both companies that are looking to launch a new enterprise mobility initiative or increase the scale or security of their existing program.

For more information about the current state of mobile security, and for insight into strategies you can use to mitigate the many cyber risks inherent in enterprise mobility, read our tech brief

The post 3 Mistakes To Avoid When Implementing an Enterprise Mobility Solution appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

Several Trojans then took advantage of the web of shared files, spreading cryptocurrency-mining malware throughout the department. Bank Trojans were then introduced and soon an administrator password was recorded and compromised. The virus began proliferating throughout the school system, taking advantage of devices that were behind in their endpoint protection updates. As the school has a successful one-to-one program that boasts more than 13,000 laptops, the virus had a lot of potential targets. Slowly and methodically, the virus grew, consuming the processing power of servers and client devices, capturing account credentials as users interacted with the machines. By the time the full ramifications of the virus had come to light, the only available option was to bring in additional resources to clean servers and reset or re-image workstations.

The district’s enterprise infrastructure consisted of hundreds of Aruba switches along with Aruba Instant Access Points. It’s just too bad they didn’t have ClearPass to complement and secure the enterprise. Many people associate as a system to onboard and authorize BYOD and guest devices. Others know it as a (NAC) solution. While those are important components of Aruba ClearPass, that sell this multifaceted solution well short. ClearPass is a policy management platform that gives you broad visibility throughout your enterprise and offers a suite of tools to protect your networks and the infrastructure that supports it.

Identifying what is on your network

One problem for the school district was the inability to know what exactly was on its network. While the IT staff was able to discern through SCCM logs where the virus started, often times, organizations simply have no idea. Was the malware introduced through a domain joined device, guest device, or smart phone that was anonymously brought in? Anonymity is a thing of the past with ClearPass because every device is required to check in and identify itself, whether connected via wired, wireless, or VPN. Access control policies then state whether a device can be joined or not. All of this is performed in automated fashion requiring little IT involvement. With Aruba ClearPass, you always know what and who is connected to your network with near little time invested.

Creating profiles for all of your devices

Once connected, a profile is created within ClearPass for every device. In this case, the IT department would have been reminded every day about the outdated operating systems that were vulnerable to the EternalBlue exploit. They would have known about the operating systems, hostnames and MAC addresses of each and every device on the network. A built-in certificate authority issues certificates to then identify and reconnoiter all devices while connected.

Health Checks and Posture Assessments

Malware only requires a minimal window of vulnerability to infect a network and spread. This is why it is so imperative that all connected devices are up-to-date when it comes to endpoint and operating system updates. In organizations with thousands of devices, how do you know if they are all in compliance or not? With Aruba ClearPass, there is no more uncertainty involving outdated systems. Every time a device attempts to connect, it is checked for all security criteria set forth by your IT department. This includes minimum standards concerning endpoint protection, updates and firewall activation. This is done through the use of persistent or dissolving agents that support both auto and manual remediation. ClearPass then continues to perform health checks and posture assessments in order to identify weak and vulnerable devices because it only takes one exploited device to bring down your entire network.

Segmentation

Although this malware attack infiltrated domain joined devices from the start, it is your guest network that is the most vulnerable. But how do you segment your guest network without a complicated conglomeration of VLAN switch port assignments and AP access control lists? Well, with ClearPass, VLAN segmentation is done dynamically with little configuration. All devices residing in the guest category are automatically sectored into a separate VLAN that is routed straight to the internet without complicated manual configurations. Referred to as “colorless ports,” devices are assigned to VLANs according to enforced policies, not static port placement.

Wired 802.1x Authentication

Although ClearPass is correctly associated with , it provides important management and security features for wired workstations, servers, and IoT devices as well. ClearPass incorporates 802.1x authentication methods so that the only wired computers that can gain access to your network are the ones that have LDAP or similar accounts. Wired devices can then be assigned policies as well.

Protect your dynamic enterprise network of devices

ClearPass is the policy management platform you need to identify, enforce, and protect your network devices. There is nothing static about your network, so why would you continue to depend on static-based configuration tools and methods to manage it? We can never know if ClearPass could have prevented the malware attack mentioned earlier, but it would have given IT the information and reconnaissance about their devices to have at least contained it.

Next Steps: Talk to the Aruba experts at WEI to better understand how a solution like ClearPass can benefit your business. As an award-winning IT solutions provider, WEI can perform a to detect how well your current wireless solution is performing and can help identify any gaps in coverage. Click below to learn more and get started with an assessment.

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Wi-Fi has come a long way since it was first introduced. Originally, wireless connectivity was used for basic services such as checking email, but technology has changed and more devices now connect to wireless networks in order to perform their job tasks. With this evolution of the workplace, Wi-Fi has needed to adapt to support the growing number of devices and applications. How can of the modern workforce?

1. Supporting performance-intensive applications

Users need significant bandwidth for enterprise applications such as video conferencing, file sharing, and video streaming. With new advances in software, enterprises can prioritize traffic on the Wi-Fi network based on the business’ needs and available bandwidth. This is important as your enterprise will want to make sure that unnecessary users and apps are not monopolizing the bandwidth and preventing critical applications or user access.

With improved Wi-Fi, enterprises can now see user patterns and performance requirements, and are able to tailor their wireless networks to deliver the appropriate level of bandwidth to their most critical and data-intensive applications.

With improved reliability and control of Wi-Fi networks, employees are free from the wired network when using performance-intensive applications. This untethered freedom drives operational excellence and increases productivity as employees can do more than ever before, whenever needed, wherever they are.

2. Empowering a mobile first workforce

Wi-Fi is the “go to” network for employees no matter where they are, and they expect to have the same level of access information, applications, and resources as they would when plugged in. Through leveraging the advances brought by the latest Wi-Fi standards and protocols, enterprises can .

In addition, advances in wireless management tools bring better network visibility for the IT team. With this insight, your IT department can make informed decisions in real time, allowing them to create an adaptable network that can keep up with today’s dynamic business. With this enhanced vision, the Wi-Fi network is able to deliver the speed, quality, and reliability needed for a positive end-user experience.

As a result, enterprises can build an environment that fosters increased productivity for mobile workers with today’s Wi-Fi network.

3. Embracing IoT

The Internet of Things (IoT) is having a profound effect on the demands and expectations of wireless networks, and businesses are connecting more IoT devices to the network than ever before. As innovation produces more gadgets that can connect to networks, enterprises require a Wi-Fi solution that ensures everything is performing as needed. The role of the access point becomes crucial in order to deliver the scale and seamlessness these devices require.

Enterprises must have the right technology in place for IoT devices to communicate securely and efficiently. For example, a wireless sensor must be configured properly to ensure it can be identified and connected to the best access point to achieve optimal performance. A mobile device management (MDM) platform may be required to authenticate the sensor to maintain adequate security levels, and an access point controller may be responsible to prevent IoT congestion from interfering with business-critical application traffic.

4. Leveraging analytics

There’s more to Wi-Fi than offering flexibility for employees to work without the wires; it is also a means in which IT is able gather valuable data and information for your enterprise such as device types, user groups, and applications. They can then use this insight to create opportunities that will improve practices, tailor customer experiences, and capitalize on new trends. As Wi-Fi technology has improved over the years, so have the tools used to analyze data crossing the networks, making it easier to translate it into usable information.

5. Re-imagining security

While Wi-Fi can bring significant advantages, it doesn’t come without risk. With a network of wirelessly connected devices accessing business-critical information from various locations, there is a greater security risk for enterprises. The perimeter of your enterprise now extends beyond the office building and the traditional wired network. This network is part of the security solution as it authorizes access to the network and governs which users can access information and resources.

It might be time to upgrade your Wi-Fi solution

The time has come for Wi-Fi to elevate its value in the enterprise. As its role expands beyond basic connectivity and evolves to include critical implications for productivity, security and analytics, new requirements are placed on the Wi-Fi network. Fortunately, new technologies are emerging to help.

The emergence of robust access points, advanced management tools, intelligent analytical platforms, and network access control solutions is giving Wi-Fi a much needed boost as a business-critical platform.

If you’re looking to upgrade your Wi-Fi network to meet today’s mobile demands, or have recently embarked on an upgrade project but you’re still not getting the type of performance or scalability you expected, now is the time to reevaluate. Let the WEI team assist you in analyzing your wireless networking strategy to achieve optimal performance, and power your enterprise forward.

NEXT STEPS: Want to learn more about how Wi-Fi can support the modern enterprise? Read our tech brief, , to get started.

The post 5 Ways Wi-Fi Supports the Modern Enterprise appeared first on IT Solutions Provider - IT Consulting - Technology Solutions.

The award recognizes the achievements of leading channel partners and distributors for , in the areas of sales, expertise in delivering Aruba solutions, and commitment to customer service.

WEI has been committed to investing in Aruba’s full solution products such as IntroSpect and ClearPass, as well as being dedicated to bringing on board top talent who are well versed in Aruba’s offerings. This award demonstrates WEI’s commitment to helping our clients adapt to a new style of the digital workplace: mobile, portable, social, app driven and connected at all times. WEI’s networking team of engineers have extensive experience with the following Aruba solutions:

• Policy Manager
• Aruba Mobility Controllers and Access Points
• Aruba Next Generation Access and Aggregation Switches
• Aruba IntroSpect User Entity Behavior Analytics
• Aruba NetInsight Wireless Insight and Analytics
• , with the Meridian Mobile App platform, Bluetooth Beacons, Asset Tags, Sensors and Analytics

Regarding WEI’s award, Jim Harold, Vice President of North America channels for Aruba, said, “As organizations wrestle with enhancing the user experience and ensuring business resilience as they continue to adopt mobility, cloud and IoT, they need not just access to industry-leading intelligent edge solutions, but also expertise in how to deploy these products to solve real-world challenges. We congratulate WEI for being named a 2018 Aruba Top Channel Partner and thank them for their dedication to their customers’ success.”

“We are honored to have been distinguished as the 2018 East Region Partner of the Year by Aruba. I attribute this honor to my dedicated team members and to the success and trust of our valued clients and customers,” said WEI Founder, Belisario Rosas.

This award is a great honor for WEI, a true testament to our dedication of putting the customer’s needs first through understanding their unique organizations and offering the best solutions available on the market, like ClearPass and IntroSpect. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Aruba, and look forward to our future partnership with them.

Are you experiencing challenges with implementing a digital workplace? Want to learn more about the security features that are built-in to Aruba solutions? Contact us today to find out how WEI is helping our clients deliver 24×7 secure connectivity with Aruba solutions. Also, Check out our blog post about what makes life at WEI so special!

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