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outlook alternatives
07 Jan 2022
7 Best Outlook Alternatives [2023 Update]
Do you think email is still the fastest way of getting stuff done?   As you might have guessed from the title, we beg to differ.   Yes, Microsoft Outlook is one of the most popular desktop email clients. However, Outlook hasn’t been designed to get things done in a more productive manner. If you’ve used this tool to communicate with your clients or coworkers, you might have wondered if there’s a faster way of doing things.   We are not going to list all reasons why Outlook is not a great choice. Because, if you’re searching for an Outlook alternative, you can think of a few yourself.   So, let’s cut to the chase.   Fortunately, there are viable alternatives that offer better services in terms of both features and cost.   In this blog post, discover the best Outlook alternatives as we explore 7 desktop email clients that can serve as a replacement for Outlook. Explore new email software options like Outlook and find your perfect match. 7 Best Outlook Alternatives 1. Mailtrim 2. Inky 3. MailBird 4. Rambox 5.Mozilla Thunderbird 6. Hiri 7. eM Client   1. Mailtrim   MailTrim is one of the feature-rich free email clients and a perfect outlook replacement that offers a clean and modern design alongside offering plenty of useful features. Some of the most striking features of MailTrim include an intelligent inbox, customized email signature, response later features, impressive archives, and other features that can surpass Outlook Messenger. You may find the best alternative in MailBird as a free email software like Outlook for Windows 7. MailTrim vs Outlook: Distinctive Features   Easy to set up and use Intelligent Inbox that allows users to receive emails from different accounts at the same time. MailTrim inbox classifies inboxes from different. Accounts separately by sorting them into different folders. A smart search feature allows you to retrieve just what you need - whether that be an attachment or email content. Customized displays and an advanced dashboard give complete visibility and tracking of threats. It has more features like flagging, archives and responding later. A mobile app is available for Android, iOS, and Windows.   Supporting Platforms: Windows, Android, macOS, iOS Pricing: Available for Free 2. Inky   INKY is a behavioral email security technology that guides users towards making wise decisions while attackers and preventing data leaks. It alerts users to suspect conduct, acting as a security coach, with interactive banners that direct users to take appropriate action on every device or email client. It is an email software similar to Outlook, using which IT teams are relieved of the strain of managing several systems and manually filtering every email. Unlike other Microsoft Outlook alternatives, Inky offers advanced security features such as the "Inky Phish Fence" that detects and blocks phishing attempts in both internal and external emails. With patented machine learning technology, it quarantines or delivers emails with malicious links blocked. Inky also provides an analytics dashboard for administrators to analyze attack patterns, making it a better-than-Outlook choice for enhanced email security. Inky vs Outlook: Distinctive features   Advanced attachment analysis Powerful protection against phishing emails Patented machine learning technology Outbound mail protection Social graphing   Supporting Platforms: iOS, Android, macOS, Windows Free Trial Period: 30 days 3. MailBird   If you want to upgrade your team’s communication and collaboration efficiency, MailBird might be the answer to your wishes. It is not really an email client like Gmail and Outlook, but it offers features that work beyond any free Outlook alternatives.   MailBird is basically a platform for viewing, managing, and sending your messages. But its main power comes with integrations. You can connect this tool with multiple apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and Slack, so users can easily toggle between these - without having to switch between the apps. MailBird vs Outlook: Distinctive Features    Easy-to-use interface and simple layout Integration with Multiple third-party apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Slack Undo Send mails Advanced attachment search Advanced In-Line reply Unsubscribe button Moving Mail between accounts Multiple signatures per email address Research contacts on LinkedIn from within the app Attachment preview Add multiple accounts to one inbox   Pricing: Mailbird pricing starts at $2.5 per month for Personal (Yearly), $27.29 (pay once) per month for Personal (Yearly), and $2 per month for Mailbird Business (Yearly). 4. Rambox   Rambox is a workspace manager that enables you to group as many applications as you'd want in one location. To be precise, it is an email software like Outlook, where you can manage over 70 email and messaging providers. With innovative features such as Spell Check and a master password to keep your emails secure, this email client enables you to handle emails across many applications. Do not Disturb Mode is another feature of this application that might aid in productivity and effective results. Rambox vs Outlook: Distinctive features   Customizable workspaces Hibernation Session management Pre-installed workspace Proxies   Supporting Platforms: Windows. Linux, Mac Free Trial Period: 30 days 5. Mozilla Thunderbird   If you use Mozilla Thunderbird as an Outlook alternative, the app guarantees to make your email easier and more accessible. It works by removing the complexity of managing tons of emails by providing easy customization options.   With support for tons of plugins, an unlimited number of email accounts, and lightning-quick functionality, Thunderbird’s place on the email client throne is well-suited. Mozilla Thunderbird vs Outlook: Distinctive Features   Manage multiple email accounts by combining all mails Quickly add people to your address book Highly customizable A reminder for an attachment email is sent Built-in security and privacy system Filter emails by messages, people, and tags Protection from phishing Allows importing from several email clients   Supporting Platforms: Windows 7 or later; OS X 10.9 or later; FreeBSD; Linux Pricing: Available for Free 6. Hiri   Hiri is a desktop email client that was created as a business-focused alternative to Outlook for sending and receiving emails and managing calendars, tasks, contacts, and others. Other than categorizing emails, some features, like reminders, are made to help you develop better email habits. You can set reminders for emails you can't respond to immediately if you move emails to a task list where you may add due dates or reminders. Hiri's composing feature makes sending emails simpler by allowing you to load the basic template for creating a mail or a reply to a customer. Hiri is one of the best alternatives to Outlook. Hiri vs Outlook: Distinctive features   Reminders Easy to use Shared calendars Offline mode Global address list   Supporting Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux Free Trial Period: 7 days 7. eM Client   eM client is one of the most feature-rich alternatives for Outlook. It has an easy-to-use interface that allows users to manage emails, contacts, calendars, and tasks.   With eM Client, you get to master your workflow by utilizing features as great as message encryption, message translation, calendar, and tasks, watching for replies, incoming emails snooze, sending later, and note features. eM Client vs Outlook: Distinctive Features    It supports PGP encryption. Compatible with Google Workspace, Office 365, Outlook, and Exchange. Facility to take email backup. Supports the auto-reply feature for received emails. Automatic download of contacts from the web. Feature to add tables and effortlessly resize. Change image size, rotate, and flip.   Supporting Platforms: Windows, macOS  Pricing: Available for Free Choosing a Replacement for Outlook: Additional Tips What you ultimately choose and a replacement for Outlook depends on your business needs and what your employees or teams are looking for. As you can see, there are a lot of outlook alternatives, but not all of them have the capacity to solve all your problems.   While Thunderbird, MailBird, and Gmail are excellent desktop email clients, they all present challenges similar to Outlook. So, it’s obvious that you are in a dilemma when it comes to choosing a decent alternative outlook.   As we wrap this blog post, we’ll leave you with a few things to consider when deciding which outlook alternative is better for your team: Ease of Use User interface and ease of use are important - not just for you but all your employees. Because, eventually, it’s them who’ll have to use the app. So, make sure to review the learning curve of the app, how complex or easy it is to use, and implement a newer technology accordingly.   For example, if your team is not great with advanced technology, you should stick with an app that offers a simpler interface. And if your team can handle complex apps, you can go all-in with any kind of interface. Determine your budget If you’re looking for a replacement for Outlook, you’re probably looking for a better email client. And as the rule goes by, anything better comes with an additional price.   Now, we’re not saying you’ve to shell out extra dollars on email software similar to Outlook, but you certainly need to review your budget and see how much more you’ll have to shell out before you break the bank. Find Pain Points of Using Outlook The best way of finding an Outlook alternative is to know the pain point of using this app and then find those features in alternative applications.   For example, if you’re feeling trapped by the limited integrations Outlook provides, you need to choose a replacement for Outlook that offers more integrations. If emails aren’t cutting it for you anymore, try finding an app that has more productivity features and use. It’s a Wrap! We hope this article served its purpose. These 7 tools make for a great outlook alternative. But if you’re still unsure about which one to go for, we suggest shortlisting a bunch of tools for a spin.   Since the majority of these tools are available for a free-trial period, you can get a feel of how they work and then make a final decision.
Do you think email is still the fastest way of getting stuff done?   As you might have guesse...
air gapped networks
07 Jul 2022
What is Air Gap Defence Technology? Why Is It an Effective Defense Against cyberattacks
Given how ransomware attacks continue to hit the headlines, many businesses and cybersecurity experts are placing bets on air-gapped networks. Advanced technology that offers tough defense against cyberattacks is the need-of-the-hour since data theft is becoming one of the major business issues. Once an intruder finds a way into your organization's sensitive data, your businesses can weeks or even months to recover because all networked data is infected and encrypted, making it useless. One of the best ways of protecting your data from such security breaches is storing information in a computer or network that is not connected to the network – which is where the air gap defense technology comes in. Table of Contents What is Air Gap Defense Technology? Why Do Businesses Opt for Air Gapped Networks? How Much Security Does Air Gap Defense Technology offers? How to Protect an Air Gapped Network? Apps in Air Gapped Network Troop Messenger Works in An Air Gapped Network What Makes Troop Messenger a Secure Chat App? Conclusion: What We’ve Learnt What is Air Gap Defense Technology? Air gap defense technology is a common cyber security practice that has been used by cyber experts and compliance-minded organisations. It is mainly used to keep a critical network safe from intrusion or security breach attempts. When businesses or cyber experts employ the air gap defense technology, they simply disconnect a particular network (or computer) from the internet, any untrusted networks, less secure internet enabled devices, and the outside world. Once this air gap is created, the majority of cyberattack risks drop dramatically - shifting a business’s security focus to guards, gates, and guns. Why Do Businesses Opt for Air Gapped Networks? Air-gapped network requirements differ for every company. The type of industries that prefer air gapped defense technology over non-air gapped typically include payment systems, PCI (payment card information) servers, military organisations, defense teams, nuclear plans, medical devices, SCADA and ICS network devices. Take, for example, the oil & gas/energy organisations who need to frequently part their core infrastructure computer or network from the corporate network to prevent attacks on the main server or any compromise of the pumps and meters. These enterprises always need to ensure uptime and availability because any unrequited adjustment could not only result in a catastrophic financial loss but could truly cause damage to company reputation, customer experience, and the public data at large. Compliance-minded companies typically prefer air gapped network or computer systems over other standard internet-enabled systems. Some of the examples of such companies/industries are as follows: Aviation Computers such as FADECs and Avionics Payment Networks for Debit or Credit card transactions  Life-critical systems such as Medical Equipment  Nuclear power plants Financial computer systems and networks Industrial control systems such as SCADA Military computer systems and networks Government computer systems and networks The basic reason for using an air gap computer is quite straightforward – if data cannot be accessed, it cannot be corrupted, hacked, or infected. A lot of businesses in the IT sector and other regulatory bodies that are in-charge of sensitive data typically implement. such systems as secondary storage systems where duplicate copies of data can be securely stored. Since the network is offline and protected from possible attacks and corruption, data can be stored in that network securely. Companies who often are under threat for security breaches or potential data theft often use it as the air gapped data as last resort. Hence, the air gap defense technology, apart from providing an added layer of protection, augments existing backup, recovery option, and disaster recovery strategies. Furthermore, as an added advantage, it also offers users to enable rapid recovery in the case of data theft or loss. How Much Security Does Air Gap Defense Technology offers? Cyber experts find Air gapping very effective at ensuring security. The air gap acts as a firewall, creating a barrier between the malware sent by the hackers and the data stored on the protected network or computer. Even Eugene Kaspersky, who’s the founder of Kaspersky Lab believes it to be an effective solution for protecting critical networks. He says when it comes to securing a critical computer or data-sensitive network such as the industrial systems or running power stations, implementing an air gap is a great idea. According to him, creating an air gap can block 99.99 percent of the malware, ransomware attacks, and all known or future attacks. Now 99.99% security assurance from a simple technology is worth giving a try. Furthermore, the implementation of air gap defense technology is not expensive. It does not require any advanced preparation. However, air gap defense technology, like other security systems, doesn’t offer critical networks 100% protection because advanced level hackers have implemented more ways to break firewalls and acquire unauthorised access to computers/networks disconnected to the internet. For example, some hackers found a way to hack an air-gapped network by designing Windows-Linux malware that infects both the internet-connected and internet-disabled computers so they could send malware that travelled through both types of systems. Having said that, creating Windows-Linux malware or any similar malware for that matter is an extremely complex and expensive process. There’s also multiple risks that make the construction ineffective. Thus, considering all the pros and cons, air gap defense technology is still a very apt solution for those looking for a perfect security. How to Protect an Air Gapped Network? As you know, Air gap defense technology doesn’t offer 100% security benefits. Considering the advanced hacking technologies, there’s always that 0.01% threat or risk despite enabling the best of the security measures. For example, a hacker can breach an air-gapped network through physical devices such as removable media, USB drives, and smartphones connected to the internet. Since many of these air-gapped computer systems are updated through external media, they are frequently connected to peripheral devices. But what if those devices are connected to vulnerabilities or corrupted? Now to protect an air gapped network from corrupted removable media or vulnerable USB, managers or adminds should block all peripheral media access. In short, admins will need to restrict external media access in a way only trusted/known devices can connect it to your air-gapped critical systems. Another threat to air gapped networks in corrupted software libraries. Since a computer has multiple software that can be used to store, edit, share data, a hacker can gain backdoor access. If corrupted, the apps running on an air-gapped computer system can expose the intruder to sensitive information and also introduce vulnerabilities to the device. In order to protect an air-gapped system from software vulnerabilities, admins will need to reduce software dependencies for such systems. They’ll have to avoid upgrading or patching systems unless important to the targeted task. Apps in Air Gapped Network Considering the security benefits an air gapped environment can offer, a lot of businesses are now installing/deploying apps in an air gapped environment. Apps that can be deployed in an air gapped network offer benefits in terms of both security and ability to work in low bandwidth or poor internet connection. These apps are managed in an internet-disabled device that has been physically disabled from the internet connection or any other network with internet. Since these apps are not connected to the internet, their data, files, documents, information stored or exchanged through them are invisible to hackers, thus safe from any malicious attack or unauthorised access. The deployment of apps in an air gapped network is not easy though. It requires an additional set of actions that are complex for a beginner. However, apps like Gravity make this job simpler. Through Gravity, an open source solution, network admins can deploy apps into air gapped environments. This app is mainly used by organisations that require deploying multi-tier apps into air-gapped networks (without increasing or jeopardising the operational overload of managing them). In all, Gravity allows you to deploy and manage complex apps in an air gapped environment. Troop Messenger Works in An Air Gapped Network One of the reasons Troop Messenger is touted as one of the most secure chat apps is its ability to function efficiently on an air gapped network. Amidst all other feature rich functionalities, Troop Messenger leads in terms of security benefits as well. Put Simply, if you want to add a shield between your chat data and intruders, you don’t need to take any additional measure since Troop Messenger can be deployed in an air gapped network. What we’re trying to tell you is ‘organisations can use this app without connecting it directly to the internet.’ Now this may sound a little odd - considering how the app offers real-time information exchange and file sharing. But the point is, as an air-gapped install, Troop Messenger can help you prevent any intruder attack by keeping all the network traffic on your network. What Makes Troop Messenger a Secure Chat App? There’s more to Troop Messenger than the air-gapped installs. It’s arguably the best remote collaboration tools for teams that are more conscious about their data, privacy, compliance regulations, and in short, security. Take a look at the following features and you’ll know why we call Troop Messenger a secure chat app: On-Premise Installation: Worried about your data being monitored or accessed by the host or the service provider? Troop Messenger solves this problem by offering on-premise mode of deployment. In short, when you install Troop Messenger on your own server, you alone have access to your data. You data cannot be accessed by anyone else, not even the service provider. Three-level Security: Troop Messenger offers three-level security benefits to its users. So, apart from the on-premise deployment option, you get the multi-layer security features that includes user credential, passcode, and fingerprint. An organisation can fully secure all their cross-department communications through Troop Messenger. Confidential Chat Window: Want to have a private chat with a team member without worrying about the chat being stored or accessed by someone else later? Try Troop Messenger’s burnout feature. With Troop’s burnout feature, you can initiate a confidential chat with a teammate in a secure chat window. Before initiating chat, you get the option to choose data expiration time. So, once you’ve done talking, the data from the burnout window will expire automatically within the stipulated time set by you. And yes, the information stored in the burnout window cannot be accessed later by anyone (not even you) because all data is  deleted at the time set by you. End-to-End Chat encryption of chats:Checking another box for best security standards, Troop Messenger also has the features to encrypt your chats end-to-end. The E2E encryption allows only chat participants to decrypt and read message content. Moreover, chat data is encrypted both in transit and at rest. TM Monitor for Surveillance: One of the most interesting features of Troop Messenger is the surveillance feature. Through this, the admins of any organisation get to track or monitor the information exchanged by the internal teams. This way, admins can closely monitor what team members are talking about, which information is being exchanged between them, and when they’re working. Apart from security benefits, the surveillance feature is also beneficial in terms of measuring team’s productivity and efficiency. Since admins can track information exchanged, they can monitor who’s working more efficiently or killing time in unnecessary chat. Conclusion: What We’ve Learnt All in all, air gap defense technology is an effective defense against cyber attacks, especially for companies that have to follow compliance regulations, and maintain an optimum level of safety for data stored on their network or computers. We’ve learnt that aAdvanced technology that offers tough defense against cyberattacks is the need-of-the-hour since data theft is becoming one of the major business issues. Once an intruder finds a way into your organization's sensitive data, your businesses can weeks or even months to recover because all networked data is infected and encrypted, making it useless. And as discussed in the article above, one of the best ways of protecting your data from such security breaches is storing information in a computer or network that is not connected to the network – which is where the air gap defense technology helps.
Given how ransomware attacks continue to hit the headlines, many businesses and cybersecurity expert...
team communication
29 Sep 2022
60 Kick-Ass Team Communication Quotes
Business communication quotes; productivity quotes; quotes on team collaboration. Do you read these words and yawn? I know some team communication quotes may create disinterest in you, but that won’t happen in this article. Instead of getting bored with all the famous communication quotes, we plan to inspire you with the words of wisdom shared by the best entrepreneurs, world leaders, and experts who excelled in their fields pertaining to quotes about teamwork and communication. Learning about the wisdom acquired by experts in the form of communication quotes for work and team, always helps you get an insight into what really matters—what areas you should aim for and how to get on point. Yes, communication quotes for teams and work are overused and sometimes trivial, but they are popular and loved for one simple reason–they are meaningful and they actually work. The team collaboration, productivity, and communication quotes for the workplace shared in this article are short but very powerful. Let’s go at them one by one and get started with quotes on communication. Workplace Communication Quotes: 1.  “The two words information and communication are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is giving out; communication is getting through.”   -   Sydney J. Harris   2.  “Any problem, big or small, within a family, always seems to start with bad communication. Someone isn’t listening.”   -  Emma Thompson   3.  “Your ability to communicate is an important tool in your pursuit of your goals, whether it is with your family, your co-workers or your clients and customers.”  -  Leslie C. “Les” Brown   4.  "The strong man is the one who is able to intercept at will the communication between the senses and the mind" - Napoleon Bonaparte   5.  “To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.” -  Anthony Robbins   6.  "The more we elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate." -  John Boynton Priestley   7.  “Effective communication is 20% what you know and 80% how you feel about what you know.”  -  Jim Rohn   8.  "Communication works for those who work at it.”  -  John Powell   9.  “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.”  -  Michael Jordan   10.  "Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language." - Walter Elias “Walt” Disney   11.  “No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.”  -  H.E. Luccock   12.  “Teamwork begins by building trust. And the only way to do that is to overcome our need for invulnerability.”  - Patrick Lencioni   13. "The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime."   -  Babe Ruth   14.  "Email, instant messaging, and cell phones give us fabulous communication ability, but because we live and work in our own little worlds, communication is totally disorganized."  - Marilyn vos Savant   15. "I have always believed that technology should do the hard work – discovery, organization, communication – so users can do what makes them happiest: living and loving, not messing with annoying computers! That means making our products work together seamlessly."  -  Larry Page   16.  "Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing."  -  Rollo Reece May   17.  “None of us is as smart as all of us.”  -  Ken Blanchard   18.  “Unity is strength. . . when there is teamwork, communication and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.”  -  Mattie Stepanek   19. "Communication is about being effective, not always about being proper."  -  Robert “Bo” Bennett   20.  "The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said."  -  Peter Ferdinand Drucker   21. "Of all the life skills available to us, communication is perhaps the most empowering."  -   Bret Morrison   22.  “Effectively, change is almost impossible without industry-wide collaboration, cooperation, and consensus.”  -Simon Mainwaring   23.  “The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.”  -  Babe Ruth   24.  "None of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful."   –  Mother Teresa   25.   "Many ideas grow better when transplanted into another mind than the one where they sprang up."  – Oliver Wendell Holmes    26.  "It is the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) that those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed."  –  Charles Darwin   27.  “A lot of problems in the world would be solved if we talked to each other instead of about each other.” -Nickey Gumbel   28.   “Make sure to communicate your idea quickly and keep it straight to the point.”  -  Paul Bailey   29. “Although we live in an information technology age, we often find ourselves in failure to communicate situations.   - Johnny Tan   30.   “To have good communications skills means you are able to make your point without a lot of fillers and stumbling.”  - Gregory Davidson   31.  "Any communication or marketing professional needs cross-cultural research and communication skills to be able to succeed in the future."  - Marye Tharp   32.   "Ideology and communication more often than not run into each other rather than complement each other. Principle and communication work together. Ideology and communication often work apart."  - Frank Luntz   33.   "The five essential entrepreneurial skills for success are concentration, discrimination, organization, innovation and communication."   -  Michael Faraday   34.  "Skill in the art of communication is crucial to a leader's success. He can accomplish nothing unless he can communicate effectively."  -  Anonymous   35.  "What is the shortest word in the English language that contains the letters: abcdef? Answer: feedback. Don't forget that feedback is one of the essential elements of good communication."  -  Anonymous   36.  "Communication is a skill that you can learn. It's like riding a bicycle or typing. If you're willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of every part of your life."  - Brian Tracy   37.  "The art of communication is the language of leadership.” – James Humes   38.  “Most of the successful people I've known are the ones who do more listening than talking.” – Bernard Baruch   39.  “Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.” – Anne Morrow Lindbergh   40.  “Two monologues do not make a dialogue.” – Jeff Daly   Now that you’ve read plenty of inspirational quotes about communication, let’s dig in a little more and read quotes on collaboration. Teamwork and Collaboration Quotes    41.  "Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success." – Henry Ford   42.  “Unity is strength… when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved” -Mattie Stepanek   43.  “The best teamwork comes from men who are working independently toward one goal in unison.” – James Cash Penney   44.  "The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” – Phil Jackson   45.   “Teamwork begins by building trust. And the only way to do that is to overcome our need for invulnerability.” Patrick Lencioni   46.  “Collaboration and augmentation are the foundational principles of innovation.” – Vaclav Smil   47.  “A group becomes a team when each member is sure enough of himself and his contribution to praise the skills of others.” – Norman Shidle   48.  ““The ratio of We’s to I’s is the best indicator of the development of a team.” – Lewis B. Ergen   49.  “With an enthusiastic team, you can achieve almost anything.” - Tahir Shah   50.  "One piece of log creates a small fire, adequate to warm you up, add just a few more pieces to blast an immense bonfire, large enough to warm up your entire circle of friends; needless to say that individuality counts but teamwork dynamites."  - Jin Kwon   We’re sure these workplace communication quotes and collaboration sayings will get your team all pumped up, and if you still need some more productivity. We’ve got that covered as well:  Productivity Quotes    51.   “Focus on being productive instead of busy.” - Tim Ferriss   52.  “My goal is no longer to get more done, but rather to have less to do.” - Francine Jay, author   53.  “If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.” - Bruce Lee, actor   54.   “Until we can manage time, we can manage nothing else.” - Peter Drucker, management consultant   55.   “Once you have mastered time, you will understand how true it is that most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a year – and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade!” - Tony Robbins   56.  “Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, add what is specifically your own.” - Bruce Lee   57.  “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” - Stephen Covey   58.  “Ordinary people think merely of spending time, great people think of using it.” - Arthur Schopenhauer   59.  “Time is the scarcest resource and unless it is managed nothing else can be managed” - Peter Drucker   60.  “Early rising not only gives us more life in the same number of years, but adds, likewise, to their number; and not only enables us to enjoy more of existence in the same time, but increases also the measure.” - Caleb C. Colton   That’s a Wrap! So, there you have it. An impressive directory of the best quotes on communication, collaboration, and productivity. Managing these three aspects at the workplace is important for businesses to become successful in today’s world where everyone wants to do a lot in less time. I hope you discovered the fact that there is no metaphor in the aforementioned quotes about communication, unlike other blogs. Any person, irrespective of the industry, can imbibe the information from the team communication quotes mentioned above.   To ensure robust communication, productivity, and collaboration in your workplace, first, you must opt for the best & potential team communication tool such as Troop Messenger, and you need to keep your energy, interest, and motivation high. Remember, as long as you are using an inept tool, it will continuously disturb your workflow and create communication barriers. Since we know inspiration is one of the best motivators, we hope these effective team communication quotes mentioned above will motivate you and your teams to accomplish more. And if you have anything to add? Or perhaps we missed your favorite quote about communication; feel free to share them with them in the comments below.   FAQs   1. What is a quote about communication in a team?   "A team that communicates effectively is a team that succeeds." This highlights the importance of clear and open communication in achieving team goals and fostering collaboration.   2. What is a good quote for a team?   "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." -Helen Keller. This quote emphasizes the power of teamwork and collaboration in achieving greater success.   3. How will I get the best team communication quotes?   Search online, books, social media, podcasts, and interviews. Create Your Own
Business communication quotes; productivity quotes; quotes on team collaboration. Do you read these...
air gapped networks
20 Dec 2022
All You Need to Know about Air-Gapped Networks Computer
“Ransomware is expected to attack a business every 11 seconds by the end of 2021,” says a report by Cybersecurity Ventures. The cost of damages due to system security breaches is projected to cost over $6 trillion by 2021. The sad truth is, when sophisticated attackers want to get access to your data, they leave no stone unturned to find a way. Can you think of all the damage malware attacks can cause to your business? The loss of potential data, assets, productivity, and in the worst-case scenario, plant shutdowns. Needless to mention the restoration and deletion of hostage data, post-attack disruption to normal business, reputational harm, forensic investigation, and employee training Because of these threats, many organizations are now choosing to have air-gapped computers or networks. In the military, defense, and industrial world, these air-gapped networks have been supporting control systems where communication is physically isolated from internet networks. In all, air gapping has the potential to act as a security firewall for your sensitive data. And that’s why we are writing about air gapping technology. Can an air-gapped network, including air-gap computers, benefit standard businesses? Can it effectively protect them from security breaches and potential losses? Stay on this page to explore the potential advantages and more! Table of Contents What is Air Gap or Air-Gapping? What is an Air-Gapped Computer/ Network? What is Air Gap Defense Technology? Functions of Air-Gapped Network Troop Messenger on Air-Gapped Server How Difficult Is It to Breach an App Deployed in an Air-Gapped Network? Conclusion: Mind the Air Gap What is Air Gap or Air-Gapping? “Air gapping” refers to the concept that there is an air gap between the computer and other networks. Since there is a gap in the air, the computer isn’t directly connected to the network and so it can’t be attacked through the network. So, to compromise the Air gap computer security, the hacker has to “ cross the air gap” by physically sitting down in front of the computer since there’s no other way to gain access over the Air-Gapped network.  What is an Air-Gapped Network / Computer? An air-gapped computer system has no physical connection to other computers, networks, or unsecured systems, it is solely connected to Air-gapped networks. For example, if you want to work on sensitive business documents or financials without the risk of malware, ransomware, or keyloggers (any attacks done over internet networks), you can simply set up an offline computer that is not connected to the internet. A computer that has been physically removed from the internet or isolated from any other network, is said to be an air-gapped computer. In other words, an air-gapped computer is not either directly connected to the internet or is connected to any other internet-enabled system.   A true air-gapped network is physically isolated from all internet-enabled devices. Hence, data can only pass via removable media such as USB.   One can use Air Gap computers at their home, too. For example, if you have software that runs better on Windows XP, a secure way to use that software is by air-gapping the Windows XP system. Even though Windows XP is vulnerable to malware or ransomware attacks, your data will be safe as long as you create an air gap between the Windows XP system and external networks.   A true air-gapped network is physically isolated from all internet-enabled devices. Hence, data can only pass via removable media such as USB, and no hacker or vandalize can breach the Air Gap server. What is Air Gap Defense Technology? Essentially, an ‘Air Gap Defense Technology’ refers to the absence of a wireless connection into a network connection or computer system. It means that a hacker cannot ‘wirelessly’ hijack your network, computer systems, smartphone, laptop, or WI-FI router. They will need access to wired connections where you can install security software that acts as a firewall. Just like organizations invest in firewall management to minimize risks, the same should be done for computers and networks.  Techopedia defines the air gap as a "security measure implemented for computers, computer systems or networks requiring airtight security without the risk of compromise or disaster. It ensures total isolation of a given system from other networks, especially those that are not secure." Functions of Air-Gapped Network Essentially the two main functions of an air-gapped network are security and working efficiently on low bandwidth. When properly implemented and maintained, the air-gapped defense networks mainly offer security, and they work on low bandwidth as well. That explains why they can be found among some of the most secure global institutions. All in all, Air gap networks are used for protecting different types of critical systems including ones that support the military, the government, and the stock market. Air-Gapped Network’s abilities prompted defense agencies to utilize it for Defense Collaboration Services and it was re-established as Air-Gap Defense Technology. Developed initially for security-conscious teams like military agencies and government organizations. The air gap network has also stepped into the private sector. Due to the rise in cybercrimes, many compliance-minded organizations like health care, utilities, and banking are now embracing ‘ air gapping’ technology for their sensitive applications and network. Considering network security, CCNA certification practice dumps test  equips professionals with safeguarding air-gapped networks. However, Air-Gapped Network, as a whole, is still a new concept for most people. There are a lot of questions, assumptions, and doubts about how it works. Here, on this page, we’ll clear all that, and answer all Air Gap-related FAQs. Let’s learn. 1. What are Air Gaps in Network Architecture and Why they are Important? When the connection between backup data and live data is physically removed, you get what is called an air gap in network architecture. An air gap like this assures that your backup data stays offline and is hence inaccessible to any outside party – making it unreachable for attackers or hackers. With the air gap in network architecture, emphasis is placed on storing data on removable media that can be transported to another secure location. This technology that acts as a firewall between sensitive data and hackers is one of the most effective approaches for thwarting all kinds of cyberattacks. Hence it is considered an important component of a comprehensive data-protected infrastructure. 2. Why Do Certain Businesses Need an Air-Gapped Network? Air gaps networks or computer systems are implemented where the system demands extra security. Take, for example, the payment networks that process transactions for retailers, military networks, or industrial control systems that are used for operating critical infrastructure. Take, for example, infrastructures like power plants. These power plants need computers for operating their industrial systems. But these computers are not exposed to the Internet. In other words, they’re “air-gapped” to enhance security. Since these systems, through air gapping, are not directly connected to the company’s business network, they work well at preventing intruders or hackers from working their way to sensitive systems. A secure air-gapped computer or network means the system is physically isolated from the internet, and data can only be transmitted via removable media such as a USB flash or a firewire connecting two computers directly. The best thing about the air-gapping technology is that it blocks about 100% of malware attacks or hacking breaches made by intruders and yet it’s not an expensive technology. Air Gapping merely requires you to disconnect your computers from the outside world. 3. Who Uses the Air-Gapped Computers/Networks? The answer is simple - security-conscious organizations or enterprises that wish to operate in a high-security environment tend to work with air-gapped computers. Take a look at some more examples of networks or systems that might be air-gapped:   Life-critical systems such as Medical Equipment  Nuclear power plants Aviation Computers such as FADECs and Avionics  Military computer systems and networks Industrial control systems such as SCADA Government computer systems and networks Financial computer systems and networks Payment Networks for Debit or Credit card transactions But, hang on, security concern is not the only use case for an air-gapped network. Here are some other reasons why some businesses opt out of having external network connectivity:   Edge Computing for organizations that wish to conserve bandwidth. Apps can be deployed in areas with a poor internet connection or no connectivity. Salespeople in the field can demo their latest n-tier applications without internet access.   4. Deploying Apps in Air-Gapped Environments Considering the benefits of air-gapping, a lot of organizations are now deploying apps in air-gapped environments. Such apps or systems are managed by being physically plugged into the internal network, although they require an additional step.  Apps deployed in an air-gapped environment are invisible to the internet, and hence to the attackers. Security operations teams create this type of network for incident response. 5. App Deployment with Gravity Gravity facilitates app deployment and portability into air-gapped environments. It’s an open-source solution used by organizations to deploy multi-tier, highly available apps into air-gapped networks, and reduce the operational overload of managing them. In all, Gravity allows you to manage complex apps (in an air-gapped environment) even if you don’t have a remote internet connection. Gravity operates through a YAML file or Helm chart –called a Cluster Image Manifest. Hence, when creating an image, Gravity specifies how applications are installed, updated, and configured, and packages all the dependencies. The cluster creations by Gravity ultimately create a folder with all files and dependencies you need to efficiently set up an air gap application. Furthermore, the gravity clusters are truly identical, they don’t create any configuration drift. Hence, ensuring that all apps deployed are the same regardless of the environment they’re running in. 6. App Deployment through the SDP framework Apps can also be deployed in an air-gapped architecture through software such as the software-defined perimeter (SDP) framework. These apps that ensure air gapping ensure creating an environment that can sometimes be referred to as a method of virtual air gapping. For creating an air gap, the SDP requires authentication of all available external endpoints that are attempting to access internal infrastructure, and in this way, it ensures that the internal IP address is accessible only to authenticated systems. Troop Messenger on Air-Gapped Server 1. Air-Gapped Installs What makes Troop Messenger one of the most secure team chat apps is its ability to operate efficiently in all isolated and air-gapped networks. Security-minded organizations can even use the app without connecting it directly to the internet. As an Air-Gapped install, Troop allows you to keep all network traffic on your private network. 2. Best of the On-Premise World Data-Sensitive entities like Defense are extra-protected when they deploy Troop Messenger’s on-premise delivery model. That way, they are in full control of their data. As an On-Premise, white-label app, Troop Messenger allows them to fully customize, extend or add new functionality as required, and it is completely compliable to Air Gap networking. Simply put, you can run Troop Messenger on your infrastructure – and no one except you owns the data in it. Apps like Slack or MS Teams don’t offer this level of control since you always have to trust the provider of these services. 3. Data Privacy Ensured As a GDPR-compliant app, Troop Messenger ensures data privacy at all times - offering you best of the all worlds irrespective of any delivery mode you opt for. 4. Advanced Level Admin Control On Troop Messenger, admins get an advanced level of control over their team. That way, they are in control of who’s accessing which feature and who’s interacting with whom. Troop Messenger also has a surveillance feature (TM Monitor) that helps admins closely monitor communication happening between team members. 5. Works on low-bandwidth If your team is working in/on low-bandwidth or poor internet connectivity, Troop Messenger helps there too. As an instant messaging software designed especially for the military, Troop Messenger is designed to fit all network types including low-bandwidth. How Difficult Is It to Breach an App Deployed in an Air-Gapped Network? Put simply, it’s extremely challenging for any intruder to invade an app deployed in an air-gapped network and breach the data. We are saying that because one of the most common requirements for all of these attacks is physical proximity, which an Air-gapped system completely undermines. What we mean by physical proximity is being close enough to record and track electromagnetic radiation and also pick up inaudible sound waves. Through air gapping, we create a firewall to stop all of this and more, making hacking very difficult to execute, making it one of the most reliable methods. Conclusion: Mind the Air Gap For some cyber security experts, an air-gapped network is not the most practical security measure, but it certainly works as an ultimate cybersecurity measure. That explains why most of the high-security industries rely on them such as Military applications, financial institutions, power plants, aviation systems, and payment networks to name a few. Creating an air gap sounds easy theoretically (unplug it). However, the real implementation of this Air gap system/network is not as easy as it seems on paper. It is much more difficult. Having said that, we are not ruling out the potential security and bandwidth effectiveness of an air gap network or computer. We’d encourage you to take into consideration of the cost, constraints, and administrative requirements. Advanced technology that offers stringent defense against cyberattacks is the need of the hour since data theft is becoming one of the major issues for businesses. Once an intruder finds a way into your organization’s sensitive data, your businesses can take weeks or even months to recover because all networked data is infected and encrypted, making it useless. And in case, you’re mainly looking for a secure chat app to interact, share documents, collaborate, track, and join/host virtual meetings, try Troop Messenger. Apart from all the essential features, the E2E encrypted chat app works perfectly in an air-gapped network. Hence, when you say ‘security,’ we say Troop Messenger!
“Ransomware is expected to attack a business every 11 seconds by the end of 2021,” says ...
productivity
24 Aug 2020
10 Tips for a Better Workplace & Happier Employees
Happy employees are both more productive and more likely to remain loyal to the business in the long run, so it makes sense to ensure that the workplace you run is as positive and appealing as possible. To that end, here are just 10 tips that should allow you to improve morale, keep team members satisfied, meet expectations and ensure that everyone feels fulfilled at the end of each day. Table of Contents 1. Optimize onboarding 2. Offer exciting opportunities 3. Ensure safety 4. Harness team-building 5. Embrace employee recognition 6. Encourage social responsibility 7. Allow flexibility 8. Accommodate health and fitness 9. Demonstrate trust 10. Seek out spontaneity Conclusion 1. Optimize onboarding First impressions are formed in an instant, so your approach to enhancing the workplace experience needs to start with a top-tier approach to integrating new hires from the moment they arrive. There are lots of ways to achieve this, from greeting them effectively and introducing them to the rest of the team to checking in regularly to ensure they are getting settled. Just follow these 7 steps for an onboarding process that prioritizes employee wellbeing. 2. Offer exciting opportunities Most people will want to know that the organizations they work for provide a consistent career trajectory to pursue, as this gives them something to aim for and provides meaning and worth to their existing roles. One way to increase engagement and hang onto talented team members is to give them the opportunity to relocate to another office in pursuit of their workplace goals. Of course, planning employee relocation is a process that needs to be taken seriously as there are a lot of factors at play, but for certain people, this will be a major selling point and the key to satisfaction at work. 3. Ensure safety To feel fulfilled and happy, employees also need to feel safe in the workplace, yet injuries are surprisingly common. Each year there are an average of 18.3 injuries per million working people due to falls, slips, and trips in South Dakota alone, so being proactive in your approach to workplace safety is a necessity. This can mean going above and beyond to protect employees, meeting or exceeding industry standards for safety, and ensuring that adequate training is provided to show team members that you care about protecting them. 4. Harness team-building People will feel better about arriving to work each morning if they know and like their colleagues, as well as have confidence in their abilities to communicate and collaborate effectively. Hosting regular team-building events can go a long way toward fostering just such an environment. Once again there are lots of options available, from quiz nights and team drinks to away days and weekend retreats; just pick an approach that fits your business and your budget. 5. Embrace employee recognition Unless employees feel like their efforts are being appreciated, they will likely become disillusioned and will ultimately leave to find greener pastures elsewhere, or else lapse into a rut from which they may never remove themselves. Treating this is simple by formalizing the process of providing recognition to the people you manage. In fact, there are lots of impactful software solutions built around ensuring just that. This is not just about bosses showing their subordinates that they value their contributions, but also about allowing coworkers to pat each other on the back for a job well done. 6. Encourage social responsibility Modern businesses need to view themselves not only in the context of competitors in a marketplace but also as organizations that have a responsibility to the communities they operate within. This is not just a good way of boosting the ethical credentials of a brand in the eyes of customers, but can also help with providing employees with more fulfillment in their roles. By partnering with local charity groups, for example, you can create events and initiatives that team members can contribute to and thus feel part of a wider social tapestry. 7. Allow flexibility While some people are incredibly focused on their careers, most will aim to strike a balance between the responsibilities of their job and their life outside of the office. while this is a crucial part of an employee’s experience at work, options like shift planning show your employees that you value their input and respect their role in your company.   In recent years, being able to offer more flexibility to team members so that they do not feel overly restricted or penned in by their work obligations, to the detriment of their family and social life, has become particularly important. There are several solutions to improving job flexibility, such as allowing home working and remote collaboration, covering childcare costs, increasing vacation day allocations, break times(in which they can just do nothing or play a card game), and more. 8. Accommodate health and fitness Employees who are fit and healthy will also be happy and satisfied, so it makes sense for you to integrate this with the workplace culture. For example, you could lay on nutritious lunches that are available on-site so that staff does not need to scour the surrounding area for something wholesome to eat. As an extension to this initiative, partnering with meal delivery services like HelloFresh could be considered. This way, even if the onsite lunches don't suit everyone's taste or dietary needs, employees still have a vast variety of healthy options directly delivered to the workplace. You could also partner with a local fitness center to provide discounts to employees, or even have on-site facilities for exercise equipment and even classes led by professionals. 9. Demonstrate trust If employees feel like their managers are always watching over their shoulders or getting involved in every tiny detail of what they do, it will seem to them that their superiors place little stock in their abilities. This can lead to frustration, as too much micromanaging is bad for morale and performance can even be hampered through excessive scrutiny. The answer is to trust the people you have recruited to do their jobs well and only provide input and guidance when it is clearly necessary, rather than being an all-encompassing overseer who can potentially stifle creativity and generate consternation. To avoid such issues, you can do proper research about their past work and performance along with a detailed background check. 10. Seek out spontaneity While a routine is necessary for most workplaces, you should also remember that employee happiness can be increased through the careful use of events that break this cycle from time to time. This does not need to be anything particularly outlandish; sometimes the simple step of arranging a meeting to take place in a different location than usual is enough to breathe new life into the office for the day. Conclusion Ultimately it is important to take a multifaceted approach to build a better workplace and put employee happiness at the top of the agenda since the results will be good for individuals and great for the business as a whole as well.   Experiment with a few of the tips provided, see which ones fit your organizational culture, and make adjustments if issues arise. The ability to adapt will be a major asset in any manager who is looking to keep team members content.
Happy employees are both more productive and more likely to remain loyal to the business in the long...
comparison
11 Sep 2022
Google Meet vs Webex vs Zoom: Important Features to Compare and Consider [2023]
Let’s get straight to the point - Why did you click open an article that compares Google Meet, Zoom, and Webex Meeting? You, most probably, want to know which one, out of these three, will be the perfect buy for your business. Or perhaps you have questions about their features, pros and cons, and pricing. In this article, we’ll answer the question everyone is asking in 2023 - What’s the best online conferencing software to use for both personal and business use? But before we dive into the features and pricing, let’s take a quick look at each of these tools and their growth during COVID-19. Table of Contents 1. Zoom vs Google Meet vs Webex: Introduction 2. Free limitations Google Meet vs Zoom vs Webex 3. Security: Google Meet vs Zoom vs Webex 4. Interface & Ease of Use: Google Meet vs Zoom Vs Webex 5. Plans & Pricing: Google Meet vs Zoom Vs Webex 6. Screen Sharing and Controlling: Google Meet vs Zoom vs Webex 7. Call Scheduling: Google Meet vs Zoom vs Webex 8. Data usage: Google Meet vs Zoom vs Webex The Verdict Looking for Alternatives? Try Troop Messenger: Bottom Line 1. Zoom vs Google Meet vs Webex: Introduction  Zoom Zoom will forever be associated with the coronavirus lockdown, which has exploded into the public consciousness after the introduction of social distancing measures. Because of the coronavirus and nationwide lockdowns, Zoom surpassed 300 million daily Zoom meeting participants. That’s up 50 percent from the 200 million the company reported earlier this month and a huge jump from the 10 million back in December.   But a series of missteps have turned some Zoom users away, many of whom may now be considering alternatives like Cisco Webex and Google Meet.  Google Meet Google Meet, previously known as Hangout, is Google’s video conferencing solution.   Amid the pandemic, Google Meet surpassed 50 million downloads. According to Google, Meet’s peak daily usage has grown by 30 times since January 2022. And now, this video conferencing app hosts 3 billion minutes of video meetings every day.  Cisco Webex Meeting Cisco Webex offers one of the most secure video conferencing platforms on the market, making it a very appealing video conferencing solution. When the coronavirus-led lockdowns forced employees to work from home, Webex registered a record 324 million attendees in March and still has usage more than doubling in the Americas. 2. Google Meet vs Zoom vs Webex: Free Limitations Google Meet, Zoom, and Webex - all three video conferencing tools have a free plan, but with certain limitations. Where Google Meet offers a meeting time limit of sixty minutes for its free users, Zoom and Webex each offer 50 and 40 minutes the time limit. This means that free users of these video conferencing solutions can’t hold a conference for more than the stipulated meeting time limit. Furthermore, each of these tools offers a participant size limit of 100. Here’s a tabular analysis of free limitations of Google Meet, Zoom, and Webex Features  Google Meet  Cisco Webex   Zoom Video  Direct Web Access  Yes  No  No  Participants limit  100 100 100 Meeting Time Duration  60 Minutes  50 Minutes  40 Minutes  Screen Sharing  Yes  Yes  Yes  Recording Support  No  No   Yes  Multiple participants on a single screen  Yes  Yes  Yes  Availability  Web, Android, iOS macOS, Android, iOS, and Windows  macOS, Android, iOS, and Windows    Who’s Got an Edge on Free Limits?     Google Meet: With 60 minutes of meeting duration, Google Meet is a step ahead of both Webex and Zoom’s free plan. As for the other features, all three giants are offering pretty much the same services. But if recording support is a priority for your business, Zoom’s free plan may suit your team better because both Webex and Meet don’t offer that in the free plan. 3. Google Meet vs Zoom vs Webex: Security    Google Meet Google Meet is touted as one of the most secure video conferencing tools pertaining to its encryption measures. All Meet data is encrypted in transit by default between the Google and client on both the web browser and iOS or Android apps. Recorded meetings are also stored as encrypted data in Google Drive by default. Google Meet adheres to security standards such as Datagram Transport Layer Security (DLTS), Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP), and Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).    Cisco Webex Meeting Like Google Meet, the Cisco Webex platform also protects user data by encrypting stored and shared content during meetings. All communication in the Cisco Webex is encrypted both in transit and at rest. It uses the TLS 1.2 protocol for all media streams including VoIP, screen sharing, video calling, and document sharing. Once configured by the users, Webex Meeting protects all user data using SHA-2 protocol and encrypts all passwords for recording and meeting. The files are encrypted with master keys that are based on AES 256 and hardware security modules.  Zoom Zoom has recently been in the limelight for its security concerns. A lot of users reported security breaches and data theft issues. However, Zoom has released the 5.0 version to address such concerns and now uses AES 256-bit GCM encryption to enhance its security standards. Yet, the app is still seeing Zoombombing issues, which calls for more robust security features than the current one. Who’s Got an Edge on Security? Cisco Webex & Google Meet: In terms of Security, both Cisco Webex Meeting and Google Meet wins. Zoom loses many points because of past security issues, and 4. Google Meet vs Zoom Vs Webex: Interface & Ease of Use  Google Meet Google Meet’s interface is simple and clear. Users can start, join, or plan meetings through the right panel of the screen, and the interface has clear buttons that can be used for adjusting the audio, video, and other general settings.   The best thing about Google Meet’s interface is it’s quite sorted. You see very limited options on the start screen and the other options are located at different (but easy to locate places). The clean interface makes Meet very easy to use as compared to other video conferencing tools.    Zoom If a user has already installed the Zoom app, participating in a meeting hardly takes two clicks and five seconds. Even with the web app, it’s so easy to join the meeting. Zoom’s interface is clutter-free. But one aspect that makes it more interesting is that the admins can review information about the participant's connectivity during the call. The host can easily recognize if a participant is having a problem with their internet connection. As for the participants, they can connect and chat with the host. The host has quick access to multiple features such as creating a waiting room, adding new participants, turning on/off participants’ microphones, enabling chat, and more. Despite these many options, Zoom’s interface doesn’t feel overwhelming and one can easily navigate.     Cisco Webex  Cisco’s Webex has a very intuitive interface that looks similar to other services during a phone call. There’s a clear dashboard where you chose to start, join, or plan a meeting. On the right side of the screen, there are options to schedule meetings and review previously scheduled meetings. When you’re planning a conference or meeting via Webex, you can use standard functions such as date, time, and meeting duration, and also send invites to the participants. Furthermore, there’s an option to add meeting agendas as passwords to enable restricted access. Who’s Got an Edge on Interface? It’s a tie: All these three giants exceed in terms of interface. They all focus on making it clear, easy to use, and have a sharp learning curve. 5. Google Meet vs Zoom Vs Webex: Plans & Pricing When it comes to choosing the best video conferencing tool for your business, pricing is the most important aspect. When two tools have relatively similar features, it’s the price that breaks the tie. Companies often look for flexible and cost-effective software that fits their budget and also allows them to scale whenever required.  Google Meet Pricing Google Meet is part of G Suite, which means it's available for free for all businesses having a G Suite subscription. Starting at $10 per user/month, Google offers a basic tier plan of all G Suite apps bundled with a cloud storage capacity of 30 GB. There’s also the Business and Enterprise plan - the $20 per user/month plan offers 1 TB cloud storage, whereas the $25 offers unlimited cloud storage, advanced management options, and enhanced security.  Plan Name Cost  Participant Limit   Meeting Duration  Free $0 100 60 Minutes G Suite Essentials $10 USD per active user/month*  150 300 Hrs  G Suite Enterprise Essentials $20 USD per active user/month*  250 300 Hrs    Zoom Video Conferencing The Zoom starts at $14.99 per month/host for the pro plan - which is considered an ideal plan for a small team of 100 participants and meeting a time limit of 24 hours. Zoom offers the most extensive video conferencing features with the Business tier plan starting at $19.99 per host per month.   Plan Name Cost  Participant Limit Meeting Duration  Basic Free 100 40 Minutes Pro $14.99/mo/host 100 24 Hrs  Business  $19.99 /mo/host 300 24 Hrs  Enterprise  $19.99 /mo/host 500 24 Hrs     Cisco Webex Pricing Like Google Meet, the Webex meeting is also an integrated Webex service. So, if you’re already using Webex solutions, it’s a great choice. Webex has multiple pricing plans named Agile User, Power User, and Modern Workspace. Starting at $16.82 per host per month, the Agile User plan offers unlimited toll dial-in, unlimited meetings, 10 GB of cloud storage, and up to 1000 participants in each meeting. At $40.71 & $55.73 per host per month, the Power User and Modern workspace plan offer additional features such as Cisco video cloud, content management, Webex assistant, and more.   Plan Name Cost  Participant Limit   Meeting Duration  Free $0 100 50 Minutes  Agile User  $16.82 per host per month 1000 24 Hrs Power User $40.71 per host per month  1000 24 Hrs  Modern Workspace  $55.73 per host per month  1000 24 Hrs    Who’s Got an Edge on Pricing?  Google Meet: Comparing the price of these three video conferencing tools is difficult since Zoom as a standalone web/video conferencing app costs much more than Webex and G Suite, which are integrated collaboration suites. At $6 per user/month, G Suite’s Google Meet offers similar features at a cheaper rate. So, when it comes to pricing, Google Meet is the undisputed winner. 6. Google Meet vs Zoom vs Webex: Screen Sharing and Controlling  Google Meet On Google Meet, users can share their whole screen or a specific window, or a Chrome tab during the meeting. Through screen sharing, one can share documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more. When you share a Chrome tab, it shares the tab’s audio by default. Hence, when you can play an online video as well.        Cisco Webex With Cisco Webex Meeting, one can easily share their device screen with meeting participants. There's an option to choose between sharing the complete screen to a specific app or document such as Powerpoint or MS Word.     What makes Cisco Meetings convenient is anyone in the meeting can share a screen without having to request control. With the screen-sharing features, the control is at the fingertips. Video layouts are also customizable, allowing hosts to easily toggle back and forth from video conferencing to screen sharing.    Zoom Video On Zoom, Screen sharing is both super convenient and cool. There are so many options when it comes to sharing your devices’ content. Zoom gives you the following sharing options when it comes to content sharing:   A specific application Entire desktop or phone screen A portion of your screen Content from a second camera Whiteboard Device audio iPhone/iPad screen     Furthermore, Zoom allows hosts to have a distinct level of control during the meeting. They can enable or disable the participant’s ability to share audio, video, and the screen. For example, in a webinar, only a host, panelists, or co-host can share their screen. Who’s Got an Edge on Screenshots? Zoom Video: Zoom leads way ahead in terms of screen sharing with advanced features such as a whiteboard, content sharing from the second camera, and more. Cisco meeting is great too but when it comes to screen-sharing features, Zoom certainly wins. Google Meet doesn’t have any advanced functionality in terms of screen sharing hence it lags behind here. 7. Google Meet vs Zoom vs Webex: Call Scheduling  Google Meet Google Meet users can start meeting through mobile phones or computers. The G-Suite users can directly sign into their G Suite account, and the non-G-Suite users can log in through their Google account.   On Google Meetings, meetings are scheduled through the Google Calendar app, and a meeting code is generated, which is required for participants to join the meeting. Participants can also join through the shared link.  Webex Cisco Meeting Like Google Meet, Cisco Meeting also enables meeting scheduling. Users can set up both instant meetings and also schedule calls for recurrent meetings. On Cisco, one can start, join, schedule meetings, and assign a host in a few clicks. Once the meeting is scheduled, hosts can send invites and reminders to participants and also set up recurring meetings through the Outlook scheduler.  Zoom Video At Zoom, users get multiple methods to schedule meetings. Zoom host has control over scheduled meeting options except when an admin has locked access. Zoom hosts can schedule meetings from the Zoom web portal, desktop client, mobile app, Outlook add-in, Chrome Calendar extension, and more. Who’s Got an Edge on Call Scheduling? Zoom Video: Since Zoom offers multiple ways to schedule calls, it has an edge over others. Scheduled Zoom meetings can be started at any time before the scheduled time. The meeting links do not expire unless it has not been used for 365 days for a recurring meeting or it has been deleted from the Zoom account. 8. Google Meet vs Zoom vs Webex: Data usage Data Usage is one of the important concerns for many users. The virtual conferences apparently require high-speed internet connectivity and hence consume a large size of data. Let’s take a look at the average data consumed by each of these video conferencing solutions:    Google Meet   Average bandwidth per participant     Meeting type Outbound Inbound HD Video 3.2 Mbps 1.8 Mbps Audio only 12 Kbps 18 Kbps (Source: Google Meet Help) Ideal bandwidth per participant     Meeting type Outbound Inbound 2-person HD video meetings 3.2 Mbps 2.6 Mbps Group video meetings 3.2 Mbps 3.2 Mbps (Source: Google Meet Help)    Zoom Meeting Data Usage in One-on-One Calls: Quality Download  Upload Total High 270MB per hour 270MB per hour 540MB per hour 720p 540MB per hour 540MB per hour 1.08GB per hour 1080p 810MB per hour 810MB per hour 1.62GB per hour   Data Usage in Group Calls: Quality Download  Upload Total High 450MB per hour 360MB per hour 810MB per hour 720p 675MB per hour 675MB per hour 1.35GB per hour 1080p 1.2GB per hour 1.2GB per hour 2.4GB per hour    Webex Meeting The size of a Network-Based Recording (in both ARF and MP4) will vary depending on the features used within the meeting. See the estimated meeting sizes by activity below:   Application/desktop sharing: 110 MB per hour VoIP audio: 30 MB per hour   Video Centric Recording:   360p (High Quality) video: 40 MB per hour 720p (High Definition) video: 220 MB per hour   The Verdict Given how each of these tools has acquired such a significant share in the video conferencing market, it was obvious that the final decision would be based on a small margin. If you’ve read this article thoroughly, you’d know almost all the sub-categories had near-ties. All three have some unique selling points but there can only be one winner. Each of these three video conferencing tools comes with its own list of pros and cons that we have mentioned in the article. With the analysis made above, you can ensure choosing the right video conferencing solution for your business’s requirements.   If you still want to break down the learning further, here’s a table that represents highlights of Google Meet vs Webex vs Zoom, alongside some of the functionalities worth considering when making purchase decisions.   Video Conferencing App Free Version Availability Screen-Sharing Feature  Number of Meeting Participants (Default) Meeting Recording  Google Meet  Yes  Yes  100 Yes   Cisco Webex  Yes  Yes  100 Yes   Zoom  Yes  Yes  100  Yes      Video Conferencing App Per Month Plan  E2E Encryption  Supporting platforms   Google Meet  $13.50 No Android, iOS, Windows, macOS  Cisco Webex  $6.00 Yes Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux  Zoom  $14.99  Yes but users are still complaining of Zoombombing issues   Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux   For companies that are using G-suite, Google Meet clearly the best choice. In Google Meet, features are not limited to video calling or conferencing only, and the best part, you don’t have to pay for any additional charges. Now, if you take a look at the other side of the field, you’ll find Zoom and Webex, where many companies want to avoid Zoom for privacy reasons, but no one can deny its capability as the best video conferencing software. It has got the most extensive feature. So, if Zoom can address the privacy concerns, it will be the best choice for organizations that can afford its comparatively expensive plans. In the middle of the spectrum, there is Webex, which is a good choice if your business is using Cisco solutions. It offers the same functionalities as Meet and Zoom and works aptly. Looking for Alternatives? Try Troop Messenger Well, that was all about Google Meet, Zoom, and Webex. But what if these tools still don’t meet your business requirements? Or perhaps you’d like to consider a few more options before making the final choice.   Considering that, we’d suggest taking a look at Troop Messenger. Though known mainly as an office chat app, Troop Messenger excels as a video conferencing and virtual meeting app as well.   Apart from the many remarkable features such as one-on-one messaging, group texting, secure file sharing, Google Drive, and Dropbox integration, Troop Messenger offers video conferencing and desktop sharing features as well. Cattle Call in Troop Messenger   With its ‘Cattle Call’ feature, Troop lets you have face-to-face work conversations by hosting or joining video conferences. Through cattle call features, hosts can give video access to up to 6 Members and add unlimited members for audio access. During the video conferencing, participants can initiate group chat. There are also options to make participants hosts, add/remove the video of a participant, remove selected users, or request to unmute the participant's audio/video. Screen Sharing in Troop Messenger Like Google Meet, Troop Messenger also lets meeting participants share screens with each other. As one of the most dynamic collaborative chat supporting features, screen sharing allows users to share their screen at the time of chat conversation so the recipient sees the entire real-time desktop screen. Both sender and receiver have the option to stop the screen-sharing session at their respective ends. Bottom Line Putting it all together, we can say Google Meet and Zoom make for ideal video conferencing tools. But if your business needs more than video conferencing or screen sharing, you can try Troop Messenger - an all-around office chat app with all features you need for video conferencing, team communication, enhanced productivity, and real-time collaboration.
Let’s get straight to the point - Why did you click open an article that compares Google Meet,...
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