This is the fifth installment in our blog series regarding video conferencing/collaboration software. Our first blog was a summary of the best feature of each of the offerings. Next, we took a deeper dive into Microsoft Teams, Zoom and BlueJeans. In this installment, we review Cisco WebEx.
Cisco WebEx has advanced security options that make it one of the most secure video conferencing platforms available. As a default option, Cisco encrypts all data traveling between the client and the Cisco WebEx servers using AES 256-bit encryption. For organizations requiring higher levels of data protection, end-to-end encryption is an available extra.
Additionally, administrators have high-level control over user’s accounts and security and can activate features such as multi-factor authentication and mandated password changes.
WebEx definitely caters to business and is very scalable. With Event Center, WebEx can host up to 3,000 attendees. Within meetings, all hosts can set a password and require the authentication of attendees before they join the call. Another unique feature of WebEx is the ability for the host to drop individual attendees during the meeting. This allows meetings to continue in the event your meeting is interrupted by any disrupters which occurs more frequently these days. For larger businesses, this is a very popular choice that fits well in an enterprise environment.
The downside with WebEx is that it can take up to 1 minute for first time attendees to join the meeting. Price may also be a stumbling block for smaller businesses that may not use video conferencing as often or don’t need the additional security that WebEx provides.
Like many other video conferencing platforms, a free version is available. It allows you to host meetings for up to 100 participants for up to 50 minutes. You will be able to share content, record meetings and start instant meetings in your personal room. Free versions are a fantastic way to test the product and confirm that the product is compatible with the way you and your participants work. Once you have tested the product for your use, it is likely that serious video conferencing users will opt to move up to a paid subscription. This will unlock many other features that can improve overall efficiency and collaboration.
In summary, for businesses concerned about security but still requiring many of the standard video conferencing features, WebEx is a solid, seasoned product originally introduced in 1995 and acquired by Cisco back in 2007. For more information visit http://www.webex.com.
Authored by Donald Nokes
As President of NetCenergy, Don Nokes is responsible for ensuring client satisfaction, and overseeing company performance and direction. Prior to co-founding the firm with Dan Charland in 2003, Don held senior leadership positions with IT service firms ranging in size from $3 Billion to $10 Million in annual sales.
Nick Eckman joined NetCenergy in 2016 from an international gaming company. Nick’s experience with supervising and implementing secure, fiber and copper wire infrastructure services provides our clients with a team of highly trained and experienced technicians. In addition to the skills required to manage our infrastructure services department, Nick brings a very experienced and focused approach to project management and is a stickler for accurate documentation for every project designed and built by his team.
Peter Lachapelle joined NetCenergy in 2015 and is responsible for leading all of NetCenergy’s operations and accounting functions. Each department within NetCenergy reports through Lachapelle. He brings his years of experience to maintain a pragmatic, efficient, client-focused team at NetCenergy. Lachapelle joined NetCenergy after completing a 27-year career with a Rhode Island, federally-charted bank which culminated in his senior management position as COO and CFO for the bank.
Peter Nelson has 25+ years of technology and management experience and has been with NetCenergy since inception. Peter serves as the VP of Engineering at NetCenergy. His role consists of managing the engineering staff, driving the companies technology strategy, and ensuring NetCenergy keeps up to date on new technologies and solutions.
As a Founding Partner, Dan is a result oriented individual who is always focusing on what is best for his client. He understands that business applications empower an organization and that technology must support those critical business applications. Dan’s technology career started in 1990 at EMC Corporation. Through the years, he has represented technology and consulting services for several organizations until 2003, when he and Don Nokes founded NetCenergy.
With decades of hands-on HR experience, Margery Ahearn is our Director of Human Resources, overseeing all hiring of new positions for NetCenergy with a careful eye on sourcing technology savvy engineers and skilled office-based professionals who fit our company culture, understand our commitment to our clients, and bring their time and talents to our team. Margery has both a BA and MBA in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University.