Microsoft introduces free Skype Meetings

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Microsoft has launched Skype Meetings, a new and free version of its popular video and audio conferencing software designed with small businesses in mind.

The company’s latest release will feel quite similar for users already familiar with its Skype for Business solution, albeit stripped down. Whereas Skype for Business allows for meetings with up to 250 people, Skype Meetings limits the maximum participants to 10 people. However after the initial two months of using the product, that number drops down to three people.

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Cost is not the main reason behind cloud adoption

Cloud elephant

The notion that cloud computing solutions are being driven primarily by reduced costs, and that they’re causing IT teams to shrink everywhere seems to be significantly in the myths area.

A new report by Six Degrees Group (6DG) points out that there are other, more important reasons, businesses opt for cloud solutions, and that teams are not necessarily shrinking, but reshaping mostly.

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Employees put corporate networks at risk

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Digital device practices among US employees are exposing their employers to increased security risks according to a new study.

Identity management company OneLogin along with Arlington Research surveyed 1022 respondents in the US and found that 13 percent let their colleagues use a device that can access their employer's network. In addition nine percent allow their partners to access such a device, and one percent even permit their children to use it.

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New partnership delivers cloud solution for the insurance industry

puzzle cloud

Insurance companies have slightly different software needs from other businesses. They need to expand accounts, drive renewals, streamline the new policy acquisition process and manage claims.

Now cloud specialist Vlocity and insurance solution provider Insurity are announcing a partnership that will deliver a cloud solution for insurance businesses.

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Workers at fault for most cyber attacks

employee snoop

Here’s another solid proof of what security experts have been buzzing about in the past few years -- that people are the single greatest cyber-security threat to businesses.

This time, proof comes from Transputec and Business Continuity Institute, which have polled 369 business continuity professionals from all over the world into enterprise cyber-security.

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Businesses lack confidence in their ability to adapt to change

Change cloud clouds

The information age means that things change fast and the ability to make quick decisions is an important factor of business success.

But a new survey of over 1200 project management executives by Changepoint finds that just 10 percent of organizations are confident that they can quickly adapt to change, with 36 percent responding that they can't.

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Video conferencing increases productivity

Video chat MacBook Pro

Video collaboration increases productivity and improves both business and personal relationships, according to video conferencing technology company Lifesize.

The company polled its users and says that 99.2 percent of respondents find video conferencing boosts relationships both in and out of the office. No word on how many people were polled, though.

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Most organizations don't have an IT security expert

Security man expert suit

With cyber attacks on the rise, organizations are facing pressure to beef up their security to avoid falling victim to such an attack. However, a recent IT security report from Spiceworks shows that 80 percent of organizations were affected by at least one security incident during 2015.

To compile its report, the company surveyed over 600 IT professionals from the US and UK. Shockingly, Spiceworks discovered that few organizations have either an in-house or third-party cyber security expert on call.

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SaaS market is set to reach $55 billion by 2026

SaaS

A new study by software selection site Better Buys shows that the shift to SaaS solutions is growing apace, expected to increase from just $8 billion in 2015 to $55 billion by 2026.

It also reveals that more than 1,400 new SaaS companies have sprung up in the last five years, taking a large volume of market share from major competitors like Adobe, Cisco, IBM, and Salesforce, and accounting for 57 percent of the SaaS market.

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Box launches Shuttle service to speed up data migration

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Box wants enterprises all over the world to migrate their data to the Box cloud, and it has now launched a new service to help them achieve that goal.

The service, named Box Shuttle, enables businesses the migration of millions of files in a secure and timely fashion. Announcing the new product, the company said early feedback was "extremely positive".

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Let there be light: Why visibility is key to building an effective mobile policy

Business mobile devices

Consider this: Unrestricted use of Tinder may not pose a problem at a company where the majority of staff is over fifty, but if you work with millennials, you may need to swipe left and reject your current mobile policy. Don’t let your company be the next one to lose precious data and suffer the devastating cost of a data breach simply because you lacked visibility and control over how your investment in mobility is having an impact on the organization.

The mobile device is a distinctive technology that delivers tangible benefits in both personal and business settings. According to IDC’s U.S Mobile Worker Forecast, mobile workers will account for nearly three quarters (72.3 percent) of the total U.S. workforce -- or 105.4 million employees -- by 2020, creating an environment where workers expect to leverage mobile technology at work. As enterprise IT begins to more widely deploy mobile technologies in support of everyday business, mobile devices must increasingly meet corporate standards for security, compliance and acceptable use.

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New startup aims to help solve the shortage of data scientists

data search

Whilst the use of big data is gaining traction around the world, one of the things that’s likely to hold back development is a shortage of qualified data scientists. By 2018, the demand for data scientists is predicted to exceed supply by about 50 to 60 percent according to a recent McKinsey study.

Austrian startup company Knoyd is aiming to disrupt the process of training and hiring data scientists by launching BaseCamp, a data science bootcamp. It will allow prospective data scientists to learn and train on real companies' problems and will prepare them for an exciting data science career.

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At least one mobile device in every large enterprise has a malware infection

mobile malware

A new report focusing on malware in the enterprise, finds that large organizations (those with more than 200 iOS or Android mobile devices) are almost guaranteed to have at least one malware-infected device.

The report, by mobile threat defense specialist Skycure finds that four percent of all mobile devices have malware installed, regardless of whether they are managed by an enterprise or an individual.

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Microsoft cloud changes are overwhelming its customers

Change cloud clouds

Microsoft partners are witnessing Office 365 technology updates, refreshes and changes outpacing their customers' ability to keep up with them.

This is according to a new study by customer experience specialist harmon.ie which surveyed more than 200 Microsoft partners worldwide. Thanks to the complexity and rate of change, partners are seeing new opportunities to step in and provide the much needed bridge to help companies keep up.

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Most enterprises use Internet of Things devices

Internet of things

Even though IoT is an emerging industry, it is already being used by 65 percent of enterprises for business purposes, 451 Research claimed on Wednesday.

According to the research company’s report, there are a couple of device types being used to gather valuable data:

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