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Best Collaboration Software in 2022 [Free & Paid Online Tools] – Cloudwards

In the world of remote work and web-based productivity, there are several ways people can collaborate online. From the best communication tools to cloud storage that helps you create, every type of software service has collaboration features for you and your team.

In this article, were going to cover a range of service providers, highlighting the best collaboration software for all types of situations.

When we say collaboration tools, what do we mean? In short, theyre applications that allow two or more people to work on specific tasks directly inside a shared piece of software.Collaboration is very much a blanket term, however.

The reality is theres a wide range of features that can improve team collaboration, especially in todays digital world where remote work is on the rise.

Web-based and desktop software from a range of sectors including project management, cloud storage and instant messaging can be used for collaboration.

In the current era, we participate in virtual meetings using the leading video conferencing applications, and we create spreadsheets and documents together through the likes of Google Docs and Office 365. Essentially, any piece of software that allows a team to discuss and improve a piece of work is a collaboration tool.

In this article were going to explore several types of software, including cloud storage, project management tools, software for video calls, messaging apps and document management systems.

In each category, we will share the best software for that specific market. We can recommend each of them with confidence, as we have tested and reviewed every product in this article.

There are several factors we considered when finalizing our selection. As expected, we put each providers collaboration tools to the test to see how they can make work life easier for those developing a particular piece of work or project. On top of that, as these are all multi-function software tools, we also ensured they excel in other areas, so youre not signing up for a one-trick pony.

If its a project management tool, we want to know how well it helps you create and manage projects. A cloud storage service also has to have excellent security, plenty of storage space and be easy to use.

For video conferencing and instant messaging apps, we care about the quality of the video calls, the level of privacy users have and the external tools you can integrate with the software.

We dont recommend poor quality software, so in addition to providing you with great collaboration tools, theyll also help you in many other areas. Lets get into our software solutions, looking at the pros and cons of each of them.

monday.com is an awesome project management solution with useful collaboration tools.

More details about monday.com:

Pros:

monday.com sits at the peak of the best project management tools pyramid. Thats because it has a range of features that allow multiple users to develop a visual timeline of a project (or multiple projects) and create a range of tasks to support that goal.

Project managers can create and assign tasks to other users, and authorized parties can comment within those tasks about the work that needs doing or to relay any issues that could prevent assigned team members from completing a task.

For traditional project management tools, monday.com offers Gantt charts, kanban boards, a built-in calendar and long-term planning tools. All the tools can be used by multiple users and theyll help you improve performance and collaborate in ways that help move your work forward. If youre a basic user, you can use monday.com as a simple way to manage your to-do lists (and its free).

If your company has remote workers dotted all over the world, monday.com has a map view that allows you to identify where each team member is and what time zone theyre working in. This is useful for managing asynchronous collaboration and finding ways to coordinate schedules when you need to do some synchronous collaboration.

monday.com offers a decent free version and you can trial its paid plans before committing.

Another great thing about monday.com is the number of integrations it offers over 250 in total. This opens the door to sharing files through the likes of Google Drive (read our Google Drive review) and you can also integrate with tools such as Microsoft Teams for seamless communication and collaboration on workflows.

It really is the best all-rounder for multiple applications, which makes it more than just a run-of-the-mill project management tool. If youre intrigued by monday.com, you can try the free plan. If youd like to learn more about it, you can through our monday.com review.

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Trello is the king of the kanban boards.

More details about Trello:

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Trello is another piece of project management software that makes our list. Rather than offering a range of project management features, it focuses on just one kanban and as a result its the best option on the market. Its easily our number one choice of the best kanban software.

One thing we really like about Trello is the amount of information you can log inside tasks. Specifically, there is a folder URL section that allows you to share links to a piece of work. For example, you can input a Google Drive link that will take you directly to a folder that contains a piece of work that team members are working on.

The kanban board gives an excellent step-by-step overview of how well tasks are progressing. Team members and project leaders will always know where you are in the process and you can easily leave comments on tasks if you need to post updates on progress. Trello really is a fantastic tool as it helps everyone understand when its time for them to do their part of the work.

Beyond its simplicity, what we love about Trello is how good the free version is. Even on the free plan, you can assign tasks to other team members and set due dates for each of the tasks.

Whats more, you can use unlimited power-ups (Trellos term for integrations) which allow you to connect with Slack, Gmail and over 200 other options, many of which are great online collaboration tools in their own right.

Trello has an excellent free plan, ideal for small teams.

Although Trello is devoid of Gantt charts and other project management tools, its kanban board is so good that users will likely not miss them.

While the software is great for project management, its communication features also make it a top collaboration platform. By implementing the power-ups, youll see improved team collaboration at all stages of your projects and tasks.

Trellos first-tier paid plan is super affordable too, costing only $5 per user per month. Good value is a trend throughout all the paid plans. To learn more about Trello, check out our full review.

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Sync.com is the best cloud storage provider currently available.

More details about Sync.com:

Pros:

Not only is Sync.com the best cloud storage service for team collaboration, its also the best cloud storage provider for pretty much all other departments. Well begin with what Sync.com really excels at, and highlight how that works to improve team collaboration.

First of all, Sync.com is one of the few cloud storage providers that offers zero-knowledge encryption. Unlike services such as pCloud (check out our pCloud review), you dont need to pay extra for this feature. If your team collaborates on sensitive files, this level of encryption means nobody else will ever get to see them, not even Sync.com employees.

Because of the lack of native productivity tools, some may argue Sync.com isnt the best online collaboration tool in the cloud storage sector, but we disagree. The likes of Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive dont offer anywhere near the level of privacy Sync.com does for your files.

Plus, Sync.com allows you to integrate Microsoft Office 365, so you can collaborate in real time, and there are Adobe tools for creative collaboration projects.

Sync.com is excellent in terms of file sharing and synchronization. As expected, you can access files through multiple devices, including mobile apps, and its also possible to keep certain files online (until you need to download them) so they dont take up space on your computers hard drive. You can also set user permissions to control who can view or edit a specific file.

Sync.coms Teams plan lets users create multiple folders that can be allocated to different teams within your organization. Senior management can set permissions on each of the folders, meaning only authorized team members can access the files. This is a great way to bring order to the tasks youre collaborating on and to enhance the security of the files you create.

On top of its great features, Sync.com also makes its software super affordable.

Although we highly rate Sync.com, were not blind to its weaknesses. Strong privacy means that fewer integrations are available, and its also not the quickest piece of software we have ever used.

Neither of these concerns detract from the fact that its the best cloud storage service and also one of the best online collaboration tools. To learn more about why thats the case, you can try Sync.coms free plan, or check out our Sync.com review.

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Huddle offers a little bit of everything, making it an excellent piece of team collaboration software.

More details about Huddle.com:

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Huddle provides enterprise collaboration software to governments and financial services; however, its a useful collaboration tool for a wide range of industries. Its core feature is document collaboration, though it is also useful for project management and it integrates excellent task management features across all of its plans.

While the task management element of Huddle is basic, it still allows you to create tasks and divide them across three stages: not started, in progress and complete. Traditional team collaboration features like being able to comment and leave feedback on a task are available and theres a basic approval system in place whenever a new document is created or completed.

Users can create workspaces that let you divide tasks, files and documents into different areas and teams. Whats great about this feature is that you can invite external users to a workspace and also prevent them from accessing other areas of your business.

While Huddle isnt the only online collaboration tool to provide integrations, it is one of a few to embed them directly in the software.

Rather than taking you to a new tab to access Office Online tools, you can create documents and collaborate in real time directly inside Huddle. Its a good way to streamline your focus and not have the distraction and confusion of multiple tabs being open at once.

Although its a fantastic tool, wed like it if Huddle provided a free trial of the software.

Top collaboration tools tend to offer free trials of their software, so you can try it before making a commitment. Frustratingly, Huddle doesnt do this, though you can request a walk through demo with the sales team.

Thats why its important to do as much research as possible and learn about every aspect of the software before signing up for an account. We can help you with that, and we encourage you to read our full Huddle review.

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Slack is one of the most popular communication tools available.

More details about Slack:

Pros:

Slack is the go-to communication and collaboration solution for a wide range of sectors. Its so commonly used that some may think there are no Slack alternatives, which isnt the case. That said, because of its ease of use and reliable features, its no surprise that companies turn to Slack for internal communication before other services.

Slack allows you to create multiple communication channels. This allows a team to collaborate and communicate on a specific project without members from other teams being part of the conversation. You can also tag individual team members in your messages, so they and the rest of the team can ascertain who the message is for.

In addition to group messaging, you can create private messages between two or more users. The functionality above applies to all private messages and you can send prerecorded video and voice notes. These can be used to further explain more complex tasks, which is especially important for remote teams who can never have in-person meetings.

Sharing files in a group or direct message is super easy when using Slack. A quick tap of the + button and youre presented with a range of ways to share files. You can share them directly from your computer or from cloud services like Google Drive and Dropbox (read our Dropbox review).

There are also some other Google Workspace tools available, so you can share calendar events, which is cool.

Slack offers a free tier, as well as three paid plans.

Slack also has the ability to let you do audio and video calling. Theyre not the best and we experienced dropped calls a little too much for our liking, but they suffice for quick interactions.

The software is also quite pricey, which may put off those on a tight budget. If you want something similar to Slack where you can also hold online meetings, we suggest checking out our Pumble review.

Issues aside, Slack is perfect for instant messaging and sharing ideas, plus its intuitive interface means first-time users wont struggle with using the platform. Factor in the range of integrations and you begin to understand why so many companies use Slack. To learn more about how you can get the most out of Slack, check out our selection of the best apps for Slack.

Like most Google apps, Google Meet is easy to access and even easier to use.

More details about Google Meet:

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The need to find the best video conferencing tools has dramatically increased in recent times. Zoom was the breakout star; however, when compared side by side, we think Google Meet is the better option. You can easily access a meeting through the web application, and free users dont need a Google Workspace subscription to participate in a call.

You can have a one-hour video meeting on the free plan, which is 20 minutes longer than Zoom. However, its the paid plans that catapult Google Meet to the top of the charts. Whether you want to verbally assign tasks in small team meetings or share ideas through live conferences,

Google Meet makes it easy by allowing up to 500 attendees per call. Its also possible to have breakout sessions and divide attendees into smaller teams, so they can focus on a specific task or topic of conversation.

One downside to video conferencing is that important details can get missed. Google Meet counters this by offering automated video recording (paid plans only), which authorized members can access should they need to refresh their memories.

With regard to call and video quality, Google Meet lets you hold meetings in high quality, and you can also connect to an external webcam and microphone should you wish to enhance both the video and audio experience for other people taking part in the meeting.

As is common in the era of remote work, many users go to public spaces to work online. Its not always possible to avoid external noise and distractions, even at home or in the office.

With Google Meet you can activate noise cancellation, which will drastically reduce background noise coming from your end. This makes life much easier for those on the other side of the call and ensures that no important information is lost.

Google Meets paid plans also include other apps from Google Workspace.

Because paid plans are part of Google Workspace, you also get access to other Google cloud-based solutions like Drive, Docs, Sheets and Gmail all rolled into one account. This is excellent if you love Google, but pretty useless if you dont.

For those who do, Google Meet will cement your commitment to Google-based apps. If you dont want any part of that, you can check out some Google Meet alternatives.

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NetApp Earns Price Target Bumps By Analysts Who Are Bullish On Cloud Growth – Benzinga

NetApp, IncNTAPclocked 9% revenuegrowth in Q1 to $1.59 billion, beating the consensus. Non-GAAP EPS of $1.20 topped the consensus. The Q2 outlook was in-line with the guidance.

Raymond Jamesanalyst Simon Leopoldmaintained an Outperformand $105 price target (up from $94) on NetApp following the Q1 beat and raise report.

Public cloud ARR came in above expectations, with a slightly higher outlook when excluding FX impacts, and this should alleviate investor concerns, Leopold mentioned in his Thursday note.

Further, gross margin should improve in 2H as memory pricing improves and premiums for specific constrained components come down, the analyst added.

Barclaysanalyst Tim Long maintained an Overweight and raised the price target from $88 to $95. The Q1 results showed positive momentum led by better Public Cloud ARR and a more robust operating margin.

Citianalyst Jim Suva reiterated a Buy and price target of $120. The results supported his optimistic view.

Suva continues to see NetApp gaining share and, importantly, as Cloud is 8-10% of the company's sales and growing its mix about 1% each quarter, and this is margin-accretive he sees lasting for several years.

The analyst expects NetApp to continue to benefit from the growth of cloud storage and the multi-cloud optionality that many customers desire.

Wells Fargoreiterated a Hold with a price target of $85. NetApp delivered Q1 results better than his expectations, driven by continued broad-based demand strength, despite ongoing supply challenges and FX headwinds.

The company reiterated FY guidance, reflecting an embedded upward revision offset by more significant than initially expected FX headwinds.

NetApp continues to see healthy customer engagement and demand trends driven by priority investments in digital and Cloud transformation, the analyst wrote.

Given the uncertain macro environment and increasing FX headwinds, he continues to be cautious and is now modeling NetApp's FY revenue growth slightly below the low end of the company's guide.

Price Action:NTAP shares traded higher by 6.62% at $77.64 on the last check Thursday.

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IDrive e2 Accelerates Global Expansion with New Storage Regions in Canada, England, France, and Germany – PR Newswire

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --IDrive Backup has added new edge locations for IDrive e2 in Montreal, London, Paris, and Frankfurt, continuing to expand and offer customers all over the world an opportunity to utilize one of the fastest and most affordable S3-compatible cloud object storage solutions.

Since the inception of IDrive e2, there has been plenty of international demand for the service, prompting IDrive to continue to add data centers across the globe. These new data centers are the first IDrive e2 has launched in these countries, drastically improving speeds for Canadian and European users when uploading their data.

This enables users to point their data to the edge center closest to them for a faster network and ease of access, as well as retrieve their data based on their convenience. Data can be accessed via the IDrive e2 web console or any S3 Compatible client such as MSP360, Veeam, Cyberduck, Rclone, Fastly, iconik, Arq, QNAP, Synology, Arcserve, Duplicati, WinSCP, NovaBackup or S3 Browser.

With the addition of the new international locations, IDrive e2 now has a total of 13 locations worldwide including 8 locations in the United States, giving users around the world access to a high-performance cloud object storage service.

"We are proud to be expanding e2 across new international locations," said Raghu Kulkarni, CEO of IDrive Inc. "As customers are looking for better performance and more cost effective alternatives, e2 meets those requirements and much more. Now any customer, partner or reseller within the EU can leverage IDrive e2, which is important for sensitive industries as e2 provides features that help organizations meet GDPR requirements."

IDrive e2 offers true affordability with the first 10GB free and pricing starting at $0.004/GB/month. IDrive e2 costs 80% less than AWS S3 offering no fees for ingress or egress.

About IDrive

IDriveInc. is a privately held company specializing in cloud storage, online backup, file sharing, remote access, compliance and related technologies. Core services include IDrive, RemotePC and IBackup.The company's services help over 4 million customers back up over 500 Petabytes of data.

SOURCE IDrive Inc.

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Swann Releases the AllSecure600 Series Wireless Security Kits With Offline Recording and Free Clip Storage – GlobeNewswire

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Swann, the leader in Do-It-Yourself security products for over three decades, releases the AllSecure600 Series Wireless Security Kits. These security kits blend high-definition 2K wireless cameras with a sleek Tower Hub for local storage. Standout features of these new security systems include an offline option where video can be seen on a TV via HDMI cable and an ability to record without the need for the internet.

The model numbers areSWNVK-600SD2 ($449.99), SWNVK-600SD3 ($499.99), SONVK-600SD4 ($579.99). In Europe, the SWNVK-600SD2-EU kit will be available for 399.99.

In a world where many big security brands are now charging you to store your clips, Swann offers free storage on all its models. The newly launched products come with up to two months of rolling video storage on the included 64GB Micro SD Card plus cloud backup.

The AllSecure600 Series security kits include100% Wire-Free cameras with the flexibility to move where needed most, making installation easy. Each camera comes with a removable, rechargeable battery, so once installed, the cameras do not have to be taken cameras down; just recharge the battery like a phone and put it back in the camera. These cameras are also decked out with some of Swann's signature features, such asTrue Detect Heat & and motion-sensing for more reliable alerts, weatherproofing, andtwo-way audio to greet guests or warn Night2Day Color Night Vision, and controllable spotlights and sirens to help deter intruders. TheTower Hub stitches footage together with quick playback and comes with local and optional cloud storage.

The system has SwannNet to help you connect with the best available Wi-Fi signal for each camera. The wireless cameras in the AllSecure600 can operate in two different modes. The default mode is AP, where each camera connects to the Tower Hub wirelessly. It does this using Wi-Fi Direct (a standard that allows two or more devices to establish a connection without needing a Wi-Fi access point or router). The other mode is Mesh. This allows each camera to connect to your Wi-Fi network independent of the Hub, giving you flexibility on where you can mount cameras without signal degradation. If the house is large, Wi-Fi extenders can provide better coverage over a larger space.

The AllSecure600 kits work onthe Swann Security App on Apple and Android. Currently, the Swann Security App has a 4.6-star rating out of 26,000 (the USA only), 75,000 (Global) reviews in the Apple App Store (https://apple.co/3aPOfut), and a 4.6-star rating out of72.9K reviews Google Play reviews (https://bit.ly/3odyAIr). With Swann's security products, there is no initial subscription fee, but additional features are available withSwann Secure+ plans.

"This solution is for people who want a security system that combines the best wireless and wired in one. It is a good starting point for choosing a system that can be used in conjunction with other Swann products," said Mike Lucas, CEO of Swann.

Find the AllSecure600 Series Kits at Swann.com, Sam's Club, Walmart, and Lowe's.

ABOUT SWANN:Swann has been in the security business for 35 years. As the worldwide leader of wired, DIY security solutions, Swann helps its customers protect their homes, businesses, and garages no matter where life takes them. Founded in Melbourne, Australia, Swann creates innovative DIY security solutions. Swann is the only brand that offers a complete lineup of inter-connectable wired and wireless security solutions via the Swann Security app, wholly integrated with Hey Google and Alexa. Follow Swann across social media for the latest products and news:Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

MEDIA CONTACT:Tiffany@presspassla.com

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Lock-in a FREE $50 Amazon gift card with 1-yr. of Microsoft 365 for today only at $93 ($200 value) – 9to5Toys

Today only, as part of its Gold Box Deals of the Day, Amazon is offering a notable gift card offer alongside subscriptions to Microsoft 365 Family. You can now land a 12-month sub alongside a $50 Amazon gift card for $92.95 shipped. Regularly $150 without the added bonus, this is up to $107 in savings and a great time to land a year of Microsofts 365 on PC for Mac for the whole family. It includes a year of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, apps many folks rely on for work and school, with access for as many as six people alongside 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage. Just keep in mind, this subscription will auto-renew so be sure to manually cancel it if youre not looking to go for another year. The gift card here has no expiration date as well so you can hang on to it until Black Friday or optimize your savings on that item you might be waiting to drop in price. Head below for additional details.

While you wont score the bonus Amazon credit, a more affordable solution for solo users is the Microsoft 365 Personal package. This one comes in at $59 in digital form on Amazon with the same app and cloud storage access but, as the name suggests, only includes access for a single user.

If youre looking for a new machine to runs these apps on, youll definitely want to at least scope out the ongoing offers we spotted on Apples 14- and 16-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pros. Now with the venerable MagSafe plug back in service, theres up to $300 in savings to be had on various configurations right now alongside more than enough power to run all of the Microsoft apps on sale above and then some. Just be sure to browse through our Apple hub for additional laptops, desktops, and iPads that are currently marked down right now.

Subscribe to the 9to5Toys YouTube Channel for all of the latest videos, reviews, and more!

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Excessive Cloud Spending is Proving to be a Problem for Half of Businesses – Digital Information World

Data storage methods have advanced to the point where cloud technology is rapidly turning into the global standard, but in spite of the fact that this is the case it appears that many businesses are struggling with the expenses that cloud migration can incur. Rising volatility in the economy is making things worse because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up making cloud data storage requirements hard to predict with any degree of certainty.

According to this report that was just put out by Anodot, just under half of businesses, or 49% to be precise, are having a hard time managing their cloud spending. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that cloud waste is cited as a major factor in excessive spending by 54% of businesses that participated in this survey. Additionally, 44% of top level executives opined that their companies waste about a third of their cloud budgets for the year.

Cloud architecture that uses a multitude of tools to manage the environment are also causing wastage according to 59% of respondents. Furthermore, 73% stated that their organizations are increasing cloud capacity which can make decisions harder in the long run.

Cloud computing can be revolutionary, but low levels of clarity are impeding this techs ability to improve data storage for organizations. Ad hoc implementation is a huge source of concern, and more work needs to be done to streamline the industry and create a consensus regarding the best practices.

Read next:Enforcing Data Privacy Can Increase Revenues According to This Survey

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Snowflake Soars on Blockbuster Results — Is the Stock a Buy? – The Motley Fool

Technology stocks have taken it on the chin in recent months, as "tech" became a dirty word, causing investors to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Many cloud computing stocks were caught up in the fray as macroeconomic tailwinds served to stifle the growth of many up-and-coming disruptors.

Not so for Snowflake (SNOW 23.07%). The company provides cloud storage but goes even further, helping companies gather, integrate, and analyze the information, providing meaningful and actionable insights from data on its platform.

Its quarterly results proved once again why the company is a special little Snowflake.

For its fiscal 2023 second quarter (ended July 31), Snowflake reported revenue of $497 million, up 83% year over year, on top of 103% growth in the prior-year quarter. The company's remaining performance obligation (RPO) -- which represents contractually obligated revenue that hasn't yet been billed -- grew to $2.7 billion, up 78%. This suggests that the company's current growth spurt will continue.

Profitability is still a ways off, as the company had a loss per share of $0.70. However, Snowflake generated strong and growing free cash flow of $54 million, which suggests that its losses are a result on noncash items including depreciation. Furthermore, it suggests that it's just a matter of time before the company generates meaningful profits.

The results were a mixed bag in terms of expectations, as analysts' consensus estimates called for revenue of $467 million and a loss per share of $0.56.

At the same time, its impressive customer metrics highlight Snowflake's massive and ongoing potential. The company grew its customer base to 6,808, up 36% year over year, but those spending $1 million or more over the preceding 12 months grew 112%. And existing customers tend to spend more over time, as evidenced by the company's world-class net revenue retention rate of 171%.

Perhaps more important to investors -- particularly in an environment marked by macroeconomic headwinds -- Snowflake put its money where its mouth is, issuing a solid outlook for the third quarter. The company is guiding for product revenue in a range of $500 million to $505 million, representing growth of 61% year over year at the midpoint of its guidance.

Snowflake also raised its full-year outlook, guiding for revenue of $1.91 billion at the midpoint, up from its prior forecast that called for revenue of about $1.893 billion.

Its blockbuster financial results aside, there are plenty of other reasons to add Snowflake to your buy list.

An incredible 100% of its customers recommend the company, the fifth consecutive year it has achieved this benchmark, according to Dresner.

Snowflake was selected as a Customers' Choice, according to GartnerPeer Insights, receiving 4.6 out of 5 stars. Furthermore, the company was identified as a leader in Gartner's vaunted Magic Quadrant for cloud database management systems.

If that weren't enough, there's also the massive opportunity the company is addressing. Snowflake is targeting a total addressable market that management estimates will reach $248 billion by 2026.

Just to be clear, all this robust growth and future potential doesn't come cheap, at least in terms of traditional valuation metrics. Snowflake is currently selling at 19 times next year's sales, when a reasonable price-to-sales ratio is between 1 and 2. However, given the company's consistently high revenue growth, that's a cheap price to pay, relatively speaking. Furthermore, with the stock price currently down roughly 53% off its recent highs, investors have the opportunity to get all that growth at a discount.

Given the company's improving financial metrics, consistently strong customer adoption, and the massive opportunity ahead, the evidence suggests that Snowflake stock is an unqualified buy.

Danny Vena has positions in Snowflake Inc. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Snowflake Inc. The Motley Fool recommends Gartner. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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This is Not Your Fathers VPN – Security Boulevard

To many, VPNs seem unremarkable and havent changed much in the past decade. A VPN is a VPN is a VPN. Some even think that VPNs are hardly necessary with the rise of building encryption directly into email, browsers, applications and cloud storage. The reality is thatespecially for small and medium businesses (SMBs)VPNs are still vital; they can and should take on additional responsibilities to meet the challenges of a largely remote workforce and the increasing amount of IT resources and infrastructure residing in the public cloud.

In todays challenging and ever-changing environment, modern VPNs are less about point-to-point encrypted tunnels and more about enabling a new kind of networking to secure employees and other users, regardless of where they are located, and protecting cloud-hosted resources, ranging from SaaS applications and services to storage. In essence, this represents a shift to a cloud VPN that ensures secure access and provides necessary controls while also enabling agility and scalability. The internet is the network, but a cloud VPN is a secure, virtual, private network within it.

For many companies, the idea of a traditional corporate network is long gone. Even enterprises with sizable physical offices may no longer offer anything resembling a local area or wide area network. Most simply have internet access points. Even peripherals, such as printers, may be connected directly to the internet. Some companies have most or all of their employees working remotely and, for them, the network is comprised of each individuals internet connection. Some companies no longer have physical office locations at all and, instead, rely on shared workspace locations as needed. Again, the network is wherever these might be. At the same time, for a growing list of companies, all systems, applications and storage are in the public cloud.

The new cloud reality calls for a rethinking of VPNs that shifts from connections from discrete pointsoffices, private data centers and remote access VPNsto new cloud networks tailored to each organization that encompass all access points and all resources. Such cloud VPNs also leave hardware behind, including expensive and complex MPLS, and are fully cloud-delivered. Similarly, they are not an add-on to endpoint computer security suites or corporate firewalls. They can be fully automated and far easier to set up and maintain.

Despite providing scale and flexibility, these new cloud VPNs can improve the level of security much more than in past generations. One way is through the use of static IP addresses. IP addresses should mainly be static to provide deterministic knowledge of who is going where, enabling necessary access controls and logging or audit trails. Previously, fixed IP addresses were considered to limit flexibility and cause expense, but now, as cloud-delivered capabilities, fixed IP addresses can be implemented quickly, affordably and at scale.

Having fixed IP addresses is also important for providing identity-based access controls and creating zero-trust type environments. Zero-trust has been difficult for most SMBs to achieve due to its complexity and the time and cost required to create and maintain it. Through a cloud VPN, zero-trust network access can be implemented at the application and network layers rather than having to depend on gateway-based architectures or microsegmentation. Conditional access and rules can be implemented and high levels of authentication and authorization maintained. Proper logging enables compliance with stringent regulations, such as GDPR or U.S. state-specific laws and to achieve necessary certifications, such as SOC 2. A cloud VPN could provide the means for verification, concealment, monitoring and containmentall four aspects of zero-trust network access.

Another important element to consider is the use of a cloud VPN as the means to implement a software-defined perimeter that can hide and protect all traffic within it. Rather than just simple point-to-point tunneling, the cloud VPN provides a virtualized, encrypted network to connect all users to systems, data and resources with new levels of determinism, trust and control. In some cases, some specific cloud resources or systems may be whitelisted to enable additional security or access controls with rules or policies. IP whitelisting can significantly reduce the attack surface and risk associated with unauthorized access, particularly when users have static IP addresses. In this case, a cloud VPN can take on the centralized role for IP whitelisting, removing it from specific hardwaresuch as firewalls, edge routers or serversor from each application. IP whitelisting can also provide better security and control of IoT devices.

The notion of a VPN being outdated, table stakes or no longer needed is based on an outdated view of what VPNs were in the past. New cloud VPNs are built on legacy technology to help organizations embrace new challenges while providing the economics, agility and scale of the cloud. Cloud VPNs are not at all your fathers VPN but the means for manyespecially SMBsto advance their security, compliance and infrastructure agility.

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Hackers may have breached medical billing records of nearly 1 million CNY patients – syracuse.com

Syracuse, N.Y. -- The medical billing records of nearly 1 million Central New York patients may have been obtained by hackers.

Practice Resources LLC, a company that provides billing services for dozens of hospitals and medical providers, said hackers may have obtained names, home address, dates of treatment and internal account numbers of more than 924,000 patients.

No private medical information, credit card numbers or Social Security numbers were exposed, said David Barletta, chief executive officer of Practice Resources. Practice Resources required public notice said there was no evidence that information was misused as a result of this incident. The company is providing for free a year of online cybersecurity protection for all affected patients.

Practice Resources bills about $450 million annually for its clients, Barletta said. The data breach affected the records of patients of at least 28 Central New York medical providers, including bedrock institutions like St. Josephs, Crouse and Upstate Community hospitals; the Salvation Army; and the sprawling Family Care Medical Group. (See full list below.)

The breach also includes billing records of physical therapists, pediatricians, gynecologists and orthopedic surgeons.

Family Care Medical Group lost all of its laboratory data and had to shut down its lab for months while rebuilding the computer system, said the groups chief executive officer, Dr. Mitchell Brodey. Lab work was sent to another laboratory in the meantime.

We just reopened a week ago, Brodey said.

Family Care is owned by the same doctors group that owns Practice Resources.

The billing company was hit by a ransomware attack in April, and it took months to determine which patient accounts had been accessed. In a ransomware attack, hackers lock down or hide information in a computer system and demand a ransom to release it.

Barletta said he could not say whether Practice Resources paid a ransom to free the data.

Due to the ongoing investigation, were not allowed to discuss that, he said.

Barletta said Practice Resources hired a forensic team to scout patient data and see what might have been taken.

There was no evidence that any patient information was accessed, including Social Security numbers, he said.

Barletta said the state Attorney Generals office is investigating the hacking and whether Practice Resources data security was adequate. Wegmans supermarket chain was recently fined $400,000 by the attorney generals office for lax cloud storage that exposed the data of more than 3 million customers.

The Practice Resources breach happened April 12, but patients are just now receiving letters. Barletta said the forensic investigation was time-consuming, and figuring out which patients accounts had been hacked, and contacting each medical practice, took months.

If you havent received a letter but think your data might be at risk, you can call 1-866-667-1465, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays.

The Syracuse City School District and Onondaga County Public Library were hit by ransomware attacks in 2019. It took weeks to restore the systems.

Heres the list of medical providers whose patients records might have been affected by the Practice Resources breach:

Achieve Physical Therapy, PC

CNY Obstetrics and Gynecology, P.C.

Community Memorial Hospital, Inc

Crouse Health Hospital, Inc

Crouse Medical Practice PLLC

Family Care Medical Group, PC

Fitness Forum Physical Therapy, PC

FLH Medical PC

Guidone Physical Therapy, PC

Hamilton Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine

Helendale Dermatological and Medical Spa, PLLC

Kudos Medical, PLLC

Laboratory Alliance of Central New York, LLC

Liverpool Physical Therapy, PC

Michael J Paciorek, MD PC

Nephrology Associates of Watertown, PC

Nephrology Hypertension Associates of CNY, PC

Orthopedics East, PC

Salvation Army

Soldiers & Sailors Memorial HospitalPhysician Practices

St. Josephs Medical

Surgical Care West, PLLC

Syracuse Endoscopy Associates, LLC

Syracuse Gastroenterological Associates, PC

Syracuse Pediatrics

Tully Physical Therapy

Upstate Community Medical, PC

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6 Alternative Authentication Methods For Your Online Customers – Security Boulevard

Many marketing campaigns focus on ways to engage customers and make them stick around. But theres a thing lurking behind cyber criminals.

With the rise of eCommerce, crypto wallets, and the time people have to spend on the internet, its more important than ever for businesses to focus on security. One way to do this is by implementing foolproof authentication methods for online customers.

Providing alternative authentication methods will not only make your site more secure but will also give your customers peace of mind knowing that their information is well-protected.

This blog will break down popular authentication methods to consider.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty details, its crucial to understand why you should start offering alternative authentication methods in the first place. Here are some reasons why you should consider implementing them:

Passwords are indeed the most common means of user authentication. But, now the technology has progressed to a point where passwords are no longer considered the safest option.

They have become quite easy to crack and are often the weak link in an otherwise strong security system.

A recent study by Juniper Research found that cybercriminals will steal 33 billion records in 2023 alone. Clearly, data breaches are becoming more and more common, and theyre also becoming more expensive.

Fraudsters could reach as high as $68 billion globally in 2022. This is a huge problem that businesses need to be aware of so that they can earn digital trust.

Alternative authentication methods can help prevent fraud by deterring malicious actors and making it more difficult for them to access sensitive information.

If youre in a regulated industry, then you likely already know that you need to comply with certain security standards. For example, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of requirements for businesses that process, store, or transmit credit card information.

Similarly, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a set of regulations for businesses that handle protected health information (PHI). If youre in the healthcare industry, then you need to take steps to ensure that your systems are HIPAA-compliant.

While alternative authentication methods may not be required by these regulations, they can certainly help you comply with them.

Now that weve established the importance of offering alternative authentication methods, lets take a look at some of the most popular options.

One of the most common and effective authentication methods is multi-factor authentication (MFA).

MFA essentially adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide more than one piece of evidence, or factor, to verify their identity.

This could include a password, as well as a code thats sent to the users mobile phone or email address.

Another popular authentication method is SMS-based authentication, which uses text messages to verify a users identity. This type of authentication is often used in conjunction with other methods, such as MFA.

Biometric authentication is another great option for businesses looking to add an extra layer of security.

This type of authentication uses physical or behavioral characteristics, such as a fingerprint, face, or iris scan, to verify a users identity.

Mobile tokens are another effective authentication method that uses a physical device, such as a phone, to generate a one-time code thats used for logging in to an account.

This type of authentication is often used by businesses that require a high level of security, such as banks, eCommerce sites, and cloud storage providers.

Social authentication is a relatively new method of authentication that uses social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter to verify a users identity.

So, when you see the option to log in with Facebook on a website, thats social authentication in action. Just like SMS-based authentication, social authentication is also often used in conjunction with other methods, such as MFA.

Compared to other authentication methods, FIDO authentication is a bit more technical. It uses public-key cryptography to verify a users identity and doesnt require the use of passwords. Instead, users authenticate themselves using a physical device, such as a USB key or security token.

What the user needs to do is simply plug the device into their computer and enter their PIN. This type of authentication is more secure than traditional passwords and is quickly becoming the new standard in user authentication.

Now that youre familiar with some of the most popular alternative authentication methods, its time to decide which one is right for your business.

The best way to do this is to consider your businesss needs and objectives. For example, if youre looking for a more secure authentication method, you might want to consider MFA, biometric authentication, or FIDO authentication.

On the other hand, if youre looking for a simpler and more user-friendly authentication method, SMS-based authentication or social authentication might be a better fit.

Ultimately, the decision comes down to what you feel is best for your business. Whichever authentication method you choose, just make sure its one that will give your customers the peace of mind and security they deserve.

Its also important to keep in mind that no single authentication method is perfect. The best way to keep your site secure is to use a combination of methods. This will make it more difficult for hackers to gain access to your site and ensure that your customers data is safe.

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