Information security is a top priority in today’s world, and companies now have their employees undergo special training in order to stay up-to-date with the latest standards and techniques. The risks of getting hacked are greater than ever before, and the stakes are extremely high, making information system security crucial for your company’s survival.

Why Is Information Security Important In This Day and Age?

Ensuring your company’s privacy and security pays off in many ways. For starters, you prevent major financial losses and conserve your reputation. Having properly protected systems reduces the chance of your organization having to deal with negative media attention.

If your system is forced to shut down, the time and energy to get everything up and working again decreases productivity, drains resources, and incurs heavy costs for repairs.

Examining Your Information Security Practices: Tips and Tricks

Here are five key measurements indicating how secure your data is, which will allow you to maintain your information system security at all times.

Measurement #1: Password Protection

Create complex passwords that would be impossible to guess even by someone who knows you, and for each employee. The best password policies require employees to use numbers, symbols, capital letters, and special characters in their passwords.

Only the IT department should know what passwords employees are using. This may seem obvious, but uninformed employees have been known to share their passwords with each other. So make sure they know this is strictly against company policy.

Measurement #2: Security Software

Another way to measure the security of one’s information is by looking for malicious software on company computers. It is a common misconception that having antivirus software is enough to keep your information safe. The truth of the matter is that there are numerous viruses and types of malware out there, which antivirus programs can’t pick up on. This leaves many organizations susceptible to malicious attacks. To overcome this problem, companies also employ other methods, such as spam filters, firewalls, data encryption, and email gateways, which, together, provide much more protection.

Measurement #3: Privileged Access Management (PAM)

Privileged Access Management (PAM) is an information system security mechanism safeguarding special access and controls delegated to a small group of trusted individuals. Like all privacy and security solutions, PAM is highly selective in its choice of people, processes, and technology, and it exerts better control over the few individuals selected with privileged access and permissions.

It may seem obvious but it is actually quite common for an organization to mistakenly allow too many people to administer special privileges, making it harder to control who has access to what, leaving the company’s data more vulnerable to external attacks from malicious software.

It is therefore imperative that an organization limits its employees’ access to certain information while maintaining total control over the few users with special permissions.

Measurement #4: Penetration Testing

Also known as a pen test, this measures one’s information system security, by directly trying to penetrate it with a special test. The test essentially gauges how strong an organization’s protections are by analyzing how they hold up against a malicious attack. Any vulnerabilities identified in the test allow an organization to see what issues they need to resolve, and they also inspire a sense of urgency for action to be taken before it’s too late. It is common practice to run penetration tests at least twice a year.

Measurement #5: Backup And Disaster Recovery Testing

Backup testing gives an organization insight into how vulnerable they are to losing vital data in the event of a disaster, such as hardware failure, a system breakdown, network disruption, or a cyberattack.

It goes without saying that backups should be carried out through automated systems and performed on a regular basis, but you also need to know that everything backed up can be recovered, only then can you evaluate the extent of their protection.

Your business needs to be sure that all backed-up files, folders, databases, and volumes have been properly secured on a storage volume, and that they can be seamlessly restored should disaster strike and potentially damage the whole IT system. At the same time, because retrieving the entirety of your data is an exhaustive process, you also want to run some smaller tests to recover specific files that might have been deleted or corrupted.

Checking that off-site data stored in the cloud or through SaaS systems can also be recovered in the worst-case scenario, of say, your backup storage volumes have suffered irreparable damages.

Overall, a business, company, or organization is as good as its data, which means that its survival depends on ensuring the best protection at all times and that no matter what happens, its system can be recovered. Put into such simple terms, it’s easy to see that information security is an integral part of any company’s business operation.

Get your organization up to speed with these five effective ways to measure whether or not your data protection meets industry standards. Only then can you ensure the privacy and security of your data against any kind of threat, both intentional and accidental.

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. We are a premier software and mobile app development agency specializing in healthcare mobile app development, custom mobile app development, telehealth software, sales dashboards, custom mobile app development services, retail software development, supply-chain software, ecommerce, shopify, web design, iBeacon apps, security solutions and unified access software.

We are proud partners with Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a favorite topic of science fiction writers and moviemakers for decades. It is seen as the harbinger of an apocalyptic world where robots enslave the human race. The reality is far from that, because as we’ve seen, if anything, AI helps improve our lives and businesses.

It goes without saying that the goal of artificial intelligence is to make our lives easier and more dynamic. It could be used for simple decision-making or to solve highly complex issues. No matter what kind of business one may have, there are chances for it to benefit from incorporating some form of AI into its operations either now or in the near future. This article will explain how mobile app developers can leverage artificial intelligence today with examples taken from some of our own projects.

Why AI is Increasingly Being Incorporated Into Mobile Apps

Before getting into the details, let’s try to understand some basics first. We will use a very simple example to explain how artificial intelligence in mobile apps can work. Let’s say we have a mobile app that tracks user locations and shares them with other devices in the vicinity for a multiplayer gaming experience or some collaboration purpose. For this, we need a way to share information between multiple devices so they can all update their views of the data in real-time.

Let’s assume for now that we are using one of the more traditional technologies like Bluetooth or WiFi Direct. The exact way in which information is shared between devices depends on the developer and the particular technology being used. However, no matter what the technology, there is a simple rule: for two devices to be able to share information they need to be within range of each other and Bluetooth-enabled. This is an example of a physical limitation that we can call a dependency.

We also have software dependencies. It may be necessary for the app to have an internet connection for it to work. This is a software dependency because even if all pixels in our screen are turned off it doesn’t mean the app has stopped working – its functions will still fail when they try to access web data sources.

A third category of dependencies is behavioral. In our Bluetooth example, imagine that it isn’t possible to turn on Bluetooth from within the app without restarting it first. This is now not a physical or a software dependency but a behavioral one enforced by the app’s architecture.

Of course, all of these dependencies can be managed by developers and may have to be taken into consideration when designing and writing code. But, what if we could cut the number of dependencies and write a mobile app that was completely independent? The answer to this question is artificial intelligence!

What does AI Mean for Mobile Developers

Mobile developers often have to face problems with dependencies during their work. AI will allow developers to do the following:

• Reduce code size.
• Improve testability and stability of the app.
• Eliminate dependencies between software components.

Types of Artificial Intelligence

Since we have already touched upon this topic, let’s now try to understand what type of AI is relevant for us as mobile developers. There are two types that we need to know about: Weak and Strong AI. As you expect, weak AI refers to something that is not very intelligent, and strong AI refers to something that is closer to human-level intelligence, at least in specific areas.

Weak AI and Mobile App Development

The good news for developers is that we don’t need strong AI in order to enjoy the many benefits offered by such advanced technology. The first area where we can use weak AI is user personalization. After all, it’s a known fact that every time a user runs your app they will have different needs and will interact with your app in a different way!

Your job as a developer is to find ways to adapt your app to each user. We can do this by performing simple tasks such as asking users for their name and age, location, and gender. While this may seem like a trivial example it is useful because we can make sure that the information we receive from these questions allows us to show the user personalized content – i.e., something specific to them – within our app. However, you might want to go further than this and create personalized experiences according to each user’s interests.

Another use is to provide automated responses during phone calls. If a user takes a picture within our app and then calls customer service, we can provide personalized, automated responses during the phone call. We can do this by using Natural Language Processing (NLP) so that we can receive, process, and respond to questions from users in a more efficient way.

Here’s a special example: a user calls and says “My battery is low. What can I do?”, the NLP feature in our app will automatically provide an answer such as “You can recharge your device” or “Or you can turn on Airplane Mode”. This not only improves user experience but also reduces costs for our company since we don’t have to hire people to give such simple but personalized responses in a phone call.

Another example of using NLP is to provide answers for FAQ pages. Instead of providing static answers, we can use an algorithm that will process user requests and provide them with a personalized answer. Of course, giving users the ability to ask questions related to features within our app will help us provide better customer service.

Lastly, we can use weak AI to optimize the user interface of our app. If we decide that we want to use a hamburger menu in our app we can ask NLP to determine the best way of positioning it. In fact, since this is a very common feature within mobile apps it would be worth asking several users to try our app and see where they click the most. This will help us to optimize the positioning of our hamburger menu.

Mobile App Development using Strong AI

Cute living emojis are one of the main reasons why people love using apps such as Snapchat and Instagram. Creating hundreds of emojis isn’t very easy for companies to do, mainly because such a task requires the muscle of a huge team and lots of resources.

Snapchat has allowed users to generate custom selfies which were then turned into animated emojis. In other words, instead of hiring an army of designers and animators to add animations to the pictures sent from their app, Snapchat simply used AI algorithms and had these tasks performed automatically.

In another example, researchers from Adobe have created an algorithm that can create realistic images of people’s faces. While this may not seem like a big deal, it can be very important for certain companies that want to use images of people within their apps. If we are creating an app that allows users to share content related to celebrities then being able to create realistic images would be extremely useful.

This is just one type of algorithm available. There are hundreds of others, including those designed for object recognition, text generation, and robotics.

Mobile App Development Will Not Turn Back from AI

There is no doubt that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be used by companies to create new and innovative mobile apps in the near future. We can use AI to improve search engines, automate content creation and even design the user interface of our app.

The main obstacle now is not the technology’s capabilities, but that very few people know how to use them. In fact, unless you have a degree related to computer science or mathematics then learning AI is going to be extremely difficult.

The good news is that there are many companies out there specializing in creating mobile apps powered by AI. These companies will hire deep learning experts to manufacture user-friendly apps so you can start harnessing AI’s magic all by yourself.

Future of Mobile Apps

Day by day we see an ever-growing number of developers embracing the use of AI to create mobile apps, optimize their workflows, reduce costs and boost productivity. As AI produces more advanced mobile apps and becomes more accessible to the ordinary user, we will begin to see a radical transformation of the world we live in, just by using our phones.

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. We are a premier software and mobile app development agency specializing in healthcare mobile app development, custom mobile app development, telehealth software, sales dashboards, custom mobile app development services, retail software development, supply-chain software, ecommerce, shopify, web design, iBeacon apps, security solutions and unified access software.

We are proud partners with Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the talk of the town as more and more businesses are using it to achieve their business goals. We see AI being used in almost every industry now, from healthcare to banking and tourism. It’s no surprise that AI will continue to dominate the tech world, and transform the way businesses operate, as well as improving customer experience.

Why Is Personalization Important for Customers?

If you have a retail store that deals in luxuries, then the chances of your customers being wealthy are extremely high. Now, wouldn’t it be great if your users receive personal attention from their own stylist while they are browsing the store? This way they feel special and are more likely to make a purchase.

The same concept is followed in mobile apps where users receive attention from a personalized artificial intelligence attending to their individual needs. 

For instance, if you have an eCommerce app that sells both online and offline products, then it will be great if the mobile app highlights the offline products when users visit their local store or pop-up stalls. The chances of users purchasing your brand again will increase if they receive bespoke customer service and an overall rewarding experience, which is exactly what personalized artificial intelligence aims to do.

AI Apps Are Here to Save the Day!

Nowadays we see AI being used in almost every industry and mobile apps are no exception. Personalization is the key to success for brands which means that businesses need a way through which they can customize content based on their users’ preferences. This process of customization is done by deploying Machine Learning algorithms on Personalized Content Management Systems (PCMS).

In simple terms, a PCMS is a system that allows you to create content for users based on their interests and preferences. The Personalized Content Management System undertakes the task of creating personalized user profiles, where it identifies patterns from datasets and predicts which content will be relevant. Each time a user logs into your mobile app, the system decides which content to serve.

AI is being used by the biggest brands to accomplish tasks like product recommendations, predicting items to follow up with users, dynamic pricing, and so on. Let’s explore how.

Ways AI Apps Drive Personalization for Consumers

How can artificial intelligence make mobile app personalization smarter?

From artificially intelligent personal assistants like Siri, Cortana to smart speakers like Amazon Echo, AI has found its place everywhere in our daily lives. The reason why these devices are so intelligent is because of the data they possess about their users.

The same concept is followed for mobile apps where they need to build user profiles that enable them to learn more about their behavior. The app analyzes the user data and provides personalized recommendations as well as suggestions using machine learning. This makes it easier for users to access content that is relevant specifically to them, without having to search for it on their own.

Here are some prominent personalization use cases in mobile apps.

1) Content Recommendation

Content recommendation is a popular form of personalization used by publishers and other content providers to drive customer engagement. The objective is to show relevant content at the right time so that users have a great experience while using the mobile app.

For example, Flipkart uses AI to recommend products that are personalized for each user based on their previous purchase history.

Google also uses personalization to serve targeted ads in their mobile search results.

Some examples of AI-powered personalization can be seen in online streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, which use machine learning to show relevant titles while recommending new shows for users to watch.

2) User Behavior Analysis

Behavioral analysis is based on the actions users perform when they are in the mobile app. It can range anywhere from how much time a user spends in the mobile app, which pages s/he visited, etc.

If a user spends more time in the app then the company can provide more personalized recommendations to them. For instance, Twitter identifies users who spend a long time reading tweets and recommends similar accounts to follow.

3) Proactive Notifications

Proactive notifications are sent to a user based on their explicit or implicit behavior which anticipates their next action. This is beneficial for the company as well as the user, as it makes it easier for them to access content and complete tasks without any hassle.

For instance, chat apps like Hike and WhatsApp use proactive notifications to give users a heads up about new messages on the go. This results in more convenience and also reduces user input.

4) Personalized Push Notifications

A push notification is a message that appears on the home screen of a user’s mobile device. This can be seen as intrusive by some users, but it also comes with significant benefits such as increasing user retention and acquisition if used correctly.

For instance, Whatsapp uses personalization to send notifications about new features to users who haven’t tried them yet.

5) Location-Based Notifications

Location-based notifications are important for business apps that need real-time updates and information about their customers, such as a bank app that notifies its users when they’re near the branch/ATM or an eCommerce app that sends notifications about sales at nearby stores.

6) Customized App Experience

One of the biggest challenges with mobile apps is that they require a lot of user input for performing tasks or completing specific actions. Customizable app experience changes all that by making these tasks easier for users to complete. For instance, instead of having to type in their exact location, a user can just tap a button and the app will find them.

7) Product Recommendations

AI can be used to enable personalized shopping experiences as well. Take the example of Amazon, which recommends products based on your purchase history and browsing behavior. All you have to do is log into your Amazon account and the app starts serving relevant product suggestions based on your personal preferences.

Personalization has been an integral part of mobile app marketing strategies for a long time now. The use cases listed here are only the tip of the iceberg as companies will continue to experiment with AI-powered personalization to drive engagement and improve customer experience.

The main takeaway here is that AI makes it possible for marketers to market more closely, following our unspoken emotions and feelings. Marketers now need to hone their skills with AI to be able to stay relevant in this new world of personalization. It is no longer enough to think, “What would I want?” but rather “What do my customers want?” The more personalized the product becomes, the better it serves its purpose.

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. We are a premier software and mobile app development agency specializing in healthcare mobile app development, custom mobile app development, telehealth software, sales dashboards, custom mobile app development services, retail software development, supply-chain software, ecommerce, shopify, web design, iBeacon apps, security solutions and unified access software.

We are proud partners with Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.

It goes without saying that in 2021, most people own a smartphone and the mobile device industry’s worth is in the range of hundreds of billions. We know that the use of smartphones and tablets is by no means confined to business people, with entire families sitting around their dinner table, each glued to their own smartphone or tablet before them. It’s easy for us to forget that behind all these devices lies a powerful technology that in the wrong hands can wreak havoc in just about every aspect of our lives.

This paper looks at how trends in mobile security have developed in 2021, and how they are likely to influence the choices consumers make when purchasing smartphones or tablets.

Top Mobile Security Trends In 2021

As a mobile application designer, you need to be aware of the key mobile trends in IT security to properly combat the security threats your app is going to face in the upcoming years. And if you are not equipped with sufficient knowledge and tools, it will be difficult for you to protect against all those threats. To make sure that enterprises facing these problems can take proper steps for mobile app security, we have come up with some really important security threats that are going to be common in the coming years.

1) Information Security Transmitted Through Mobile Apps

Insecure communication channels are among the biggest threats to mobile apps. Servers are the entry points through which critical mobile application data is accessed and extracted by hackers. In the most common cases, attackers generally target these servers with sophisticated Trojans to extract sensitive data from them.

The solution is to ensure that the communication between your mobile app and your backend is secure. You can do this by using HTTPS and mutual authentication protocols and encrypting all the data in transit so that an attacker cannot access it even if he gains physical access to a network connection.

2) Security of Apps Running on Databases

With the increasing use of mobile devices accessing cloud-based data from unprotected networks, data theft is on the rise. The solution is to use “data masking” tools that hide the sensitive information of your customer until they are logged in. This way, no one can read the data but only those who have permission to access it. Developing apps that run on databases is also an essential factor to ensure that the transmission of information is much more secure.

3) Security of Mobile Devices Against Malware Attacks

Naturally, we’re seeing the rapid growth of anti-malware solutions to meet the challenge of huge threats to personal as well as enterprise mobile phones. App designers are focusing their resources on making sure their platform can immediately detect and warn users about any kind of malware attacks.

4) Security Against Rogue Apps

They’re everywhere, and these malicious apps are trying to imitate big companies like Facebook, Whatsapp, etc. in order to trick users into downloading them. This is really a serious threat for mobile app developers because it affects their reputation badly if any such rogue app developed by them goes undetected. So, they need to put strict measures in place, like cryptography, authentication, and access control in order to make sure that only genuine apps are downloaded by the users.

5) Security of Wearables

Wearable technology has already started gaining momentum among customers worldwide, with many manufacturers already offering competitive prices. The security threats associated with them are expected to be more severe than those associated with smartphones and tablets. Designers need to focus on developing specialized encryption and authentication methods such as voice recognition, strong passwords, and periodic password updates so that users can easily access their wearable devices while protecting their data and privacy.

6) Security Threats With Cloud Storage

As more and more organizations adopt cloud storage for securely storing their critical data, we’ve seen a number of security threats emerging from this platform as well. The solution is to use client-side encryption algorithms like AES-256 which make sure that no one can access the data without proper authentication.

7) Security of IoT Devices

Since IoT devices are required to run long periods without disruptions or require high processing speeds, they use embedded OSs and cannot be patched with security updates like other operating systems, opening the door to many potential security issues. The security of IoT devices will depend on how they are designed, the usage of open-source software, and how hackers can access them. Manufacturers need to follow strict guidelines to ensure that all their devices are built following secure coding best practices.

Trends in Mobile Banking Security

Mobile banking is the most secure option for online transactions, as mobile phones are not easy to hack and most bank systems guarantee that all financial data is encrypted and protected with strong security algorithms.

However, there is no 100% foolproof system and sometimes even big banks such as HSBC fall prey to sophisticated malware attacks. To avoid such frauds, device manufacturers have introduced security features that can identify and prevent rogue apps from being installed on the device. 

Developing trends in mobile banking security involve encryption software that can detect malware early enough before it affects users’ data or even their identity. The mobile banking app designers should put in place efficient fraud management systems and authentication protocols to protect their users from identity theft and financial loss.

We see that in the future, mobile app developers will need to focus on developing strong authentication measures and security protocols. They will also need to develop apps that can detect any kind of security threats early enough before they cause damage. In short, we can say that future mobile apps will develop hand in hand with the future of security measures. Without one, you don’t have the other.

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. We are a premier software and mobile app development agency specializing in healthcare mobile app development, custom mobile app development, telehealth software, sales dashboards, custom mobile app development services, retail software development, supply-chain software, ecommerce, shopify, web design, iBeacon apps, security solutions and unified access software.

We are proud partners with Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.

A sales team is the pulse of an organization, leading growth. Businesses strive to achieve their goals through strong sales teams, but it’s often hard to gauge the performance of a team’s individual members. That’s where a sales management tool like KPI Dashboards comes in. Used by managers and teams alike, these dashboards allow businesses to work more efficiently towards success.

What is a Sales KPI Dashboard?

The main purpose of KPIs (key performance indicators) is to monitor the progress and performance of an individual or team. The same goes for KPI dashboards: managers and teams alike use them as a sales tracking system to more effectively gauge their team’s strengths and weaknesses, making it easier to evaluate what’s working and what isn’t.

KPIs are often visual graphs and charts that provide insight on whether their teams are meeting targets or falling below expectations. Sales KPI dashboards follow the same concept, but they’re mostly used by the sales teams themselves in order to track their own individual progress against agreed-upon goals.

Who Uses Sales KPIs & Sales KPI Dashboards?

A sales management tool is most useful for keeping track of a team’s individual progress according to established metrics. In larger corporations, this may extend beyond a single team or department and become part of the company’s overall structure. For example, an organization may have a board that approves budgets and establishes annual targets but then leaves it to the sales team to decide how they want their specific KPIs structured.

Monitoring Team Performance with a Sales Dashboard: Steps Involved

Sales dashboards allow managers to streamline how they track and evaluate their team’s progress. Less productive teams can cause slowdowns in the overall process, which makes it vital for a manager to see exactly where and how their salespeople are falling short. With a sales dashboard, a manager can more effectively troubleshoot during slow periods.

Managers should therefore follow these steps when creating their KPI Dashboard for sales:

1. Decide What You Want To Measure

In order to create a Sales KPI Dashboard, you have to decide what KPIs are most useful for your unique sales team to measure their overall performance. It’s more precise than simply looking at revenue or sales since it measures each element that contributes to the end result.

That is why the components of a sales KPI dashboard can vary from company to company because you have to decide which metrics are most useful for your unique sales team. With that said, here is a list of common sales KPIs:

• Leads created and earned opportunities
• Phone calls made/received
• Emails sent
• New deals entered into the pipeline
• Ticket volume
• Growth rates
• Inventory turnover
• Opening rates of new clients
• Percentage of closed deals and average deal size

The list of sales KPIs is long, but all of them lead up to your final revenue, and it’s important to know which ones to use for your company.

2. Set Up Your Sales Dashboard

Next, set up the exact measurements for each of your KPIs. For example, if one KPI is “Subscriptions Gained”, then define what it takes to gain a subscription (e.g., contacting at least four new prospects per month).

The dashboard should display the actionable steps you’ve established to reach your overall goals, which should be and that they are properly aligned with both the goals of your organization and the individual members. That will allow you to accurately track progress in great detail.

3. Periodically Check Your Sales Dashboard

Once you have your KPIs set up, you’ll want to follow through with regular measurements. This may be monthly or quarterly depending on the size of your team and the overall revenue involved. More frequent measurements are necessary for smaller teams that are doing high-volume work.

4. Review Your Sales Dashboard Results

Once you have an idea of each member’s progress towards their KPI, it’s time to interpret the data. Are certain indicators below targets? Are some performing significantly better than others? Look for trends in order to see where you need to focus more attention in order to make improvements.

Sales KPI Dashboards offer a unique lead management tool to sales managers because it allows them to more efficiently set KPIs, interpret results in greater detail, make improvements where necessary, and ensure that their team is operating at its best to meet all goals in a timely manner.

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. We are a premier software and mobile app development agency specializing in healthcare mobile app development, custom mobile app development, telehealth software, sales dashboards, custom mobile app development services, retail software development, supply-chain software, ecommerce, shopify, web design, iBeacon apps, security solutions and unified access software.

We are proud partners with Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.

Telehealth has been paving the way towards the future of healthcare for years, and it continues to gain steam as mHealth applications become more common. Some of these apps can be used by patients and others should be reserved for HCPs (healthcare providers) only. It’s important to know how to use telehealth software systems but even more crucial is understanding what regulations and licenses apply – many of which vary from state to state.

Why Do HCPs Need Telehealth Software?

There are obvious reasons for HCPs to use telehealth technology– access to care! Patients may live in remote areas, have disabilities that prevent them from getting to the doctor’s office, or simply forget appointments. Doctors live busy lives and making house calls was phased out long ago…or so we thought. With telehealth software, doctors can provide quality healthcare services remotely. Patients can get virtual appointments, prescriptions and even learn how to manage their illness.

Telehealth software for HCPs has proven to increase patient satisfaction, provide significant cost savings, and improve access to care in remote areas. It also benefits doctors by allowing them to spend less time behind a desk and more time out in the world delivering healthcare services. With telehealth tech, HCPs can expand their talent pool significantly since they no longer have geographic restrictions when it comes to providing care.

Things to Keep in Mind Before Using Telehealth Software

Although telehealth technology has many benefits for both patients and doctors, there are still a few considerations that HCPs should be aware of. To start with, telehealth services need to be strictly differentiated from house calls by law in some states so doctors will have to get familiar with the laws where they live and work. In addition, it’s important to keep HIPAA compliance in mind when transmitting protected health information (PHI).

There are also licensure issues when it comes to telehealth services in some states, and most state laws prevent HCPs from practicing across state lines. Although this might appear like an issue at first, the concept of ‘jurisdiction’ can also play in favor of physicians since it gives them more flexibility about where they can practice. For example, if a doctor is licensed in Colorado but telehealth patients are located in New York, he or she might not be able to offer remote care there. However, Colorado laws still give the doctor the right to practice telehealth services without any additional licensing requirements because their jurisdiction is in Colorado.

With so many benefits, telehealth technology is becoming the standard in healthcare. It’s fast gaining favor with HCPs and patients alike because of its convenience and quality of care. Although there are a few considerations to keep in mind before getting started, the benefits far outweigh the negatives for both doctors and patients so it should be used by all HCPs.

Does My Patient Have Access?

Before you begin offering patients telehealth services, make sure your patient population has access to computers (or at least smartphones) with high-speed Internet connections; if they don’t then it makes little sense to use video calling software.

In addition, if your patient population does not have access to high-speed Internet then many telehealth platforms will be of no use to them because the download and upload speeds required for their apps are significantly higher than what most people currently have at home or on their mobile devices.

Advantages of Telehealth Software Systems

• Physicians who practice both in-person and via telemedicine can easily manage two different patients simultaneously using secure messaging applications
• Physicians can communicate with a patient about a particular issue while also checking vital signs or reviewing lab results from another patient.
• Some evidence suggests that typical office visits now take less time thanks to telehealth platforms because doctors can skip the typical “visit prep” tasks.

Disadvantages of Telehealth Software Systems

• Using software to conduct video chats rather than seeing patients in person can be problematic for some HCPs because it often eliminates the opportunity to establish rapport with a patient located in another state or country. 
• Many patients are intimidated by technology which makes them feel even further removed from their physician during treatment sessions.  

Telehealth Insurance Verification vs. In-Person Visits

Although telehealth software provides physicians with the ability to easily verify coverage using an embedded insurance verification service, these applications are still restricted by federal privacy laws prohibiting communication between providers and patients unless certain criteria have been met (such as a patient consenting to release their information or a medical emergency).  

The good news is that some telehealth software providers such as Amwell, American Well, and MDLive include an “Emergency Link” feature built into the platform which gives doctors the ability to immediately speak with a patient who has no health coverage. It’s important to note that this feature must only be used when directed by a physician; it doesn’t preclude physicians from providing in-person care in addition to telehealth services. 

Off-the-Shelf vs. Custom Telehealth Solutions

Off-the-shelf apps are developed using pre-existing code with software that has been approved for release to market by the FDA or other governing agencies.

Custom apps, on the other hand, require developers to code every application specifically for each client’s needs; this can be both time-consuming and costly, which may not make sense for smaller physician practices that only need simple telehealth capabilities via mobile devices.

List of Telehealth Apps

The following is a general outline of some of the best telehealth software types available. It’s important to note that the FDA has not labeled every app as either “HCP-only” or “patient use,” so we’ve pointed that out there. There are apps that have not been approved by the FDA yet and are clearly intended for general consumer use only. The decision to download should fall onto whether or not you are a licensed provider, not on whether or not the app is FDA-cleared.

WebMD Pregnancy App (Free)

This app provides medical information which is not necessarily meant for patient use. It would be acceptable to download it if you are an HCP and need to access information while treating a patient.

patientMpower – iOS (Free) and Android ($4.99)

The “Patient Empowerment” app allows patients to have a dialogue with their providers, even if it’s just basic information or health tutorials. The app grants access to medical information, drug interactions, weight-loss strategies, and general medical advice that should not be used as a replacement for expert medical care.

HealthTap (Free)

This application provides free health information that can be accessed by anyone. It offers medical advice, clinical judgment, diagnosis, medication info, interactive tools. Users can connect with physicians via video chat or email; it is not intended for HCP use only. When you ask a question on the app, you usually receive a quick reply, and if the response isn’t satisfactory, you can always get a second opinion.

Medscape/WebMD Symptom Checker (Free)

Intended for patient use only, although the app is FDA cleared, the purpose of the tool is symptom identification– it does not allow users to communicate with physicians or nurses directly about their symptoms. This application should be used in conjunction with clinical judgment by patients and providers.

MediSafe Pillbox ($4.99)

This app allows a patient to photograph and track medications, send pill reminders to caretakers and record missed doses. A brief tutorial on the app’s website is available for those who wish to learn more about its functions before download. MediSafe is intended for patient use only.  

MDLive (Free)

An interactive, HIPAA-compliant telehealth app that allows patients to communicate with HCPs via secure video chat, to enter their medical information and medications, allergy info, and conditions. Medical advice is performed by clinical staff members that are licensed in their respective states where the patient is located. The free version gives patients the ability to chat with their physician over a video call, download educational materials, and receive medical advice via email or text message. Physicians are paid by MDLIVE for “free consultations” that are done via video chat. This app is intended for patient use only, but it also has value to HCPs as a quick resource for patient care.

Medicall (Free)

Users “directly connect” with a registered physician via text, email, or video chat. Once a connection is established, users can ask medical questions and receive answers from physicians who are contracted by this app- you cannot use the app to directly message your own doctor. The free version of this application includes a 7-day trial period where you can only contact a physician for general medical questions; after that time frame, a paid subscription is required and starts at $9.99/month.

MedKeeper (Free)

Intended for patient use only, this application allows patients to track medications, send pill reminders and keep tabs on other health information such as blood sugar, blood pressure, and weight.

Phreesia (Free)

HCPs can accept credit card payments directly from patients via iPad or iPhone. The app also provides real-time insurance verification, appointment scheduling, and automated reminders, but it does not allow direct communication between patient and provider.

uChek (Free)

Intended only for use by physicians and medical providers, the FDA-cleared application is a urine analyzer that performs the following tests: nitrite, leukocytes, blood, bilirubin, specific gravity, protein, urobilinogen, and pH levels (to name a few).

Vitals (Free)

Users can track their blood pressure, heart rate, weight, and cholesterol levels. A paid subscription provides users with access to more health information such as glucose readings or EKGs. Vitals are intended for patient use only.

AmWell (Free)

Patients have the ability to communicate directly with a physician on-demand via video chat. However, AmWell notes that the free version of this application requires pre-authorization by physicians for certain visits such as those related to mental health or psychiatric disorders.

Wello (Free)

HCPs carry out on-demand video consultations with patients, upload patient medical information, and communicate with other members of a patient’s care team. Wello is only available to medical providers who have been invited to use AmWell through a current AmWell subscription. Please note: The first 10 minutes of each visit are free, after that time frame a paid plan is required which starts at $10/month.   

The Future of Telehealth

Most people don’t realize it but telehealth software is already quite popular in the healthcare industry and it’s growing every day. The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) has led many successful telehealth programs that provide care to over 3 million people across rural areas of America since its founding in 1993. As we move towards a more technology-driven society, we expect this number to rise exponentially.

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. We are a premier software and mobile app development agency specializing in healthcare mobile app development, custom mobile app development, telehealth software, sales dashboards, custom mobile app development services, retail software development, supply-chain software, ecommerce, shopify, web design, iBeacon apps, security solutions and unified access software.

We are proud partners with Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.

In today’s age, most businesses use online payment transactions due to the convenience and security they offer, especially when compared to the use of cash or check, which are more susceptible to fraud. Not only do they allow customers to purchase your products or services with ease, they also provide a new way to capture customer data for future use.

But there’s something to be said about the security and safety of electronic transactions as well. In this article, we will look at some things that you must do in order to ensure your company’s security of payments.

7 Tips to Secure Your Payments

The following list offers you effective ways for online transactions carried out between your company and your customers to be protected and therefore trustworthy. 

1. Use Secure Payment Processors

When your customers pay for your products or services, it’s best to use a secure payment processing system that offers a high-level encryption program to protect their information from third-party access, especially since online transactions are prone to hacking attempts. Not only does this ensure the security of the data being transferred between parties, it also provides assurances to your customers.

Keep in mind that when you use online payment processors, your website should be SSL (Secure Socket Layer) compliant to provide authentication for the transactions. When you use this protocol along with high encryption methods, it makes it very difficult for hackers to scan web traffic and extract credit card information.

If you are contracting with another business for your Point of Sale (POS) system or other services, be sure to ask them what security measures they have in place before you sign anything. Also, study up on the PCI (Payment Card Industry) standards and regulations governing how your business should handle personal information including financial data.

2. Create and Deploy Strong Passwords

This is one of the most important things you can do to secure your payments. Weak passwords make it easy for hackers to take control of accounts. Your passwords should be strong; they must not be easily guessable, and they must not be too simple. Even the most sophisticated malware can be thwarted by a good password that includes letters, numbers, symbols, and upper-case. Make sure to change your passwords periodically as well.

If you have a password policy in place, be sure to enforce it so that your employees will follow it. Password policies can encourage better security habits and lower the risk of accounts being compromised.

Of course, you will need to constantly review your policies from time to time as technology is continuously changing and a system that worked a few years ago might not work now.

3. Secure Your IT Systems and Software

It goes without saying that your business computer systems and software should also be protected from cybercriminals who want to gain access and steal data. Malware and spyware can easily find their way onto your system, which is why it’s important to use reliable anti-malware software.

It’s equally important to make sure your files are regularly backed up so you can easily recover them if the worst.

Aside from malware and spyware, be aware that phishing scams are on the rise. While they don’t directly target businesses, they can turn into a major issue if your employees fall prey to them. Phishing scams usually involve fraudulent messages sent via email that appear to be from reputable sources such as banks and credit card companies, asking the user to verify personal information.

Be sure to monitor who accesses which files within your system, especially with network-connected devices or cloud storage.

4. Conduct Security Scans

It is also important for businesses to conduct security scans on their websites before making them available to customers. With this in place, you will immediately know if there is a problem and be able to fix it before your customers are affected.

Security scans can also be useful in detecting any suspicious activity or hacking attempts on your system. You should implement a proactive approach in stopping these threats by installing firewalls that monitor traffic coming into and out of your network, checking how files are being accessed, plugging security holes, and so on.

5. Preventing Payment Card Data Loss

For starters, if you’re using well-known credit cards, such as Visa or MasterCard, make sure that you are following their protocols. You do not want to lose what could potentially be millions of dollars because of some slight negligence on your part when securing this type of transaction. Take note of your local laws and regulations governing how your business should handle personal information including financial data.

You should implement a strong security system that restricts access to customer payment card data. This includes maintaining physical security and protecting against computer threats such as malware and other cyber attacks.

In general, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is an efficient measure developed by credit card companies to protect their customers from fraud. However, compliance has been made mandatory only recently.

Debit cards are one of the more popular and convenient choices for business owners with an online store, especially since virtually everyone has one or accesses their funds via some sort of electronic banking system. Although debit cards do offer convenience and speed in making purchases at brick-and-mortar stores and many websites, they also put you at risk.

The most common way a debit card can be compromised is by having its information intercepted when entered into a retailer’s website. Hackers can also intercept data over wireless networks to glean a customer’s PIN and other key details. Downloading spyware onto your computer or buying something online with a credit card from a website that has been infected with malware is another way of compromising your debit cards.

When dealing with online purchases, always check the reputation and security measures of the retailer you are going to transact with before doing business with them. If you want to use a credit card for a transaction, look for a reputable company and not some fly-by-night operation.

6. Encryption Software

If your business processes online payments, make sure to use encryption software when you process your customers’ financial information. The information should be encrypted both in transit and in storage, whether that is in memory or on a computer disk. Encrypted customer data will be unreadable data to an attacker even if they intercept it while in transit. Similarly, data that is encrypted in storage can be read by hackers only if they have the key.

7. Adopt Best Practices for Security Training and Awareness

Finally, you should regularly train your employees about security so they are aware of their responsibilities when it comes to protecting your customers’ data. You should also regularly update them on emerging threats

Before implementing any policy involving processing credit card payments, businesses need to ensure that employees know exactly how to proceed. And while they go about this, they must keep all applicable laws and regulations in mind for added protection.

A Secure Payment Portal Can Help

If accepting online payments via credit card is important to your business, then you should consider using a payment portal. The entire process of employing such a system can be quite simple and is ideal for small businesses that only use the service occasionally. Using a secure portal will help you avoid common mistakes in making online transactions and protect against cybercrime, identity theft, and other forms of Internet fraud.

At its most basic level, a payment portal is a secure website that stores payment information in a location separate from the rest of your business’s computer network. This means that if a hacker gains access to one part of your network they won’t be able to gain access to customer credit card information.

Finally to do the best you can to provide security of online payments and of your overall information systems to avoid common pitfalls leading to breaches, make sure there’s a check next to each item on the following list:

• Stay current on all security developments
• Testing your network’s defenses frequently
• Applying security updates promptly
• Encrypting sensitive data that is stored or transmitted
• Limiting access to systems and information only to those who need it to do their jobs
• Keeping anti-virus software up-to-date
• Block packets from suspicious sources at the firewall level
• Installing a secure web browser on remote computers used by employees for accessing company networks via the internet
• Use secure web-based applications

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. We are a premier software and mobile app development agency specializing in healthcare mobile app development, custom mobile app development, telehealth software, sales dashboards, custom mobile app development services, retail software development, supply-chain software, ecommerce, shopify, web design, iBeacon apps, security solutions and unified access software.

We are proud partners with Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.

Ultra-wideband or UWB is a radio technology that operates in the 3.1 to 10.6 GHz frequency range, which transmits data packets in very short, low-duty cycle pulses. It was originally developed for military use but is now used in everything from computer peripherals to video games. It has the ability to transmit large amounts of data over short distances while avoiding interference with other wireless technology such as Bluetooth and WiFi. The technology can be used outdoors for high-speed links between satellites, or indoors where it competes with traditional RFID systems on price and performance.

UWB differs from conventional narrowband communication methods in that the bandwidth of the signal is much larger, and information is carried not only by the precise phase and amplitude of the carrier wave but also by its exact timing. Data rates can be high with a single UWB device.

The most common implementations of UWB are based on very short pulses, often modulated by either the amplitude or frequency of the carrier wave. Frequency modulation allows for better time synchronization which in turn increases the precision. Ultra-Wideband Technology (UWB) uses frequencies up to 10 GHz.

UWB is defined by the FCC in the United States, ETSI in Europe, and Japan’s ARIB. These specifications are similar in that they allow for use over the entire licensed UWB spectrum of 3.1 to 10.6 GHz, or in some bands shared with other applications (e.g., 2.3-2.7 GHz in the US). In many parts of the world, the 3.1 to 5.8 GHz band is shared with other service applications.

Battery lifetime can be extended by turning off the device when not needed. To save power, a mobile device typically has to stay in standby mode for a minimum time after transmitting or receiving data. If data is transmitted more frequently, the device can remain in standby mode for a minimum time.

Ultra-wideband technology (UWB) has gained a significant amount of attention due to its ability to provide high bandwidth data connections over short distances. UWB appears capable of providing data rates exceeding 20Mbps with distances on the order of a meter or less. Bluetooth, by comparison, is limited to providing data rates of about 721kbps and coverage of no more than 10 meters.

How Different is Ultra Wideband from BlueTooth?

Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices using short-wavelength radio transmissions in the ISM band from 2.4 to 2.485 GHz), creating personal area networks (PANs) with high levels of security. Bluetooth is a more mature technology that has been around for more than a decade and currently supports an estimated 2.5 billion devices in use by consumers and businesses worldwide with almost two million new devices being added each day.

Compared to Bluetooth, UWB supports a wider range of bandwidths (5 – 500 MHz), faster speeds (up to 480 Mbps), and different frequency ranges. UWB, like Bluetooth, is designed primarily for point-to-point connections between two devices such as one computer peripheral directly connecting with another device or communicating with a cell phone or PDA which can then forward the information on to other computers in the network.

However, unlike Bluetooth, where both ends must be simultaneously activated by an initiating device such as a laptop before any communications can begin, UWB devices may be programmed to operate in a “sleep mode” and then activated at will by an initiating device that transmits encoded signals that wake up the target device. This means that it is possible for many UWB devices to share a common data channel and can reduce power consumption and latency (the time lag between requesting and receiving information) while maximizing throughput (amount of information transferred).

What Are the Advantages of UWB?

• Supports much faster speeds than Bluetooth 1.2 or 2.0 (up to 480 Mbps vs. 3 Mbps)
• Operates at lower power levels (less than 100 mW) so devices can run longer on existing battery power
• Can be used in high interference areas where many types of wireless technologies interfere with each other. UWB is designed to automatically avoid channels that are occupied by other devices.
• Supports multiple users sharing the same spectrum by allowing all the devices to “listen” for an idle channel or time slot before resorting back to normal data transmission

What Are the Disadvantages of UWB?

• One radio chip cannot support the full range of applications currently available over Bluetooth. The typical solution is to use a BlueTooth radio for “low energy, short-distance connections” and add UWB when greater bandwidths are needed for high-speed communications between fixed points.
• Another drawback of UWB is that like Bluetooth, UWB devices must be within close proximity (within 30 feet) and line of sight to communicate with each other. This limits their usefulness indoors in large office buildings or warehouses.

What Are the Applications of UWB?

Possible applications for UWB include: 

• Remote control and monitoring of electronic devices such as security cameras
• Medical equipment 
• Health care information exchange
• Wireless appliances 
• Wireless LANs between desktops and peripherals 
• Television transmitters 
• Wireless microphones 
• Wireless Sonet/SDH networks 
• Short-range communications between PC peripherals when the computer platform is in a “sleep” mode

The technology could also enable people to wear small computers on their wrists that gather information from sensors placed around workstations or within manufacturing plants and then beam the data back to a central computer for analysis.

Is 5G Ultra-Wideband Worth it?

In comparison to existing wireless networks, 5G UWB offers many advantages.

For starters, it grants better control over the devices that connect and communicate with the network. For example, it is possible for a system administrator to identify and deactivate specific devices using built-in sensors such as microphones, cameras, and GPS receivers.

This would be useful in data centers and power plants where security is a concern or during events such as concerts where audience members should not be able to use their cell phones to capture video, text, or other information that could stream live on the Internet.

It also enables fast transmission speeds. The UWB connection between two devices would reduce latency (the delay in transmitting data) and maximize throughput (the amount of data that can be transmitted in a specific amount of time).

UWB also eliminates the need for multiple radios by using one chipset that supports both short-range personal area networks (PANs) and wireless local area networks (WLANs). It is possible to connect different devices and later deactivate and reactivate them when it is necessary to add or remove their functionality.

Which One Is Better for Indoor Positioning Technology?

When posing the Ultra-Wideband vs. Bluetooth debate, you find that both technologies have their own strengths and weaknesses, so it depends.

In short, UWB has a better range than Bluetooth, but Bluetooth has better connectivity. Bluetooth’s advantage is that devices can connect wirelessly without requiring line of sight, while the UWB connection can’t. Bluetooth can use existing infrastructure such as Ethernet cabling to provide Internet connectivity at a faster speed than Wi-Fi, while UWB requires a direct link between two devices to transmit data.

UWB’s key attributes are its speed and the ability to simultaneously serve multiple devices while avoiding other types of wireless traffic within the same spectrum. The potentially higher cost of device implementation may be offset by the possibility of less power consumption.

Bluetooth provides a better solution for low-bandwidth applications such as keyboards, mice, and speakers while UWB offers higher bandwidth for high-speed data transfers between devices. However USB 3.0 is already providing speeds comparable to UWB, making Bluetooth an even better choice for short-range wireless connections with its lower cost of implementation.

UWB has the potential to provide higher bandwidth for data exchange between stationary points such as desktop workstations but lacks the mobility of Bluetooth. Yet, its proposed high speed and low power consumption could be a major advantage in offering a single platform that could handle both short-range and longer-range wireless connectivity needs with flexibility and simplicity.

However, UWB alone does not provide an effective solution for indoor positioning systems. The technology may be used to enhance GPS services, making them faster and more accurate indoors, but combining UWB with other technologies can create location-aware applications that could potentially enable personal navigation devices to pinpoint our exact location within a building without the need for satellite-based communications.

Both of these technologies are promising new advancements that can lead to many of the things we’ve been dreaming about for years. Bluetooth will lead to low-cost, easily deployable systems capable of supporting everything from industrial process controls to home appliances. UWB will let us do even more with high bandwidth wireless connections but it’s possible that both technologies could be combined to create a more complete solution.

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. We are a premier software and mobile app development agency specializing in healthcare mobile app development, custom mobile app development, telehealth software, sales dashboards, custom mobile app development services, retail software development, supply-chain software, ecommerce, shopify, web design, iBeacon apps, security solutions and unified access software.

We are proud partners with Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.

Progressive web apps (PWAs) are web pages or websites that function like native applications or mobile sites.  They’re useful because the application shell and the data live on the user’s device, rather than having to be downloaded each time they use it.  This means that PWAs load very quickly and can be accessed from a home screen, making them more accessible and convenient than traditional web pages or websites.

Google, Microsoft, and Apple have all launched initiatives to support progressive web apps as the future of mobile. Let’s take a look at how they work, why users love them so much, and what makes PWAs so useful for businesses.

Why Progressive Web Apps Are a Top Mobile Trend for 2021

The beauty of a progressive web app is that it functions just like an app—it opens quickly, can be accessed from a home screen, it sends you notifications even when not open, and is easily downloaded for offline access. A progressive web app’s home screen icon behaves like a bookmark, but when it’s tapped, the app is revealed. Such functionalities make PWAs superior to traditional mobile web pages or websites.

PWAs’ growing popularity is therefore owed to their convenience and accessibility, offering the best features of both native apps and websites without being either, they’re accessible in a browser tab or from a home screen icon, so users can go back into it whenever they want. The fact that they don’t have to be downloaded, so it benefits people with low storage capacity on their phones or slow Internet connections.

One of the biggest appeals of PWAs is that, because they live on one’s device, users can open them quickly and complete tasks without having to wait around for the page to load. They load very quickly, like traditional web pages, but can also be pinned to home screens as if they were native apps.

Another reason that people love PWAs is that they feel very personal and familiar because they provide users with a seamless transition between the web page and the app—they help to transform websites into interactive, engaging experiences. People can go from using a website to having a good experience on the app in one click.

Advantages of Progressive Web Apps Over Native Apps

Progressive web apps’ advantages include cost, as they are often cheaper to maintain than a native app, and it’s easier to keep them up-to-date. Users get the best of both worlds—a website that loads quickly and an app that looks and functions like a native one. 

Businesses are drawn to them because when compared to native apps, they have faster load times, utilize less data, and can be indexed by search engines. They also take up less storage space, which means that users can update them quickly without having to clear out their devices first.

So widespread has their demand become, that there’s even a plugin enabling progressive web apps for WordPress, which allows more websites to capitalize on their benefits, but without interfering with any other plugins being employed.

PWAs have other advantages too—for example, the data isn’t stored on the user’s device so it won’t be lost if they lose or change their phone. It’s also secure, so they won’t have to worry about data theft.

PWAs are flexible and can take different forms depending on the business’s goals—they can be used for marketing purposes or as support tools that provide customer service where users need it.  They’re also cross-platform, which means that users don’t have to choose between the iOS or Android operating system, they can use either interchangeably.

Unfortunately Progressive Web Apps Also Have Their Disadvantages

PWAs are still in their infancy, which means that they aren’t supported by all browsers—some browsers don’t support PWAs at all while others only partially do. Right now, Edge, Firefox, Chrome and Opera fully support PWAs while Safari only offers partial support, as it doesn’t allow users to add home screen icons or full-screen mode.

Another issue that puts people off of PWAs is that there’s no standard yet, so it may change often and companies using them may need to make adjustments regularly. It’s simply another factor businesses need to consider when trying to make money online.

Some mobile devices don’t offer the same download speeds as others—that means that PWAs would take forever to download on slow networks. It’s difficult for developers to test their apps across different devices and operating systems because not all of them are compatible with the same browsers, which leads businesses to miss out on opportunities. These progressive web apps disadvantages, however, either may not be a problem for many companies, or they are likely to be remedied.

Despite This, Progressive Web Apps Have a Bright Future Ahead

Nevertheless, not surprisingly, the pros outweigh the cons, and for good reason are PWAs gaining momentum among users and businesses alike. As more browsers start to support them, there will be fewer problems with compatibility, since more platforms will also begin to accept PWAs as their apps catch up with the trend.

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. We are a premier software and mobile app development agency specializing in healthcare mobile app development, custom mobile app development, telehealth software, sales dashboards, custom mobile app development services, retail software development, supply-chain software, ecommerce, shopify, web design, iBeacon apps, security solutions and unified access software.

We are proud partners with Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.

The internet has changed the way everyone conducts their daily business. Businesses, individuals and governments all rely on information technology to run successful operations. This reliance also creates serious cybersecurity risks for these same entities. For this reason it is imperative that businesses understand what kinds of threats they face, how to protect themselves against them and why they need to take them seriously.

What is Cybersecurity?

The phrase “cybersecurity” typically refers to the protection of data, software and hardware from unauthorized access or attack by hackers. It is not just about preventing hacking attacks but also having a quick response plan should an attack happen, which would include restoring control of the hacked device as quickly as possible.

As businesses move more of their operations online, it makes sense to take cybersecurity seriously. It is not an exaggeration to say that a business could disappear if its website or systems are hacked into nonstop for several days. For instance, take the “NotPetya” ransomware attack in June 2017 that hit many companies particularly hard. The virus encrypted many of the files on a computer and demanded a large ransom payment to unscramble them. This is one of the most dramatic examples but, there are countless other examples of hacking leading to loss of money, data and even jobs.

As technology changes, the business world changes with it. Businesses have used computers for decades, but in recent years they have increased in power, speed and connectivity exponentially.

What is Information Security?

The world of information security is much broader than cybersecurity. Information Security, or InfoSec for short, focuses on safeguarding an organization’s communication and information systems. It includes taking steps to prevent breaches, but also ensuring that data is handled securely throughout its life cycle. This means not only protecting against infiltration of systems, but also ensuring employees are aware of their responsibilities when it comes to security.

InfoSec also includes privacy issues and compliance with regulatory requirements. Privacy is an increasingly hot-button issue as the amount of personal data collected about people grows exponentially. Businesses must handle the data carefully while still making it available to authorized personnel. Businesses need to take all precautions possible when dealing with personal information, including removing personally-identifiable information (PII) from data before disposal. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is an example of a regulatory requirement related to data security.

Comparing and Contrasting Cybersecurity and Infosecurity

A clear difference between the two concepts is that InfoSec looks at protecting information whether it is stored on computer systems, paper records, or any other medium. Cyber security only considers digital threats, so an attack against a building’s physical structure would not be covered because it isn’t entering through a digital gateway.

While cybersecurity deals with the technology behind protecting information, InfoSec deals with how to protect the actual data itself. For instance, there are programs that limit how much employees can copy out of databases or set rules about what kind of emails people can send which contain certain sensitive phrases. There are also facilities for storing data which are highly secure, such as computer servers in very heavily guarded facilities where the only people who can access them use complex biometric authentication systems to gain entry.

Which is More Important?

When it comes to prioritizing your business’s security strategy, it is vital to realize that there are no absolute guarantees when it comes to data storage. If you understand the risks and follow industry best practices, you will reduce your chances of being hacked but there is always a chance that an attack may succeed, which means the only way to be 100% safe is to ensure no sensitive information is ever stored digitally.

However, this would mean that your business would need to only use paper and pencils and go back to the stone age which other than not being practical really isn’t a safe way of working either as physical records can be lost or destroyed, by fire or natural disasters for example.

The best way to protect yourself against both digital and physical threats is by adopting a multi-layered approach that protects all your company’s information using the latest technologies. While it may be an expensive investment, it will certainly pay for itself if you ever suffer any sort of data breach because one single attack could potentially put you out of business.

TL;DR: Which is more important? Both.

Just remember that in today’s interconnected world it is not just your business that could become the target. A data breach in one part of your business could also affect partners, suppliers and customers which will increase the number of people affected if they are not sufficiently protected. So talk to IT experts who understand both cybersecurity and InfoSec concepts for advice on how your business can best protect itself.

Sunvera Software develops next-level software applications from start-to-finish. We are a premier software and mobile app development agency specializing in healthcare mobile app development, custom mobile app development company, telehealth software, sales dashboards, custom mobile app development services, retail software development, supply-chain software, ecommerce, shopify, web design, iBeacon apps, security solutions and unified access software.

We are proud partners with Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

Schedule a free 30-minute call with us to discuss your business, or you can give us a call at (949) 284-6300.