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How to Get Ready for Virtual Meetings

This year the popularity of virtual meetings has skyrocketed. Previously, they were used infrequently, as most people still shuttled into work in the morning.

Published

2 years ago

October 2, 2020

TwinzTech

This year the popularity of virtual meetings has skyrocketed. Previously, they were used infrequently, as most people still shuttled into work in the morning. However, following the coronavirus, all that changed. Lockdown restricted people to their homes. As a result, businesses turned to virtual meetings as a way to connect employees and their clients.

Yet, due to their rapid uptake, many people are still unsure about the ins and outs of the virtual meeting. Namely, how to set it up and what can go wrong.

In this article, we’ll explore how to get ready for a virtual meeting.

Table of Contents

1. Test your connection

People often forget to test their internet connection. However, a slow or lagging connection can ruin a meeting. Both you and your other attendees are forced to sit through the stuttering video. Eventually, you abandon the session entirely. Instead, test the connection.

Most video conferencing apps will list the required bandwidth on their website. But remember, the more attendees, the more bandwidth required. Furthermore, if there are others in your house using the internet, kindly ask them to refrain from heavy bandwidth activity: gaming or streaming.

Effective Content Delivery

2. Video and audio

Both your camera and audio will need to be checked. There are two methods for doing so. First, you can record a short video of yourself. Say a few words, then watch it back for quality. Second, you can organize a quick call with a colleague; that way, you know both video and audio work in the app. Ask then and Let you know if there are any questions or issues.

Whatever you do, don’t wait until the start of the meeting to discover your video and audio don’t work. Save everyone the hassle; check it beforehand.

3. Load a virtual background

Virtual backgrounds are chronically underappreciated. They have the power to transform a virtual meeting radically. Hello, Backgrounds offers virtual backgrounds for a zoom that is suitable for any occasion. Using green screen technology, virtual backgrounds replace your home backdrop with an image of your choice. This can range from swanky offices, stylish apartments, or even a vivid natural landscape.

Virtual Meetings

So, don’t settle for a messy home or a dreary apartment. Instead, boost meetings with these virtual wonders.

4. Lights, camera, action

When setting up your camera, don’t just test to see if it works. You will also need to consider lighting and positioning.

In regards to lighting, you will need to find a location with ample natural light. Ideally, sit beside a window. You want the light source adjacent or in front of you. If positioned behind, you’ll appear as a gloomy silhouette. Furthermore, avoid the use of lamps.

Sometimes it’s unavoidable; however, lights are prone to casting dark shadows. If you need to use a lamp, opt for a circular LED lamp. These are preferred by YouTubers and other streamers due to the even and natural appearance of the light.

Next, position the camera at eye level. If the camera is too far below your face, it will stretch out your appearance. As such, find a stack of books, or invest in a laptop stand. When talking to the camera during a meeting, look directly into the little black dot.

Although this will seem unnatural to your attendees, it will look as if you are making eye contact. This has been shown to increase the appearance of confidence and trustworthiness.

Virtual Meetings

5. Limit distractions

When working from home, distractions are rife. Pets are known to start howling and barking. Children start running around or asking you for a specific toy. Even for younger people, flatmates can be a source of the noise. As such, try to sit in a quiet location.

If you have a busy road outside, shut the window. If the people you live with are noisy, ask them to keep it down temporarily. If you have pets or children, see if someone can look after them for the course of the meeting. Doing this will massively help your concentration and also limit any disruptions.

However, there are other sources of distraction: phone or computer notifications. Try to limit these as it will only hamper your concentration.

6. Review the agenda

If your meeting has an agenda, try to think of what you want to say ahead of time. You might even have some assigned tasks. However, virtual meetings tend to be stilted. People struggle to communicate through a screen adequately. That’s where the extra preparation comes in handy.

If you’ve already thought of what you want to say, you’ll never fall into an awkward silence. Plus, it helps in ensuring your discussions are fruitful and productive.

Computer Network

Zero Trust Architecture: 5 Reasons You Need It

And there are several reasons businesses must consider integrating the Zero Trust architecture into their system, and here are five primary reasons:

Published

1 month ago

April 8, 2022

TwinzTech

Many decades back, network security wasn’t as complicated as today. Every device, user, or application already been authenticated within a network was automatically trusted.

But as networks became increasingly central to business operations and external connections were needed for partnerships, the network quickly became more complex. And by the 2000s, the influx of service providers made networks even more complicated by providing software-as-a-service (SaaS).

Zero Trust means “no trust.” And the security architecture has always required that a consistent verification process is adhered to to keep away unwanted access and lateral movement throughout an environment.

Cyber Threats are Becoming Highly Sophisticated. Every Zero Trust component is developed to identify vulnerabilities and threats. And there are several reasons businesses must consider integrating the Zero Trust architecture into their system, and here are five primary reasons:

Table of Contents

1. Cyber Threats are Becoming Highly Sophisticated

The rate at which cyberattacks are becoming sophisticated is high, and no sector is exempted from an attack. TechJury says about 30,000 websites are hacked daily, with at least one company falling victim every 39 seconds!

That’s pretty scary!

It is estimated that, on average, 30,000 websites are hacked every day. A company falls victim to a cyberattack every 39 seconds, and more than 60% of organizations globally have experienced at least one form of cyberattack.

Some sectors are more susceptible than others. For instance, some sectors were severely hit with cyberattacks during the pandemic. And they include finance, healthcare, and retail verticals for stuff related to the pandemic. What about online retailers who enjoyed high demand for e-commerce and the transportation sector? They also receive their dosage of the alarming cybercrimes.

CYBER SECURITY Business technology Antivirus Alert Protection Security and Cyber Security Firewall Cybersecurity and information technology

2. You Can No Longer Trust Third-Party SaaS and PaaS Applications Blindly

Application developers today cannot fully trust what they “own.” Mainly because these applications are more likely to be provided either as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) or as Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), these applications are built through the consumption of available services.

For instance, for database, logging, machine learning, authentication, etc., software OEMs developers can boast of owning the core and business logic used in developing the applications, but not the software components.

However, the Zero Trust model deploys all its security features for fully authorized applications and processes to decide on interactions with data and networks.

It usually takes a single breach to compromise and destabilize your network. Hence, implementing robust micro-perimeters around these services is highly recommended.

3. Perimeter-Based Security Fall Short of Modern Enterprise Demands

The pace of modern business technology and how enterprises operate make perimeter-based security less relevant as they can no longer define the scope of enforcing network security.

Zero Trust architecture has operated at a micro-level to validate and approve resource requests from point to point within the network. For instance, least privilege means that no one is trusted with broad uncontrolled access to the network.

They should, however, be repeatedly monitored and authenticated. In the case of a potential breach, micro-segmentation will curtail the level of damage that can occur.

cybersecurity is essential to the global supply chain

4. Cloud Data Centers Needs Shared Security Responsibility

The traditional data center framework requires that every business is solely responsible for providing security across all operational aspects, such as physical servers, user control, applications, and even protection for biological structures.

However, when you combine effort with your cloud provider, you’ll be able to share security responsibilities and also maintain a protected environment with reduced operational overhead.

Since you can no longer blindly assume trust in infrastructure, a Zero Trust model for a cloud environment assures a safer network with shared cybersecurity responsibility.

5. It Is Difficult To Determine the Complete Security Status of All Remote Environments

Remote work wasn’t famous before the COVID-19 pandemic, but its popularity has made security technologies focused solely on established geographic locations such as the headquarters of organizations irrelevant. Additionally, the possibility of unsecured Wi-Fi networks has massively increased security risks.

With the Zero Trust model, companies must not blindly trust the security efforts of their employees. They shouldn’t assume that their remote workers’ environments and home setup features are as secure as the office.

For instance, their IoT devices like the smart thermostat or baby monitor are operating a disorderly mix of security protocols, even if there are any in place. Hence, every process, device, and user must be duly authenticated to keep the network safe from time to time.

Also, as network security becomes increasingly complex, the Zero Trust network isolates security issues and secures your assets quickly.

Conclusion

If you have not started with a Zero Trust architecture, the best time to begin is now to secure the future of your business. Many organizations invest in the NordLayer Zero Trust framework to ensure their business.