With Xyte’s Mobile RMM, users can remotely monitor connected devices on the go through an intuitive live map interface, allowing them to see the location of devices in relation to their own location, making it easier than ever to manage large-scale deployments. Teams can send remote commands, check real-time device states and view recent changes such as temperature adjustments, Wi-Fi status and other key parameters. In addition to monitoring, users can interact with devices in real time, issuing commands and observing how device statuses change after the commands are received.

“This is an incredibly powerful feature. It may seem simple, but the ability to monitor an entire network of connected technology – whether AV systems, sensors or industrial equipment – straight from your phone is a game-changer,” says Omer Brookstein, CEO and co-founder of Xyte. He continues, “Our mobile RMM not only simplifies remote monitoring but gives teams the flexibility to stay on top of their installations, whether they’re managing a handful of devices or thousands. With AV systems becoming more and more mission critical, the ability to monitor and manage them from a mobile device from anywhere and at any time is more imperative than ever before.”

According to Xyte, it was the first to introduce QR code device claiming on mobile devices, which allows both end-users or dealers and system integrators to quickly scan and claim devices as part of their managed environment. Building on these previous platform capabilities, Xyte’s Mobile RMM extends beyond mobile QR code device claiming, allowing users to identify, actively manage and troubleshoot devices remotely. While larger displays may still provide the best experience for monitoring high-volume installations, mobile RMM ensures quick, efficient action while on the move.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on Sept. 23 2024. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post Xyte Unveils Mobile RMM for IT Managers to Monitor and Manage Their Devices On The Go appeared first on My TechDecisions.

AVI-SPL has been a Cisco solutions provider for more than a decade, the company says. It thus continues to deepen and expand the expertise in its Cisco practice to guide companies everywhere. With this, it aims to reimagine the workplace for better employee, partner and customer engagement as new hybrid work models take hold. In Cisco fiscal year (FY) 2023, AVI-SPL ranked as the #3 video devices partner in the U.S. and globally.

“Cisco’s recognition of AVI-SPL as a leading workspaces partner speaks volumes to our ability to confidently guide customers to reimagine and realize the modern work experience,” says Tom Nyhus, AVI-SPL vice president of the Cisco practice. “By embracing Cisco Webex’s innovative, leading-edge roadmap and programs, together we’ve helped global companies stay securely connected and productive from anywhere.”

The partnership between Cisco and AVI-SPL grew significantly in 2023 with new, joint go-to-market efforts. Per a statement, AVI-SPL led the way with the new Cisco Webex Hardware as a Service (HaaS) program. It thus became one of the first partners to conduct a customer pilot of the program. AVI-SPL also beta-tested new video devices and provided feedback through Cisco’s Video Champions Advisory Council around market trends and customer needs.

The Cisco 2023 Webex Partner Award honors partners who have developed and delivered exceptional Cisco-based solutions and services during the past year.

Cisco announced the Annual Partner Awards during the WebexOne 2023 conference on October 25, 2023. Additional details on the 2023 awards are available on the Cisco Webex blog.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on November 1, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post AVI-SPL Receives Cisco 2023 Reimagine Workspaces Partner of the Year – Americas Award appeared first on My TechDecisions.

OptixAV RMM 24x7x365 Monitoring 

OptixAV serves as a single pane of glass, providing real-time visibility across an entire AV environment. This allows organizations to gain valuable insights into their operations. Through integration with most ticketing systems, OptixAV streamlines the process and enhances efficiency, says Solutionz. The RMM platform is customizable and can be tailored to meet individual room and customer requirements.

One of the key benefits of OptixAV, Solutionz says, is its ability to proactively identify and resolve issues before they impact operations. With the platform’s 24x7x365 monitoring and automated self-healing functionalities, organizations can reduce downtime by up to 92%. OptixAV empowers AV tech teams to scale efficiently; thus enabling them to manage geographically dispersed rooms effectively and with less staff.

“OptixAV is a game-changer for any organization that relies on seamless AV performance as a critical aspect of their day-to-day operations,” says Bill Warnick, CEO of Solutionz Inc. He continues, “With OptixAV, we offer a fully customizable solution that optimizes room uptime, enhanced cybersecurity, and a system for streamlined AV management tasks. We are excited to empower organizations with tools that integrate with their current IT environments and deliver exceptional AV experiences.”

Continuous Cybersecurity Monitoring & Response

To ensure the utmost security, OptixAV includes an additional layer of cybersecurity designed specifically for audiovisual environments. By securely connecting AV equipment to an orchestration engine, organizations can manage, monitor, maintain, test and repair their AV environments from a single web browser. With this, it provides peace of mind and protects valuable assets.

The platform supports any IP addressable equipment and integrates seamlessly with two-factor authentication tools such as Okta, ensuring a secure environment. Additionally, OptixAV boasts extensive asset/inventory management capabilities and enterprise-wide visibility of all audiovisual systems. It also has the ability to generate customized reports tailored to an organization’s specific data points, says the company.

Shawn Fernandez, VP of sales development, Solutionz, says, “[OptixAV] offers customization, ensuring that automation aligns with your specific workflows. We prioritize continuous cybersecurity monitoring and response; offering peace of mind in an ever-evolving threat landscape.”

He adds, “Furthermore, OptixAV supports old IP-based equipment, allowing organizations to leverage their existing investments. Finally, the integration with ticketing systems and multi-factor authentication tools like Okta demonstrates our commitment to delivering a seamless user experience.”

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on August X, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post Solutionz OPTIXAV RMM Platform for AV Environments Now Available appeared first on My TechDecisions.

The updated product boasts a brand-new interface that makes managing, monitoring and optimizing meetings easier and better. Thus, it transforms the platform from a tool to a strategic asset for IT departments. The platform also maximizes the ClickShare fleet by enabling complete device control, proactive intervention and maximum function time. With this, it ensures that workers can seamlessly and easily engage in more meaningful interactions.

Enhanced User Experience

The one-stop-shop management platform is simpler and easier to use than ever before, says Barco. It offers administrators a complete overview of how the ClickShare install base functions at any moment. This includes the status of system health, firmware distribution, overview of connected client buttons or apps, overdue actions, location usage and much more. Moreover, IT administrators can easily find the information and data they need, thanks to the bright and easily accessible visuals.

Automatic Notifications for Prompt Intervention

With automatic notifications shared via email, IT professionals will now receive notice of any tech issues or overdue actions so they can intervene immediately. This will allow them to shift from reactive management to proactive monitoring. Furthermore, it ensures that meeting rooms are always ready to use and run at their best capacity.

Improving Meeting Experiences

The updated XMS Cloud platform provides data that allows IT professionals to better understand employee meeting behavior, optimizing workspaces and meeting experiences to increase device ROI. From insights on if, when and how workers are embracing meeting technology, to insights on hybrid meeting and face-to-face meeting preferences; IT administrators have a better idea on how to act as a strategic partner to the business by optimizing tech efficiency and employee satisfaction.

Future-Proof Platform

The new XMS Cloud is a completely future-proofed system thanks to the embedded marketplace where IT professionals can find helpful tools, integrations and plug-ins. These can be tailored to needs and preferences and managed from a central location.

“IT departments have become key players in taking business-critical decisions on tools and applications for their workspaces and the upgraded XMS Cloud system helps make this a seamless process,” says Lars Duziak, product manager, XMS Cloud Platform, Barco.

Duziak continues, “Not only does it allow users to simplify daily tasks and be more efficient with their time; but it also empowers them to become a strategic partner to their businesses with meaningful data and insights. It’s the best way to harness the power of the ClickShare fleet and encourage your workforce to love meeting again.”

Barco presented live demos of the enhanced XMS Cloud platform at booth #2529 at during InfoComm 2023. It also demonstrated other products from Barco’s portfolio. This included the ClickShare Conference CX-50 2nd generation, the agnostic meeting room solution for high-impact meeting rooms. Per the company, it recently became one of the first carbon-neutral products in the video-conferencing industry.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on June 28, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post Barco Updates XMS Cloud Platform appeared first on My TechDecisions.

When the awards program was created, though, no one could have imagined all the headwinds that integrators would face in a year like 2023 — namely, continued supply-chain snarls, multi-decade-high inflation, and a labor shortage. Thus, if ever there was a time to pay close attention to our BEST Award honorees and consider how you can benefit from their excellence, now is that time.

As opposed to operating the BEST Awards in a “crowd-sourced” way, CI relies on a panel of unbiased judges who have no affiliation with or connection to the candidates. Each judge assesses nominees independently, thus ensuring that each one is empowered to exercise their own judgment, free of undue influence.

For every candidate, judges consider three separate metrics: a product’s most important functional features; the benefits the product provides to the integrator; and the product’s design and/or technical innovation. Thus, judges’ perspective on each nominee is well-rounded, reflecting a mix of specs and tangible business value.

Dan Ferrisi, editor-in-chief of Commercial Integrator, says, “The past 12 months have been equal parts challenging and opportune for the commercial AV integration channel. Despite escalating labor costs, interest-rate hikes and general economic tumult, integrators have seized on society’s desire to enjoy communal spaces and communal experiences, all of which must be enhanced by AV technology. The BEST Awards represent CI’s best effort to spotlight the technology tools that make those experiences indelible.”

Ferrisi continues, “In the slideshow that follows, you’ll see some of the very best hardware, software, services and integrator resources that our industry has unveiled. Although our panel of independent judges was charged with choosing just one winner per category, I want to commend every BEST Award nominee for reflecting the very best of the art, science and craft of AV. Every nominee deserves recognition and praise, and I want to commend each one.”

Without further ado, enjoy this spotlight of BEST Award winners. And don’t forget to start thinking about what products in your pipeline might be good candidates for the 2024 BEST Awards!

2023 BEST Award Winners:

Audio/Video

Assistive-Listening Devices
Listen Technologies
ListenWIFI

Audio Components & Processors
Bluesound Professional
BCS300 Network Streaming Ceiling Speaker

Audio Conferencing Solutions
Shure
MXA902 Integrated Conference Ceiling Array

Audio Distribution Systems
AtlasIED
Atmosphere AZMP8

Collaboration
Crestron Electronics, Inc.
AirMedia Connect Adaptor

Conference/Classroom Projectors
Epson America, Inc.
Epson PowerLite 810E Extreme Short Throw with 4K Enhancement

Digital Signage Hardware
Sony Electronics
BRAVIA BZ40L Series Professional Displays

Digital Signage Software
Korbyt
Korbyt Machine Learning Broadcast

Interactive Whiteboards
LG Business Solutions USA
LG CreateBoard (Model TR3DK)

Large-Venue Projectors
Digital Projection
HIGHlite Satellite MLS Reference

Matrix Switchers
BZBGEAR
9×9 4K UHD Seamless HDMI Matrix Switcher/Video Wall Processor/MultiViewer Over Cat5/6/7 with Scaler/IR/Audio/IP and RS-232

Outdoor Displays
Samsung Electronics
Outdoor LED Signage (Model Name: XHB Series), including XHB All-in-One P10

Pan/Tilt/Zoom Cameras
Sony Electronics
SRG-A40 and SRG-A12 PTZ Cameras

Specialty AV Cables, Interconnects & IR Extenders
Comprehensive Connectivity Company
Integrator Series USB Cables

TVs/Video Monitors
Sharp/NEC
NEC MultiSync M751

Video Components & Processors
Xi’an NovaStar Tech Co., Ltd.
CX80 Pro

Videoconferencing/Telepresence Solutions
Jabra
Jabra PanaCast 50 Video Bar System

Video Distribution Systems
Audinate
Dante AV-H

Videowall Solutions
Sony Electronics
Crystal LED BH and CH-series Displays

Building Enhancements

Power Conditioning, Surge Suppression, & Energy Solutions
LynTec
PDS-12 Sequencing Relay Panel

Control & Automation

Large-Scale Control Systems
Xi’an NovaStar Tech Co., Ltd.
CX80 Pro

Touchscreens
Biamp
Apprimo Touch 8i

Dealer/Installer Aids

Cabinets, Furniture, Racks, Mounts & Cases
Mount-It! PRO
MI-20511 Jupiter Zavus Direct-View LED Wall Mount with Trim Kit

Case Study

Epiphan Video
NC State Case Study

Installation Tools & Testers

Liberty
Arranger AVoIP web-based Wizard

Project Management & Design/Web Software

D-Tools, Inc.
System Integrator V20

Training, Consulting, & Publications/Business Services

Exertis Almo
The Exertis Almo E4 Experience

Networking & Communications

Network Management Solutions

Ethereal
Big Dog Power PR-R13PI Intelligent Power Distribution Unit

Security

Mass Notification Emergency Communication
Singlewire Software
InformaCast with Visitor Aware

Surveillance Storage/Management Solutions

Axis Communications, Inc.
AXIS Camera Station S1296 Rack Recording Server

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on June 23, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post Announcing Commercial Integrator’s 2023 BEST Award Winners appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Humly Software Solutions Suite

The Humly Software Solutions suite includes four distinct workplace offerings:

1. Humly Floor Plan
2. Humly Reservations
3. Humly Visitor
4. Humly Wayfinding

Each software solution is deployable separately or in any combination throughout an office building, corporate campus, or multi-site enterprise business. All are compatible with Humly’s two hardware solutions: the Humly Booking Device, a slim, small-form-factor device with flexible mounting options and a touchscreen to reserve bookable spaces on campus; and the Humly Room Display, a tablet-sized booking solution with an interactive display for mounting outside meeting rooms.

According to Humly, the seamless interoperability of all it’s workplace solutions eliminates integration chaos and security concerns, while a flexible API ensures freedom and interoperability with a customer’s broader technology ecosystem, including third-party calendaring systems and conferencing software solutions.

Humly Visitor 

Humly Visitor is “check-in to check-out” solution that tracks the visitor’s journey for security and optimization, while reducing frustration for visitors as they navigate unfamiliar territory. Visitors can check-in, approve terms and conditions, and automatically register parking spaces, while hosts are alerted of arrivals to greet guests with friendly messages and trigger visitor badges.

Humly Floor Plan

Humly Floor Plan addresses the challenge of booking workspaces in hybrid business environments with flexible, dynamic worker schedules. The product provides a comprehensive 3D overview of meeting room, desk, and parking space availability on each floor, in each building, and in every garage. Workers can check availability for new bookings en route to the office, and remotely manage existing bookings to reduce frustration on arrival. Inside the office, Humly Floor Plan’s3D visualization tool provides a view of available (green) and unavailable (red) spaces on passive displays, and can be used to book spaces on a touchscreen kiosk when deployed in interactive mode.

Humly Wayfinding & Humly Reservations

Humly Wayfinding and Humly Reservations respectively exist to guide workers to available meeting rooms, and book meeting rooms, desks, parking spaces and more on a touchscreen.

Humly Wayfinding is ideal when deployed on larger displays and kiosks, with a detailed list of meetings, times, and destinations similar to airport arrival/departure screens that are absorbable on quick glance.

Humly Reservations provides users with an overview of their personal bookings, with the ability to make adjust schedules, add guest users, and initiate bookings directly from Microsoft Teams.

“We have gradually developed our suite of Humly Software Solutions for the workplace over the past ten years, with an emphasis on keeping our portfolio streamlined and perfecting each product over time,” says Anders Karlsson, CEO, Humly. “Our focus on developing responsive software solutions that are easy to use, visually attractive, interoperable with third-party systems, and infinitely scalable through our Humly Cloud service ensure that our customers have long-lasting, valuable and customizable solutions to book, manage and optimize office spaces of any scale over many years.”

InfoComm 2023 takes place June 14 to 16 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Humly’s North American channel partners will join Humly representatives at their InfoComm booth to demonstrate the full range of Humly Workplace Solutions in various deployment examples.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on June 8, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post Humly Introduces Workplace Software Suite at InfoComm 2023 appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Audinate’s connections with Dante OEMs, network hardware manufacturers, consultants and integrators make it uniquely qualified to provide expert guidance, ensuring successful Dante deployments says the company. Available services include discovery, system design, design review and consulting, network migration and upgrade planning, existing network fit-for-purpose evaluations, Dante Domain Manager implementation planning, and customized on-site or remote training.

“We’re excited to offer our customers access to our extensive Dante and AV-networking experience, providing added peace of mind for flawless Dante system deployments, upgrades and long-term, cost-effective ownership,” says Vince Lepore, director of training and professional services at Audinate. “Dante has become the de facto standard in AV-over-IP, and customers have requested these types of services for many years.”

Audinate will bat at InfoComm 2023, booth #2821, in Orlando, Fla. from June 14 to 16.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on June 8, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post Audinate Launches Dante Professional Services appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Authorized Crestron technology providers installing the DM NAX streaming audio system will also qualify for recurring monthly revenue options by joining the SoundMachine Partner Program. The integration with the Crestron DM NAX audio system brings a suite of unique features that improve the streaming experience throughout a commercial location.

Business owners can access SoundMachine playback controls directly from the Crestron app on Crestron devices, mobile, or tablets, or add a new zone to their listening stream for seamless transitions from one area to another. Users can also play multiple streaming sessions throughout the business of the same SoundMachine subscription. For example, a hotel can play soft music in the hall while more upbeat music is streaming in the gym, while paying only for one SoundMachine license.

Users can mark favorite stations from their Crestron interface to have them added as a preset for certain zones of their establishment so that music content is readily available. Schedules can also be created using Crestron enabling program-specific content to play at set times with no manual intervention.

“We are really excited to add SoundMachine support to the DM NAX platform. With the combination of Crestron’s DM NAX hardware portfolio and SoundMachine’s music service, our customers will now have a truly professional solution for fully licensed music playback across a variety of commercial spaces such as retail stores, restaurants, hotels, corporate offices, and beyond,” says Ekin Binal, director, product management AV Solutions at Crestron.

SoundMachine offers over 500 curated stations and the option to import playlists from consumer services such as Spotify digital music service, Amazon Music, and more, providing the ability for businesses to customize their audio to match their brand and customer preferences. SoundMachine’s music content and features are now combined with the Crestron DM NAX system, allowing businesses to easily manage all aspects of their audio experience through a single interface.

“We’re thrilled to be integrating with Crestron DM NAX to offer an unparalleled audio solution for businesses of all sizes. Our collaboration with Crestron will enable us to bring high-quality audio experiences to more businesses and provide them with a reliable and convenient way to manage their audio and music settings alongside other room automation systems,” says Matteo Luppi, CEO of SoundMachine.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on June 6, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post SoundMachine Now Integrates with Crestron DM NAX Audio-over-IP Platform appeared first on My TechDecisions.

FortMesa’s Continurisk GRC (governance, risk and compliance) platform will be deployed to support the new Trustmark program from CompTIA, the Downers Grove, Ill.-based, nonprofit association for the global technology industry and workforce.

“The work CompTIA is doing in building a scalable cyber credibility model for MSPs and other IT providers is core to the FortMesa ethos and an essential part of rebuilding public trust in outsourced information technology systems – we’re all very excited to support this mission,” said Mathew Fisch, founder and CEO of FortMesa, in a statement.

FortMesa’s GRC platform will:

•  Allow CompTIA Cybersecurity Trustmark applicants to track progress in addressing and completing the standards outlined in Trustmark documentation.
• Be accessible to CompTIA members as they enroll in the Trustmark program.
• Provide actuarial insights and feedback to the Trustmark program.

“MSPs will be able to measure the effectiveness of their evolving security program as they progress through the Trustmark process. The addition of FortMesa as a Cybersecurity Programs partner and the inclusion of its GRC platform are exciting and important developments for our Trustmark program and for the global MSP community,” said Wayne Selk, vice president, cybersecurity programs at CompTIA, in a statement.

The CompTIA Cybersecurity Trustmark details a clear path for MSPs to achieve foundational cybersecurity hygiene, laying the groundwork for a functional security program within the organization.

The Trustmark maps to several control frameworks recognized as industry-accepted best cybersecurity practices, including the Center for Internet Security Critical Security Controls, ISO/IEC 27001, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SP 800-171, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), and the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) Cybersecurity Regulation.

The post FortMesa Joins CompTIA to Strengthen Cybersecurity Culture Throughout MSP Community appeared first on My TechDecisions.

According to the Austin, Texas-based cybersecurity giant, Charlotte AI lets customers ask natural language questions and receive answers from the Falcon platform, enabling anyone from the IT helpdesk to CIOs and CISOs ask questions to help secure their organizations.

CrowdStrike’s cybersecurity generative AI assistant

CrowdStrike says Charlotte AI initially addresses three main use cases: democratizing cybersecurity and giving every user the same capabilities, elevating IT and security productivity with AI-powered threat hunting, and automating repetitive tasks like data collection, extraction and detection.

Users can ask Charlotte AI questions such as “What is our risk level against the latest Microsoft vulnerability?” to directly gain actionable insights to inform decision-making and accelerating time to response.

Like other generative AI applications, Charlotte AI will also help level the playing field and give less experienced IT and security professionals the ability to make better decisions faster, essentially narrowing the cybersecurity skills gap and reducing response time.

According to CrowdStrike, Charlotte AI will leverage CrowdStrike’s data, including the trillions of security events captured in the CrowdStrike Threat Graph, asset telemetry from across users, devices, cloud workloads and the company’s threat intelligence research.

In addition, Charlotte AI will benefit from “a continuous, human feedback loop” from Across CrowdStrike Falcon OverWatch managed threat hunting, CrowdStrike Falcon® Complete managed detection and response, CrowdStrike Services, and CrowdStrike Intelligence.

In a statement, CrowdStrike President Mike Sentonas said CrowdStrike has pioneered the use of AI in cybersecurity to identify malicious behavior and combat advanced attacks. Charlotte AI is the next innovation that will help users of all skill levels improve their ability to stop cyberattacks and reduce complexity, he adds.

“Our approach has always been rooted in the belief that the combination of AI and human intelligence together will transform cybersecurity,” Sentonas said. “We believe our continuous feedback loop on human-validated content is critical, and because of this, no other vendor will be able to match the security and business outcomes of CrowdStrike’s approach to generative AI.”

Charlotte AI in action

In a blog post, CrowdStrike lists several examples of questions users can ask, including:

• “Do we have vulnerabilities involving Microsoft Outlook?”
• “What are the biggest risks facing our business critical assets?”
• “Are we protected against the Log4j vulnerability? Where are we at risk?”
• “Which threat actors target us?”
• “What are the critical vulnerabilities being exploited by these adversaries?”
• “Can you sweep my endpoint estate for any IOCs you found?”
• “What are the top recommended remediation actions for the impacted endpoints?”

Other questions can prompt Charlotte AI to find malicious activity, such as lateral movement involving Windows hosts, the company says.

CrowdStrike, AWS AI partnership

The private preview of Charlotte AI came a day before CrowdStrike and AWS announced that the companies are working on new generative AI applications to help companies accelerate their cloud, security and AI journeys.

CrowdStrike will be leveraging new generative AI applications of Amazon Bedrock, a fully managed service that makes foundational models from leading AI startups and Amazon available via an API, to help customers adopt advanced Falcon Platform search, reporting and automation, the companies say.

In fact, Amazon Bedrock was used to accelerate development of Charlotte AI, according to CrowdStrike.

In addition, the companies are also working on solutions to help keep customers safe across a range of AI and ML services as generative AI rapidly transforms the tech industry.

According to CrowdStrike, the company is extending the protection of CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security to AWS AI/ML services by providing native integrations designed to further prevent, identify and remediate security risks associated with the adoption of AI/ML.

The post CrowdStrike Launches Virtual Security Assistant Charlotte AI appeared first on My TechDecisions.