The Snowbound Imaging Technology Blog

Welcome to Snowbound Software’s Technology Blog. This interactive resource focuses on technologies that improve the document lifecycle from input through archiving. Topics include imaging, viewing, conversion and content management, as well as development environments such as Java, .NET, and Windows.

Check in for helpful technical tips, information and advice from our developers and panel of imaging experts, and we want your input, too! Share your questions, thoughts, opinions, experiences and knowledge with other IT and business professionals, or comment on topics addressed by other contributors.


Security Breaches Escalate Security Requirements For Software Companies

Written on June 30th, 2009 by Simon

The legal requirements for software companies servicing the financial or healthcare industries as well as the Global 2000 keep mounting. We are all familiar with intellectual property protection and why it’s necessary but current concerns for fraud and the release of confidential data keep escalating.

Due to the highly publicized breaches of credit card and social security information like T.J. Maxx and others, both government agencies and companies that are sensitive to data breaches (pretty much everyone today over a certain size but certainly institutions in the financial, e-discovery and health care areas) keep adding greater and greater safeguards.




Can Local and State Government Agencies Capitalize on Obama’s “Shovel Ready” Initiative with Advanced ECM Viewing Technology?

Written on June 29th, 2009 by Snowbound Software

On June 8th, the White House announced the Administration’s economic recovery plans for the next 100 days. Dubbed the “Roadmap to Recovery,” it builds on the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” by continuing financial support for a number of programs which include “shovel-ready” projects intended to bolster the nation’s economy through infrastructure projects.

Earlier in the year some economists expressed concern over whether the nation had enough “shovel-ready” projects to quickly ramp up contracts and jobs. But recently NPR reported that AutoDesk, a New Hampshire-based engineering software company, is having a difficult time keeping up with the demand from the stimulus-plan-funded projects.




New tool makes SharePoint configuration easier

Written on June 23rd, 2009 by Snowbound Software

A new tool may make SharePoint personalization easierWith more companies using SharePoint without vast IT knowledge, it is becoming increasingly important for applications to make SharePoint customizable without knowing code.

This is what Quest Software says it has accomplished with its latest version of Quest Web Parts for SharePoint which the company says allows users to personalize sites, applications and other features through configuration rather than coding.

It’’s something that David Waugh, vice president and general manager of unified communications and collaboration at Quest Software, says will make things simpler for businesses.




New service helps increase SharePoint collaboration

Written on June 22nd, 2009 by Snowbound Software

A new service says it will increase SharePoint collaborationA growing number of businesses are using enterprise content management (ECM) tools to help increase their collaborative and communication efforts and one company says this new "social computing" effort has become the go-to tool for business.

NewsGator says that its Social Sites 3.0 makes significant upgrades to its previous model, including its Socialpedia and Knowledge Explorer capabilities, which the company says are becoming the "default starting point" for many employees.

The company says the new features of Social Sites 3.0 increase the collaboration abilities of Microsoft SharePoint by making the tools similar to those they might see on traditional social networking sites.




Website developed to discuss SharePoint governance

Written on June 19th, 2009 by Snowbound Software

SharePoint governance is the focus of a new websiteAlthough SharePoint has seen massive growth in the business world, some in the industry say there is a lack of governance, but a new website hopes to put an end to that problem.

Today Corridor Consulting and Doculabs announced plans to create SharePointGovernance.org, a website which they say will be a place for IT professionals to exchange ideas about Microsoft SharePoint.

The site, which is slated to launch July 1, is planned to give Fortune 5000 companies a chance to let others know what has worked for them in relation to SharePoint governance, something Russell Stalters, the head of information and records architecture at BP America says is vital.




Prestigious medical center chooses ”next generation” archiving solution

Written on June 16th, 2009 by Snowbound Software

A Boston hospital has chosen Mimosa NearPoint for its archiving needsIn an effort to gain what it calls a next-generation content archiving solution, Boston Medical Center announced this week that it was using Mimosa NearPoint which handles email, file and SharePoint archiving.

The medical center, which is the primary teaching center for the Boston University School of Medicine, says it chose NearPoint because it was looking to be proactive about its eDiscovery approach with Brad Blake, the center’’s director of IT, saying its need to meet Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) requirements was a major issue.




Costs of e-discovery in legal sector ECMs causing problems

Written on June 11th, 2009 by Snowbound Software

One attorney says ECM is breaking down the judicial systemA growing number of industries have begun using enterprise content management solutions, but one industry analyst says the use of ECM in the legal world is "destroying the American system of justice."

Writing for the InformationWeek blog, Michael Hickins says that some in the legal industry, like Ralph Losey, an attorney who specializes in technology’’s legal applications, feel that ECM is not being managed properly.

Also, because of the tendency of courts to call for all relevant forms of communication during the pre-trial, more companies feel the need to archive all communication for fear of missing something that may be "relevant."




Company to help audit SharePoint installations

Written on June 10th, 2009 by Snowbound Software

A new service will help companies audit their SharePoint installationWith more companies implementing enterprise content management tools like SharePoint into their businesses, auditing these systems is becoming more advanced, especially for small businesses - but one company is now making it a little easier.

SharePointHQ, a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner which trains and consults on SharePoint solutions, says its new SharePoint Installation Audit and Diagnostic service will audit a company’’s SharePoint site to make sure it has been installed correctly and is working properly.

The company says that this three-day audit is available for both Microsoft Office SharePoint Server and Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and says the service will help firms diagnose problems that can arise from an improper installation.




Application unveiled to turn SharePoint into social network

Written on June 9th, 2009 by Snowbound Software

A new application for SharePoint will make it more like Facebook and other social networking sitesSocial media is no longer just something used by young people as more businesses are using the sites, and now one company is making it easier for firms to implement their SharePoint solution as a social networking tool.

SusQtech announced today the unveiling of its MemberToMember application for SharePoint which the company says will drive internal collaboration and allow businesses to create an external community.

The company says the MemberToMember interface is similar to many other social networking sites on the market that are already in use by the business community like Facebook or LinkedIn, and is available by subscription as a SaaS model or though an enterprise license model which will have various payment options.




When Your Vendor is Acquired– What do you need to know?

Written on June 9th, 2009 by Snowbound Software

Even before the current economic gyrations, several large software heavy-weights have been purchasing companies in their target markets to gain market-share and dominance in the growing document management space.  Due to economic uncertainty, prices are depressed for many companies, thereby allowing acquisitions to continue to happen.

Though the acquisition of a company that provides your mission critical technology may be a benefit to you (for example, if they’re stumbling), it can also work against your best interests. . . click here to read the entire article

Simon Wieczner, CEO

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