IDC estimates that more than 72% of workers in the United States have some level of mobile access to information. Further, People Security estimates more than 67% of mobile workers are accessing some type of sensitive data outside the trusted confines of the corporate firewall. Sensitive data includes social security numbers, credit card numbers, trade or government secrets, and HR information and the the headlines are full of examples of what happens when these data breaches occur.  IT departments have focused on strict endpoint security policies to lock down data leaving the enterprise, but few of these policies extend to protecting visual data. With the prevalence of digital cameras, information leaving an organization, unintentionally, is just a click away.

So how does one successfully achieve an effective laptop security solution? First and foremost, it is important that mobile users, especially those working in government, take advantage of the security features, which are readily available to them (i.e., disk encryption, fingerprint scanners, smartcard readers, chip-level security, remote device management, etc.).

Second, ensure that you have a visual screen protection system in place. Screen filters are one option to protect against screen eavesdroppers, but these solutions are not the most secure. Optimal security recognizes the user and blurs the data for non-authorized users. For its customers working with the highest security information, Panasonic announced a recent partnership with Oculis Labs, through which we offer a bundled upgrade option for all Toughbook mobile computers with embedded webcams (i.e., Toughbook 31, C1 and 53). All such devices come with the option of being preloaded and delivered with Oculis Labs’ PrivateEye Enterprise data privacy software, the recent recipient of Military Embedded Systems Editor’s Choice Award. The incorporated software protects critical information traveling outside the hosting computer—from the screen to the user’s eyes, while the embedded security features of the Toughbook device provide internal protection for the hardware.

Panasonic continues to keep laptop security top-of-mind and is committed to ensuring that only authorized access to information on the laptop takes place – inside and outside the office.

What’s your company’s policy on mobile computing and how are you securing your information from eavesdropping eyes?

(Photo Credit: Steveness/Flickr)

Today, former Microsoft executive, Steven VanRoekel, was announced as the replacement for the inaugural Federal CIO, Vivek Kundra. Kundra announced in June that he would resign this month for a fellowship at Harvard University. VanRoekel  was most recently with the U.S. Agency for International Development, after a post as managing director of the of the Federal Communications Commission. At the FCC, VanRoekel headed the agency’s new media efforts and spearheaded the redesign of FCC.gov to take advantage of cloud computing.

Since Kundra announced his intention to leave for the hallowed halls of Harvard, technology pundits have been playing armchair analyst, suggesting where the incoming Federal CIO should place his focus. Some wonder whether VanRoekel will continue tackling the challenges of Kundra’s 25 point plan for Federal IT reform. In addition to these challenges, VanRoekel inherits a host of new challenges, including:

• Migration of more applications to the cloud
• Consolidation of Federal data centers to achieve operational efficiencies
• Sophisticated cyberterrorism threats
• Lack of budget for upgrading antiquated Federal IT environments; and,
• Growing consumerization of Federal IT

In Government, it’s hard to find areas of common agreement. If you were the incoming Federal CIO, which part of the complicated IT agenda would you tackle first?

If the new Federal CIO were to ask his peers in IT agencies across the beltway, there’d be no argument. In a recent survey by Federal News Radio 67-percent of Federal agency CIOs said that mobile computing was the technology area agencies need to improve to better meet their stated missions. Mobile computing is not just transforming Federal IT – its transforming government.

Mobile computers, tablets and mobile phones enable work to take place in the field, anytime, anywhere and on any device. The General Services Administration calls this move its A3 initiative.  Agency directors and senior officials carry tablets while frontline workers call for more flexibility and durability to their work lives through rugged mobile computers. While security concerns remain for IT administrators, recent advancements in secure access, coupled with the long term productivity benefits point to mobile computing not being a question of “if” but “when?”

With that said, we think mobile computing is going to be the biggest opportunity for Federal CIOs. If we were CIO for a day, we’d look at upgrading antiquated Federal IT environments with future-proof mobile solutions. But, that’s our take. What’s your take on the government’s IT agenda? Where should the new Federal CIO focus his efforts?

Provide your comments below.

To meet this need, Panasonic pioneered the semi-rugged category with the Toughbook 71, a device that could still handle many of the bumps, drops and spills like fully-rugged notebooks, but without the breadth of military-grade specifications and their attendant weight and cost. Over the past decade, these semi-rugged computers became popular on a global scale, with deployments in insurance, field service, military, service bay and other markets. As an example, insurance company Aflac equipped its sales force with semi-rugged Toughbook 74s, mobile computers far more durable and reliable than standard consumer grade-devices. The deployment allowed Aflac to eliminate its paper-based system which, in turn, improved productivity, greatly lowered laptop failures in the field and allowed its sales force to focus on generating new business.

While the fully-rugged Toughbook line was designed for constant mobility in demanding operating environments, the semi-rugged Toughbook was positioned as a desktop replacement – allowing mobile professionals to bring their one computer into the field without fear of failure. Since its launch in 1999, this line has become more of an in-field computer as a new class of mobile workers developed. As a result, we continued to improve on performance, weight and durability. A semi-rugged device is perfect for workers who spend more time on the job site than in the office – if it can be done at your desk, it can probably be done in your vehicle as well. Having the right mobile office can produce at least a few hours per week in productivity, increase your time in the field and even boost your bottom line.

Typical features of a semi-rugged Toughbook include a full magnesium alloy case, shock-mounted hard drive and LCD, and flexible internal connectors for additional protection. The unique Panasonic spill-resistant keyboard design protects against liquid spills of about 6 ounces (200 cc) and port covers protect connectors. In fact, the Toughbook 52 has a 1.60% average annual failure rate, that’s nearly twelve times lower than the industry average reported in a survey done by PCMag.com in September 2010.

Our new Toughbook 53 continues this evolution in semi-rugged mobile computing and is the first Toughbook device offering optional 4G LTE mobile broadband and numerous other features intended to increase productivity and maximize return on investment. Starting at only 5.6 pounds and delivering up to 10 hours of battery life, the Toughbook 53 is also the first Panasonic notebook to support a 14” high definition LED display and offers an optional 2-800 nit sunlight-viewable Panasonic CircuLumin™ touchscreen plus an adjustable backlit emissive keyboard. These features make the Toughbook 53 the ideal candidate for use in any lighting condition. The Toughbook 53 features a larger touchpad (by 25%) and includes multi touch with zoom and scroll capabilities, and delivers an optional dual antenna pass-through for in-vehicle use in passenger cars and light-duty trucks, perfect for professionals whose vehicles regularly serve as mobile offices.

The new Toughbook 53 builds on our longstanding goal of designing products that fit the needs of our customers. The device is a testament to that goal, making it ideal for mobile professionals looking for performance, versatility and reliability.

The hot-swap capability means that a device includes two high-capacity battery packs, not merely a main battery and a small “bridge” battery. This allows users to change a battery without having to turn the power off or reboot the system, extending running time. Plus, it removes the burden of having to swap your main battery in a very short time, which is not always practical. Using a battery charger, you can keep spares fully charged and take them with you. In situations where you can’t run on AC power or recharge batteries, this reserve power can make a significant difference.

In today’s business landscape, the mobile professional category represents a new opportunity and challenge. According to the Yankee Group, mobile professionals represent 46% of all mobile workers and that percentage will continue to grow. The analyst firm’s “Mobile Outlook 2011,” found that roughly one-third of all employees in U.S. businesses can be considered mobile, spending at least 20% of their time away from the primary office or workspace. As a result, it is common for these users to sacrifice either weight or battery life in order to use a mobile computer for extended periods of time.

Standard batteries – in many cases – are light in weight but often deliver poor life. As a result, mobile professionals are forced to use long-life batteries to meet their needs for extended uptime. These extended-life batteries, which I refer to as Goiter batteries, impact the device’s weight and also its footprint – making that small and light laptop larger and heavier. And, because they extend beyond the laptop’s case, these larger batteries offer an increased opportunity for failure.

To resolve this conflict, Panasonic has applied its hot-swappable twin battery design to the business-rugged Toughbook C1 convertible tablet to enable extended battery life and light weight for mobile professionals. With two batteries, the Toughbook C1 can run for about 10 hours and only weighs 3.7 pounds. However, if the extra battery life is not needed, the C1 ships with a dummy pack and can run for five hours on a single battery, which decreases the weight to a phenomenal 3.2 pounds.

With traditional notebooks, replacing a battery requires the PC to be powered down and rebooted. This downtime can be detrimental for many mobile professionals, such as pharmaceutical sales representatives who frequently spend long hours waiting to present the latest drugs and equipment to doctors. This window of opportunity is often a matter of minutes; therefore, it’s essential to have the computer running at all times.

For nurses or other mobile workers that select a device from a number of units on a charging rack, Panasonic has designed the C1 to clearly indicate up to four charge levels at the front edge of the case. At a quick glance, you can tell how much power each battery has. Without this feature, machines would be selected at random. If a device with a low charge was chosen, the battery could die during offsite duties – resulting in significant downtime and lost productivity.  Of course, the ability to swap in a charged spare could help mitigate that.

When evaluating mobile devices, we recommend closely examining battery life. Devices with standard batteries that do not offer significant life should not even be considered.  In today’s mobile world, a laptop should be able to achieve six to eight hours of life without having to use an extended-life battery. In addition, notebooks that offer twin hot-swappable batteries allow users to truly take advantage of mobility. More information on Panasonic’s hot-swappable battery technology can be found here.

In this economic climate, spending cuts are widespread, forcing agencies, like police departments to improve efficiency. Without a mobile computer, writing a police report is a lengthy process, with officers taking notes by hand and then typing in the information later. Although not uncommon, this method is time consuming and prone to errors.

Police agencies benefit from systems that allow officers to digitally capture and share information. According to a press release from Astra, the Toughbook-based solution can provide the needed improvements in efficiency.

According to Dick Ellam, Vauxhall Special Vehicles Manager, the Astra has always been a trusted car model within police agencies, which is why the company has decided to make the Toughbook option available.

“Toughbook rugged mobile computers are already in use by several police services across the country, and are proving to be a revolutionary resource to police; at a time when spending cuts are rife, a device that enables the force to save time and money will be invaluable,” said Ellam.

In the Astra, the Toughbook 19 fits neatly into the new docking solution by Tempus Computers Ltd, which is mounted in the glove box. The convertible laptop can be easily removed, which allows the computer to be used in both clamshell and tablet form. The Toughbook laptop is connected to an 8.4-inch high resolution touch screen positioned in the Astra dashboard. The screen is easy to reach and is mounted flush in the dash, which meets all legal and safety regulations.

According to Ellam, the Toughbook system enables police officers to operate a mobile office system, reducing the amount of time previously spent behind a desk.

“Toughbook rugged computers are ideal for professionals working in mission-critical or field-based environments, so their potential use extends beyond that of the police,” said Ellam.

For more information on the Vauxhall Astra with Toughbook option, please visit: http://www.vauxhall.co.uk

Related blog posts:
Case Study: Tucson PD Motorcycle Officers Deploy the Toughbook U1
Poor Time Management is a Crime Too
In-vehicle Technology is Mission Critical for Public Safety

IDC estimates that by the end of this year, 1 billion people will be working remotely. In this highly mobile work environment, faulty devices have serious consequences like lost time and missed opportunities, not to mention employee frustration.

Increased mobility will also have a serious impact on a business’s IT department. Typically an increase in mobile workers, results in increased IT support time. So as companies begin to rethink their current mobile technology solution, device selection becomes critical.

At Panasonic, we engineer our Toughbook mobile computers for work in highly mobile work environments.  In fact, mobile computing is all we do, so we know that the right mobile technology will improve employee efficiency while minimizing IT support issues. More importantly, the right technology will also help you attract high caliber employees.  The wrong mobile solution is a recipe for disaster.

If you are interested in this topic, I recently wrote an article for Integrated Solutions for Retailers, on the topic of upgrading technology to outpace competition in the midst of a technologically advancing workforce. The full article is available, here.

For more information on Panasonic Toughbook computers please click here.

We’re pleased to publish this guest blog post from our software partner, Audatex. It was written by Keith Bohling, Senior Project Manager, Training & Web Services for Audatex.

At Audatex, we work with collision repair shops and insurance companies on an ongoing basis to improve the electronic estimating process. Audatex manages millions of automotive claims each year and resolves billions in settlements by providing world-class solutions that help its customers automate their processes.

As a leader in the automotive claims processing industry, Audatex has amassed a considerable amount of knowledge that it often shares with its customers in an effort to improve the quality of their solution. I’d like to present some best practices Audatex recommends when deploying a technology solution – both hardware and software – to use for estimating and claim work.

As your shop looks to implement mobile solutions, think of them as different puzzle pieces that need to come together to complete a picture. Once you’ve identified the needed software platforms and begin to evaluate hardware devices, we recommend you assess a series of features. One of the first elements to consider is system requirements. Audatex, like other software providers, offers a document that outlines all the hardware requirements needed to run the application. For example, many organizations offer online training that will require devices with on-board audio support; however, not all devices come with speakers.

Also, consider your standard operating procedure. If a customer comes in for an estimate, what is your procedure; are your estimators tied to a desktop system? If you don’t have the vehicle in front of you, it can impact the accuracy of your estimate. We highly recommend that estimators use a mobile solution that will allow them to interact with customers while generating the estimate and order parts from the side of the vehicle. If this isn’t currently a best practice, we urge your shop to consider how you can reduce waste by decreasing the time spent going from the vehicle to the back office and entering hand written notes into your estimating system.

Another benefit of a mobile solution is accuracy. Sometimes vehicle parts may be left at the scene of the accident, making it unclear which parts are missing. By taking the estimating system off your desk, you can compare graphics in the estimating platform to the vehicle in front you. 3D graphics significantly improve this process and allow estimators to zoom and rotate images while at the vehicle to improve accuracy and reduce supplements.

For those shops that are using desktop systems now and are considering moving to a mobile solution, think about all the technology involved in your network. A mobile solution allows you to integrate technologies that existed separately in a desktop solution – such as cameras and barcode scanners. Some mobile devices have integrated cameras that allow pictures to be automatically uploaded and transferred to the software program. This can significantly streamline the estimating process and reduce the number of devices that your shop has to manage.

Some mobile devices that run a full Windows Operating System can be docked and used as a desktop solution. When a mobile solution isn’t needed, you can dock and use a full-size keyboard, mouse and monitor. This allows flexibility for devices to be used in the field and at a desk. Some mobile devices don’t offer this level of flexibility, which may result in the need for both a desktop computer and a mobile solution.

What are you using now to measure how your shop is performing? We know that insurance companies are tracking metrics such as parts utilization, cycle time and supplement ratios. Through our work with customers and insurance partners, we’ve seen the direct results of how these best practices described above can affect these key performance indicators (KPIs). A more accurate estimating process will help improve the overall process and the success of these KPIs through a decrease in repair time and the reduction of supplements. Shops are also aware that insurance companies are tracking customer satisfaction (CSI) for direct repair programs (DRPs).  Data shows that customer satisfaction through the claims process is tied directly to customer insurance renewals. Implementing a mobile solution will significantly improve your customer’s experience as repair times will decrease and communication will be improved – resulting in better CSI performance.

All of these practices play together to increase productivity and drive KPIs. A mobile technology solution that allows estimators to interact at the vehicle will increase efficiency and improve accuracy on a per job basis each day. We encourage you to think about what best practices you can apply to help your business be more successful. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email at Keith.Bohling@audatex.com.

This trend has been gradually progressing for awhile, but is now becoming the standard, as noted in a recent Athens Banner-Herald article.  Instead of sending out radio transmissions that allow all officers to hear the dispatches, the Athens-Clarke officers are now receiving location information and duty instructions via messages on their laptop screens.

Another example is the Philadelphia Police Department, which has started dispatching accident calls over their in-car laptops instead of using the radio in order to stop wreck-chasers from listening in on their broadcasts.

The growing prevalence of mobile wireless broadband has made widespread in-car laptop communication possible; in particular, Gobi™ mobile broadband that allows officers to have a reliable connection wherever cell phones can be used.  Now, police officers have the functionality of their laptops to communicate from almost anywhere.

We are eager to learn how you’re using in-car mobile computers to communicate, so leave a comment and let us know.

With organizations’ increased focus on mobility and wireless, there’s been a lot of talk in the industry about a new position – CMO – or Chief Mobility Officer (not to be confused with Chief Marketing Officer). Corporate board members of larger organizations are recognizing the need to strategically consider how their enterprises think about mobility.

Analysts including Gerry Purdy of MobileTrax LLC and Emily Green of Yankee Group have been writing about this very topic. Both believe that, with these transitions, mobility is becoming a strategic issue for businesses, and we’ll begin to see the rise of CMOs in large organizations.

CMO responsibilities would include the strategic management and implementation of mobile devices, in addition to consumers’ mobile interaction with businesses. Large companies are beginning to create mobile experiences for their customers. IT departments are now faced with the management of software and services that allow customers to access companies’ resources. These applications give wireless customers the ability to purchase products and services or make financial transactions via a smartphone or other device.

With these added responsibilities, the CMO will sit with the CEO to strategize how to use mobility to benefit the company at all levels of the organization.

However, not all analysts believe in the necessity of a C-level position to address the rise of mobility in organizations. In a Computerworld article, Ken Dulaney of Gartner said, “I don’t think organizations want to add more management layers like a CMO [in these] economic times, but mobility needs to be an adjective on every IT noun today. Every part of the IT infrastructure team has to be aware of mobile, just like they have to be aware of things like green technology.”

Whatever route organizations ultimately take, it is clear mobility will play an increasing role in businesses and that conversations surrounding the impact of mobile devices will begin taking place at a higher level.

Does your organization currently have or plan to institute a Chief Mobility Officer? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

With our current economic climate, it’s no surprise that the survey results place an emphasis on reducing overhead and controlling expenses. Not surprisingly, respondents showed an increased commitment to mobile technology in supply chains.

According to the survey, 81% of respondents are already using or planning to evaluate mobile solutions in their operations. In fact, most of the responding organizations are planning to spend at least the same amount as last year, if not more, on mobile technologies. Furthermore, one-half of organizations consider wireless technologies, like RF scanners and GPS, to be essential in developing their supply chain operations.

So what’s the bottom line? According to the survey, mobile solutions are “key drivers in helping organizations achieve supply chain proficiency.” Increased accuracies, productivity and cost savings came through as clear benefits for the supply chain. Other benefits included improved customer service and savings on labor and resources.

But not all mobile computers are ideal for the supply chain market. There are a number of key issues that supply chain managers must consider when evaluating mobile technology for their operations. For instance, the functionality of the device, such as its battery life, weight, ergonomics, screen viewability (in direct sunlight) and operating system can have a direct impact on employee efficiency and support costs. In fact, the operating system is a significant consideration. Having a full Windows OS dramatically simplifies the process of integrating mobile technology with the corporate backend, resulting in substantial savings.

Another consideration is a device’s embedded features, like a barcode reader, RFID scanner, camera, wireless connectivity and GPS. All these technologies can improve communication as well as increase the accuracy and level of data that is available at any given time. Having these features integrated into a single unit eliminates the complications associated with having your workforce – and IT department – manage multiple devices.

Finally, durability plays an important role in reducing hardware failure and downtime from IT departments, and any associated costs. Mobile computers must be rugged enough to survive drops of up to six feet, dust, vibrations and extreme temperatures and weather. When purchasing a mobile computer, consider a device that is MIL-STD-810G certified and IP65 rated to ensure reliability in these harsh conditions. Also, ask manufacturers for audited failure rate data and look for devices that fail less than five percent of the time. If someone can’t, or won’t provide this information, it’s best you consider a different device.

Panasonic has a number of mobile computers that are optimized for the supply chain setting, including the Toughbook U1 rugged handheld computer, the fully-rugged Toughbook 19 convertible tablet and Toughbook H1 Field handheld tablet.