Collaboration huddle spaces were growing in popularity before the coronavirus pandemic hit, and they’re likely to see continued adoption as employees return to work throughout the current year. But huddle spaces in 2021 are likely to look a bit different than they did in 2019.

The video collaboration landscape has changed dramatically over the past year — due to the pandemic and because of new products and features from vendors. Here are seven huddle space trends to watch out for this year:

In a previous blog post, I discussed using AI in the call center with virtual assistance. In this post, I want to go further to dissect the various pieces, components and decisions that need to be made to roll out a successful chatbot solution.

When organizations first deploy a cloud security posture management tool, it’s often the first time IT staff members are seeing their cloud environment from a security perspective. When they learn that a certain port was unintentionally open, or that a misconfiguration has left data unprotected, one of the most common reactions I hear is, “I didn’t know that!”

That’s not a position anyone wants to be in with their cloud environments. Yet it happens frequently, especially as more organizations engage multiple cloud service providers. Luckily, CSPM tools provide the centralized visibility that IT staffers need to keep cloud environments secure. They can run automated audits to check configurations against security and compliance rule sets, identify critical vulnerabilities and even fix them, as directed, via auto-remediation.

The cloud is both powerful and potentially complex, so it’s difficult to perform a comprehensive, continuous check on a cloud environment manually. That’s where CSPM tools come in.

Cisco has had Webex Edge Audio for Expressway for some time now. The concept behind Edge Audio is to provide an alternate path for Webex audio calls, diverting them from potentially overtaxed public switched telephone network (PSTN) connections to the internet. Now, Cisco provides an additional method to take advantage of Edge Audio via the Cisco Unified Border Element (CUBE).

Edge Audio for CUBE was released for Webex in Q3 2020. It is an audio solution where Webex calls originating within your enterprise route from your Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM)/PBX to CUBE, over the internet, and into the Webex cloud. Similarly, callbacks initiated by Webex users are routed from the Webex Cloud, traverse the internet, leverage CUBE infrastructure, and are delivered onto your CUCM/PBX for on-net routing. This can greatly reduce PSTN loads and expenses, offloading that traffic to leverage internet bandwidth instead.

In my work with CDW clients, I often have the opportunity not only to help them select cybersecurity technologies, but also to determine how best to integrate these tools into their operations. That’s deeply satisfying work, and I got to experience it recently when I worked with a major financial services firm on its deployment of next-generation firewall (NGFW) technology.

The firm had relied on traditional port- and protocol-based firewall rules for many years and wanted to migrate to more modern technology to improve its security posture. We identified the right product for the customer by comparing the firm’s unique needs to common NGFW capabilities. We then helped the firm implement its chosen solution in a way that minimized disruptions while advancing the organization’s security posture.

The year 2020 saw significant business disruptions, which caused many organizations to adopt new technology strategies, repurpose or resize infrastructure, and honestly assess the suitability of existing solutions moving forward. Amid all this introspection, one general theme seems apparent: Automation should be a key component of any business strategy not only in the office but in the home office as well.

What follows are five tips to help get the creative juices flowing as you look to automate more of your daily tasks. Then, you can make room for innovation and a more rewarding work experience — regardless of location.