Choosing RPA software for your business

• What Is RPA software?
• What Are the Benefits of RPA?
• Best RPA Tools
  • UiPath
  • Blue Prism
  • Automation Anywhere
  • Kofax
  • Pega
  • Microsoft
  • NICE
  • Rocketbot
• Other RPA tools to Consider
• RPA Product Comparison
• RPA Buying Considerations

What is RPA Software?

Robotic process automation (RPA) is a type of software that allows companies to automate business processes and allow employees to focus on higher value tasks. Using the software, organizations can build and implement software “robots” that mimic human actions. These robots can identify and process information on a screen, extract data, and perform the right actions to navigate through systems. 

RPA software has many applications and can automate tasks as simple as processing online transactions and as complicated as performing routine security audits. By automating repetitive processes, organizations can lower their operating costs and turn their attention to improving business operations.

Also read: Top Automation Software 2022: Managing Your IT Processes

What are the Benefits of RPA?

RPA software offers companies a variety of benefits, including better productivity, faster digital transformation, higher employee engagement, and more accuracy.

Improved productivity

With RPA, employees don’t have to perform the repetitive tasks that can monopolize their day. This leaves them with more time to focus on high-value work, and it offers them the opportunity to innovate their processes. This not only leads to higher productivity in their day-to-day work, but it can also allow them to improve productivity for the company as a whole. And that productivity isn’t just limited to individual contributors. Even 20 percent of a CEO’s workload could be automated with RPA. Focusing employees on higher-value tasks results in much greater value per employee for the organization too.

Faster digital transformations

RPA software also enables businesses to speed up their digital transformations. The software robots can perform automated tasks faster and more accurately than humans, and they don’t need breaks. This means that automation can run in the background or overnight while employees spend their in-office time performing more complicated activities. According to a survey by McKinsey, 83 percent of decision-makers in IT say that automation is a critical part of digital transformation. 

Also read: The Growing Relevance of Hyperautomation in ITOps

Higher employee engagement

When employees don’t have to spend their days performing repetitive tasks, they’re more likely to be engaged with their work. Automating the duller work gives employees the ability to focus on more interesting and rewarding work, leaving them with a larger sense of accomplishment. A recent Forrester study found that 57% of companies saw higher employee engagement with RPA software. Improving employee engagement reduces turnover and keeps businesses running smoothly.

Fewer errors

Machines tend to produce fewer errors than human employees, even while working faster. By giving repetitive work to RPA software, organizations don’t have to worry about their employees “zoning out” during boring but important work and accidentally inputting the wrong information. Instead, RPA handles these mundane processes and ensures the necessary accuracy. In fact, the same study by Forrester also found that 57 percent of organizations say that RPA solutions reduce manual errors in their work.

Also read: Finding Value in Robotic Data Automation

Best RPA Tools

The following vendors provide some of the best RPA solutions on the market, based on the features they offer and their user reviews.

UiPath

UiPath is an impressive and user-friendly RPA tool that efficiently and quickly allows users to automate their manual processes, created with the purpose to simplify, speed up, and optimize digital transformation for enterprises.

UiPath uses AI to automatically scan a business’s processes and determine the best ones to automate. It not only automates monotonous activities like data entry, email marketing, and web scraping but also routine duties like notifications, documentation, and scheduled follow-ups. In addition to automation that’s easy to set up, UiPath has capabilities such as encryption and role-based access control as well as the ability to handle processes regardless of their count or complexity.

The solution also includes a submission hub where employees can submit requests for processes they’d like to have automated. It includes options for no-code, low-code, and full-code, enabling users of any expertise to apply automation to their department. UiPath also offers a Task Capture feature, so businesses can automatically document their processes and ensure every employee is performing them the same way. It also includes both attended and unattended automation, giving companies control when they need it and a hands-off approach when they don’t.

Key Differentiators

• Workflow Drag and Drop: UiPath offers users the ability to build visual path processes through its drag-and-drop functionality upon the graphical interface and convert these processes into visual workflows.
• Advanced Screen and Data Scraping Options: UiPath’s Screen Scraping scrapes or extracts structured data from applications or web pages. Through data scraping, users can scrape data from tabular content, search queries, and other repetitive structures.
• Image and Textual Automation: Where UI automation is unfeasible in virtual machine contexts or where usual approaches are not enough to find selectors, image and textual automation steps in through UiPath’s tools that support it.

Cautions: It can be costly to coordinate and scale multiple robots, and the solution can be resource-intensive.

Blue Prism

As a global leader in enterprise RPA and intelligent automation, Blue Prism is transforming how its users work in over 170 countries and 70 industry verticals by eliminating inefficiencies and enabling its customers to focus valuable hours of work on their businesses.

The low-code automation platform combines RPA with artificial intelligence (AI) and expanded cognitive abilities to give customers an AI-equipped digital workforce.

Key Differentiators

• Intelligent Automation Platform (IAP): Blue Prism uses a combination of the power of AI and machine learning to provide digital labor that takes over mundane and repetitive tasks that plague human workers, which allows these workers to focus on initiatives that drive value for their organizations.
• Design Studio: Blue Prism’s Design Studio offers users a drag-and-drop approach to process automation building and allows users to reuse events and actions that create processes across the organization.
• Digital Workforce: The digital workforce offered by Blue Prism enables customers to automate their enterprises through autonomous software robots and clever technologies that imitate and learn business processes akin to humans.

Cautions: Blue Prism lacks a multi-tenanted cloud version, and the user interface (UI) feels slightly dated.

Also read: Blue Prism vs UiPath: RPA Tool Comparison

Automation Anywhere

Automation Anywhere uses intelligent software bots that carry out repetitive, tedious, and manual tasks to yield drastic productivity gains, improved employee engagement, and optimized customer experience. It analyzes a company’s processes and highlights the ones that would see the highest ROI from automation, allowing the organization to prioritize its transformation efforts.

The platform empowers customers to automate their end-to-end business processes by offering a cloud-native and web-based automation platform that combines RPA, AI, machine learning, and analytics. The extensibility of the platform, Automation 360, ensures it is easily integrable with enterprise technologies offered by Automation Anywhere’s technology partners.

Key Differentiators

• Bot Store: Automation Anywhere turbocharges customers’ automation journey through Bot Store, the largest RPA marketplace. The vast selection of prebuilt intelligent automation solutions helps users shorten their time to value.
• RPA Workspace: Automation Anywhere automates all repetitive digital tasks and processes through the automation engine at the core of Automation 360. It bridges technology islands and transforms disconnected processes into automated and unified operations.
• IQ Bot: IQ Bot automatically classifies, extracts, and validates information from business documents and emails through a combination of AI technologies like machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), computer vision, and fuzzy logic.

Cautions: Some modules lack the flexibility of similar products. Conceptualizing and debugging Automation Anywhere has a steep learning curve.

Also read: UiPath vs Automation Anywhere: RPA Tool Comparison

Kofax

Kofax provides intelligent automation solutions to empower customers to transform their information-intensive business workflows to improve employee efficiency and smoother customer experience. Kofax delivers automation in two products: Kofax RPA and Kofax TotalAgility.

Kofax RPA enables end-to-end automation, so employees can focus on higher-value work. Kofax TotalAgility provides an integrated platform for the automation of content-intensive workflows, combining low-code process design, AI-driven document processing, and more. It is also integrable with Kofax RPA for task automation.

Key Differentiators

• Low-Code Design Environment: Kofax RPA provides a modern robot design studio for professional and citizen developers to design robots that visually recognize objects, applications, and screen areas in real time.
• Analytics and Process Intelligence: Kofax TotalAgility enables users to enhance decision making, reporting, and workflow optimization through comprehensive analytics across workflows. Kofax RPA has out-of-the-box dashboards to provide insights into robot operations and system performance.
• Intelligent Screen Automation: Kofax RPA’s intelligent screen automation empowers robots to capture screen images and locate and identify user interface elements like buttons, labels, and text boxes within application environments such as Citrix.

Cautions: The user interface is dated.

Pega RPA

Pega RPA combines artificial intelligence, customer engagement, and intelligent automation capabilities to enable digital transformation. It empowers employees to make the most out of their time and focus on the customer by letting bots automate repetitive work.

The tool also bridges the gaps between different systems, as the time taken to navigate multiple applications is eliminated. Pega RPA removes silos and integrates its users’ legacy systems. It also speeds up processes, eradicates errors, and gets work done efficiently.

Key Differentiators

• Attended RPA: Pega RPA enables humans and bots to work side-by-side, as its Attended RPA gives employees the ability to provide the outcomes that customers require faster and with greater accuracy.
• Unattended RPA: Pega’s unattended RPA bots provide optimization and alignment toward digital transformation, as they break through the barriers of legacy systems and old user interfaces.
• Auto-Balancing: To make the most of digital workforces, Pega RPA Auto-Balancing enables users to automatically optimize their robot resources. It ensures users derive value from their process automation investments.

Cautions: The tool is not as intuitive to use as some competitors.

Microsoft Power Automate

Microsoft Power Automate enables its users to create automated processes using flows, drag-and-drop tools, and prebuilt connectors in the hundreds to automate repetitive and monotonous tasks easily.

Power Automate provides Process Advisor to record and visualize end-to-end processes and provide recommendations on automation opportunities. Microsoft Power Automate’s RPA capabilities empower customers to connect legacy and new systems and use UI-based automation with desktop flows to lessen repetitive tasks.

Key Differentiators

• Attended and Unattended RPA: With Microsoft Power Automate, users can execute desktop flows or respond to prompts on their Windows devices as well as execute desktop flows autonomously on virtual machines or Windows devices.
• Auto-Scaling With Hosted RPA Bots in Preview: Power Automate enables the preview of hosted RPA bots. Users can use basic parameters to create a group of bots and use it to automatically scale virtual machines for their unattended RPA scenarios.
• Ready-to-Use RPA Examples: Microsoft Power Automate for desktop provides users with an ever-growing library of ready-to-use desktop flows to increase the momentum of adoption and innovation. Users can launch examples and explore their logic and customize them as their own.

Cautions: Microsoft Power Automate comes with a steep learning curve, as some of its aspects require the users to have coding ability.

NICE

NICE RPA unlocks employees’ potential to deliver outstanding customer experiences by bringing people and robots together to enable intelligent process optimization. Through a single platform, NICE manages and develops its RPA portfolio.

NICE also holds some of the largest scale automation projects and drives enterprise-wide digital transformation. NICE’s RPA bots work consistently and effectively as workforce multipliers, since they increase throughput capacity and empower organizations to hit their return on investment (ROI) goals faster.

Key Differentiators

• NEVA: NICE Employee Virtual Attendant (NEVA) brings together people and robots to help employees satisfy their key performance indicators (KPIs) and their service operations business goals. Employees can use NEVA attended bots for attended RPA.
• Automation Finder: Automation Finder, NICE’s attended automation solution, is a task mining solution that uses unsupervised machine learning algorithms and accurate scientific approaches to assist enterprises in determining automation candidates.
• Automation Studio: NICE offers a cloud-based environment for the development of robust attended and unattended process automations known as Automation Studio.

Cautions: The UI may come off as unintuitive. Additionally, users may have to write more code than expected for a tool serving no-code developers.

Rocketbot

Rocketbot is an impressive RPA platform that not only democratizes access to process automation but also delivers ROI optimization. Regardless of the size of its users’ organizations, Rocketbot is designed to be flexible and compatible with all its users’ environments.

Rocketbot’s RPA solution is an agile tool and can simultaneously execute multiple different processes in parallel in the same environment. Rocketbot RPA is also scalable to enable employees and other users within an organization to build robots by themselves.

Key Differentiators

• Rocketbot Studio: Rocketbot Studio provides users with the ability to robustly and reliably build robots. It offers a drag-and-drop editor for users to intuitively design robots.
• Rocketbot Orquestador: Rocketbot Orquestador is Rocketbot’s orchestrator that provides users with everything they need to manage and control their robots at any time. This orchestrator enables users to run processes, workflows and more.
• Rocketbot Telescope: Rocketbot Telescope teaches robots to read documents. As a result, users can extract text from images and documents. It is also easily integrable with Rocketbot Studio.

Cautions: Drag-and-drop can be unintuitive.

Other RPA Tools to Consider

We’ve highlighted the RPA solutions that we think are the market leaders, but there are many others out there that may be a good fit for your needs or use cases. Those vendors include:

• WorkFusion
• SAP
• Salesforce MuleSoft
• Appian
• Cyclone
• Nintex
• IBM
• Laiye

Comparing the Top RPA Tools

Choosing RPA Tools

When evaluating RPA tools, there are some questions to keep in mind to ensure you select the best tool for your use case.

First, how does the prospective tool discover and define process steps and rules? Do the manual steps, if any, have an impact on the overall efficiency of your use case?

Several RPA vendors market their tools under the promise of the simplicity of creating bots. But how easy is it to create bots using the tools under consideration? Are the low-code or no-code platforms truly low-code or no-code?

You should also evaluate how well the prospective solution does bot deployment, management, and maintenance. And of course, always remember to ensure the tool in consideration is aligned to your use case and business goals.

Article published July 20, 2021 and revised Aug. 24, 2022 by Collins Ayuya

The post Top RPA Tools 2022: Robotic Process Automation Software appeared first on IT Business Edge.

What Is Performance Testing?

Performance testing helps dev teams and system and network engineers evaluate how well an application works and what it can do. It can determine how much a program can handle before it crashes and identifies any instability in the program.

Often, developers will have a set of requirements they need to meet, and performance testing can help determine whether or not the dev team has been successful. For example, an e-commerce application may need to be able to handle hundreds or thousands of users at once. Performance testing tools could simulate a large number of browsers accessing the application at once and see how it performs, looking at load speed, stability, and resource utilization to see if any changes are needed. The technology is sometimes called application performance testing (APM).

Also read: How to Choose a Software Development Methodology: 6 Approaches

Key Features of Software Performance Testing Tools

IT and dev teams looking for software performance testing tools should look for at least the following features.

Real or Emulated Browsers

If IT teams need to know how many users an application can handle before it crashes, they need a performance testing tool that offers real or emulated browsers. This allows developers and IT teams to simulate a number of users accessing the application at once to see how it holds up. Additionally, they can see how the software looks and acts on different browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.) without having to actually download all of the browsers on their device.

Without this feature, an engineer would have to use a variety of devices and browsers to run the same tests, which could significantly delay the entire project.

Automated Testing

Automated testing features help reduce the workload on human system engineers, which are already hard to come by. The software engineer growth rate is only about 8 percent, meaning there will soon be more open roles than there are engineers to fill them. And the gap is only growing as tech workers become overworked and burn out. With automated testing, devs and sysadmins can avoid tedious testing tasks, only jumping in to fix issues that the system finds or to run specialized tests.

Need help keeping your software engineers? Learn more about Motivating and Retaining Your Development Team.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) can also lessen the burden on dev and systems engineers by identifying dependencies in an application and prioritizing issues. This prevents engineers from adjusting one part of an application without addressing functions of the application that are dependent on that piece. AI can also predict system failures before they happen, allowing sysadmins to avoid problems and address the issues sooner.

Learn more about How AI is Shaping Software Development.

Best Performance Testing Tools

The following list contains some of the best performance testing tools, chosen for their high user reviews and helpful features.

Radview WebLOAD

Radview WebLOAD provides performance and load testing with the ability to simulate a large number of virtual users at once. It’s available on the cloud in a fully-managed version or on-premises for self-hosting. The dashboards and reports are flexible and customizable, allowing developers to get the insights they need. WebLOAD has three subscription tiers, but the actual pricing information is not available on the website.

Key Features

• Intelligent test integrated development environment (IDE)
• Virtual user simulation
• Customizable dashboards and reports
• On-premises or cloud-based solutions
• Support for a variety of web protocols

Pros

• Easy to use and customize
• Helpful and responsive support team
• Efficient scripting language

Cons

• Documentation is limited
• Licenses are tied to specific devices

LoadNinja

LoadNinja provides an easy-to-use interface for performance testing, complete with instant playback and real browsers to help ensure accuracy. The system makes it easy to create web and API load tests, and it provides real-time feedback on performance issues. Users can also automate user interface and API testing, so they can focus on more complex issues. There are four pricing tiers available starting at $99/month, with greater savings provided for purchasing a full year at once.

Key Features

• Real browsers for load testing
• Script playback and recording
• Automated load testing
• Unlimited load tests
• Private proxies for internal application testing

Pros

• Accurate and detailed reporting
• Easy to create complex performance tests
• Integrations to third-party tools like Jira

Cons

• No 24/7 live support available
• Can be expensive upfront

LoadView

LoadView is a cloud-based performance testing platform that provides real browsers for increased accuracy. It works for web pages, web applications, and APIs, and the system is fully-managed by LoadView, so sysadmins can focus on testing instead of maintenance. Users can design multiple test scenarios or have LoadView handle it through the professional services option. Companies can purchase the system monthly, yearly, or on an on-demand basis.

Key Features

• Load curves
• Real browsers
• Point-and-click scripting
• Customizable reports
• Globally-distributed load testing

Pros

• Helpful for testers with limited technical knowledge
• Free trial with credits available
• Helpful and responsive customer support with 24/7 live chat

Cons

• There can be a learning curve with the system
• Can be expensive compared to similar tools

Micro Focus LoadRunner

Micro Focus LoadRunner allows globally distributed teams to easily collaborate on performance testing. It’s available for both cloud and on-premises environments, with the cloud-based tool offering the ability to simulate over 5 million virtual users. Users can run multiple tests at the same time, and it offers a large number of integrations, including Kubernetes, Docker Swarm, Selenium, and AppDynamics. Pricing information is not available on the website.

Key Features

• No concurrency limits
• Cloud and on-premises options
• Integrations with any IDE or CI tool
• Sharable testing resources and scripts
• Shared and open architecture

Pros

• Works well with large workloads
• Supports a variety of protocols
• Easy to use with an intuitive user interface

Cons

• May be expensive compared to similar tools
• Configuration can be difficult in the beginning

NeoLoad

NeoLoad from Tricentis is an enterprise performance testing tool that helps organizations simplify and scale their software development processes. It works well for APIs and web services as well as full applications. The cloud-based platform integrates easily with any cloud development platform and offers an automated approach to reduce some of the burden on sysadmins. Pricing information is not available on the website.

Key Features

• No-code test creation
• Infrastructure monitoring
• Collaborative testing
• Virtual user emulations
• Version control

Pros

• Helpful reporting options
• Easily integrates with other software
• Intuitive user interface

Cons

• It’s a large application that can be resource-intensive
• Limited web support available

Rational Performance Tester

Rational Performance Tester from IBM allows systems and network administrators to test their products earlier and more frequently during the development process. It can identify the causes of slowdowns or bottlenecks in the software and integrates easily with other IBM products for full visibility into the development environment. Users can also create test scripts without programming, making testing easier. Interested organizations will have to contact IBM for pricing information.

Key Features

• No-code test creation
• Virtual user emulation
• Root-cause analysis
• Real-time reports
• On-premises and cloud-based options

Pros

• Integrates well with any IDE
• Good reporting options with sharing capabilities
• Easy to set up distributed load testing

Cons

• The platform has a steep learning curve
• Can be resource-intensive and consume a lot of memory

SmartMeter.io

SmartMeter.io is a performance testing tool that offers an embedded browser, making it easy for users to create and run test scenarios. Live test monitoring allows users to see how the program responds to changes in real-time, but there are also detailed reports available after the test has concluded. The system also automatically backs up test scripts and results of tests that users have already run. There are four subscription tiers available with prices starting at $39/month. However, yearly subscribers get the first two months free.

Key Features

• Detailed test reports
• Scenario recording
• Distributed load testing
• A variety of third-party integrations
• Real-time test monitoring

Pros

• Easy to use without a large learning curve
• Comprehensive test reports
• Load testing is scalable

Cons

• Initial configuration can be difficult
• The customer support is not very responsive

Apache JMeter

Apache JMeter is an open-source performance testing tool that can simulate heavy user loads and provides its own testing IDE. It works with a large variety of protocol types, including FTP, web, TCP, and Java Objects. Users can analyze results even while offline and record tests from their browser or native applications. Because Apache JMeter is open-source, it is free to use and download, although users can sponsor or donate to the program to aid in development.

Key Features

• Included IDE
• Virtual load simulation
• Unlimited testing
• Data analytics plug-ins
• Third-party integrations for Maven, Gradle, and Jenkins

Pros

• Supports a large variety of test types
• The user interface is easy to understand
• Open-source nature means it’s free to use and updated frequently

Cons

• Can be resource-intensive when testing large applications
• It sometimes runs slowly

Performance Testing Improves Customer Satisfaction & ROI

Performance testing tools help IT and dev teams catch issues early in the development process, meaning they won’t have as many customer complaints down the line. Additionally, because problems are easier to fix the earlier engineers catch them, they’ll improve the ROI on their product.

To find the right performance testing tool, organizations need to choose a platform that includes its own IDE or integrates with their dev team’s chosen IDE. Additionally, they’ll want to be able to run a variety of different tests and simulate large loads to see how the application holds up. Finally, businesses should consider performance testing tools with automated testing and artificial intelligence to reduce the workload on already overburdened employees.

Finished with the development process? Check out our Guide to Transitioning From Software Development to Maintenance.

The post Best Performance Testing Tools for 2022 appeared first on IT Business Edge.

What Are Data Collection Tools?

Data collection tools are a type of software that gathers and stores both qualitative and quantitative data, making it accessible electronically. Many modern data collection tools are mobile-first, allowing researchers to capture data while on the go and not connected to Wi-Fi, say from sales teams in the field. These tools need to be able to capture text, as well as audio, video, and pictures in order to gather all of the data a researcher needs.

These tools are typically form and survey builders that help organizations collect feedback from customers and employees or gather field service data to improve machine performance.

Also read: How to Turn Your Business Data into Stories that Sell

Key Features of Data Collection Software

Data collection software should make it easy for organizations to collect the data they need in a variety of formats and share the data with other teams and applications.

Custom forms and entry fields

Many organizations use data collection tools for sales kickoff calls or customer feedback, so they need to create questions that are relevant to their services. Most data collection tools allow organizations to create forms from scratch or customize pre-built templates with new entry fields to meet their needs. This ensures they’re getting all of their questions answered to get a full picture of the data.

Audio, video, and photo capture

For field research and customer feedback, organizations may need the ability to capture more than just text for their records. For example, a customer with a complaint about a broken item may need to upload a picture in order to get a replacement or refund. The best data collection tools include the option to capture audio, videos, and photos, as well as traditional text entries.

Detailed reports

When collecting a large number of responses to a specific form, the data collection tools should then be able to generate a report that shows how responses were spread across the different options for multiple-choice questions. For example, a form requesting shirt sizes would be able to create a report showing how many people selected small, medium, large, and so on. For freeform responses, like customer or employee feedback, those responses can be anonymized and compiled for easy digestion.

Also read: Best Data Analytics Tools for Analyzing & Presenting Data

API and integrations

Data collection software should also integrate with data analytics software, business intelligence tools, and data lakes, so organizations can create visualizations and gain actionable insights from the data they collect. If there aren’t native integrations available to the tools the organization already uses, there should at least be an API available. Organizations should find out which native integrations are available before making a purchase, especially if they don’t have many in-house development resources.

Best Data Collection Tools

Organizations looking for data collection tools should consider the following products, picked for their high user ratings and the critical features they offer.

JotForm

JotForm is a no-code form builder that allows organizations to customize their form’s entry fields as well as its design. There are pre-built templates available, or businesses can start from scratch. The forms can also collect online payments, use conditional logic, and automate workflows to improve operational efficiency. Native integrations are available for a variety of common tools, including PayPal, Zoom, Slack, and Dropbox.

There is a free package available, but it caps the number of forms at five and limits monthly submissions to those forms to 100. There are three paid tiers that vary in terms of form limits, monthly submissions, and amount of storage, but there is also an unlimited tier that businesses can contact sales about to get more information.

Key Features

• Brandable forms
• HIPAA compliance (only available on paid tiers)
• Mobile forms
• PDF editor
• Report builder
• Online payments

Pros

• Good variety of customization options
• Responsive support team
• Forms are easy to create

Cons

• The style editor can be difficult to navigate
• Some users complain about lagging

Fulcrum

Fulcrum is a data collection tool targeted toward field inspection management. It helps business users automate field inspection processes without the use of code thanks to simple, customizable checklists and team-wide task management tools. The platform can generate real-time reports, performance dashboards, and location-based analytics. Users can even complete inspections while offline, and the system will then upload results when they reconnect.

There are two pricing tiers available. The professional tier is priced per user per month and includes 100GB of storage, 10 data sharing links, and standard in-app support. The enterprise tier requires a custom pricing quote from sales but includes 5000GB of storage, 50 data sharing links, and priority phone support.

Key Features

• Task management
• Configurable checklists
• Issue reporting
• Customizable forms and apps
• Digital signatures
• Geo-tagging

Pros

• Easy to use platform
• Flexible functionality and helpful support
• Can be used offline

Cons

• Changing an app template could result in lost information
• Fields may not show up automatically, especially with poor internet connectivity

FastField

FastField offers a mobile-first experience for building and sharing custom data collection forms. It doesn’t require any coding experience, allowing users to choose from a variety of entry fields, including ratings, text, and multiple choice. The built-in dashboards help users identify trends and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to get actionable insights from the data they collect. The system is fully customizable and works offline.

There is only one pricing option, but it’s one of the cheaper options on this list. The subscription fee is charged per user per month and includes unlimited forms and unlimited submissions to those forms. There is an extra charge for anonymous forms or white labeling.

Key Features

• Unlimited data collection and storage
• Kiosk mode
• Drag-and-drop form builder
• Embedded formulas and skip logic
• Offline data collection
• Photo, audio, and video capture

Pros

• Helpful and responsive technical support
• Intuitive user interface
• Flexible and easy to use

Cons

• Some users complain about the inability to edit pictures within the platform
• Built-in grading may require coding to set up

Forms On Fire

Forms On Fire is a mobile data collection platform that makes it easy for users to turn paper forms into a mobile application to improve efficiency. The form builder doesn’t require any coding, thanks to drag-and-drop functionality and the inclusion of conditional logic and Excel-like formulas. The system works both online and offline and includes over 1500 native integrations as well as API access.

There are three subscription tiers available, priced per user per month. They all include unlimited forms and storage, but higher tiers also include unlimited submissions. There is also a discount for paying for a full year upfront.

Key Features

• Offline functionality
• Drag-and-drop form builder
• Version control
• Photo, audio, and video capture
• Digital signatures
• Barcode scanning

Pros

• Good flexibility for customizing forms
• Helpful and responsive support team
• User-friendly interface

Cons

• Some users want more training during implementation
• Force Sync does not always work correctly

Magpi

Magpi is a mobile-first data collection platform that allows users to easily build and customize forms and real-time reports. The software also includes data visualization tools to help organizations gain better insights into the information they collect. Plus, no-code integrations encourage connections with other business intelligence tools. The forms can collect photos, GPS coordinates, signatures, and barcode scans.

There are three subscription tiers that businesses can choose from with Magpi, priced per month. While they may initially look more expensive than other tools, they don’t charge per user, putting them around the same level if not a little cheaper for large or medium-sized teams. There is a discount available for paying for the full year in advance.

Key Features

• Drag-and-drop builder
• Barcode scanning
• Offline collection
• SSL and AES-256 bit encryption
• Role-based controls
• Customizable reports and dashboards

Pros

• Large selection of native integrations
• Intuitive and easy to use
• Various entry field formats to choose from

Cons

• Pricing could be prohibitive for smaller teams
• Some users would like a longer free trial

GoSpotCheck

GoSpotCheck is a mobile task management application that helps teams build custom task lists and workflows to gain insights into their organization’s operational performance. The drag-and-drop builder is easy to use and provides context and prioritization for the business. Companies can also generate real-time reports to help them get actionable insights and improve decision making. The platform can also capture photos for more information.

There are three pricing tiers available for businesses, with the third being a customized package for enterprises. However, actual pricing information is not available on the website, so interested organizations will have to contact GoSpotCheck. There are also add-on features available, like advanced photo reporting, professional services, and API access.

Key Features

• Drag-and-drop builder
• Role-based access
• Location management
• Product catalogs
• Contact data by location
• Single sign-on

Pros

• Easy to read, personalized dashboards
• Data, feedback, and photo capture on the road
• Enables collaboration across teams

Cons

• Doesn’t keep large amounts of historical data
• Some users complain about its drain on their phone battery

Zonka Feedback

Zonka Feedback is an omnichannel customer satisfaction tool that allows organizations to easily collect survey data from both customers and employees to improve procedures. There are 25 question types to choose from, and organizations can build net promoter score, customer effort score, and customer satisfaction surveys. Zonka allows survey delivery through email, text message, the company’s website, and even offline. 

There are six different packages that businesses can choose from, but the first two are designed specifically for small teams with one or two users. The pricing is per month with a set number of device licenses built into each plan, although organizations can add licenses as needed. All of the business plans come with unlimited survey responses and white labeling options.

Key Features

• WYSIWYG survey editor
• White labeling
• Offline data collection
• Scheduled survey links
• Real-time response tracking
• Data visualization

Pros

• Easy to set up and customize
• User-friendly and intuitive interface
• Helpful and responsive support team

Cons

• Some users complain that the platform can run slowly
• Limited design options available

Data Collection Fuels Better Business Decisions

Organizations need data in order to make the best decisions for their business. Without data collection tools, it’s difficult to identify the trends and patterns that tell companies how they’re performing and where they need to improve. The best data collection tools will also integrate with the business intelligence platforms companies already use, so they can quickly go from collection to analysis.

Businesses should look for data collection tools that align with the type of data they need to collect. For example, service and product-based businesses can focus on customer feedback, while field service teams may need more photo and video capture options as well as location data. Take advantage of free trials when available, and check user reviews for common issues.

Read next: Data Literacy is Key for Successful Digital Transformation

The post Best Data Collection Tools and Software in 2022 appeared first on IT Business Edge.

What is Remote Monitoring and Management Software?

Remote monitoring and management (RMM) software is a technology platform that gives IT professionals the ability to access and control endpoints even when they aren’t in the same geographic location. Managed services providers (MSPs) used to be the main users of this type of software, but the explosion of remote work in the wake of COVID-19 increased the usage by in-house IT teams as well. 

Organizations can install RMM software onto the devices they want the IT professionals to be able to access remotely, including laptops, desktop computers, smartphones, and even servers. RMM software can also automatically discover devices that are connected to the company’s network, making it easier to identify and remediate any threats. 

What Does RMM Software Do?

RMM software gives IT professionals a gateway into remote devices in order to solve IT issues and remediate threats for employees working from home. Additionally, it allows IT to automatically install necessary updates and patches to keep the devices running smoothly and securely. IT professionals can also use RMM software to generate reports about device health and maintenance needs.

Some key features include:

• Patch management
• Remote access and control
• Automated discovery tools
• Customizable reports
• IT automation

Benefits of Remote Monitoring and Management Tools

Remote monitoring and management tools make businesses more efficient, accelerate threat remediation, and improve device performance. Many of these are marketed towards MSPs, but they will also work for in-house IT teams.

Improved operational efficiency

RMM software improves the operational efficiency of businesses that offer remote work. It makes it easier for their IT teams or MSPs to roll out changes en masse, instead of handling each device individually. Additionally, they don’t have to wait for an employee to call about issues with their device because they can see any problems from their dashboard and fix them potentially even before the employee realizes there’s a problem.

Also read: Top 6 Trends Shaping Digital Transformation in 2022

Faster threat remediation

The RMM dashboard shows IT teams when there’s a problem with a device, which in the case of a threat, tells them exactly where the threat is on the network. This removes part of the threat hunting process, meaning they can begin remediation much faster. Additionally, businesses can detect and contain threats before they cause critical issues for the network.

Improved device health

Without RMM software, companies have to rely on their employees to install patches and updates, which may not happen as regularly as it should. This can cause devices to run slowly or open them up to threats. RMM software allows IT to automate the patching process and gives them regular reports on device health, so they can handle maintenance as needed.

Best RMM Software & Tools

The best RMM software should include a centralized management console and IT automation, and it should make it easy to add new devices as your business grows.

NinjaOne

NinjaOne RMM automates IT operation and requires low management overhead, improving efficiency. It offers free training and onboarding services as well as good support documentation. Users get a single management console for Windows, Mac, Linux, SNMP, and VMware devices. However, the patch management features can only be automated for Windows, Mac, and Linux devices. IT can create custom alerts to limit false positives and get real-time device health analysis. Pricing requires a custom quote from sales.

Key Features

• Automated patch management
• Centralized management console
• Customizable reports and notifications
• Managed antivirus software
• Integrated cloud backup solution
• IT automation

Pros

• Fast deployment and implementation
• Helpful and responsive customer support
• High degree of success with automation

Cons

• May provide unnecessary alerts
• Somes users want permissions to be more granular

N-Able RMM

N-Able RMM (previously SolarWinds RMM) provides script-free automation, making it easier to deploy the platform and begin managing devices. Its layered security solutions block evolving threats, while rollback features help protect against ransomware and device crashes. Users get automated remediation out of the box, or they can customize automation policies with pre-built PowerShell scripts. The platform supports Windows, Mac, Linux, and Raspberry Pi devices and offers automated patching support for common application types, including Apple, Google, Java, and Adobe. Pricing information is not available on the website. 

Key Features

• Automated discovery tools
• Customizable automation scripts
• Scheduled and on-demand patch scans
• Non-disruptive background maintenance
• Automated ticketing
• Customizable reports

Pros

• Easy to use and deploy
• Helpful and responsive customer support
• Doesn’t slow down end user devices

Cons

• The system may lag
• Some users have issues with patch management

Atera

Atera RMM includes remote access, professional services automation, billing, and reporting, making it a great option for both in-house teams and MSPs. Root cause analysis helps IT determine where breaches are coming from before beginning remediation, making it easier to take the right course of action from the beginning. The integrated help desk provides added visibility into the network as well as ticketing processes, so IT can be more efficient. There are three monthly pricing tiers businesses can choose from, priced per technician. Businesses that want a live chat option will need to upgrade past the basic plan.

Key Features

• IT automation and scripting
• Patch management
• Ticket queues and scheduling
• 24/7 support
• Real-time monitoring and alerts
• Advanced remote maintenance

Pros

• New features are added regularly
• Library of user-created scripts available
• Pricing per technician makes it a relatively inexpensive option

Cons

• Some users want more robust patch management features
• SNMP control documentation is lacking

Kaseya VSA

Kaseya VSA RMM provides an all-in-one solution for endpoint management, automation, and security to improve visibility and operational efficiency. Users can manage all network devices, including mobile and internet of things (IoT) devices. Additionally, all endpoint functions are available from the centralized management console, lowering the time it takes technicians to handle routine maintenance. Security measures include two-factor authentication, threat detection, and automated patch management. Kaseya boasts a simple pricing model, but the pricing information is not available on the website.

Key Features

• Customizable automation
• Automated and scheduled patching
• Remote control and live connect
• Automatic device discovery
• Centralized network monitoring
• User-friendly mobile application

Pros

• Integrates with other software for better visibility
• Easy to implement and deploy
• Provides detailed device information

Cons

• Can be more complex than similar RMM software
• Some users complain about the time it takes to fix bugs

Barracuda RMM

Barracuda RMM includes a built-in security assessment tool to help IT professionals analyze overall device health and quickly identify any vulnerabilities. Users can schedule and automate routine tasks with over 200 pre-built scripts, and they can customize those scripts to meet their own needs. The reports are also customizable, allowing organizations to zero-in on the information that’s most important to them. Businesses can also add managed services through Barracuda, if they don’t have an in-house IT team. Pricing for Barracuda RMM requires a quote from the sales team. 

Key Features

• Centralized management dashboard
• Patch management
• Security assessments
• IT automation
• Real-time monitoring and alerts
• Asset management

Pros

• Strong reporting capabilities
• Multiple options for remote access
• Easy to learn and use

Cons

• Built-in antivirus may have compatibility issues
• Patch management can be inconsistent

ConnectWise Automate

ConnectWise Automate is a unified endpoint management (UEM) platform that includes RMM, IT automation, patch management, and asset discovery. It provides audit trails showing which team members remotely connected to a device, what they did, and how long they were connected, and there are even video recordings of remote sessions available. Users get a single source of truth regarding device health. The software is configured to the best monitoring practices, but businesses can also customize its procedures to fit their needs. Pricing information is not available on the website.

Key Features

• Recordings of remote sessions
• Automated discovery tools
• IT automation
• Scheduled reporting
• Patch management
• Professional services automation billing

Pros

• Easy to customize the software as needed
• Provides a lot of functionality out of the box
• Powerful scripting engine

Cons

• Has a fairly steep learning curve
• Support can be slow to respond

Datto RMM

Datto RMM is completely cloud-based, making it accessible for remote IT staff and easy to scale as the business grows. Users can automate patch policies to update applications as needed and prevent vulnerabilities in the network. IT experts can also customize scripts and automation policies to detect ransomware and handle other manual tasks. The dashboards and reports are also fully configurable. Additionally, the remote support feature allows technicians to have live help sessions with employees to solve issues with their devices. Pricing information is not available on the Datto website. 

Key Features

• Open REST API
• Scheduled and on-demand reporting
• Patch management
• Network mapping
• Wi-Fi monitoring
• Customizable automation scripts

Pros

• Easy to use with an intuitive UI
• Helpful and knowledgeable deployment support
• Improves monitoring efficiency

Cons

• Custom monitoring scripts can be challenging to create
• Some users have had problems with automatic updates failing

RMM Tools Enable Remote Work

Remote monitoring and management software is the key to successful remote work because it keeps employee devices running smoothly and prevents vulnerabilities stemming from uninstalled patches. They improve operational efficiency through IT automation and enable faster remediation of threats. Additionally, RMM tools work well for in-office teams because they allow IT to manage devices from a single management console, rather than having to visit an employee’s office to troubleshoot.

Organizations looking for RMM software should determine the types of devices they have on their network. Not all RMM tools support all operating systems. However, many RMM platforms do offer free trials, so businesses should test a few out to see what works best for them.

Read next: Eight Best Practices for Securing Long-Term Remote Work

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What is Configuration Management and Why is It Important?

Configuration management is the set of processes that systems engineers use to create consistency when they’re building or repairing hardware and software. It tracks changes and helps keep systems more stable over their lifetimes, even when the systems are complex or granular. Configuration management may track metadata, including:

• CPU and RAM allocations
• Passwords
• Encryption keys
• Endpoints with external connections

Configuration management creates a single source of truth for this information, improving organization and minimizing downtime.

What is a Configuration Management Tool?

A configuration management tool is a type of software that manages and tracks the changes that happen during configuration management. It can also automate some of the change and deployment procedures, carrying them out faster and with less potential for human error. Configuration management tools track resource usage, prevent duplicate work, and identify where problems are coming from within the system.

Get your free copy of the Configuration Management Software Buyer’s Guide.

Benefits of Software Configuration Management Tools

Software configuration management tools lower the likelihood of human error, make systems more scalable, and reduce the volatility of software systems.

Fewer Human Errors

Because configuration management tools can automate tasks during systems engineering, they lower the likelihood that human error will occur. It also tracks changes in the software, meaning it’s easy for organizations to roll back to an earlier version if someone does make a mistake or the system malfunctions.

Also read: Top Automation Software: Managing Your IT Processes

Improved System Scalability

Employers are struggling to fill their technology roles, meaning they can’t rely on more personnel in order to scale their systems. Instead, configuration management tools can improve an organization’s operational efficiency, allowing it to create more scalable systems without enlarging its staff. Configuration management also prevents unnecessary duplication, so tasks can get done faster.

More Stable Software & Hardware

Configuration management provides a defined set of processes, meaning developers and IT staff should be handling the same tasks in the same way each time they perform them. It can also help teams identify and solve problems faster due to the detailed audit trails. Stable software and hardware results in less downtime and fewer unplanned resource expenditures.

Top Configuration Management Tools

The best configuration management tools should make it easy to track software changes and enforce organizational policies. Businesses looking for configuration management tools should consider the following platforms, chosen for their high user ratings and the features they offer.

Ansible

Ansible by Red Hat is an automation platform that provides businesses with the framework they need to automate critical processes. IT managers can set rules for how different teams apply automation, preventing processes that will interfere with current procedures. Ansible can automate tasks for infrastructure, applications, networks, cloud, security, and containers. 

Admins can standardize how users deploy, initiate, and audit automation in the network to keep their systems stable. There are two pricing tiers available, but actual pricing information is not available on the website.

Key Features

• 24/7 support available
• Comprehensive dashboards
• Real-time updates
• Scheduled automation
• Role-based access control
• Audit trails

Pros

• Easy to set up and use
• Helpful and responsive support team
• Requires less memory and storage than similar products

Cons

• Requires deep knowledge of infrastructure
• May not check all dependencies

Also read: Ansible vs. Terraform: DevOps Tool Comparison

Rudder

Rudder is an IT infrastructure automation platform that provides a centralized management console for all of an organization’s systems. The lightweight agent connects directly to the central server, ensuring application security and reliability. Organizations can use Rudder to manage a variety of devices and network types, including laptops, cloud environments, and industrial physical servers. 

There are three pricing tiers available that charge on a per-node, per year basis. Users will have to upgrade from the basic tier to get support service level agreements (SLAs) and longer maintenance periods. 

Key Features

• Shareable dashboards
• Multiplatform agents
• API integrations
• User-friendly configuration builder
• Drift management
• Custom security policies

Pros

• Clear pricing structure available on the website
• Simplifies communication between technical and non-technical employees
• Clear and intuitive interface

Cons

• Users cannot control the execution order of tasks
• Small user community

Salt Project

The Salt Project, formerly SaltStack, is an open-source infrastructure management tool that enables configuration management, remote execution of hardware, or automation. It’s based on the Python framework, and users can easily add custom modules for more features. Additionally, it executes processes in a consistent manner to keep hardware and software stable. 

The platform is free to download thanks to its open-source nature, although that may mean that businesses will not have access to live support. There is, however, a robust knowledge base available, featuring tutorials and documentation.

Key Features

• Web-based user interface
• Role-based access control
• CIS and DISA STIGS compliance
• Enterprise API
• Customizable reporting
• LDAP, SAML, OIDC, & Active Directory integration

Pros

• Easy to design infrastructure and deployment architecture
• Documentation is well-written
• Frequent updates

Cons

• Immature compared to similar tools
• May not integrate as well with complex systems

Puppet

Puppet is IT automation software for infrastructure management and improved workflows. It includes both model-based and task-based automation capabilities to help organizations easily scale their infrastructure. Users can automate tasks on the operating system layer all the way out to the application layer. 

Puppet helps eliminate silos and deploy changes faster and with fewer inconsistencies. There are several options available for Puppet, but interested parties will have to contact the company for pricing information. Support packages also seem to come at an additional cost.

Key Features

• Single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• Customizable reporting
• System health checks
• Multiple options for cloud integrations, including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform
• Compliance tools
• Self-service automation

Pros

• Offers a high level of flexibility and functionality
• Supports multiple operating systems
• Easy to use and implement on cloud infrastructure

Cons

• The learning curve can be steep
• The ecosystem is fairly complicated

CFEngine

CFEngine provides automation and visibility into an organization’s infrastructure, helping them improve their security and meet compliance requirements. With standardized patching and update procedures, businesses can quickly roll out changes to their infrastructure to keep it running smoothly. 

CFEngine gives businesses a single source of truth for their networks, allowing them access to critical information quickly. Users can also customize their reports for better insights. There is a free version for open-source projects, but enterprises will have to pay for a business license. Pricing information is not available on the website.

Key Features

• Pre-built and customizable reports
• Performance monitoring
• Real-time updates
• Compliance tools
• Customizable and shareable dashboards
• Dedicated support available

Pros

• Easy to scale and has fast execution times
• Helpful user community
• Isn’t very resource-intensive

Cons

• The learning curve can be fairly steep
• Customizing the configuration is difficult for some users

Chef Infra

Chef Infra is configuration management software that allows organizations to manage all their disparate systems at the same time. It prevents configuration drift, automatically returning a system to its desired state if it diverges. Users can define their configurations once and then deploy them across a variety of systems, including Linux, Mac, or Windows. Plus, DevOps teams can define repeatable and reusable processes for these different types of systems. Pricing isn’t available on the Chef website, but interested organizations can also purchase Chef from the AWS or Azure store if they want to use it with their cloud environments.

Key Features

• Scheduled updates
• Resource management
• Data aggregation and validation
• Secrets management
• Full stack visibility
• Agile development practices

Pros

• Easy to use and scale
• Users can manage large environments with continuous monitoring
• Good technical documentation

Cons

• Lengthy setup process
• Steep learning curve

Auvik

Auvik is cloud-based network management software that offers configuration management and IT asset management. Automated discovery tools identify the devices connected to an organization’s network and track changes to keep the business secure. 

Auvik provides automated security and performance updates and encrypts data with AES-256 bit encryption. It scans the network for configuration changes every hour, backing up new changes and logging old versions. There are two product tiers that businesses can choose from, but pricing information is not available on the website.

Key Features

• Real-time updates
• Version control
• Backup and recovery automation
• Network traffic analysis
• Remote access
• Audit logs

Pros

• Easy remote deployment
• Helpful and responsive customer support
• Intuitive user interface

Cons

• Can require a large amount of management labor
• Some users complain about incorrect alerts

Juju

Juju is an open-source application modeling tool with support for both Go and Python coding languages. It supports application development for Windows and Linux as well as public and private clouds on AWS, Azure, Google, Oracle, OpenStack, or VMware. Developers get a detailed application graph model which tells them how applications should integrate with each other, simplifying large deployments. 

Due to its open-source nature, Juju is free to download and use, but users may not be able to get live support. However, there is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) option available for a fee.

Key Features

• Pre-built modules
• Kubernetes cluster deployments
• Command line and graphical user interface (GUI)
• Public or private cloud deployment
• 24/7 monitoring and alerting
• Script bundling

Pros

• Not very resource-intensive
• Customer-centric development
• Easy integrations

Cons

• Installation can be complex
• Some users complain about inconsistent commands in the command line

Is Configuration Management Software Right for Your Business?

Configuration management software is key for businesses that build a lot of their own applications or have a complex technology infrastructure. For these organizations, they’ll need a way to manage all of their systems from a single console and ensure they can track changes and restore previous versions. 

Open-source software is great for companies who don’t need live support, but they should make sure the user community is active before downloading the software. Otherwise, organizations should consider tools that come with dedicated support.

Read next: The Impact of Container Architecture on IT Development

The post Top Configuration Management Tools & Software 2022 appeared first on IT Business Edge.

Make Security Awareness Training a Regular Event

Cybersecurity is a constantly changing industry, and as new threats emerge, businesses will need to communicate that information to their employees. At the very least, cybersecurity training should be conducted once per year, but even that infrequently can put companies at risk. If a business holds their training one week and a new threat comes out the next, then they might wait another 50 weeks before telling their employees about it.

“The traditional approach of a once-a-year compliance training is out of date, and inherently higher risk than building a culture of security through consistent training programs and modules, paired with things like phishing simulators and scenario-based training,” says Jack Koziel CEO and founder of InfoSec Institute. “We’re running monthly security awareness training, annual tabletop exercises, and bi-weekly phishing campaigns to ensure our employees have the knowledge they need to not only detect potential cyber threats but also respond.”

Additionally, regular training doesn’t have to involve regular meetings. Nicole Moore, Senior Analyst at DTEX Systems, says, “We recommend sending an all-staff email 1-2 times per month highlighting specific security topics alongside relevant current events, and the key takeaways to be learned from each.” 

However, not everyone reads emails as carefully as they should, so businesses should follow these emails up with short quizzes or simulations.

Free Training Resources

Valecia Stocchetti, Senior Cybersecurity Engineer at the Center for Internet Security, offers several free resources that businesses can take advantage of. “The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is well known for providing several resources for cybersecurity training and workforce development. The National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCSA), a nonprofit, is also a great place to obtain cybersecurity awareness and education resources,” she says. 

“Additionally, for U.S. State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) governments, FedVTE is a great resource full of free online cybersecurity training. Whatever resources your organization invests in, paid or free, ensure that they are engaging and informative.” Paid cybersecurity awareness tools may also include simulations businesses can run with their employees and video resources to engage more users.

Gamify Cybersecurity Training

In order to keep cybersecurity awareness interesting and engaging, companies should gamify it, rather than just giving a lecture. “Performing regular simulation-based training allows them to be immersed in live cyber attacks, enabling them to increase their awareness and understanding of what might happen in the future,” notes Debbie Gordon, CEO and founder of Cloud Range. “This creates muscle memory and allows the company to be more prepared to detect and respond to an attack.

“It works similarly to flight simulators that pilots use to practice their skills in real-world conditions,” she explains. “A cyber range simulation program builds on education and skills that are learned in individual lab environments to allow people to practice cyber defense in a simulated environment with real attack scenarios.”

Identify the Biggest Risk Factors for Your Organization

Not all cyber threats are going to apply to every organization. Businesses that take payment information on their website are more prone to DDoS attacks than those that don’t, for example. Once security teams know the types of threats their business is most likely to encounter, they can structure training programs to focus on those attacks, rather than conducting generalized training.

“To find out where your vulnerabilities are, carry out an audit on your network assets,” advises Jason Stirland, CTO at DeltaNet International. “Do everything from monthly penetration testing to updating known bugs out in the wild and keeping updated on Patch Tuesday announcements. To save time on resources, prioritize patching the vulnerabilities at the highest risk of exposing your organization or applications.”

Moore discusses the importance of real-time feedback when identifying risk factors. “One of the ways we supplement general security training is with DTEX’s Teachable Moments feature, which sends an email notifying a user or manager of negligent behavior in near-real-time. This notification can be configured to alert the desired recipient of activities like accessing inappropriate sites (or any site that breaches corporate policies),” she says. “Not only does this help organizations quickly confront risky behaviors, but it helps to reinforce what the real areas of risk are and can be used to push for additional cybersecurity training for your workforce.”

Also read: Is Cybersecurity Insurance Worth It?

Get Everyone Involved

Buy-in from every part of the organization is critical for cybersecurity awareness. Kev Breen, Director of Cyber Threat Research at Immersive Labs, explains that cybersecurity training can no longer solely consist of organizations teaching their employees not to fall for social engineering. “Organizations need to ensure a fundamental understanding of how each role contributes to cybersecurity across the workforce,” he says. “To do this, cyber skills must be continuously measured in any area of the business where risk is present and the development of knowledge, skills, and judgment kept up to date in a way which keeps pace with the dynamic pace of risk.” 

Breen says organizations have to broaden the responsibilities to more than just their cybersecurity team, giving the examples that “developers need to be aware of their role in building secure software and executive teams need to prepare for crisis response.”

Leaders need to gain a deeper understanding of the ‘why’ behind these incidents to define better business practices that could benefit others in the organization

Nicole Moore, Senior Analyst at DTEX Systems

Cybersecurity must start at the top and trickle down, so businesses also have to have buy-in from their executive team to make the training successful. “Leaders need to gain a deeper understanding of the ‘why’ behind these incidents to define better business practices that could benefit others in the organization,” says Moore. She recommends that managers lead security conversations with their staff, rather than a member of the security team, to help reinforce the importance for their team specifically.

Also read: A Guide to Introducing Security into DevOps

Don’t Punish Employees When They Make Mistakes During Training

Training is meant to give employees a safe space to fail, meaning you shouldn’t punish employees that don’t perform well on the training. Instead, have a one-on-one conversation with them about the mistakes they made and how they should handle those scenarios in the future. Then, you can provide the training again to see what they’ve learned. Clear dismissal or willfully risky behavior should be met with disciplinary action, but these are unlikely. 

For the most part, employees won’t purposefully do anything that would hurt your company, but you have to give them the tools they need to know what to look out for. Additionally, put protections in place that can reduce the number of chances they have to make a mistake, like email security software and password managers. 

Read next: Best Cybersecurity Training & Courses for Employees 2022

The post Cybersecurity Awareness for Employees: Best Practices appeared first on IT Business Edge.

What is Backup Software and Why is It Used?

Backup software is a storage application that creates and stores copies of digital files, folders, software, and even a device or server as a whole. The software stores the files in a separate location from the originals, providing seamless access if the original files are lost or stolen. Typically cloud-based, it stores the copies in the cloud, making them accessible from anywhere in case a natural disaster wipes out the office.

Backup software is used to prevent data loss in case of natural disasters, hardware crashes, or ransomware attacks. Businesses get a quick way to restore their files without paying a ransom or trying to evacuate a server. Backup software can offer either manual or automatic backups, but businesses should choose an automated backup system, so they don’t lose any critical data.

How Does Backup Software Work?

Businesses install data backup software on their computers, mobile devices, and servers where it copies the data from those devices and sends it to an external storage facility using a secure internet connection. If the company experiences data loss, they can log into the backup system to initiate the restoration process and retrieve their files. 

Some businesses want to have backup software that offers both on-premises and cloud backups, so they can have their files stored in more than one location.

Also read: Make Incident Response Planning Easy with this Free Template

Key Features of Backup Software

Backup software should make it easy for businesses to recover their files during an incident. These features can facilitate recovery and keep files secure at rest or in transit.

Self-Service Backup and Recovery

Organizations need self-service options in their backup software in order to access their files faster. They shouldn’t have to go through the vendor to get access to their files, especially if the vendor doesn’t offer 24/7 support. Additionally, backup software that doesn’t run automatic backups should allow users to decide when and which files to backup. 

Flexible Storage Options

Backup software should also offer flexible storage options, allowing businesses to back up their data in multiple locations. There should be both cloud and on-premise storage available, giving businesses several ways to retrieve their data in case of an emergency.

Automatic Discovery

Automatic discovery keeps businesses from having to remember what data they’ve already backed up. Instead, the backup software runs continuously, adding new files to backups as the organization creates them.

Also read: Successful Cloud Migration with Automated Discovery Tools

Compliance

Businesses store a lot of sensitive data about their customers and employees, and their backup solutions should keep them compliant with regulatory requirements. Depending on the type of data the company stores, they may be susceptible to GDPR, PCI DSS, or SOC guidelines.

Best Backup Software

Organizations looking for backup software should consider one of the following options, chosen for their high user ratings, flexible options, and critical features.

Acronis Advanced Backup

Acronis Advanced Backup combines cloud backup with cybersecurity to keep data safe during transit and while it’s in storage. Anti-malware and antivirus protection keeps files clean, and real-time backups prevent data loss. The system protects over 20 types of workloads, including Windows, Mac, Google, and Linux, and organizations can backup text files, images, and full applications. Plus, granular recovery options allow businesses to only recover the files they need. Interested organizations will have to contact Acronis for pricing information.

Key Features

Arcserve Backup

Arcserve Backup provides magnetic tape backup and recovery to lower an organization’s total cost of ownership and provide longer retention periods. The platform is scalable, letting businesses start small and increase storage as necessary. Organizations can monitor the status of their backups in real time, get full visibility into their environments, and quickly restore data with granular recovery options. The software works well with distributed and multiplatform environments. Pricing information is not available on the Arcserve website.

Key Features

Paragon Backup & Recovery Business

Paragon Backup & Recovery Business works best for small and medium-sized businesses with easy deployment and management and automated workflows. It includes built-in security features to protect data from unauthorized access. It does only support Windows-based workloads, so organizations using Mac, Linux, or other options should look at other platforms. Businesses can choose physical or virtual storage for their backups. Pricing information is not available on the website.

Key Features

Veritas System Recovery

Veritas System Recovery backs up desktops, laptops, and servers to protect all of the information on an organization’s network. The single management console makes it easy to back up and restore data without consuming a large amount of storage capacity. The system automatically duplicates backups in the cloud and makes it easy to restore data to any hardware environment. Cloud storage on Amazon S3 or Microsoft Azure provides secure supplements to secondary storage locations. Veritas does not include pricing information on the website.

Key Features

NTI Backup Now

NTI Backup Now provides backup solutions for office PCs running on Windows operating systems. With remote backup and cloud storage, it works well for small businesses and managed services providers (MSPs). The File Backup feature supports audio, videos, photos, documents, and emails, while the Drive Backup duplicates the entire PC. The licenses are billed per device, but companies can get discounts when they purchase more than one license at a time.

Key Features

AOMEI Backupper Professional

AOMEI Backupper Professional includes file, disk, system, and partition backups for Windows PCs. The real-time sync feature automatically backs up new files to prevent data loss, and two-way sync ensures that on-premises and cloud locations contain the same files. Organizations can schedule backups, restore data to new hardware after a crash, and get notifications about backup statuses. There are two types of licenses available for business use, and each license covers one device. Organizations can get discounts for buying more than one license at a time.

Key Features

NovaBACKUP

NovaBACKUP offers PC or cloud backups for small businesses and MSPs. The single management interface makes it easy to view all devices or clients quickly, ensuring all of the data is backed up. The US-based support team makes it easy for clients to get answers to their questions quickly, usually in less than one day. The platform is secure, encrypted, and follows several compliance regulations, including HIPAA. There are several different licenses to choose from, but PC licensing is priced per device with discounts for multiple licenses available.

Key Features

EaseUS Todo Backup Enterprise

EaseUS Todo Backup Enterprise offers reliable data protection for businesses of any size. Users can schedule automatic backups and instantly restore data after an incident. With support for PCs, servers, and databases, organizations can get automated, continuous protection for new and existing assets. Plus, the central management console makes it easy to review backup statuses. Organizations can choose between Workstation, Server, Advanced Server, or Technician licenses, and pricing will depend on the type and number of licenses.

Key Features

Choosing the Best Backup Solution for Your Business

Choosing a backup solution for your business depends on the type of devices your organization uses. For example, many backup solutions don’t support macOS or iOS devices. If your business keeps critical information on those types of devices, you’ll need backup software that can support them. 

You’ll also need to determine how many devices you need to backup since so many vendors price their products per device. Take advantage of free trials when possible, and talk to support during those trials to make sure the solution will work for you before signing a contract or buying a full license.

Read next: Cyber Incident Response Planning & Guide

Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which IT Business Edge receives compensation.

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What is Threat Intelligence?

Threat intelligence is a type of data that organizations collect that tells them what an attacker’s motives, behaviors, and targets typically look like. It reports on known malware signatures, the types of data ransomware groups like to target, and possible symptoms of an infection on a company’s device or network. 

Using this information, businesses can make more informed security decisions and focus on the areas of their network that are the most at-risk. Because organizations can use threat intelligence to protect themselves against both known and unknown threats, they can take a more proactive approach to cybersecurity, preventing breaches rather than trying to mitigate the damage afterward. The information provided helps them create better incident response plans and provide more focused training to their employees.

Also read: Emerging Cybersecurity Trends in 2022 and Beyond

Types of Threat Intelligence

There are four types of threat intelligence that organizations need for an effective cybersecurity defense.

• Strategic: offers high-level information on threats and is usually meant for a non-technical audience, typically at the executive level. It gives the user an idea of what the possible ramifications of a breach could be to better inform their decision-making.
• Tactical: provides specific details regarding an attacker’s methodologies, targets, and the tools they use. This information typically goes to technical users, like security experts, and tells them what indicators of compromise (IoCs) they should look for.
• Technical: gives both technical and non-technical employees signs to look for that indicate a specific type of threat, including key phrases in email subject lines. This type of intelligence changes often to account for changing attacker tactics.
• Operational: relies on gaining intelligence about a specific incoming attack, typically through social media and chat rooms. It can provide more insight to where and when an attacker will hit, which assets are vulnerable, and how an organization can stop the breach before it happens.

What is a Threat Intelligence Platform?

A threat intelligence platform is a type of software that collects this threat data from multiple sources and organizes it, so companies can see what their biggest security risks are. Security professionals can use a threat intelligence platform to handle the collection and organization of threat data, allowing them to focus on analysis and preparation. The security team can also share reports that the threat intelligence software generates to help them get executives on board for new security measures.

Key Features of Threat Intelligence Software

Threat intelligence software should make it easy for security teams to identify potential threats and protect their systems against them. Here are the features organizations looking for a threat intelligence platform should prioritize.

Integrations

Threat intelligence software should integrate with an organization’s other security tools, including security information and event management (SIEM), endpoint protection, and firewalls. These integrations allow the security team to gather threat intelligence in the applications they already use to protect the business, rather than having to visit a separate console to learn more about a potential threat. 

Central Management Console

Thanks to the integrations that threat intelligence software should include, it provides a single management console for the security team to identify and remediate threats. With a single management dashboard, security experts can match up anomalies with known threats and speed up the remediation process. 

Multiple Data Sources

Threat intelligence software should be able to pull threat data from multiple sources in order to create a complete picture of a potential attack. Not every source is going to have all the information security professionals need to protect their organization, but one may be able to provide the methods of the attacker, while others could speak to their preferred targets or specific tools they use.

Top Threat Intelligence Platforms & Tools

Businesses looking to add threat intelligence software to their current cybersecurity stack should consider the following platforms, chosen for their cybersecurity expertise, user reviews, and feature options.

Cisco Secure Malware Analytics

Cisco Secure Malware Analytics (formerly Threat Grid) combines threat intelligence with advanced sandboxing, allowing security teams to get a better understanding of what malware is trying to do before they remove it from the system. With both a global and historical view of the malware, users can identify how the threat has changed over time and make educated guesses of what it might look like in the future. Additionally, threat prioritization helps the security team respond to the most pressing issues first and prevents them from wasting time on false positives when a real threat is in the works.

Key Features

SIRP

SIRP collects cybersecurity data from all of your different platforms and organizes it all in one place. The data is then placed into separate containers depending on its type. Incidents, threat intelligence, and vulnerabilities are all placed into their own buckets, so it’s easy for security teams to find the information they need. Threat scores tell the IT team which issues they should tackle first, while automating parts of the remediation processes reduce IT’s manual workload. SIRP also encourages team collaboration with shared workflow and case management functionalities. 

Key Features

Palo Alto Networks Autofocus

Autofocus from Palo Alto Networks contains intel on millions of vulnerabilities to prepare IT teams for potential threats. This threat intelligence is enriched further with context from Unit 42, a recognized authority on cyberthreats. The robust search features make it easy to research and analyze threats, allowing an organization’s security team to search billions of samples and trillions of artifacts. Users can customize dashboards, reports, and alerts. While some platforms combine threat intelligence and other cybersecurity tools, Autofocus is solely dedicated to threat intelligence and helping IT teams prevent attacks.

Key Features

Also read: Palo Alto Networks Unveils Okyo Garde Cybersecurity Solution

CrowdStrike Falcon

CrowdStrike Falcon is an endpoint protection program that combines antivirus, threat intelligence, device control, and firewall control in even the most basic package. It is a cloud-based, modular platform that allows customers to build an endpoint security system that meets their needs. Modules can either be purchased alone or as part of a larger bundle. The threat intelligence tool combines automated analysis with human intelligence, so security teams can stay ahead of attackers by predicting their next move. The basic level automatically investigates incidents and initiates response protocols.

Key Features

Also read: EDR vs EPP? You Really Need Both

IBM X-Force Exchange

IBM X-Force Exchange not only provides threat intelligence from industry experts, but it also allows users to collaborate with peers to get the best information from a variety of sources. The cloud-based system provides security research assets to help IT teams better understand emerging threats and security risks, analyze threats, and make decisions in near real time. With both human and machine-generated intelligence, cybersecurity teams get the best intel to protect against attacks. There are several packages available, so businesses can get the level of security they need.

Key Features

Also read: IBM X-Force: Threat Intelligence Product Overview and Insight

N-Able Risk Intelligence Software

N-Able Risk Intelligence Software (formerly SolarWinds MSP) is mainly geared towards managed service providers (MSPs) to help them assess their clients’ networks. The system assigns values to data vulnerabilities to show how likely a breach is and how much it could cost a company. It also prioritizes vulnerabilities, so users know where to start fortifying a network. The permissions discovery feature ensures that only authorized users can access sensitive information, and vulnerability scanning identifies the holes in the network and the best ways to patch them.

Key Features

ThreatConnect

ThreatConnect unites threat intelligence, security orchestration and response, and cyber risk quantification all in one platform. The system aligns security protocols to the business, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. It streamlines processes and breaks down obstacles between teams to optimize cybersecurity, using risk reduction as a way to measure the security team’s efforts. The system provides a detailed view into threats for quicker assessments and streamlined processes and aligns strategic and operational goals to help security teams prioritize the most important vulnerabilities.

Key Features

Choosing the Best Threat Intelligence Tool for Your Business

Each business will need something different from their threat intelligence platform, whether that’s sandboxing so they can further analyze attacks or behavioral analysis to quickly identify threats. When choosing the right threat intelligence software for your business, it’s important to decide whether you’re only looking for threat intelligence, or you’d like a platform with other offerings, like antivirus or endpoint protection. 

Enterprise businesses with in-house security teams should consider best-of-breed standalone software, while small and medium-sized businesses may prefer threat intelligence as part of another security tool. 

Read next:Top Five Vulnerabilities Attackers Use Against Browsers

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Jump to:

• What is Antivirus Software?
• How Does Antivirus Software Work?
• Best Antivirus Software
  • Avast Business Endpoint Protection
  • Bitdefender Gravityzone Business Security
  • Trend Micro’s OfficeScan
  • Panda Endpoint Protection Plus
  • AVG Antivirus Business Edition
  • Norton Small Business
  • Kaspersky Endpoint Security Cloud
  • ESET Endpoint Security
• Business Antivirus Software is the Minimum

What is Antivirus Software?

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Antivirus software, sometimes called anti-malware, is a type of security tool that both businesses and consumers use to protect their devices from malware. It regularly scans devices, looking for anything that seems out of place or that matches a known threat signature. Once it discovers malware, the system automatically removes it from the device. Advanced virus protection can also block malicious websites and provide firewall protection.

Free vs. Paid Antivirus Software

Most consumers use free antivirus software to protect their devices, but businesses need to pay for their antivirus protection. For one, free antivirus software typically isn’t updated as often as the paid versions, meaning that businesses, which are more at risk for attack, don’t get the level of protection they need. Additionally, many antivirus software vendors don’t license their free versions for business use. 

How Does Antivirus Software Work?

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Antivirus software works in the background of a device, scanning files and applications for known malware signatures and suspicious file structures. Once it identifies something that it recognizes as malware, the platform will quarantine it until it can delete it from the system. 

Some antivirus software scans files as they enter your device, but others will scan programs already on your device. Both options work well, but if you’ve had a device for a while, you should look for software that scans files that you already have on your device since malware could already be present.

Best Antivirus Software

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Businesses that need antivirus protection should look at the following platforms, picked for their high user reviews, solid security ratings, and included features.

Avast Business Endpoint Protection

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Avast Business Endpoint Protection combines next-generation antivirus (NGAV) software with patch management to identify and remove malware while also fortifying vulnerabilities. The Business Hub gives IT real-time visibility into all of the devices on the network, showing them potential threats and giving them access to comprehensive reports. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning use behavioral clues to identify both known and unknown threats. Additionally, with basic remote control, IT can remotely access a user’s device to troubleshoot technical issues quickly. 

There are three pricing tiers for small businesses that include between 11 and 100 users, but there are also solutions for smaller and larger businesses, as well as managed services providers (MSPs).

Key Features

Bitdefender Gravityzone Business Security

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Bitdefender Gravityzone Business Security offers resource-efficient virus protection software with machine learning. IT gets a single management console where they can track security events and handle any manual work associated with them. Ransomware mitigation technology provides real-time backups of files to keep organizations from having to pay the ransom to get access to their data. Plus, network-based security blocks brute force attack attempts and lateral movements within the network. 

Gravityzone pricing depends on the number of devices organizations want to protect and the length of the contract they want to sign. Longer contracts will offer steeper discounts, and there is custom pricing available for businesses that want to protect more than 100 devices.

Key Features

Trend Micro’s OfficeScan

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Trend Micro’s OfficeScan offers endpoint protection with NGAV and machine learning to close security gaps in a business’s network. It protects physical endpoints, including Windows PCs and servers, Mac computers, point-of-sale (POS) systems, and ATMs, and there’s an add-on available for virtualized endpoint protection. The threat protection includes behavioral analysis and sandboxing to identify unknown threats as well as web reputation checks to block malicious websites.

Pricing is not available on the Trend Micro website, so interested organizations will have to contact them for more information.

Key Features

Panda Endpoint Protection Plus

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Panda Endpoint Protection Plus, now a part of WatchGuard, offers virus protection for both known and unknown threats, including phishing and ransomware. It covers Windows systems, Linux, macOS, Android, and virtual environments and provides automatic analysis of these systems. With web filtering, the software protects users from malicious websites and bot attacks.

Pricing for Panda Endpoint Protection Plus depends on the number of users businesses want to protect and the length of the license. Licenses are available for one- and three-year periods, and there are add-on products like encryption and patch management that organizations can add as needed.

Key Features

AVG Antivirus Business Edition

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AVG Antivirus Business Edition offers protection against malware, ransomware, and malicious web pages. With protective AI and real-time detection, businesses get protection from both known and unknown attacks. The software also provides a firewall and identity protection. The file shredder securely deletes files, while the File Server Security tool keeps Windows files safe and private. 

Pricing depends on the number of devices organizations want to protect and the length of the license. Licenses are available in one-year, two-year, and three-year terms, and longer contracts will have lower price points. Additionally, there are certain price breaks for protecting more devices.

Key Features

Norton Small Business

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Norton Small Business offers antivirus software for PC, Android, and Mac devices, including smartphones and tablets. Users can mix and match licenses, so not all employees have to have the same types of devices to get protection. 24/7 support makes it easy to lock lost or stolen devices remotely at any time and address issues before they lead to downtime. The system is cloud-based and simple to use.

Pricing is based on the number of devices, and the license is good for a full year. Higher discounts will be given to businesses that cover more devices, but it’s probably not cost-effective for enterprises.

Key Features

Kaspersky Endpoint Security Cloud

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Kaspersky Endpoint Security Cloud offers cloud-based antivirus and firewall tools with the option to upgrade for patch management and endpoint detection and response (EDR). It includes two mobile licenses per user, allowing coverage for a laptop, smartphone, and tablet or a work phone and a personal phone. With vulnerability scanning, users can identify any patches that they need to install to keep their devices secure. For remote access and control, businesses will have to upgrade their licenses.

There are two pricing tiers that businesses can choose from, and pricing depends on the number of users and the length of the contract. There is also custom pricing available for businesses looking to cover more than 150 users.

Key Features

ESET Endpoint Security

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ESET Endpoint Security offers multilayered defense for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android devices. In addition to virus and ransomware protection, the platform also includes mobile devices management (MDM) for remote access to employee smartphones and tablets. Browser protection keeps users safe from malicious websites, while network attack protection identifies network vulnerabilities before an attacker exploits them. 

There are four pricing tiers that businesses can choose from, depending on the features they need. There are also add-on solutions available, including cloud security, EDR, and email protection.

Key Features

Business Antivirus Software is the Minimum

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Antivirus software is a necessity for businesses, and it’s the bare minimum security tool you should have in place. You’ll also need firewall protection, email security, and identity and access management (IAM) software. Depending on the size of your organization, you may also need EDR, security information and event management (SIEM), and other security suites. In order to protect your business from the rising number of cybersecurity threats, start with antivirus software and add more protection as you’re able.

Read Next: Emerging Cybersecurity Trends in 2022 and Beyond

The post Best Antivirus Software for Business 2022 appeared first on IT Business Edge.

Data Mining Tools Overview

• What is Data Mining?
• What are Data Mining Tools?
• Top Data Mining Tools
  • RapidMiner
  • Oracle Data Miner
  • Sisense
  • Alteryx APA
  • SAS Data Mining
  • Teradata
  • Dundas BI
  • H2O
• Data Mining Leads to Actionable Insights

What is Data Mining?

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Data mining is the process of pulling information from large datasets in order to find patterns or trends that can inform future decisions. Organizations can also use it to highlight anomalies and attempt to identify the root cause of issues. How does data mining work? Typically, it uses artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and statistical models to identify relevant information. Data mining is a big part of business intelligence, which helps companies cut costs, improve relationships with their customers, and increase revenue.

What are Data Mining Tools?

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Data mining tools are software solutions that use AI and ML to pull and analyze data, highlight trends, and provide actionable insights for businesses. The software can refine information from both structured and unstructured datasets, so organizations can make predictions and understand relationships between different parts of their business. Data mining tools allow businesses to address questions that would take too much time to answer if they had to analyze data by hand.

Also Read: 6 Ways Your Business Can Benefit from DataOps

Top Data Mining Tools

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The following data mining tools all have good user reviews and healthy feature sets.

RapidMiner

RapidMiner offers automated data mining and modeling tools with AI and ML to provide clear visualizations and predictive analytics. The drag-and-drop interface makes it easier for analysts to create predictive models, and the library includes over 1,500 pre-built algorithms, meaning there’s a model for nearly any use case. There are also pre-built templates for common scenarios, including fraud detection and maintenance, to lower the time analysts have to spend building the models. RapidMiner can connect to any data source, or users can import data from Excel. Interested parties must request pricing from RapidMiner; it’s not available on the website.

Key Features

Oracle Data Miner

Oracle Data Miner is an extension of the Oracle SQL Developer that helps analysts quickly build a variety of machine learning models, apply them to new data, and compare the models for actionable insights. It offers a drag-and-drop editor, allowing both data scientists and regular users to get answers to their data-related questions. The workflow API makes it easier to deploy the model throughout the business, embedding analytics into the applications where analysts are already working. Pricing is not clearly available on the website, so businesses will have to contact Oracle for more information.

Key Features

Sisense

Sisense is data analytics software that allows users to embed analytics into the platforms they already work in, putting the information in the same place they’re making decisions. Additionally, businesses can white label the embedded analytics, so they can also push them out to their customers. With live data connections, businesses can get real-time insights and a strong self-service platform. With code-first, low-code, and no-code options available, analysts of any skill level can get their data questions answered and build helpful models. Plus, the AI allows analysts to type in a question, and then it guides them through the investigation. Pricing is not available on the website.

Key Features:

Alteryx APA

Alteryx APA offers automated analytics with machine learning across the entire process, including mining, modeling, and visualization. There are over 80 natively-integrated data sources that users can pull from, including Oracle, Amazon, and Salesforce, or they can use APIs to connect to others. Analysts can also add maps to their visualizations to highlight geographic trends. Alteryx offers step-by-step guides to help analysts of any skill level build models without coding. However, expert data analysts can also use R-based models. Pricing information is not available on the website.

Key Features

SAS Data Mining

SAS Data Mining helps organizations answer complex questions with analytics through automated modeling and a collaborative platform. With natural language generation, the platform can create a post-project summary, detailing important trends, outliers, and insights. Then, users can add notes to the report to make communication and collaboration easier. SAS Data Mining supports a variety of coding options, so analysts can create or adjust algorithms in their language of choice. Data scientists can also combine structured and unstructured data in models to get as much information as possible. Pricing is not available on the SAS website.

Key Features

Teradata

Teradata is a data mining tool built for organizations using multi-cloud deployments, providing access to all databases, data lakes, and external SaaS applications. No-code options allow users from any business department to get answers to their questions to make more informed decisions. Organizations can deploy Teradata on any of the major public cloud platforms, including AWS, Azure, and Google, as well as in private clouds or on-premises. Teradata doesn’t charge upfront costs, instead offering a pay-as-you-go model. A pricing calculator is available on the website to help users estimate their costs.

Key Features

Dundas BI

Dundas BI is a data analytics platform that offers real-time insights and visually-appealing reports and dashboards. It can consolidate data from any source with open APIs, ensuring that users have all the information they need to create effective models. Users can create content that’s easy to understand with minimal input from IT. Interactive dashboards allow analysts to edit models to see how different variables would impact the business. Dundas BI offers a lot of out-of-the-box functionality without requiring add-ons or upgrades. Pricing information is not available on the website.

Key Features

H2O

H2O is an AI cloud built for data mining to improve the insights businesses get from their data and their decision making. Automated machine learning solves complex problems while providing results in an easy-to-understand format. Analysts can train and deploy the AI in any environment, and there are several different modeling types that they can choose from. Real-time data analysis provides accurate predictions and fast insights to help businesses make quicker decisions and improve their scalability. H2O can be deployed with either hybrid or fully managed options. The platform is open-source and free to use, but businesses can pay for enterprise support and management.

Key Features

Data Mining Leads to Actionable Insights

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Companies that use data mining software get faster access to important information and actionable insights that can improve their decision-making process. Each day, businesses take in so much data that it would be impossible to sort through manually. They need data mining tools that include AI to run what-if scenarios and get accurate forecasts. Businesses looking for the best data mining software for their business should take advantage of free trials and read user reviews to determine which one will work best for their team.

Read Next: Attention CIOs: Many Will Fail the Data Science Game

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