Secure Videoconferencing Proposal. IT & Computer Science Research

SECURE VIDEOCONFERENCING
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Secure Videoconferencing
Executive Summary
Video Conferencing increases engagement and builds trust like in person to person interactions, through inviting others to involve in meetings using their standard-based video systems as well as proprietary systems like Skype, Cisco WebEx and Polycom. Skype is a web-based conferencing system that provides the capability of sharing information and data via the sharing of files, text messages, calls across the globe and video chatting. The software allows over 250 individuals in one video conference at their convenience. Cisco WebEx is a software that is flexible in sharing video and audio-conferencing demands for organizations of all sizes. Polycom software assists make low-cost conference audio and video calls whereas increasing productivity in meeting rooms, classrooms, big conference rooms and boardrooms.
Even with the significant growth of Microsoft Skype, Cisco WebEx and Polycom for business, firms still require to overcome numerous challenges like low-quality video or audio, glitches and security concerns to realize measurable business benefits from combined communications.
When considering vendor risks, the company should consider the number of participants, video feeds, ease of use, type of meetings, mobile experience, audio and video recording, screen sharing, room systems, application integration and customer support.
Systems administrators and users should follow best practices like updating current system, generation of encryption keys, utilization of single sign-on for user authentication, securing through firewalls, and policy implementation for secure videoconferencing.
Step 1: Functional Requirements
Video Conferencing increases engagement and builds trust like in person to person interactions, through inviting others to involve in meetings using their standard-based video systems as well as proprietary systems. There exist many video conferencing systems that provide features like real-time screen sharing, remote desktop control and the recording of ongoing meetings. Additional functional requirements are systems with cloud storage, encryption for securing and encrypting information and mobile access (Agi & Gong, 2012). There are many different types of this system but this proposal will present only the best three and give to implementation team for approval
Skype
Skype is a web-based conferencing system that provides the capability of sharing information and data via the sharing of files, text messages, calls across the globe and video chatting. It has ratings of best VoIP solutions throughout the globe. The software allows image and document sharing, chatting capability group videos and instant messaging (Shepard, 2002). It is affordable and almost everyone uses it owing to its flexibility considering its pricing. Based on organization and business communication, the software is the most suitable VoIP solution as it is inexpensive. Additional advantages include its capability to provide communication plethora that boost productivity and fosters collaboration among teams. The system requires less intensive knowledge to install and it enables the firm to totally implement and maximize productivity.
Skype for business may cost the data company about $2.0/mo. or $5.50/mo. for each user with an yearly commitment. Since the company is using windows 10 version 1507, it will require support of processor over 1 GHz, RAM over 512 MB and additional software of over DirectX v9.0.
The software allows over 250 individuals in one video conference at their convenience. It operates on all devices like android mobile phones and desktops thereby making communication simple between the teams with diverse devices. It offers secure communication lines that have stronger encryption and authentication features, productivity, sharing of texts and calls, remote desktop and screen sharing. Some of the limitations of the software includes its reliability to businesses and internet use
Cisco WebEx
Cisco WebEx is a software that is flexible in sharing video and audio-conferencing demands for organizations of all sizes. It needs integration of primary tools to allow the users to carry out video and data, online sharing of audio and online meetings. It can offer users real-time solutions as well as experiences.
Cisco WebEx will cost the company about $30/user monthly for up to 5,000 employees. Since the company is using windows 10, 2 GB RAM Intel Dual-Core CPU 2.XX GHz or AMD processor. Cookies and JavaScript should be enabled on browsers but not on Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox utilizers.
Its features are suitable for large scale product introduction and educational purposes. It enhances team collaboration as well as brainstorming, by enabling sharing of conference and audio features. It offers good stability when having meetings and flexibility on numerous tools.
The advantages of WebEx provide a simple user interface though it is less intuitive. The users can share desktops, documents and other applications on their computers. The software allows fast and easy changes to presenters, creation of whiteboards, and mouse and pass keyboard control thereby offering seamless meeting experiences.
The disadvantage is that it chooses internet explorer as its default browser thus limiting users using Chrome of Firefox.
Polycom
Polycom software assists make low-cost conference audio and video calls whereas increasing productivity in meeting rooms, classrooms, big conference rooms and boardrooms. It is compatible with other video conference equipment and can be utilized with other platforms like Skype and Lync for businesses. The software offers high definition voice and telepresence conferencing products for all environments. Its advantages include sharing of content, use of many displays, content sources and cameras, simple user interface, smart pairing, clear sound and compatibility with SVC-technology. The system may cost $729.00 to $895.00 and its MSRP base price is about $18,999.00.
Step 2: Implementation Challenges
Even with the significant growth of Microsoft Skype, Cisco WebEx and Polycom for business, firms still require overcoming numerous challenges to realize measurable business benefits from combined communications.
The login process has version verification as well as user authentication. For aversion verification, clients send HTTP GET requests that contain keyword “getlatestversion” to servers. For user authentication, the user contacts super nodes to get an IP address details of the login servers and their credentials are authenticated through the login server.
Skype involves instant messaging data, file transfer, voice, screen sharing, and video, and all this traffic is encrypted. Video calls consume up to 950 kbps while voice calls consume up to 30kbps. This implies Skype can exfiltrate large amounts of data (Zhang, et al., 2012). Thus, an enemy can utilize Skype as the communication medium to exfiltrate data off and this may cause low quality video or audio (Skype Limited, 2010).
When implementing Skype, users may experience low-quality video or audio. There is no much significance in a video conference if users cannot see or hear each other in a clear way (Nitin, 2014). Its implementation may suffer delay, echo, garbles sound, background noise and low volume. All these must be eliminated to sustain the flow of conferences and keep the users engaged.
To fix this issue, the media company identify all probable causes of poor audio and video quality. The causes can be identified by looking through the whole system by accessing QoS statistics for frame rate, packet loss, latency and jitter. This will allow for connected visibility which implies having all components such as endpoints, network, software, hardware and vendors of the system in a single place. The company must therefore change to a comprehensive as well as proactive monitoring and troubleshooting framework