Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/255541
E d Te c h S h o w D a i l y 4 1 Th u r s d a y, Fe b ru a r y 6 , 2 0 1 4 agement system. In 2012, we launched the MackinVIA reader app for iPad, Android tablets, Kindle, Nook and both PC and Mac computers. Shortly after, we proudly released a MackinVIA app for the iPhone and Android phones, and we have a few other exciting innovations in the works. At Mackin, we also have a free fund- ing source for schools and libraries called 'Funds4Books & eBooks.' Hundreds of schools have signed up for Funds4Books because it is a no-hassle online donation program that allows them to spend 100 percent of the donated dollars. ESD: Mackin is an industry leader in the educational resources field. What sets your company apart from others? RH: First, our personalized customer support and our customization services are renowned and unparalleled. Our employees truly care about helping cus- tomers get exactly what they need, from Common Core resources to leveled libraries to new school services. Mackin serves as a partner in education. We listen to our customers and provide products and services that are designed to meet their individual needs. Our phones are always answered by real people. Second, we work with more than 18,000 publishers and have a database of over 3,000,000 fiction and nonfiction titles and a catalog of more than 250,000 digital databases and eBooks, making it possible to provide a full spectrum of educational resources and the largest age- appropriate selection in the nation. Third, we offer a long list of compli- mentary services, including custom library collection development and analysis, custom shelf-ready processing and free shipping. Lastly, we publish our own best-of- Mackin Educational Resources (Cont'd. from p. 1) the-best titles in our digital publication, Compendium, a collection of the latest and greatest titles for K–12. Adding to our reach towards the digital age, Compendium is now available through iTunes, Google Play and Amazon. ESD: What is happening at the Mackin booth during TCEA? RH: Mackin Educational Resources can be found at booth 311 this year. We are excited to let people test drive the MackinVIA digital content management system with its exciting features such as Backpack, Categories even Text-To- Speech. We will also be demonstrating the MackinVIA reader app and how it not only seamlessly integrates into the MackinVIA portal, but also how it expands the capabilities of the MackinVIA content management system. Of course, we'll have lots of things to give away, including our beautiful Mackin bags and posters. ESD: In addition to visiting the Mackin booth, how can people learn more about your company? RH: Anyone can visit our website at www.mackin.com for full information about Mackin. They can also start a live chat, email us at mackin@mackin.com, or call us at 800-245-9540. Our Twitter accounts are @Mackin_Talk and @MackinVIA. We are also on Facebook [Mackin Educational Resources], Pinterest [MackinResources] and LinkedIn. At Mackin, every phone call is always answered in person – 24 hours a day, every day – and we pride our- selves on the fact that here, true cus- tomer service still exists. Visit Mackin at booth 311. For more infor- mation, visit www.mackin.com, call 800- 245-9540 or email mackin@mackin.com. IDENTITY AND DEVICE INTELLIGENCE FOR BYOD SECURITY BYOD is a hot topic, because it represents the promise of getting more technology into the classroom – and many IT man- agers feel like it is a leap into the unknown, raising concerns over how to manage and control these devices. Safe•Connect pro- vides increased visibility, control and secu- rity for BYOD devices, with automated reporting on what devices are connecting and who is on those devices while enforc- ing security settings. A BYOD program is an open invita- tion for any device, in any configuration. Safe•Connect works to assess these devices on your behalf. It all starts with knowing who and what is on your network. The solution then checks a device for security settings to ensure it does not pose a risk to the network or other user's systems. This is essential to creating a safe and reliable computing environment for all users. Safe•Connect recognizes devices as they enter the network, and provides essential data to control the multitude of smartphones, tablets and laptops used by students and faculty. Accessing and inter- preting this data allows you to plan for budgets, maintenance, usage, upgrades and personnel. Security Starts With Identity a nd User Authentication Safe•Connect provides the ability to require all users to authenticate to gain network access. It is common for the sake of convenience to provide open wireless access, which then presents security risks by allowing unknown and unauthorized users access to the network. Safe•Connect allows for simple and convenient network access combined with assuring that only authorized users are allowed. The solution is fully integrated with Directory Services, including LDAP, Open LDAP, (Active Directory) and RADIUS to authenticate end user devices. A unique "session tracker" feature allows users to authenticate only once; each time that device returns to the network it is provid- ed immediate access and the user's identi- ty is reported. The Next Level of Security is Role-Based Policy Setting Safe•Connect's ability to create policies for users is based on a variety of parame- ters such as devices allowed, allowable applications, security settings, location access, etc. These policies are applied based on the identity of the user and their assigned role (i.e., student, employee, guest, vendor, etc.) Controlling Guest Access Network security is only as good as its weakest link, and guest users can often compromise the best security measures. Guests are infrequent, needing only tempo- rary access, and issuing network credentials is time consuming. S a f e • C o n n e c t combines guest access with con- venience by pro- viding a self- service interface where guest users can request cre- dentials. The system will automatically send temporary credentials to the guest's mobile phone via text or email. The IT staff can approve each request or simply allow the system to generate the credentials. Furthermore, Safe•Connect can restrict what each guest can access on the network. We can help provide the balance of access and security that's right for K-12 districts. For more information about BYOD security solutions, visit Impulse at booth 216, call 863-802-3738 or email tevans@impulse.com.