Host connectivity is essential for users to be able to be effective in modern organisations. This is typically achieved via desktop systems running terminal emulators with significant associated cost of ownership. Host Connectivity through Cloud Servers are one way to drastically reduce the cost of ownership.
Over the life of a product the total cost of ownership is critically important, this is made up of many factors including the initial purchase cost and the ongoing support costs. Other less tangible factors including the cost of supporting the users as well as the cost of risk management and protecting the systems from being compromised.
Zero footprint cloud-based products such as TTerm Connect, Turbosoft’s web based terminal emulator, have led the way when it comes to minimizing total cost of ownership while improving host access.
Enhanced Security
With cloud-based emulation, security is greatly enhanced when compared to traditional solutions. Things such as single sign-on, no local installation and central oversight to name a few, reduce risk, reduce operating cost and improve efficiency both in terms of productivity and better overview of usage patterns in the organization.
Single sign-on frees users from the burden of remembering many passwords for different applications and servers and it reduces risk by minimizing bad habits in setting passwords. Considering the quite large number of passwords users typically have to manage and remember not only is risk reduced, productivity is improved as a side effect. Bad password habits such as reusing passwords from other applications or the use of weak passwords is more easily managed as is the enforcement of strong password policies. An added bonus of single sign-on is a reduced load for the help-desk. According to Gartner, up to 50% of help-desk calls are for password resets and while these are not eliminated, they are much reduced.
By having a zero-local footprint, the risk associated with an application being compromised is removed. Additionally, desktop systems can now be minimal since little local processing is required reducing the investment required to update hardware. Deployment is greatly simplified since only the server needs an installation and consequently cost is reduced.
Cloud based host access products can take advantage of facilities that are not possible with locally installed equivalents. Since the server runs centrally it is possible to work through user issues by watching what they are doing from the central location. Products such as TTerm Connect allow a support person to ‘shadow’ a user session and see in fine detail exactly what they are doing.
Flexible Licensing, Management and Access
There are many other benefits of cloud based host access such as central management, more flexible licensing, the ability to use a mix of operating systems, not just MS Windows, and with some products such as TTerm Connect, the ability to access all hosts from one server, this includes those that need 3270 and 5250 as well as those requiring VT220 emulation, Stratus, Wyse, 3151 and many more.
At this point in time where bandwidth is readily available and reliable, it makes sense to move applications to the cloud. Host access via the cloud benefits greatly from this approach and the cost of ownership is significantly reduced from day one, while security is enhanced. It is not a surprise that this topic is being looked at seriously by many organizations.
TTerm Connect is Turbosoft's web based terminal emulator.
Built on common web technologies such as HTML5, CSS and Javascript, TTerm Connect requires no desktop software installation or management and is able to provide terminal emulation services regardless of platform.
For product information, free trial software and technical specifications, visit the TTerm Connect product page.
