A Secure Interface

A Secure Interface

Providing our clients with a secure way to share, store, and manage data has always been a top priority of AMS Collaborator, and one of the key selling points of our AMS Connect software. With capabilities to create folders and subfolders to manage a project or store confidential documents, and to manage those documents in such a way that only those who have a need access are granted permission, the software has been a perfect solution to the security needs of many of our clients. A prime example of this need is the utilization of the software as an HRIS system. A client of ours recently converted all of their personnel files to electronic copies. Requiring a place to securely store and manage this confidential employee information, we developed a system in the documents module that provided the HR department with a means of limiting access to files to only those managers with a need to know. Additionally, the database module was tailored to provide a leave tracking and administration system, allowing HR and management with a way to communicate and track an employee’s status while on leave, and to upload and store confidential medical documentation. With this ongoing need for secure storage and collaboration in mind, AMS Collaborator is constantly pushing out updates and enhancements to make this process more streamlined and user friendly. A recent update to the security capabilities of the document module provides administrators (or those users who have been granted permission to modify documents) with the restructured ability to add groups and users to a folder or individual document. When modifying a folder or document, in the “Permissions” field, when “All Members” is deselected, you can now add assigned groups by simply checking the group name, or can add individual members in a more efficient manner. A member search bar has been added which auto populates the closest match to the name you’re typing in. Additionally, you have the option to click on the “Participant List” icon to the right of the search bar to select a user from the provided list. For example, when using the software for personnel file storage, the HR Manager would be able to limit access to confidential data and documents, but add supervisors to documents related to performance and discipline. This more efficient and much quicker way of adding these individuals or groups to certain documents created a simplified way of safeguarding confidential and restricted information. Designed to meet the security measures needed by our clients, the AMS Connect software allows for customization in workflow and document storage and sharing, and limits the displayed data to only those users who possess the appropriate permissions. The perfect answer for organizations requiring customizable, secure, and affordable solutions for these needs, contact us today to see if the AMS Connect software is the effective solution for your security needs.

What’s in an Image?

The AMS Connect software has been used by many of our clients as a tool for managing employee data and information. With capabilities to tailor the software into a functional HRIS (human resource information system) system, users have the ability to convert employee personnel files from hard copies to electronic, creating confidential and personnel files for each employee, customized to that individual based on the documents stored (e.g., creating additional sub files as needed, such as a confidential medical files). We recently released an enhancement that allows the AMS Connect’s Database module Image Field types. This means that when you add this field, you can place the image into your list or record view just like you would any other field within your database. For example, if you were using the software as an HRIS system, when you attach this field to the record, you can upload an image for each employee, for each file you create for each individual to store employee information and documentation. When adding an image to a record in your database, you have the option to rotate the image as needed. The system can support any photo type (e.g., jpg, gif, png, bmp, etc.) and the site will automatically size the image to the maximum dimension of 1024. Not only is this new update advantageous when using the software for internal purposes such as employee files, but the new Image Field types allows you to further customize your client and customer’s data. Contact us today if you have any questions about this new feature or how to implement it into your own databases.

Custom Client Connection

We recently discussed the aspect of branding and how the AMS Connect software can help you establish and present your brand through our customized extranet site, resulting in the successful management of your business and providing a connection with your clients that is uniquely yours. Not only is the AMS Connect software completely brandable and customizable in this regard, it also allows you the opportunity to develop solid relationships with your clients and customers.

Strong client connections mean security. AMS Connect understands the need for your customers to feel like their data is safeguarded and protected by you. From an end-user perspective, your customers can relax feeling that when they retrieve or upload documents, or work on tasks utilizing our project management feature, they have never left software outside of the control of your organization.

This brandable and customizable aspect of our software provides you with a site that is under your complete control.  From login credentials to the look and usability of the site, you can be the administrator of your own site.  Unlike many file and collaboration sites, AMS Connect is branded to you rather than branded to whoever the site provider is.  AMS Connect also gives you full power to manage the site rather than handing over risky security protocols to a faceless organization with unreadable end-user agreements.

AMS Connect’s top priority is your data security as well as the reliability of your customized site.  All of this provides your clients with the security of knowing that you are working directly with them rather than with or through an unknown or potentially risky document sharing space.

Contact us today to see how our truly secure and customizable collaboration can help build your brand and relationship with your clients.

Version 6.7 is Coming

We are listening to you and regularly updating our secure extranet software accordingly.  Our goal is to provide our customers the most secure, flexible and usable extranet software in the market.  As part of this goal we are always looking for ways to improve not only the stability and security of the software but also the end-user experience.  To that end we are in the final stages of beta testing of our latest version of the AMS Connect software.  Listed below are some of the major enhancements you can expect to see once you upgrade your site to version 6.7.

  • Drag and drop functionality – This functionality now allows for files to be dragged onto folders or document lists, or within the Add document screen for upload. From Add document, dropped files can also be removed before submitting to remove any inadvertently added.
  • Additional “Display as” options – You are now able to select “Secure PDF” and “Image” within the document profile.
    • Secure PDF option will allow the owner to apply a password to any document that can be converted to PDF (password will be available to users viewing the document).
    • Image option will render the Document as a paged set of images for end users with limited permissions. This feature is an improvement over the former security of Adobe “FlashPaper” and will prevent downloading or copying the text from the document.
  • Document Expiration Date – you now have an optional Retention setting (depending on your Workspace Preference setting) that would allow document to be automatically deleted from the system when that date elapses. Once your workspace is set up you can now select “Document Expires” with a “Document Expiration Date”.

In addition to the above enhancements, AMS Collaborator will be adding a complete update to the notes and discussion features within the AMS Connect software.  Final testing and verification are expected to be completed by February 2017.

AMS Collaborator has scheduled two live demos for the new features at 9:00 AM Pacific Time on Tuesday January 17th and Thursday January 19th.  The live demo is anticipated to take approximately 15 minutes.  Please email info@ams-connect.com if you would like to join one of our demos.

Don’t forget to contact AMS Collaborator to schedule your AMS Connect site for upgrade.