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Portnox 榮獲 2025 年網路頂尖創新獎

Portnox 為雲端原生零信任存取控制的領導者,今日宣佈 Portnox Cloud 已被評選為 2025 年 Enterprise Security Tech「網路頂尖創新獎」得主。這是 Portnox 首次獲得此特定殊榮,進一步鞏固了其在網路安全產業中的先鋒地位。

表彰網路創新領域的卓越成就

「網路頂尖創新獎」旨在表彰那些透過深具意義的創新與可衡量的影響力,推動組織偵測、預防及應對威脅的技術。評選標準包括技術突破、實戰有效性,以及在不同環境下的可擴展性。

Portnox Cloud 因其透過統一的雲端原生平台重新定義存取控制而受到表揚。該解決方案整合了 網路存取控制 (NAC)零信任網路存取 (ZTNA)RADIUS 以及 TACACS+,消除了昂貴的本地端硬體設備需求及持續維護成本。

「傳統的存取控制系統已變得日益複雜且難以大規模運行。Portnox Cloud 的建立就是為了消除這種負擔,讓零信任對現代組織而言變得實用、可擴展且易於達成。」
— Denny LeCompte, Portnox 執行長

提升效率與防禦韌性

此獎項肯定了 Portnox Cloud 的無代理架構與即時設備可見性。該平台為託管、非託管及物聯網 (IoT) 裝置提供持續的狀態評估與動態政策執行。這項創新讓資安團隊能在幾天內部署企業級安全防護,提升防禦韌性並降低總體持有成本。

這項成就延續了 Portnox 今年的強勁勢頭,包括被評為 2025 年網路頂尖公司,以及執行長 Denny LeCompte 被評選為年度網路領導者。

關於 Portnox

Portnox 致力於提供易於部署、營運及維護的網絡存取控制、安全及可視化解決方案。 Portnox 軟件可以部署於本地、以雲端服務交付,或採用混合模式。其無代理程式 (agentless) 及與供應商無關 (vendor-agnostic) 的特性,讓企業能夠善用現有的網絡及資訊安全投資。

關於 Version 2 Digital
資安解決方案 專業代理商與領導者
台灣二版 ( Version 2 ) 是亞洲其中一間最有活力的 IT 公司,多年來深耕資訊科技領域,致力於提供與時俱進的資安解決方案 ( 如EDR、NDR、漏洞管理 ),工具型產品 ( 如遠端控制、網頁過濾 ) 及資安威脅偵測應 變服務服務 ( MDR ) 等,透過龐大銷售點、經銷商及合作伙伴,提供廣被市場讚賞的產品及客製化、在地化的專業服務。

台灣二版 ( Version 2 ) 的銷售範圍包括台灣、香港、中國內地、新加坡、澳門等地區,客戶涵 蓋各產業,包括全球 1000 大跨國企業、上市公司、公用機構、政府部門、無數成功的中小企業及來自亞 洲各城市的消費市場客戶。

Portnox 助力 NAFCS 學區在數週內完成 NAC 部署


奧斯汀,德克薩斯州 — 2025 年 12 月 9 日 — 雲原生零信任存取控制解決方案的領導者 Portnox,今日宣布其 Portnox Cloud 平台在 新奧爾巴尼弗洛伊德縣聯合學區 (NAFCS) 成功且快速地完成部署。此次部署簡化了學區 20 棟建築和約 15,000 個連網端點的設備可見性和安全存取控制。

挑戰:企業級風險,資源有限

NAFCS 是印第安納州的一個 K-12 學區,為超過 13,000 名學生和教職員提供服務,並管理著包含超過 12,500 台 Chromebook 在內的多樣化設備生態系統。面對不斷升級的網絡風險,該學區需要一個能夠有效管理其有線和無線環境的全面網絡存取控制 (NAC) 解決方案。

經過徹底的供應商評估,學區選擇了 Portnox 的雲原生 NAC 平台,特別是因為它的營運簡便性、部署速度和可擴展性。

「在短短幾天內,我們就為我們的網絡實施了所有必要的策略。Portnox 的可擴展性令人印象深刻。在新學年開始時,我們在幾天內就從幾百台註冊設備擴展到了超過 10,000 台。」

— Christopher Bowers,NAFCS IT 經理

小型團隊,大型企業成果

Portnox 行政總裁 Denny LeCompte 指出,K-12 學區面臨著與大型企業相似的網絡風險,但往往缺乏相應的資源。「這正是雲原生存取控制發光發熱的地方,」他說道。「透過消除傳統 NAC 的複雜性,我們賦予小型 IT 團隊實現大型團隊成果的能力——更快、更輕鬆,且無需昂貴的硬體成本。NAFCS 的快速部署就是我們打造 Portnox Cloud 的初衷。」

關鍵部署亮點與效益

  • 快速部署: 學區範圍內的 NAC 在數週內完成,由一個僅有兩人的網絡團隊高效管理。
  • 統一設備管理: 在所有 20 棟建築中,實現了對託管端點(Chromebooks)和非託管/IoT 設備的無縫控制。
  • Google Workspace 整合: 無縫整合支援學區龐大的 Chromebook 數量,簡化了身份管理。
  • 消除手動工作: 提供了實時可見性,並消除了靜態交換機端口分配的需要。設備連網後,Portnox 會自動處理存取控制。
  • 成本效益高的安全性: 強化了學區的安全態勢並滿足了合規要求,無需額外的硬體投資。

意料之外的營運優勢:

  • 由於 Portnox 響應迅速的支援,Google Workspace 同步問題得以迅速解決。
  • 非 IT 部門(如設施部門)現在可以自主部署基於 IP 的系統,而無需增加核心 IT 團隊的負擔。

關於 Portnox

Portnox 致力於提供易於部署、營運及維護的網絡存取控制、安全及可視化解決方案。 Portnox 軟件可以部署於本地、以雲端服務交付,或採用混合模式。其無代理程式 (agentless) 及與供應商無關 (vendor-agnostic) 的特性,讓企業能夠善用現有的網絡及資訊安全投資。

關於 Version 2 Digital
資安解決方案 專業代理商與領導者
台灣二版 ( Version 2 ) 是亞洲其中一間最有活力的 IT 公司,多年來深耕資訊科技領域,致力於提供與時俱進的資安解決方案 ( 如EDR、NDR、漏洞管理 ),工具型產品 ( 如遠端控制、網頁過濾 ) 及資安威脅偵測應 變服務服務 ( MDR ) 等,透過龐大銷售點、經銷商及合作伙伴,提供廣被市場讚賞的產品及客製化、在地化的專業服務。

台灣二版 ( Version 2 ) 的銷售範圍包括台灣、香港、中國內地、新加坡、澳門等地區,客戶涵 蓋各產業,包括全球 1000 大跨國企業、上市公司、公用機構、政府部門、無數成功的中小企業及來自亞 洲各城市的消費市場客戶。

Portnox Cloud 榮獲 2025 年 CODiE 最佳網絡安全系統/工具獎

德州奧斯汀 — 2025 年 11 月 4 日 — 雲原生零信任存取控制和網絡安全解決方案的領導者 Portnox,今日驕傲地宣布,其旗艦平台 Portnox Cloud 在享有盛譽的 2025 年 CODiE 獎中,被評選為最佳網絡安全系統/工具。這項認可突顯了 Portnox 在為資源有限的 IT 團隊簡化企業級安全方面的影響力。

CODiE 獎的意義

CODiE 獎是唯一一項由同行認可的獎項,旨在表彰整個技術領域的創新和卓越表現。每個被提名的產品都經過嚴格的同行審查,包括由專家評審團評估的現場產品演示。獲得決賽入圍者或獲獎者的認可,是領導力、影響力以及推動技術未來發展的明確標誌。

「CODiE 獎旨在表彰塑造技術未來的遠見者。今年的獲獎者體現了創新、領導力和目標如何結合起來,創造出推動行業發展並產生持久影響的解決方案。」

— Jennifer Baranowski,CODiE 獎總裁

統一存取與安全

Portnox 提供了一種統一的存取控制方法,將基本安全功能整合到單一的 零信任 解決方案中,保護應用程式、網絡和基礎設施。該平台包括:

  • 無密碼身份驗證: 簡化且高度安全的使用者驗證。
  • 風險監控: 對網絡和設備狀態進行持續評估。
  • 授權與合規: 在整個環境中嚴格執行政策。

這種方法為安全團隊提供了消費級解決方案的易用性,同時具備企業級零信任防禦的強大功能和可信賴性,以抵禦現代網絡威脅。

對創新的承諾

Portnox 行政總裁 Denny LeCompte 強調,公司專注於透過創新來滿足不斷變化的客戶需求。

「我們對創新的承諾意味著不斷擴展我們的能力以滿足客戶需求。Portnox 為資源有限的安全團隊提供了既強大又易於使用的統一存取控制。我們新的 ZTNA 產品就是一個很好的例子,它解決了安全存取和遠端工作的痛點。Portnox ZTNA 不僅能更嚴密地鎖定系統;它還透過將零信任原則應用到應用程式層面,使存取更快、更簡單、更無感知。」

— Denny LeCompte,Portnox 行政總裁

2025 年 CODiE 獎的完整獲獎名單可在 www.codieawards.com/winners 上查閱。

關於 Portnox

Portnox 致力於提供易於部署、營運及維護的網絡存取控制、安全及可視化解決方案。 Portnox 軟件可以部署於本地、以雲端服務交付,或採用混合模式。其無代理程式 (agentless) 及與供應商無關 (vendor-agnostic) 的特性,讓企業能夠善用現有的網絡及資訊安全投資。

關於 Version 2 Digital
資安解決方案 專業代理商與領導者
台灣二版 ( Version 2 ) 是亞洲其中一間最有活力的 IT 公司,多年來深耕資訊科技領域,致力於提供與時俱進的資安解決方案 ( 如EDR、NDR、漏洞管理 ),工具型產品 ( 如遠端控制、網頁過濾 ) 及資安威脅偵測應 變服務服務 ( MDR ) 等,透過龐大銷售點、經銷商及合作伙伴,提供廣被市場讚賞的產品及客製化、在地化的專業服務。

台灣二版 ( Version 2 ) 的銷售範圍包括台灣、香港、中國內地、新加坡、澳門等地區,客戶涵 蓋各產業,包括全球 1000 大跨國企業、上市公司、公用機構、政府部門、無數成功的中小企業及來自亞 洲各城市的消費市場客戶。

服務台軟體 – 定義與主要功能

什麼是服務台軟件?現代 ITSM 中樞指南

現代服務台軟件不再只是一個支援工具;它是 IT 服務管理的策略性神經中樞。透過結合符合 ITIL 的流程、強大的整合能力和智慧自動化,它為所有服務相關的互動創建了一個單一、統一的平台,將 IT 從一個被動式的成本中心轉變為一個積極的業務賦能者。

本指南將探討現代服務台解決方案的基本定義、功能和策略價值。


從被動式的技術支援台(Helpdesk)到主動式的服務台(Service Desk)

傳統的技術支援台是被動的 —— 它在問題發生時進行修復。相比之下,根據 ITIL 的定義,現代服務台是 IT 企業與其用戶之間的單一聯絡點(Single Point of Contact, SPOC)。它不僅解決問題,還管理服務請求、提供知識,並主動改進整個服務交付的生命週期。

服務台平台透過以下方式將此概念付諸實踐:

  • 集中化並管理需求:捕獲、分類並優先處理所有傳入的服務請求和事件。
  • 嵌入最佳實踐:原生支援如事件、問題、變更和知識管理等核心 ITIL 流程。
  • 驅動改進:為持續性服務改進(CSI)和更佳的決策提供數據基礎。

高影響力服務台的核心功能

一個強大的服務台平台不僅僅建立在票務系統之上,它需要全面的功能來支援服務交付的每一個環節。

1. 統一服務管理

這是以一致且專業的方式提供和管理服務的基礎。

  • 服務目錄:一個使用者友善、集中化的目錄,詳細說明可用的服務、成本和交付時間。
  • 服務等級管理(SLA / OLA):用於定義、監控和報告服務等級協議的工具,並在可能違規時自動升級。
  • 供應商管理:能夠將外部供應商整合到服務工作流程中,包括績效追蹤和 SLA 監控。

2. 核心 ITSM 流程自動化

這是提升效率的關鍵,將團隊從手動、重複性的工作中解放出來。

  • 事件管理:從監控警報中自動創建服務單,根據業務影響確定事件的優先級,並使用教戰手冊加速解決。
  • 問題管理:透過事件關聯和與組態管理資料庫(CMDB)的整合,識別重複性事件的根本原因,以查看受影響的系統。
  • 變更與發布管理:透過結構化的審批工作流程、風險評估、中央變更日曆以及與 DevOps (CI / CD)管道的整合,簡化變更流程。

3. 自助服務與知識管理

賦予使用者自行解決問題的能力,減輕您支援團隊的工作負擔。

  • 中央知識庫:一個用於存放常見問題、故障排除指南和操作文章的儲存庫。
  • AI 驅動的搜尋:智能化的全文搜尋功能,幫助使用者快速找到相關的解決方案。
  • 整合式自助服務入口網站:一個單一的入口網站,供使用者登錄服務單、瀏覽服務目錄、查詢請求狀態以及存取知識庫。

4. 數據驅動的持續改進

無法衡量,就無法改進。現代服務台提供追蹤績效和推動優化的工具。

  • 即時儀表板與報告:即時了解關鍵績效指標、團隊工作量、趨勢和瓶頸。
  • 關鍵指標追蹤:監控如平均解決時間、首次聯繫解決率、服務單積壓量、SLA 合規性以及用戶滿意度等基本指標。
  • 持續改進登錄表:一個集中化的平台,用於根據數據和使用者回饋追蹤和管理改進計畫。

為何「整合」是釋放價值的關鍵

在現代企業中,IT 已融入每一條價值鏈。一個僅僅記錄服務單的孤島式服務台是一個瓶頸。只有當服務台與整個 IT 生態系統 —— 從監控和身份管理到協作工具和 DevOps 管道 —— 深度整合時,其真正的力量才能被釋放。

用上下文豐富服務單

一個未經整合的服務單會迫使服務人員手動研究:使用者是誰?哪些系統受到影響?最近是否有變更?透過與您的 CMDB、監控工具和人資系統整合,服務單會自動填充關鍵的上下文資訊,從而大幅減少研究時間和錯誤分派。

系統性地減少等待時間

手動分流、在工具之間複製貼上以及因資訊不足而產生的後續提問都會造成延遲。自動化和整合能大幅縮短這些等待時間。

例如:如果整合您的監控和 CMDB 工具能將手動分流服務單的時間從五分鐘縮短到一分鐘,每張服務單您就能節省四分鐘。對於每月處理 3,000 張服務單的團隊來說,這相當於每月節省了 200 個小時的工作時間。

確保治理與合規性

使用孤立的工具幾乎不可能滿足當今嚴格的合規性和稽核要求。與資安 (SIEM / SOAR)和治理(GRC)系統的整合提供了一個完整、可追溯的稽核軌跡,確保您能夠證明「誰在何時、為何做了何種變更」。


未來是智能化的:AI 在服務台的應用

人工智能正在將服務台從一個記錄系統轉變為一個智能系統。由 AI 驅動的功能可以處理日常任務,讓服務團隊能夠專注於高價值的創造性工作。

關鍵的 AI 功能包括:

  • 智能工單處理:AI 根據自由文本描述自動對服務單進行分類,並將其分配給具備合適技能的技術人員。
  • 情緒分析:NLP 演算法偵測書面文本中的用戶挫折感,讓團隊能夠優先處理關鍵的服務單。
  • 預測性分析:預測未來的服務單數量以進行更好的資源規劃,並主動識別新出現的問題。
  • 生成式 AI 解決方案:根據先前成功解決的服務單內容,創建準確的解決方案建議。

選擇您的部署方式:雲端 vs. 地端部署

選擇雲端或地端部署的解決方案,取決於您企業在安全性、控制權和可存取性方面的具體需求。

  • 選擇雲端是為了:全球可存取性、可擴展性以及減少的維護開銷。
  • 選擇地端部署是為了:嚴格的資料主權(例如 GDPR)、深度的程式碼級客製化、低延遲需求,或在關鍵的、需具備離線能力的基礎設施中運作。

混合模式可以提供兩全其美的方案,將雲端服務台與對敏感資料(如您的 CMDB)的地端控制相結合。


結論:您的策略優勢

現代服務台遠不僅僅是一個 IT 票務系統。它是一個推動效率、透明度和協作的必要平台。透過選擇正確的 —— 即整合化、自動化和智能化的 —— 解決方案,企業可以實現更快的流程、創造更滿意的用戶,並將 IT 定位為企業真正的策略合作夥伴。

關於 OTRS

OTRS(原名為 Open-Source Ticket Request System)是一套服務管理軟體套件,包含專員入口網頁(agent portal)、管理員儀表板(admin dashboard)及客戶入口網頁(customer portal)。 在專員入口網頁中,團隊能夠處理來自內部或外部客戶的案件與請求。此處提供多種方式來檢視這些資訊,以及客戶和相關數據。 顧名思義,管理員儀表板讓系統管理員能夠管理系統:功能眾多,包括角色與群組、流程自動化、頻道整合以及 CMDB/資料庫選項。 第三個組件,客戶入口網頁,則類似一個可客製化的網頁,可供與客戶共享資訊,並讓客戶端能夠追蹤自己的請求進度。

關於 Version 2 Digital
資安解決方案 專業代理商與領導者
台灣二版 ( Version 2 ) 是亞洲其中一間最有活力的 IT 公司,多年來深耕資訊科技領域,致力於提供與時俱進的資安解決方案 ( 如EDR、NDR、漏洞管理 ),工具型產品 ( 如遠端控制、網頁過濾 ) 及資安威脅偵測應 變服務服務 ( MDR ) 等,透過龐大銷售點、經銷商及合作伙伴,提供廣被市場讚賞的產品及客製化、在地化的專業服務。

台灣二版 ( Version 2 ) 的銷售範圍包括台灣、香港、中國內地、新加坡、澳門等地區,客戶涵 蓋各產業,包括全球 1000 大跨國企業、上市公司、公用機構、政府部門、無數成功的中小企業及來自亞 洲各城市的消費市場客戶。

大型語言模型 (LLM) 和機器學習:背景及其在客戶服務中的應用

大型語言模型(LLM)與機器學習:
現代客戶服務指南

人工智能(AI)正在為客戶服務帶來革命性的變革,但許多企業仍難以將其潛力轉化為實際的商業價值。為了有效利用 AI,領導者需要清楚了解其背後的核心驅動技術。本文將揭開大型語言模型(LLM)和機器學習(ML)的神秘面紗,探討它們的運作方式以及在客戶服務領域的應用潛力。


奠定基礎:從機器學習到大型語言模型

要理解 LLM,您必須先了解驅動它們的引擎:機器學習。

什麼是機器學習?

機器學習是 AI 的一個領域,它讓系統從數據中學習,而無需為每項任務進行明確的編程。ML 模型透過對海量數據集的訓練來識別模式、做出預測,並隨著時間推移在沒有新指令的情況下提升自身表現。

您可以這樣理解:與其編寫一套嚴格的規則來讓程式識別貓,不如向 ML 模型展示數千張貓的圖片。模型會自行學習其模式——鬍鬚、尖耳朵、尾巴——然後就能獨自識別新圖片中的貓。

這個學習過程會透過「強化學習」等技術進行微調,模型會被教導在其多個輸出中哪個是最佳選擇,從而做出越來越好的決策。

什麼是大型語言模型?

大型語言模型是機器學習的一種專門且強大的應用。它們是模仿人腦設計的神經網絡,並在海量的文本和數據上進行訓練。這種訓練使它們能夠理解、詮釋、總結並生成類似人類的語言——這個領域被稱為自然語言處理(NLP)。

2017 年,「Transformer 模型」的推出帶來了重大突破,它允許 LLM 權衡句子中不同詞語的重要性。這種架構極大地提升了它們的速度和對上下文的理解能力,使其變得更加強大。

如今,企業可以選擇自行建構 LLM,或授權使用預先訓練好的模型。這些模型可以利用公司特定的數據進行進一步的「微調」,使其適應特定的行業、任務或溝通風格,從而產生更精確、更貼近情境的輸出。


LLM 對客戶服務的影響

LLM 能透過賦能客服人員、自動化任務以及提供更快速、更一致的客戶體驗,來獨特地優化客戶服務。

在服務環境中的關鍵能力:

  • 智能自動化:LLM 驅動的聊天機器人可以處理完整的支援對話、全年無休地回答常見問題、對傳入的服務單進行分類,並將其分配給正確的部門。
  • 賦能客服人員:LLM 並非取代客服人員,而是作為其強大的助手。它們可以即時總結冗長的服務單歷史記錄、分析客戶情緒以標示出挫折感,並草擬準確且符合情境的回覆,讓客服人員只需審核後即可發送。
  • 提升品質與一致性:LLM 可以將複雜的技術資訊改寫為簡單的術語、即時翻譯對話,並確保所有溝通都遵循一致的品牌語氣。

一個實際用例

想像一位客戶就最近實施的某個軟件所遇到的複雜問題聯繫客服。被指派的客服人員可以利用 LLM 來:

  • 即時總結與該客戶先前所有的互動記錄。
  • 使用情緒分析來偵測客戶的沮喪程度。
  • 接收一份針對該問題的建議回覆,客服人員只需快速編輯和批准即可。

這節省了大量的時間,並且 AI 驅動的情境資訊與人工監督的結合,帶來了更快速、更具同理心且更有效的解決方案。


實用指南:有效運用 LLM 和 ML

現在的問題不再是是否應該使用這些技術,而是如何使用。以下是一些實用技巧,幫助您在應對潛在挑戰的同時,最大化它們的效益。

1. 充分發揮優勢

  • 目標是策略性自動化:不要只用 LLM 來協助手動任務。找出可以完全自動化的流程,例如生成首次回覆郵件、根據已解決的服務單創建知識庫文章,或從頭到尾處理例行性的資訊請求。
  • 提升精準度與品質:利用先進的 ML 來產出高品質的內容。LLM 擅長生成精良的報告、清晰的摘要和準確的翻譯,從而提升您溝通的標準。
  • 發掘創新解決方案:由於 LLM 在龐大且多樣化的數據集上進行訓練,它們可以連結不同領域的資訊,提出人類客服人員可能未曾想到的創新或非傳統的解決方案。

2. 克服挑戰

儘管優勢顯著,但負責任地實施 AI 需要意識到其挑戰。

  • 處理「幻覺」問題:偶爾,LLM 會生成聽起來合理但事實上不正確的資訊。這是因為模型是預測下一個最有可能的詞,而不是驗證事實的真相。緩解方法:透過向 LLM 提供具體的上下文——例如相關的知識庫文章或技術文件——來減少幻覺的發生,使其回覆更基於事實。
  • 識別偏見:LLM 可能會無意中複製其訓練數據中存在的偏見(例如社會刻板印象、以美國為中心的例子或過於正式的語言)。緩解方法:使用成熟、經過充分測試的應用程式。利用您自己策劃且多樣化的數據集對模型進行微調,可以顯著減少偏見。
  • 保護敏感資料:客戶資料是機密的。切勿將個人或敏感資訊輸入公共的 LLM。緩解方法:使用符合《通用資料保護規則》(GDPR)等法規的企業級 AI 解決方案,並提供強大的數據私隱控制。

結論:未來是一項策略性選擇

大型語言模型和機器學習不再是未來的概念,它們已是現代客戶服務不可或缺的工具。它們透過提供快速、準確和個人化的支援,在效率、客戶體驗和滿意度方面帶來了顯著的提升。

最終,關鍵的差異化因素將是企業選擇如何整合這些技術。它們可以透過以下兩種方式之一被使用:

  • 作為輔助工具:偶爾用於加速或增強現有的手動流程。
  • 作為顛覆性技術:策略性地用於完全自動化和取代手動流程。

雖然第一種方法能帶來漸進式的收益,但第二種方法才能釋放 AI 全部的轉型潛力。那些只將 LLM 用於次要協助的企業,才剛剛觸及到其可能性的皮毛。卓越客戶服務的未來,屬於那些完全擁抱技術驅動、自動化和智能化策略的企業。

關於 OTRS

OTRS(原名為 Open-Source Ticket Request System)是一套服務管理軟體套件,包含專員入口網頁(agent portal)、管理員儀表板(admin dashboard)及客戶入口網頁(customer portal)。 在專員入口網頁中,團隊能夠處理來自內部或外部客戶的案件與請求。此處提供多種方式來檢視這些資訊,以及客戶和相關數據。 顧名思義,管理員儀表板讓系統管理員能夠管理系統:功能眾多,包括角色與群組、流程自動化、頻道整合以及 CMDB/資料庫選項。 第三個組件,客戶入口網頁,則類似一個可客製化的網頁,可供與客戶共享資訊,並讓客戶端能夠追蹤自己的請求進度。

關於 Version 2 Digital
資安解決方案 專業代理商與領導者
台灣二版 ( Version 2 ) 是亞洲其中一間最有活力的 IT 公司,多年來深耕資訊科技領域,致力於提供與時俱進的資安解決方案 ( 如EDR、NDR、漏洞管理 ),工具型產品 ( 如遠端控制、網頁過濾 ) 及資安威脅偵測應 變服務服務 ( MDR ) 等,透過龐大銷售點、經銷商及合作伙伴,提供廣被市場讚賞的產品及客製化、在地化的專業服務。

台灣二版 ( Version 2 ) 的銷售範圍包括台灣、香港、中國內地、新加坡、澳門等地區,客戶涵 蓋各產業,包括全球 1000 大跨國企業、上市公司、公用機構、政府部門、無數成功的中小企業及來自亞 洲各城市的消費市場客戶。

ESM 與 ITSM:差異與相似之處

ESM 與 ITSM:將服務管理擴展至 IT 以外的領域

企業服務管理(Enterprise Service Management, ESM)將 IT 服務管理(IT Service Management, ITSM)的成熟原則擴展至整個組織。當公司將這些以服務為導向的實踐應用於 IT 以外的部門時,服務管理的策略價值便會提升,從而使技術、業務流程與全公司的目標保持一致。

然而,ESM 並非一體適用的解決方案。決定專注於 ITSM 還是擴展至 ESM,取決於企業的成熟度、需求和策略優先順序。本文旨在闡明這兩個概念之間的關係,探討它們的相同與不同之處,並說明在何種情況下採用 ESM 策略最為合適。


什麼是 IT 服務管理(ITSM)?

IT 服務管理(ITSM)是一個策略性框架,用於企業如何設計、交付、管理和改進其技術服務。ITSM 透過專門的工具和工作流程,專注於將 IT 服務與企業及其客戶的需求對齊。其主要目標是透過有效的 IT 管理,提升業務績效、提高生產力並增加用戶滿意度。

ITSM 為核心 IT 功能提供了架構,協助企業在優化預算的同時實現業務目標。ITIL®(資訊科技基礎架構庫)是實施 ITSM 的業界標準框架,它概述了 34 項實踐,包括以下關鍵流程:

  • 事件管理(Incident Management): 盡快恢復正常的服務運作。
  • 問題管理(Problem Management): 識別並解決事件的根本原因。
  • 變更管理(Change Management): 控制所有變更的生命週期,以最大限度地減少干擾。
  • 資產管理(Asset Management): 在資產的整個生命週期內進行追蹤和管理。

ITSM 的優勢

當 IT 部門在業務營運中扮演核心角色時,成熟的 ITSM 實踐能帶來顯著的優勢:

  • 有效的 IT 治理:安全且高效地管理整個 IT 環境。
  • 更快的解決速度:迅速處理並解決事件及其潛在問題。
  • 透明的變更:實施系統變更時具有清晰的可追溯性,並將風險降至最低。
  • 清晰的可見度:全面掌握 IT 資產及其相互依賴關係。

實例分享:薩克森邦學校與教育辦公室(LaSuB)

LaSuB 曾為其複雜且低效的 IT 支援系統所困擾。透過導入 OTRS 集中化的 ITSM 解決方案,他們簡化了請求管理流程。現在,服務單和備註可以輕鬆地分派給正確的團隊,即使是小團隊也能高效運作並提供卓越的服務。


什麼是企業服務管理(ESM)?

企業服務管理(ESM)是將 ITSM 的原則、實踐和技術應用於其他業務部門。人力資源、法務、設施、財務和行銷等領域的團隊採用服務管理模式來建構其工作,從而在整個企業內創造一致且高品質的服務體驗。

簡而言之,ESM 借鑒 ITSM 的藍圖,在企業範圍內提升組織能力、可見度、溝通和效率。

ESM 的優勢

一個實施完善的 ESM 策略能優化整個企業的流程並推動策略性業務目標的實現。主要優勢包括:

  • 改善服務體驗:客戶和員工能獲得一致、高品質的服務,無需長時間等待或因溝通不良而產生問題。
  • 提升服務人員滿意度:各部門的支援人員因擁有清晰的架構和透明的工作流程而受益,從而減輕壓力。
  • 節省成本:高效的自動化流程降低了直接營運成本和機會成本。
  • 持續改進:結構化的服務組合有助於主動管理和長期優化。
  • 提高生產力:日常任務的自動化使員工能專注於複雜且具附加價值的工作。

ESM 實踐:新員工入職流程

新員工入職是一個直接影響員工留任率的關鍵流程。若沒有 ESM,這可能是一段混亂的經歷。有了 ESM,自動化的工作流程能協調每一步:由人資部門啟動流程,IT 部門配置硬件和帳戶,設施部門準備好辦公空間,而招聘經理會收到準備培訓計畫的通知。新員工在第一天報到時,一切所需都已準備就緒,確保了一個順利而正面的開始。

其他例子包括:

  • 內部自助服務入口網站:員工無需提交服務單,即可找到有關人資政策或設施請求的常見問題解答。
  • 簡化的審批流程:為財務或法務審批建立結構化的工作流程,確保請求得到追蹤、呈報並在規定時間內解決。

ITSM 與 ESM 比較:主要異同點

由於 ESM 是 ITSM 的延伸,這兩個概念在「服務管理」上共享一個共同的基礎。主要區別在於其範疇:「IT」代表資訊科技,而「E」則代表企業。

共同基礎

ITSM 和 ESM 都利用相同的核心原則來提供高效、目標導向的服務:

  • 以客戶為中心:強調滿足終端用戶(無論是外部客戶還是內部員工)的需求。
  • 高效的工作流程:標準化流程能改善協作並節省時間。
  • 自動化:減少人為錯誤,讓團隊能專注於更具策略性的任務。
  • 自助服務:讓使用者能夠 24/7 全天候解決簡單問題的入口網站。
  • 知識管理:集中化的知識庫,提供常見問題、指南和解決方案以加速支援。
  • 通用工具:使用類似的軟件來管理服務單、工作流程和服務。

主要差異

核心差異在於應用領域。ITSM 管理技術服務,而 ESM 則將此模式擴展至管理業務服務。

面向IT 服務管理(ITSM)企業服務管理(ESM)
焦點與 IT 相關的服務(例如:系統升級、存取權限請求、應用程式支援)。跨部門的業務導向服務(例如:新員工入職、合約審批、設施請求)。
範疇局限於 IT 部門及其服務。涵蓋整個企業(人資、法務、財務等)。
策略對齊將 IT 績效與業務目標對齊。直接支持更廣泛的業務目標,如全企業的成本節約和客戶滿意度。
成熟度一個發展成熟的學科,擁有如 ITIL® 等標準化框架。一個新興的實踐,需要將 ITIL 原則應用於非技術領域。

本質上:ITSM 完善了 IT 內部的服務交付。ESM 則將這些完善的實踐擴展至整個企業。


ITSM 或 ESM:哪種方法適合您?

ITSM 和 ESM 並非互相排斥;它們代表了服務管理成熟度的連續體。真正的問題不是您應該選擇哪一個,而是您應該在何時從 ITSM 擴展到 ESM。一個擁有成熟 ITSM 實踐的 IT 部門,完全有能力引領這一演進。

何時應專注於 ITSM

在以下情況下,專注於 ITSM 至關重要:

  • 主要目標是為複雜且相互依賴的 IT 環境帶來秩序和效率。
  • 其他業務部門尚未習慣以流程為導向的工作方式,需要基礎的服務管理概念。

何時應採用 ESM

在以下情況下,擴展至 ESM 是合乎邏輯的下一步:

  • 您的 ITSM 實踐已成熟並持續創造價值。
  • 效率低下的跨部門流程(如新員工入職或採購)正在造成瓶頸和困擾。
  • 您的企業已準備好在所有業務職能中標準化服務交付並利用自動化。

最有效的方法是建立在您 ITSM 的成功基礎之上。將其逐步發展為全面的 ESM 策略,可以從像人資這樣處理大量複雜請求、並能立即從結構化服務管理中受益的部門開始。


總結:擴展成功模式

ITSM 和 ESM 是同一強大原則的不同體現:以高效、一致的方式提供卓越的服務。如果 ITSM 已經在您的 IT 部門取得成功,那麼您就有了一個成熟的成功模式,可以讓整個企業受益。

雖然 ESM 仍不如 ITSM 普及,但它為早期採用者提供了顯著的競爭優勢。透過建立一個高度結構化、以結果為導向的服務文化,ESM 有助於實現關鍵業務目標,並營造一個更具協作性、效率和生產力的工作環境。

關於 OTRS

OTRS(原名為 Open-Source Ticket Request System)是一套服務管理軟體套件,包含專員入口網頁(agent portal)、管理員儀表板(admin dashboard)及客戶入口網頁(customer portal)。 在專員入口網頁中,團隊能夠處理來自內部或外部客戶的案件與請求。此處提供多種方式來檢視這些資訊,以及客戶和相關數據。 顧名思義,管理員儀表板讓系統管理員能夠管理系統:功能眾多,包括角色與群組、流程自動化、頻道整合以及 CMDB/資料庫選項。 第三個組件,客戶入口網頁,則類似一個可客製化的網頁,可供與客戶共享資訊,並讓客戶端能夠追蹤自己的請求進度。

關於 Version 2 Digital
資安解決方案 專業代理商與領導者
台灣二版 ( Version 2 ) 是亞洲其中一間最有活力的 IT 公司,多年來深耕資訊科技領域,致力於提供與時俱進的資安解決方案 ( 如EDR、NDR、漏洞管理 ),工具型產品 ( 如遠端控制、網頁過濾 ) 及資安威脅偵測應 變服務服務 ( MDR ) 等,透過龐大銷售點、經銷商及合作伙伴,提供廣被市場讚賞的產品及客製化、在地化的專業服務。

台灣二版 ( Version 2 ) 的銷售範圍包括台灣、香港、中國內地、新加坡、澳門等地區,客戶涵 蓋各產業,包括全球 1000 大跨國企業、上市公司、公用機構、政府部門、無數成功的中小企業及來自亞 洲各城市的消費市場客戶。

Portnox 入選 2025 年美國成長最快的 5,000 家私人公司名單

Portnox 榮登 2025 年《Inc.》5000 強榜單,獲選為美國成長最快的私營企業之一

雲端原生存取控制領導者 Portnox 今日宣布,公司已榮登年度《Inc.》5000 強榜單,該榜單是美國成長最快私營企業中最具聲望的排名。此榜單以數據為基礎,呈現了形塑美國經濟的獨立企業中最成功的一批。

此次獲選彰顯了 Portnox 的爆炸性成長,其背後驅動力來自於市場對其統一存取控制平台的強勁需求。

Portnox 行政總裁 Denny LeCompte 表示:「此項殊榮反映了我們從 2022 年到 2024 年間所經歷的驚人成長,這段時期始於 Elsewhere Partners 領投我們的 A 輪融資。我們的首要重點一直是加速全球市場滲透,並提供易於使用和部署的頂級存取控制解決方案。我們的成長與北美團隊在營運、銷售、行銷及客戶成功等部門的擴展有直接關聯。」

加速成長與創新的時期

Portnox 專注於簡化安全防護的策略在市場上引起了強烈共鳴,吸引了近 1,000 名全球客戶,並贏得了 95% 的客戶保留率。公司的發展動能進一步體現在以下幾個方面:

  • 卓越的客戶驗證:在 Gartner Peer Insights 上獲得 4.6 星評分。

  • 眾多業界榮譽:近期榮獲《SC Media》、《Cloud Computing Magazine》和《Cyber Defense Magazine》等媒體的獎項。

  • 策略性生態系統擴展:與 CrowdStrike、Jamf 和 Microsoft 等業界領導者完成關鍵整合。

  • 產品創新:近期推出其創新的零信任網絡存取(Zero Trust Network Access, ZTNA)解決方案。

《Inc.》總編輯 Mike Hofman 表示:「能登上《Inc.》5000 強榜單已是一項非凡成就,但能在今年贏得一席之地,更充分說明了一家公司的堅韌與清晰的願景。這些企業在成本上漲、全球動態轉變和持續變革的環境中茁壯成長。他們的故事有力地提醒我們,企業家精神是美國經濟的引擎。」

欲查看完整的《Inc.》5000 強名單,請瀏覽 www.inc.com/inc5000

評選方法 2025 年《Inc.》5000 強榜單上的公司根據 2021 年至 2024 年的收入增長百分比進行排名。參選公司必須在 2021 年 3 月 31 日前成立並已產生收入。截至 2024 年 12 月 31 日,公司必須是總部位於美國、私營、營利性且獨立的企業 —— 不得為其他公司的子公司或部門。2021 年的最低收入要求為 10 萬美元;2024 年的最低要求為 200 萬美元。

關於 Portnox

Portnox 致力於提供易於部署、營運及維護的網絡存取控制、安全及可視化解決方案。 Portnox 軟件可以部署於本地、以雲端服務交付,或採用混合模式。其無代理程式 (agentless) 及與供應商無關 (vendor-agnostic) 的特性,讓企業能夠善用現有的網絡及資訊安全投資。

關於 Version 2 Digital
資安解決方案 專業代理商與領導者
台灣二版 ( Version 2 ) 是亞洲其中一間最有活力的 IT 公司,多年來深耕資訊科技領域,致力於提供與時俱進的資安解決方案 ( 如EDR、NDR、漏洞管理 ),工具型產品 ( 如遠端控制、網頁過濾 ) 及資安威脅偵測應 變服務服務 ( MDR ) 等,透過龐大銷售點、經銷商及合作伙伴,提供廣被市場讚賞的產品及客製化、在地化的專業服務。

台灣二版 ( Version 2 ) 的銷售範圍包括台灣、香港、中國內地、新加坡、澳門等地區,客戶涵 蓋各產業,包括全球 1000 大跨國企業、上市公司、公用機構、政府部門、無數成功的中小企業及來自亞 洲各城市的消費市場客戶。

IT Solutions: How companies benefit from them

 
 

What are IT solutions?

“That’s the solution!” is how an IT solution should ideally feel. It should solve an existing problem, lead to process optimization or ensure efficient target achievement.

On the technical side, this includes the following:

  • software
  • hardware 
  • data
  • infrastructure, and
  • security mechanisms.

On a qualitative level, these factors include:

  • consulting
  • integration
  • support, and 
  • other services, as necessary. 

Examples include ERP systems, cloud services, IT security solutions, databases, communication platforms and automation tools. 

IT solutions: Definition

An IT solution is a comprehensive approach that goes beyond the mere application of software. It combines components such as hardware, infrastructure, services, integration, support or consulting. It is often individually tailored to a company in order to meet its specific needs.

An IT solution is different from software because it is a complex concept. It may comprise several software products and other elements.

 

What types of problems are solved?

In the corporate world, there are countless problems and opportunities to use information technology in a meaningful way. It is important that an IT solution brings peace of mind to business owners. 

IT solutions: Examples

The following examples use specific categories to illustrate the types of IT solutions available. Each type addresses specific requirements in companies or organizations.

Example #1: Information centralization

These include solutions such as ERP, CRM and HR systems. These are comprehensive, scalable IT solutions that meet the complex requirements of large companies. They integrate various systems and processes, such as financial management, customer relationship management (CRM) or human resources (HR). One of the aims is to manage data centrally and optimize company-wide processes.

Example #2: Data management

Data management solutions help companies organize, store, protect and analyse data effectively and purposefully. In the best case scenario, better decisions can be made based on this and processes can be sensibly revised.

Example #3: Increased IT security

Protecting systems and networks from threats such as hacker attacks or malware is of fundamental importance. The spectrum ranges from firewalls, encryption, analysis and incident identification to comprehensive protection of sensitive company data through an Information Security Management System (ISMS).

Example #4: Communication and collaboration

In the modern corporate world, business has changed. Remote work and large geographical distances are now the norm. Team members must communicate with each other and external parties in a targeted manner. 

By using the right communication and collaboration platforms a strong culture is developed. This also improves the quality of collaboration.

Example #5: Automation and AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) and process automation lead to better outputs. For example, companies benefit from AI chatbots for support or use machine learning for better workflows. The list of benefits of artificial intelligence is long. Related solutions should always should always focus on the practical benefits. 

Example #6: E-commerce

An e-commerce solution supports companies in setting up and operating online stores. It includes functions such as product management, payment processing, ordering processes and marketing tools. An important goal is to offer customers a seamless shopping experience. 

Example #7: Industry-specific solutions

An industry-specific IT solution optimizes processes according to specific requirements. Examples of this include electronic patient records in the healthcare sector or trading systems in the financial sector. In most cases, the aim is to be competitive within one’s own industry or to offer clients a good service.

Application in large companies

Large companies (enterprises) usually have complex IT environments. Each department usually has its own requirements, prerequisites and success metrics. 

Needless to say, solutions must cover a wide range of application scenarios. Selected systems must have a wide range of functionalities,  be highly scalable and integrate easily.

Examples of enterprise solutions include: 

  • ERP systems – for managing business processes
  • CRM tools for customer relationship management or 
  • Data analysis solutions such as business intelligence platforms. 

Use in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) 

Large companies tend to focus on goals such as process optimization, greater security or staying ahead of the competition. In contrast, small and medium-sized enterprises are increasingly focusing on factors such as:

  • cost savings,
  • process digitalization and
  • diving growth.

These require effective solutions that deliver as much performance as possible at the lowest possible cost. They must also be scalable to support the business as it grows.

Typical IT solutions for SMEs may include:

  • Cloud-based business software such as Microsoft 365, 
  • Collaboration tools such as Slack or Trello, or 
  • CRM systems such as HubSpot.

However, IT security also plays an important role here. And, depending on their model, e-commerce solutions, such as web store services, may be practical. 

Customized IT solutions

It’s like clothing: Tailor-made fits best. 

IT service providers can develop options that are individually tailored to specific company needs. These are highly beneficial when there are unique business processes for which a standard offering is not sufficient. For example, automation of a unique business process may be developed individually. 

Of course, a cost-benefit analysis would reveal whether this is possible. In commercial terms, the ROI must be calculated before such a project begins.

Sometimes, these are created in-house. These can be helpful as an interim answer. This gives room for advance planning that will support the longer-term business goals. 

 

Tip: Since customized solutions also mean a high cost factor, it is advisable to choose an IT solution that can be easily adapted to individual needs and requirements.

 

What does your business need today?

When investing in a new solution, it should deliver on an overarching benefit. Examples may be better service provision, reliable security or concrete time savings.

Below are some key benefits to consider. 

1. Greater efficiency

Companies strive for productive and effective work. They also aim for the best possible results with the least possible effort – efficiency. In concrete terms, optimizing or automating processes can save a lot of time, money and resources. At the same time, optimized processes lead to better results. 

2. Increased customer satisfaction

The customer is king. Companies depend on the loyalty of their customers. By using the right tools, processes and training customer satisfaction increases. 

An example of using a solution would be improving communication or enabling personalized services and quick responses to inquiries. A self-service portal, for example, can guide customers quickly to the answers they are looking for.  

3. Competitive advantage

The right IT solution helps companies gain valuable advantages over the competition. For example, automated processes or targeted workflow management can lead to faster and more cost-effective work. AI and IoT technologies also make it  possible to develop new products, services or business models,

4. More security and compliance

The right IT solutions lead to better security in a variety of ways. Examples include data encryption, access controls, backups and restores. 

Professional device management – the proper administration of various devices – also provides effective protection against unauthorized access or data loss. 

In addition, the right IT solutions support compliance with legal requirements, which is particularly important in highly regulated industries.

5. Better decision-making

IT can pave the way for clarity and documentation of data that drives better decisions. 

Data can “nudge” targeted user behavior. Applications such as AI-based summaries can provide a quick overview of complex processes. This means a quick decision about the next step can be made. 

Remember: the cost-benefit ratio must be right 

IT solutions offer many other solutions too. Examples include an optimized user experience, 24/7 service and cost savings through proven IT solution providers.

But, it is crucial that the cost-benefit ratio is high. Companies should have clarity on how they will benefit from selected solutions. Where this can vary greatly from company to company, steps such as a company-specific selection makes sense.

Solving customer problems

OTRS offers customized IT solutions that can be used for many different purposes across all industries. Through good adaptability, fast implementation and reliable local support OTRS customers solve a vast number of operational problems. 

 

Often addressed areas in which OTRS Group works, include:

Conclusion: Apply technology for success

If you have a problem, you should look for a suitable solution as quickly as possible – and find it. This is no different in IT. The subtle difference is that IT often forms the basis for a company’s success. 

It is important to point out the difference between pure software and an IT solution. A solution solves a business problem by using software, services, processes and more. 

Users benefit from the focus on finding benefit-oriented answers to their problems. This includes options that improve upon processes and workflows, security and data-driven – decisions.

Find out how you can best benefit from OTRS IT solutions.


About OTRS

OTRS (originally Open-Source Ticket Request System) is a service management suite. The suite contains an agent portal, admin dashboard and customer portal. In the agent portal, teams process tickets and requests from customers (internal or external). There are various ways in which this information, as well as customer and related data can be viewed. As the name implies, the admin dashboard allows system administrators to manage the system: Options are many, but include roles and groups, process automation, channel integration, and CMDB/database options. The third component, the customer portal, is much like a customizable webpage where information can be shared with customers and requests can be tracked on the customer side.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

Task management: definition, examples, methods, software

Definition: What is task management?

Task management is the way organizations systematically plan work, set priorities and monitor task progress. Tasks are often assigned to fixed processes or projects. The aim is to prioritize them effectively, delegate them and complete them on time. 

The challenge is to have an adequate overview and use resources as optimally as possible. This means both teams and individuals can work productively, in an organized manner, with clear responsibilities and realistic schedules.

How does personal task management manifest itself?

There are many different preferences, methods and tools for organizing, prioritizing and completing tasks in a timely manner. Tools may include calendars, digital boards, Kanban views, to-do lists or whiteboards. Various approaches, like timeboxing, are employed to organize tasks and stay organized.

It is always important that the approach works individually and that it also favors teamwork on the other. A brief example: A team member may plan his tasks using a digital task board. This gives him a good overview and creates transparency for his colleagues.

Task management vs. project management

Tasks may or may not belong to projects. To ensure that projects are implemented successfully and do not experience unnecessary delays, those responsible must spend time planning all of the tasks and their implementation. Project management software can support this effort.

 

“Task management is fundamental for both standard processes and project management.”

Tasks, workflows and processes

At work, many things build on each other: tasks are related to one another. This drives workflows and processes. As such, task management interacts strongly with workflow management and process management.

Here is a brief overview:

  1. Tasks: They form the smallest unit and represent defined activities to be completed and assigned to a specific goal. There is usually a responsible person and a deadline attached to the task.
  2. Workflows: These consist of a sequence of tasks that are completed according to a specific pattern. Workflows outline how tasks are related to each other and how they are carried out. Good workflows promote collaboration and goal-oriented interdependencies between different tasks.
  3. Processes: Processes are made up of several workflows. They are a recurring and holistic sequence of work steps that aim to achieve a specific result. Rules, standards or activities such as process automation help here. 

Examples of good and bad task management 

The key word when it comes to successfully handling tasks is “management”. Targeted management makes a decisive difference in the efficiency of a team.

Example: Hardware for onboarding 

The following example contrasts poor task management with efficient and optimized management. The results in the onboarding experience are clear. 

Poor task management in onboarding

An IT employee is informed by email that they need to procure the necessary hardware for a new employee. However, the task was created so far in advance that it was lost in the employee’s inbox. It was not marked as “Important” or “Urgent” and no separate discussion took place about it. 

To make matters worse, the assignment of the task made little sense. The IT employee had little experience in this area and was already very busy with other tasks. The employee was frustrated. The task should have been assigned to an experienced and less busy colleague.

Now, it’s time for the onboarding and all the required items are not available. The newly hired person has to begin onboarding without the tools required for his work. 

How to make onboarding better with task management

Task management thrives on structure and planning – and the IT employee’s team takes this into account. Before he was assigned the task, a team meeting was held. All members briefly went through their current tasks, including their importance, urgency and prioritization. 

Based on this, he was assigned the task with a generous lead time. He added the task to his personal task board, which he keeps a constant eye on. The task description contained all the important details. The task had deadlines for all subtasks and contacts in case anything is unclear or help is needed.

The IT employee was able to prepare the onboarding in a structured, calm and conscientious manner. There were no “nasty surprises” to fear. The new colleague arrived to find the hardware ready and available on their first day.

 

Important components of a task

Individual tasks are more than just a bullet point on a list that needs to be ticked off. The details make all the difference: they vary depending on the complexity and depth of the planning. They provide structure and organizational clarity. 

 

“If a task has all the important components and sufficient information, it tends to be completed more quickly and with the desired result.”

 

Information is – at a higher level – the main component of a task. In this sense, the requirements of task management overlap strongly with those of information management. The task details can ultimately be broken down and categorized in a meaningful way, as shown below. 

Title and description 

The title should be as meaningful as possible. It should indicate the context and not raise any questions for the person responsible. In addition, the description must be as clear and concise as possible and contain the desired goal. 

Responsibilities

The task must first be clearly assigned to a person with primary responsibility. This may also be several team members at once. Stakeholders should also be informed about the status of the task in question. In addition, there are often dependencies, so that communication with those responsible for other tasks is necessary. 

Priority (importance) 

Task priority is a simple clear classification of how important the respective task is. It helps those responsible with planning and deciding how much concentration to devote to the task. A traffic light system or gradations from priority 1 to 5 are therefore possible.

Current processing status

Having task progress defined is an important step. However, it is even more effective and time-saving if the processing status is displayed directly. 

These assignments, for example, make sense: 

  • “Planned”
  • “In progress”
  • “Under review”
  • “Revision”
  • “Completed”

Time period and effort

For most tasks, the end date – often called the deadline or due date – plays an important role. Less attention is usually paid to the start date of a task, but it is more important in terms of duration. 

Those who focus exclusively on the end date have to estimate for themselves how much effort the task requires. It makes it hard to consider room for disruptive factors and are more likely to miss the deadline. If both the start and end date are specified, there is clarity on how and when to tackle it.

Attachments / resources

Successfully completed tasks don’t just happen. Attachments with documents containing further information, samples, examples or descriptions of contexts are often required. These help the person responsible fully understands a task and can complete it with the desired result. 

Such attachments can also contain working materials or exemplary solutions of comparable tasks. Attachments work best when they are part of a knowledge base, providing access to relevant knowledge in a structured and clear way.

Hierarchy and subtasks

Most tasks are related to other tasks. There are often higher-level tasks that are broken down into subtasks. This structure defines the procedure more precisely and monitors progress more granularly.

 

Task management methods

There are various approaches to task management. All can be effective depending on the type of task, the collaboration model and individual preferences. 

Here is an overview of a few methods as examples. 

1. To-do list

The simple To-do list is the basis of task management. It is a simple but effective method for organizing tasks. It is advisable to prioritize the respective tasks or to create a ranking according to importance. 

For example, the six most important tasks can be placed on a to-do list each day. The list is ranked in order of importance or urgency. 

2. Kanban

A Kanban board can be digital with drag ‘n drop tasks or physical with sticky notes. Tasks are visualized in columns such as “to do”, “in progress”, “under review” and “completed”. The organization in columns can be designed in a variety of ways. For example, the Kanban view in OTRS is suitable for continuous improvements and progress reports.

 

 

3. Timeboxing

Timeboxing works as a time management method. Instead of using a list, a worker enters tasks – with a specific timebox – in a calendar. Such a box sets a fixed time for the task’s completion. 

Timeboxing can be combined with the Pomodoro technique. This is a system in which one works with focus for 25 minutes and then takes a break for 5 minutes.

4. Not-to-do list

This method reverses the idea of the typical to-do list – and can also be used alongside one. Workers write down the tasks that they can skip, postpone or delegate. It helps them to reduce stress and focus on important tasks. 

This approach can help enormously with prioritization. It’s a means for questioning apparent to-dos and making way for really important tasks.

5. Agile task management (Scrum)

This method is aimed at teamwork. It has spread from agile software development and provides clearly defined processes for working together while handling tasks on one’s own. 

Scrum is particularly suitable for teams that complete their tasks in sprints (e.g. in 2-week cycles). These teams coordinate regularly in meetings, such as short stand-ups. A scrum team typically consists of a product owner, a scrum master and developers. 

6. Getting things done (GTD)

This method is about breaking tasks down into specific steps and organizing them. It reduces mental burden while the task is in progress. Users record all their pending tasks in a system. This allows them to prioritize tasks without being disturbed and without the risk of forgetting something important.

 

How can software help with task management?

Modern task management solutions provide an excellent overview of tasks, improve organization, put tasks in relation to each other, remind you of due dates, offer time-saving automation and much more. 

Here are the most important advantages of task management tools in a nutshell: 

  • Users have a good overview by having tasks centrally collected in one place. Everyone knows what is assigned. Structure is added by categorization. And information, like deadlines and reminders, is stored with the task. 
  • Visualizations help to identify progress and dependencies between tasks and to react accordingly.  
  • In order to collaborate and coordinate better, teams can share tasks with each other, communicate clearly and task-specifically in real time. 
  • Teams save a lot of time by having a tool automatically send notifications about tasks. 
  • Software can create reports that show project progress, identify bottlenecks and measure success.
  • With cloud-based software, task management can be synchronized to all desired devices. This makes tasks accessible at any time and from anywhere.

Task management with a ticket system

A ticket system can be used flexibly, including for task management. This type of task management system is particularly popular in IT and support. It records tasks quickly and processes them in an organized manner.

For other areas, too, the main advantages are that tasks can be tracked easily and all those involved are informed. Workflow automation saves a lot of time and all information is available in an organized manner in a ticket.

This is an example of a team process:

  1. Record the task: Those involved record the pending tasks in tickets. The tickets are assigned to the responsible persons and include descriptions, attachments, prioritization (according to importance and urgency) and, if necessary, categories. 
  2. Set the task status: The tickets are each assigned a status – such as “open”, “in progress” and “closed”. Anyone working on a task documents the progress directly in the ticket.
  3. Discuss the task as needed: Comment functions allow queries and discussions to be made directly in the ticket. Notifications keep everyone involved up to date. 
  4. Escalate if needed: As ticket systems support automated workflows, a ticket can be automatically forwarded to the line manager as part of escalation management.
  5. Close the ticket: Once the task in question has been completed, the ticket is closed. It can be archived for later analysis or documentation. 
  6. Analyze overall task management: The collected data provides the team with insights into which measures were successful. They can evaluate how work can be improved in the future. 

 

Conclusion: task management – a crucial process

Virtually all operational, value-added creative work can be expressed in tasks. As a model, the more information and details tasks contain, the more accurate and valid they are. Task management is not just about organization and simple processing. It is also about dependencies between tasks, the connection with workflows and improving processes to achieve overarching goals. 

In short, the more thorough and focused task management is, the more likely teams are to make progress, achieve tangible results, find work enjoyable and continue to develop. Investing time in task management pays off.

Teams and individuals are faced with the challenge of choosing a suitable and target-oriented method for task management. The right software support often makes the decisive difference. It offers an overview when there are many tasks. It helps teams  act more effectively, stay more focused, work more successfully. 

Find out how OTRS can support you with task management.

About OTRS

OTRS (originally Open-Source Ticket Request System) is a service management suite. The suite contains an agent portal, admin dashboard and customer portal. In the agent portal, teams process tickets and requests from customers (internal or external). There are various ways in which this information, as well as customer and related data can be viewed. As the name implies, the admin dashboard allows system administrators to manage the system: Options are many, but include roles and groups, process automation, channel integration, and CMDB/database options. The third component, the customer portal, is much like a customizable webpage where information can be shared with customers and requests can be tracked on the customer side.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

美國學校網絡攻擊呈上升趨勢。 是時候反擊了。

school cyber attacks portnox

In recent years, U.S. school districts have increasingly become targets for cyber attacks. These school cyber attacks have ranged from ransomware attacks to data breaches, resulting in a significant loss of data and resources for school districts. The reasons for this are varied, but a common issue is the lack of proper network access controls in place. In this article, we’ll explore why school districts are easy targets for hackers and how implementing network access control can help prevent future attacks.

Why Are U.S. School Cyber Attacks On the Rise?

First and foremost, school districts are an easy target for cybercriminals because they often lack the necessary security measures to protect their networks. Unlike larger organizations that have dedicated IT teams and resources to implement security measures, many school districts have limited budgets and staff resources that can be dedicated to cybersecurity. This makes them vulnerable to attacks that exploit weaknesses in their network security, such as unsecured Wi-Fi networks or outdated software and hardware.

One example of such a cyber attack occurred in 2019, when the Baltimore County Public Schools in Maryland suffered a ransomware attack that disrupted its operations for several days. The attack impacted the district’s communication systems, preventing staff from accessing emails and important files. Similarly, in March 2021, the Miami-Dade County Public Schools in Florida was hit with a ransomware attack that disrupted online learning for several days.

Another reason why school districts are easy targets is the large amount of sensitive data they store, including student and staff personal information, financial data, and academic records. This makes them attractive targets for hackers looking to steal data for financial gain or to sell on the dark web. In 2020, the Clark County School District in Nevada suffered a data breach that exposed the personal information of more than 350,000 students and staff members.

Stopping School Cyber Attacks with NAC

So, how can school cyber attacks be stopped? One solution is to implement network access control (NAC) measures. NAC is a security solution that ensures only authorized users and devices can access a network, while blocking unauthorized users and devices from gaining access.

With NAC, school districts can implement policies that require users and devices to meet specific security requirements before they are granted access to the network. This includes verifying the identity of users, ensuring that devices have the necessary security software and patches installed, and checking for any signs of malware or other security threats.

By implementing NAC, a significant reduction of school cyber attacks can be achieved. This was demonstrated in 2020 when the Newhall School District in California implemented NAC and was able to prevent an attempted ransomware attack. The NAC solution detected the unauthorized access attempt and prevented the malware from spreading throughout the network.

In conclusion, school districts are easy targets for cyber attacks due to their limited resources and vulnerabilities in their network security. However, by implementing network access control measures, school districts can significantly reduce their risk of cyber attacks and protect the sensitive data they store. With the rise of online learning and remote work, it’s more important than ever for school districts to prioritize cybersecurity and take proactive steps to secure their networks.

About Portnox
Portnox provides simple-to-deploy, operate and maintain network access control, security and visibility solutions. Portnox software can be deployed on-premises, as a cloud-delivered service, or in hybrid mode. It is agentless and vendor-agnostic, allowing organizations to maximize their existing network and cybersecurity investments. Hundreds of enterprises around the world rely on Portnox for network visibility, cybersecurity policy enforcement and regulatory compliance. The company has been recognized for its innovations by Info Security Products Guide, Cyber Security Excellence Awards, IoT Innovator Awards, Computing Security Awards, Best of Interop ITX and Cyber Defense Magazine. Portnox has offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia. For information visit http://www.portnox.com, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.。

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.