Desktop video most used by executives, according to Forrester Despite the popularity of consumer desktop video like Skype and FaceTime, information workers in North America and Europe have little interest in using the technology on the job, according to Forrester Research.MICROSOFT ANGLE: Uniting Microsoft Lync and Video ConferencingOf more than 5,400 businesspeople surveyed, 72% don’t want desktop video, and even if they did, they don’t have much access to it, says a new Forrester report called “Information Workers Are Not Quite Ready for Desktop Videoconferencing”. The rest either already use it or would like to, the report says. Addressing desktop video specifically, 30% of businesses have implemented it, with another 19% saying they have plans to do so. But of the businesses that do have the technology, only 15% of the workers say they have access to it. “This suggests that business implementations start with small segments in organizations,” the report says. Top-level executives – CEOs, directors, presidents, vice presidents – are the most likely to use desktop video, with 31% to 42% of workers holding those titles using it, Forrester says.The top three uses are routine internal communications (51%), executive meetings (41%), and distance learning and training (33%). Customer meetings, brainstorming sessions and partner meetings each garner 30% of usage, according to the report. The 13% who don’t have desktop video but want it say they would use it for routine internal communications (61%), distance learning and training (44%), brainstorming (43%) and better connection with remote workers (35%).Better connecting with remote workers ranks No. 7 on the list of actual uses by those who already have the technology, Forrester says. “However, this may be more indicative of the limited distribution of the technology and not its effectiveness in this scenario,” the report says.Barriers to adopting desktop video include concern about overloading networks and needing significant upgrades. “We don’t see this as being a unique situation,” Forrester says, “it’s something many firms will grapple with as they design their videoconferencing strategy. “Management buy-in and encouragement of desktop video use if deemed productive is key to moving reluctant workers to adopt it, the report says. The overriding rule should be easing the technology in so infrastructure and employees can be prepared. Related content analysis Network automation challenges are dampening success rates Most enterprises are juggling multiple commercial, open source, and homegrown network automation tools, and few are reporting fully successful automation initiatives. By Denise Dubie Mar 28, 2024 6 mins Data Center Automation Network Management Software Network Monitoring news SD-WAN, SASE outpace MPLS investments: survey SD-WAN and SASE technologies are becoming mainstream and MPLS usage is on the decline, according to survey results from SASE vendor Aryaka. By Denise Dubie Mar 28, 2024 4 mins SASE MPLS Network Management Software analysis Beware the gap between security readiness and confidence levels, Cisco warns Companies need greater network segmentation, sandboxes, firewalls, and anomaly detection to fight attackers, according to Cisco's 2024 Cybersecurity Readiness Index. By Michael Cooney Mar 27, 2024 6 mins SASE Network Security Networking analysis Cisco: AI tools, better workspaces would boost in-office appeal Office environments need to change to foster collaboration, and employers need to close the AI skills gap, Cisco reports in its hybrid work study. By Michael Cooney Mar 27, 2024 3 mins Generative AI Careers Networking PODCASTS VIDEOS RESOURCES EVENTS NEWSLETTERS Newsletter Promo Module Test Description for newsletter promo module. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe