Video Conferencing Options For Work or Home

Given the changes to the workforce because of the 2020 pandemic, corporations had to adapt to an entirely new business model and isolated employees remotely delivered goods and services. Video conferencing quickly became the dominant form of not only office communication, but took the place of just about any face-to-face exchanges. And as demand for the technology grows, it doesn’t look to be leaving soon. So, as we learn to embrace the new normal of interaction, we can help you make an informed decision with our piece – Video Conferencing Options For Work or Home.

Understanding which video conferencing tools to choose and how to maintain your online security in virtual meetings are important skills in today’s world. After reading this article, you’ll have a better idea of what’s out there in video conferencing options and what to avoid in safeguarding your privacy and security.

These choices are not an exhaustive list by any means, but they are many of the most popular solutions for video conferencing today.

What Video Conferencing Software Exists? How Do I Choose?

With so many vendors offering apps with videoconferencing capabilities, it can be hard to understand the benefits and drawbacks of each one. However, most of these pieces of software fit into a particular niche, so some are more appropriate than others for certain situations.

Unlike with email providers, it’s not possible to communicate with someone using a different video conferencing app than you. That said, you can sign up for accounts with many video conferencing services, so it’s usually possible to settle on an option that works for everyone.

FaceTime: Easy One-on-One and Small Group Communication, But Only Using Apple Devices

Like iMessage (encrypted text messages sent from iPhones to iPhones with the blue bubble color), FaceTime is exclusive to Apple devices. It’s the easiest and most well-integrated video calling solution on iPhones, iPads, and Macs; starting a FaceTime call is just as easy as making a regular phone call.

Zoom and Google Meet: Better Support for Big Groups, A Little More Setup Required

Zoom and Google Meet both fill similar niches in the videoconferencing market. While both options work fine with just a few participants, their primary advantage is that they scale to larger meetings with ease. Google Meet meetings require a Google Account, while you can use Zoom without one. Either can be used from the web on a computer, but both Google Meet and Zoom require an app installed on mobile devices. Zoom also offers a desktop program with more functionality.

If you’re joining something like a virtual class or a sizeable group meeting, it’s likely to be hosted over Zoom. Google Meet is popular with companies for its good integration with other Google services like Google Calendar and Gmail.

Google Duo

Google offers a second videoconferencing app besides Meet. Google Duo targets a similar niche as FaceTime, but it supports both Android and iOS. You can also use Google Duo from the web if you already installed it on your phone.

Microsoft Teams

If you need a secure, collaborative platform that integrates business tools like Microsoft Office along with capabilities to host large meetings with chat, audio and/or video, MS Teams is an effective option. It comes as part of the Office 365 (soon to be Microsoft 365) package, so it’s good in corporate or group settings (up to 300 people in a network) and with individual or family virtual gatherings.

Obviously, as with the other providers the format is proprietary, and you must have a Microsoft account to use the software. There is a web and desktop version and supports mobile devices in iOS and Android.

Security Considerations To Be Aware Of

Depending on which technology you choose for an online get-together, the security considerations differ. No matter what, it’s important to use an appropriate amount of skepticism with any unknown person you see in a video call.

Keep Meeting Codes Private

When schools moved their classes online in the spring, the phenomenon of “Zoom-bombing” quickly became a credible threat. Meeting codes would be accidentally or intentionally leaked so that external participants could gain access to the meeting. Most of the time, the unauthorized participants only pulled sophomoric pranks like screaming profanities. However, if not carefully monitored, it’s possible that someone would sit silently in the meeting and record its contents, harming the privacy of the participants.

For videoconferencing apps that use meeting codes or links, it’s important to only share the codes in secure ways. For example, don’t post them on a public Facebook page or send them to anyone who shouldn’t be able to access the meeting.

End-to-End Encrypted Solutions (like FaceTime and Google Duo) Offer the Highest Level of Confidentiality

(At the time of this posting, Microsoft will implement End-to-End Encryption this year for MS Teams.) Using encryption technologies, end-to-end encrypted video conferencing apps make it impossible for anyone but the participants to decrypt and view the call. While non-end-to-end-encrypted options still make it extremely difficult to watch meetings without permission, end-to-end encryption guarantees maximum security for meeting contents. That said, this type of encryption is only as secure as the device it’s used on, so be sure that your machine is free from malware as well.

Final Thoughts on Video Conferencing Options For Work or Home

As virtual get-togethers become an ever more important part of our daily life, it’s good to stay informed on the popular technologies so that you don’t miss out on the advances. Given the adaptability of mobile devices and greater networking speeds, you’ll soon be able to video chat as common as calling. But keeping your meetings private is a must, so follow the basic security recommendations we’ve listed and you should be covered.

We hope that you find this article helpful on Video Conferencing Options For Work or Home and can use it to make an informed decision. We have other blogs on online security you can read up on, click here to access them.

As always, if you don’t see something here you want, please reach out directly to us through our Contact page or leave a comment below. Stay safe and all the best ~ Glen.