Well, it’s been a while, but in that time we’re pleased to say we’ve managed to launch the ‘new look’ Hermstedt StingRay website (take a peek here) and released the latest StingRay firmware version – 2.6.

We’ve packed StingRay 2.6 full of new features and functionality – designed to make the large file transfer process as quick and simple as possible.  Here’s a rundown of the key features built into StingRay 2.6:

Quicksend – An entirely new file sending option, available when sending files via the StingRay Client Application (Mac version 2.0.2).  Aptly named Quicksend, this feature allows internal users to send files/folders quickly and simply in a few short steps.  Just create a new job, add an email address, attach the desired files/folders and press send.  It really is that simple.

Direct Web Browser Upload – External users can now upload files directly into StingRay’s incoming queue via the external web browser interface.  Significant in terms of automation potential, this new feature is ideal for directing incoming files into internal production workflows, freeing staff from manual downloads and allowing them to focus their attention on more productive, revenue generating tasks.

HTTPS – All of StingRay’s file sending options that rely upon HTTP as the fundamental delivery protocol (Email Hyperlink and Web Browser Upload/Download) can now be secured in transit by HTTPS.  The leading security protocol used on the internet today, SSL provides superior levels of security and is the standard implementation when purchasing items online.  Self-assigned SSL certificates can be created within the internal web browser interface or alternatively, if you have an existing SSL certificate, this can be uploaded to the StingRay.

If that wasn’t enough, a number of tweaks and improvements have been made to the existing features provided by Hermstedt StingRay.  These include:

- Personalised Customer Logins (External Web Browser Upload)
- Progress Bar during file upload (External Web Browser Upload)
- Successful Upload Notification (External Web Browser Upload)
- Email Hyperlink Auto-delete functionality
- Hyperlink Signature Customisation potential

If you want more information, you can download a comprehensive guide that outlines the new features in 2.6 in greater detail.

This is the best bit – the StingRay 2.6 upgrade is FREE for all StingRay 2.5 users that hold and valid Silver or Gold maintenance contract.  Just send an email to customerservice (at) pro2col.com and we will get the upgrade process rolling for you.

Unsupported StingRay users and those holding a Bronze maintenance contract will still be able to upgrade if they’d like, all you’ll need to do is contact the Pro2col sales department on 0333 123 1240 for pricing.

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According to a survey published by Osterman Research Inc. in June-July 2009, using a sample of large organisations (over 500 employees and $5 million dollar revenue), 82% of employees resort to using personal email accounts when sending large files.  This tactic is employed by many to evade the email server attachment limits imposed by IT departments.

Considering 20% of the organisations surveyed send in excess of 500 files a week, this is a seriously disturbing statistic when you take into account the ramifications of using standard email for file transfer.  The most frustrating aspect of this predicament, is that many IT professionals are fully aware of the risks associated with this method of file transfer in particular e.g…

•    Compromised security and non-compliance
•    Lack of tracking, logging and auditing
•    The absence of visibility and monitoring

…and consequently, have introduced strategies and procedures to combat the use of unsolicited file transfer methods. The problem is employees will continue to violate security and procedural policies if they aren’t provided with a comparable, alternative solution that offers the same, simple functionality as their email client.

The results also revealed that 55% of the organisations surveyed had seen a 20% increase in ad hoc file transfer activity during June-July 2009 – the largest growth across all of the business file transfer ‘requirements’.  Evidently, employees have an increasing need to send large files on an ad hoc basis, largely due to the dramatic increase in file size over recent years.

So the moral of this story is, if you want your employees to adhere to company procedural policies when sending large files on an ad hoc basis, IT departments need to provide them with an adequate alternative to their email server!

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