[sims] EntrySign

[Koldov]

Well, as predicted it's all been agreed and signed off without even a courtesy discussion with me about requirements... and now I've started my well earned couple of weeks holiday the emails start!

 

Oh no, I'm not actually in the loop, these is second hand information from EntrySign passed on to me by the BM!

 

I am supposed to email him the the following information (which I presume he will then forward on to EntrySign):

 

Obtain IP address automatically?

 

IP Address: e.g. 192.168.1.54

Subnet Mask: e.g. 255.255.255.0

Gateway: e.g. 192.0.0.1

DNS servers: (list multiple DNS addresses on seperate lines or seperated with commas)e.g. 192.0.0.1, 192.0.0.22

 

Please confirm your MIS connection details below:

 

Server/host address:

SQL instance name:

SQL database name:

Username:

Password:

Type: Local/on premises or remote/hosted.

 

Oh and I also need to install and configure the following:

 

Teamviewer to allow remote access.

 

Is it just me?

 

Why do I feel so uncomfortable emailing this kind of information?

 

Why don't I want to enable any kind of remote access?

 

Am I being unreasonable not wanting to do this?

[Bankesy]

For what it's worth my initial thoughts are that maybe you could send to EntrySign directly if BM will give you contact details.

 

Possibly arrange individual remote sessions via TeamViewer QuickSupport so you're kind of controlling access each time.

[robintech]

does seem easier if you talk to them directly as @Bankesy said

[Olliedawg]

Well, as predicted it's all been agreed and signed off without even a courtesy discussion with me about requirements... and now I've started my well earned couple of weeks holiday the emails start!

 

Oh no, I'm not actually in the loop, these is second hand information from EntrySign passed on to me by the BM!

 

I am supposed to email him the the following information (which I presume he will then forward on to EntrySign):

 

Obtain IP address automatically?

 

IP Address: e.g. 192.168.1.54

Subnet Mask: e.g. 255.255.255.0

Gateway: e.g. 192.0.0.1

DNS servers: (list multiple DNS addresses on seperate lines or seperated with commas)e.g. 192.0.0.1, 192.0.0.22

 

Please confirm your MIS connection details below:

 

Server/host address:

SQL instance name:

SQL database name:

Username:

Password:

Type: Local/on premises or remote/hosted.

 

Oh and I also need to install and configure the following:

 

Teamviewer to allow remote access.

 

Is it just me?

 

Why do I feel so uncomfortable emailing this kind of information?

 

Why don't I want to enable any kind of remote access?

 

Am I being unreasonable not wanting to do this?

 

I had something similar just happen at the school I work at.

 

Last week some electricians turn up unbeknown to both myself, and the site manager, to install the Paxton access system on the two main doors. Oh and yes they will be needing network points for the access panels by the doors.. basic lack of communication!

 

Makes us look stupid when we know nothing about what is going on!!

[Koldov]

Yeah maybe I've only got half the conversation, because I can't possibly believe that a 'security' company is asking me to plain text my MIS details over email....

 

Especially username & password... I don't even know which one they are asking for, surely not SQL/SA...?

[MrEprise]

Yeah maybe I've only got half the conversation, because I can't possibly believe that a 'security' company is asking me to plain text my MIS details over email....

 

Especially username & password... I don't even know which one they are asking for, surely not SQL/SA...?

 

I had this when Inventry asked for similar details. The IP address bit is them asking for the IP address(es) you've allocated for their equipment to access your network, because they like to do that themselves before they come to fit the terminals. I'd have preferred setting DHCP reservations but that wasn't an option at the time.

 

Under the MIS connection details bit, the Username/Password is for an account you've set up on your MIS with basic access only so that Entrysign can pull (allegedly) basic user details across to their platform. The SQL instance/database names is so their connector can talk with your MIS. The Inventry connector still has to connect via our external SIMS connector instance, but for some reason won't work without the SQL instance/database names.

[EntrySign_Support]

Hi @Koldov,

 

Hope you're well.

 

I hope you don't mind us replying to this post, we are of course eager to provide some clarity on the situation and hopefully put your mind at rest.

 

We do indeed ask for some of the information mentioned above in order to prepare and configure as much of the solution as we can ahead of installation but rest assured we do not request that you send this via email but through a secure portal. The information is only submitted via the portal and is deleted automatically once received by us.

 

The login details for accessing the portal are supplied to the main contact we are provided for the order, which in your case may be the business manager. We do always like to engage with the on-site IT staff/network manager as early in the process as possible but also understand that procurement processes don’t always include them. One of the first things we request through the portal therefore are your contact details to allow us to make contact with you. We also recommend throughout the portal that the person submitting the information consults with the IT manager/technician. We have numerous staff here who are ex school IT managers/technicians, so we understand it from your perspective and would be happy to speak to you as early as possible.

Regarding remote access, this is something we request to facilitate remote configuration and any immediate post-implementation support, however we also understand that TeamViewer is not necessarily the preferred method for some organisations so we do offer more options (including your own preferred solutions where possible) and again the portal provides an opportunity to inform us of your preference in this respect. It is also worth noting that we do not request unattended access, so you always have control over if and when we connect.

I also think that there may be some confusion around the details we require for MIS integration. These credentials are only required to connect EntrySign to an MIS (if requested) and are stored only within your on-premise solution. You are also free to change the password used for this after configuration and we are happy to help you through changing this on the EntrySign system. We have no requirement to know any passwords beyond the initial configuration.

 

All the information we request is purely for the purposes of configuring your system initially, and we do not sell or share it with anyone else. It’s one of the advantages of EntrySign being an on-premise solution, it’s easier to retain control of your data and you can rest assured we have no interest your data after configuration.

 

If you would like to contact us directly through private message, email or phone, we would be happy to arrange a time for one of our technical team members to assist in providing you with more information on EntrySign and what we require during the implementation process as well as answer any questions.

We hope to hear from you soon.

 

Kind regards,

EntrySign Support

[Koldov]

Hi @Koldov,

 

Hope you're well.

 

 

I am thanks (apart from being overworked/underpaid/expected to deal with this sort of thing at short notice with no due process... but that's a lot of schools I.T. I guess), hope you are too...

 

I hope you don't mind us replying to this post, we are of course eager to provide some clarity on the situation and hopefully put your mind at rest.

 

Thanks for your reply, of course I don't mind you replying and I'm sure nobody else does either (as a supplier it is only right and fair that you be able to openly reply to queries and give support here and it's good for you to do so imho).

 

We do indeed ask for some of the information mentioned above in order to prepare and configure as much of the solution as we can ahead of installation but rest assured we do not request that you send this via email but through a secure portal. The information is only submitted via the portal and is deleted automatically once received by us.

 

The login details for accessing the portal are supplied to the main contact we are provided for the order, which in your case may be the business manager. We do always like to engage with the on-site IT staff/network manager as early in the process as possible but also understand that procurement processes don’t always include them. One of the first things we request through the portal therefore are your contact details to allow us to make contact with you. We also recommend throughout the portal that the person submitting the information consults with the IT manager/technician. We have numerous staff here who are ex school IT managers/technicians, so we understand it from your perspective and would be happy to speak to you as early as possible.

 

So, here's the thing (again only in my opinion)... Once you have sold the 'new shiny thing' to the SLT the very next thing would be to actively secure the contact information of the team that will from that moment on be responsible for it. Not sure about other schools, but I can guarantee you here it will NOT be the SLT, it will be Site team and I.T team.

 

As you give the portal access to the procurement lead (SLT/BM) those who actually need the information could possibly be left out of the loop or will just have to supply the SLT the required information instead of being able to provide it directly.

 

Bearing that in mind we did not get the 'holiday' installation we required due to the delay in collating and sending all the data, we are now having the disruption of a mid-week, school time installation...

 

Regarding remote access, this is something we request to facilitate remote configuration and any immediate post-implementation support, however we also understand that TeamViewer is not necessarily the preferred method for some organisations so we do offer more options (including your own preferred solutions where possible) and again the portal provides an opportunity to inform us of your preference in this respect. It is also worth noting that we do not request unattended access, so you always have control over if and when we connect.

 

Unfortunately we do not have a preferred solution, there is no remote access allowed apart from a commercial VPN solution, with users (actually just me) provisioned from an integration and requiring 2FA.

 

I also think that there may be some confusion around the details we require for MIS integration. These credentials are only required to connect EntrySign to an MIS (if requested) and are stored only within your on-premise solution. You are also free to change the password used for this after configuration and we are happy to help you through changing this on the EntrySign system. We have no requirement to know any passwords beyond the initial configuration.

 

Yes, I'll hold my hands up I have since been informed (from this or another similar thread) that is the case, but obviously I wasn't informed it was (due to the fact that I'm not directly involved)... I was just emailed by the SLT to send them all the details (as I was on holiday).

 

If you would like to contact us directly through private message, email or phone, we would be happy to arrange a time for one of our technical team members to assist in providing you with more information on EntrySign and what we require during the implementation process as well as answer any questions.

We hope to hear from you soon.

 

Kind regards,

EntrySign Support

 

Well unfortunately I've been busy over the 'holidays' and with the start of term and I've only just been informed the installation is mid-week (next week) and I can tell you now there is no power and no data socket installed so far (therefore no patching done as I don't know where the cabling is going as my site agent is on holiday)...