March 2019 Summaries

Box and Autodesk have partnered to release Box for AutoCAD, an integration designed to enhance design productivity by allowing users to access and manage AutoCAD files securely through Box's cloud content management system. This collaboration aims to meet the demands of a fast-paced workforce by enabling seamless access to project files from any location, whether users are at a job site or a client's office. With Box for AutoCAD, users can open, edit, and save DWG files directly within AutoCAD without needing to switch between applications, ensuring efficiency and security for organizations in architecture, engineering, manufacturing, and construction industries. The integration also incorporates Box's security and compliance features, providing IT teams with peace of mind about data protection. This development represents the first step in ongoing efforts by Box and Autodesk to offer innovative solutions that enhance work flexibility and business outcomes.

Women's History Month at Box is being celebrated by promoting an inclusive culture where all employees, known as Boxers, are encouraged to recognize their role in fostering gender equality and diversity. The initiative is led by Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Carullo, who emphasizes the importance of empowering individuals to drive change through personal commitments like "Our Future Starts Today, I Will…". Carullo, who has a rich career background in enterprise technology starting at IBM, shares her insights on leadership and success, advocating for authenticity, integrity, and passion in one's career path. She attributes her success to embracing opportunities, being open to learning from others, and holding onto the career advice of pursuing what feels right. She is inspired by her immigrant parents and colleagues, and encourages aspiring young women leaders to build a broad skill set while remaining open to diverse opportunities. Inclusivity, for Carullo, involves being intentional with actions and words, ensuring everyone feels heard and valued. Her personal commitment is to remain accessible, drawing from the mentorship she received throughout her career, characterized by respect, openness, and inclusivity.

Box provides a cloud-based content management platform that enables enterprises to digitize their business processes by serving as a single source of truth for content lifecycle management. Companies like Broadcom, Eli Lilly, and Allstate are using Box not just for file sharing but also to manage critical business processes across their enterprises. The Box Platform allows for custom development and integration with internal systems through versatile APIs, addressing various business needs such as revenue generation, operational efficiency, and compliance. In financial services, Box can streamline M&A deal management; in life sciences, it automates content handling from contract research organizations; and in manufacturing, it enhances product lifecycle management by ensuring accurate and timely information flow. Box's solutions facilitate the ingestion, analysis, and sharing of content among multiple stakeholders, leveraging partnerships with technology providers to offer a customizable and scalable approach to cloud content management.

Box emphasizes the importance of using its "Custom URL" sharing feature properly to prevent unintended access, clarifying that the feature is not a security vulnerability but should be used for non-sensitive, public content. The company explains that Custom URLs differ from the default secure Box shared links, which are more secure due to their randomly generated alphanumeric characters and additional security controls like password protection and expiration policies. For enterprises, enabling or disabling Custom URLs is optional, and Box advises against using them for sensitive information due to their easily discoverable nature. To enhance security and usability, Box is increasing the character requirement for Custom URLs, improving user education on safe usage, and simplifying the process for admins to disable the feature if necessary. These measures are intended to give IT admins more control and ensure users are aware of the risks associated with Custom URLs.

Box has announced enhancements to its secure sharing features, aimed at improving data protection and user experience. The platform now integrates invite-based collaboration and secure shared links into a single user flow, simplifying the process of adding collaborators or creating shared links. Users can now see in real-time who has access to shared folders, and the usability of permission settings has been enhanced to ensure appropriate access levels. Additionally, Box has updated the security of its Custom URL feature by increasing the minimum character requirement and providing guidance against sharing sensitive content through these URLs. Admins can now easily disable the open Custom URL feature, ensuring users rely on Box-generated secure links for sensitive information. Beyond these updates, Box is also focusing on long-term innovations like Box Shield and two-factor authentication, continuing its collaboration with security platforms to bolster content protection.

Box emphasizes the importance of securely sharing content, especially when using "public/open" permissions, as such links can be accessed by unintended parties. The company offers several secure sharing methods, including direct email collaboration and configurable shared hyperlinks, with various user and enterprise-level security controls. Box warns against sharing sensitive information through public/open links or custom shared URLs, which can be indexed by search engines if posted publicly. To enhance security, Box is implementing new measures such as improved user education, stricter default settings for shared links, and advanced security features like Box Shield and two-factor authentication for external collaborators. Administrators are encouraged to regularly review sharing settings and utilize third-party security tools to protect content, ensuring that only intended recipients have access.

Danielle Liebl, a Special Olympics ambassador, shared her inspiring story of overcoming challenges and achieving significant milestones, including starting a nonprofit and meeting President Obama, at a global internal conference hosted by Box.org. The event aimed to educate employees about the Special Olympics' mission and engage them with the organization's work through various activities and sessions. These included learning sports skills, mental health practices, and advocacy for inclusion, as well as participating in fundraising and community awareness initiatives such as the Polar Plunge. Box employees collaborated on innovative solutions to improve Special Olympics programs and created motivational materials for schools, fostering an ongoing connection and commitment to the inclusion revolution. The event, supported by a $10K match from Box.org, inspired many, including the Chicago sales team, to continue their involvement with the Special Olympics, highlighting the impactful partnership between Box.org and the organization.

In the competitive landscape where artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming essential for business growth, executives are keen to integrate AI strategies, particularly for leveraging the vast amounts of unstructured data that constitute a significant portion of enterprise data. The text outlines a comprehensive approach to implementing AI, emphasizing the importance of starting with existing processes that can benefit from AI-driven automation, such as repetitive manual tasks like data classification and extraction. It highlights the necessity of defining clear business outcomes, ensuring data is well-organized and accessible, and choosing the appropriate AI technologies by considering factors such as performance, security, and developer-friendliness. By strategically applying AI, businesses can transform unstructured data into valuable insights, creating a competitive edge, and platforms like Box Skills offer solutions to seamlessly integrate AI with existing data management systems.