We are happy to introduce Audit Trail, a new feature that logs all actions by users that result in access to information. In other words, the Audit Trail keeps a record of every time a user logs in, downloads a file, opens an event or bucket, writes a comment, etc. This feature is designed to help our customers implement HIPAA-compliant data management practices. Audit Trail is only available for Professional and Enterprise subscriptions.

The Audit Trail is deactivated by default. To activate logging, go to Administration > Audit Trail and click the “Log Settings” button at the bottom of the screen. A popup will appear with a checkbox for enabling the log. You can also set how many months worth of logs you want Javek to store for you. Your Audit Trail records can also be downloaded as a spreadsheet for your own archiving purposes.

We are proud to announce the release of our newly-reworked uploader widget. You can now upload multiple files at the same time (up to twenty), and the maximum file size of each file has been bumped up to 2 gigabytes. In addition, the user interface has been reworked into a much cleaner, more streamlined workflow.

File uploading has been automatically upgraded inside all Javek client portals. As noted in our newsletter, upload forms embedded on external websites will have to be re-embedded with the new embed code to take advantage of the new uploader. If you have embedded an upload form on your site using the WordPress plugin all you need to do is install the new version of the plugin, which you can find here.

In my tax practice I manage an immense amount of information from clients, and I need a way to manage the exchange of this sensitive information. After many attempts at other software solutions, I now use Javek for my needs. I find it useful for my business and personal life. Javek allows me to collect and access information (notes, documents, lists, forms, images, etc.) at anytime from anywhere since it is cloud-based. The free personal version allows you, as the administrator, as well as 2 guest users, to access up to 200 MB of storage.

Javek has two ways of exchanging information with clients, associates, and friends. The first way is the Buckets. Buckets are an easy way to exchange information by allowing the uploading and downloading of files with minimum setup and effort. When a file has been uploaded to the Bucket, a notification email is automatically sent to all that Bucket’s users who are to be informed of changes. It also has a widget I placed on my website that allows anyone to quickly upload files to a Bucket that then gets established with their name. I am notified by email and can see what they sent. I can also email anyone a link to a Bucket that allows them to access that Bucket of information (not available with the free version). These two features are fast and easy without the user being required to have a login.

The second way of exchanging information is with Events. Events are just like Buckets but have the added feature of providing a deadline date. As the deadline approaches, the user would receive email reminders. Each Event is categorized with an Event Type which allows you to store information that a user can access for reference. You also have the ability to customize the wording for the deadline dates.

Javek uses the terms Assets and Resources. Assets give you the ability to exchange files with other users that are specific to a particular Event. Assets are usually uploaded by clients, associates, or friends. Resources are files and links to content that explain something about your business or provide an explanation or information that is relevant to an Event. Typically, the event administrator would add resources to an Event that give necessary background information, such as a firm brochure, checklist, or other general documents.

Javek manages large amounts of information that can be securely exchanged between myself and my clients. I’ve found nothing better, and it stands in a class by itself. I will be writing future posts about how I use the buckets and events in my business.

Javek is free, and there is a paid version with additional capacity and features. Sign up and fall in love with it today.

I will be writing future posts about how I use the buckets and events in my business for communicating filing deadlines and document gathering.

Steve Eubanks, EA, MBA
Strategic Tax Group
Dallas, Texas
www.strategictaxgroup.com

We’ve added a new video on our home page. It shows a few quick demonstrations of how Javek can help you, from sending files, organizing communication with clients, and managing deadlines. Enjoy!

Efficiency is a key component of maintaining competitiveness in your industry, and Javek is a great tool for boosting efficiency. Professionals sometimes assume that technology solutions require IT consultants or in-house IT departments with large budgets, but that is not always true. The growth of the SaaS industry and the expanding internet ecosystem that powers it are bringing sophisticated solutions within the reach of small businesses.

Javek is a case in point. It’s a powerful tool for sharing and organizing information, and yet it is simple enough that you can use it without consulting an IT professional.

For example, businesses have relied on FTP solutions to transfer large files in the past. There are many drawbacks to FTP, but most importantly it’s very confusing to anyone who isn’t a tech. It requires you to install special software on your computer as well as your client’s computers, and setting up the software requires you and your clients to know unfamiliar things such as your FTP server’s host address, etc. It’s virtually guaranteed to create confusion and annoyance.

The new SaaS cloud-based service paradigm followed by Javek eliminates this frustration, lost time, and need for IT consultants – everything just works, with no software installation, right through your web browser. If you want to share files with a client, they don’t need to setup or install anything either.

Importantly, there is no security compromise – Javek is in fact far more secure than old FTP solutions, which don’t even encrypt data that is transferred over public networks. Finally, the software stays current – we’re working on updates continually, while your old desktop software is growing more outdated by the year.

We have our own YouTube channel now!

http://www.youtube.com/user/javekclientportal/videos

All of our how-to videos will be available through YouTube on this channel, in addition to the Take a Tour page of this website. Also, we may post user-generated videos from time to time. If you would like to make a video highlighting how your business uses Javek, send it our way. If we like it we’ll post it, and maybe write a blog post about it, in order to help you promote your business.

This is our first post on our new blog. We will feature news and how-to articles about Javek, guest posts from users about how they use Javek, and anything else that catches our eye. If you have something to say that fits here, let us know – we might feature you!

For starters, we can announce several new videos have been posted to the Take a tour page. The Quick Tour has been updated to include the new upload form you can embed on your website, and we have added detailed videos on the embedded form and sending files to people without Javek user accounts.