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GoToMeeting is a Web-based online meeting service that allows multiple PC users to interact using desktop screen sharing, remote keyboard/mouse control, text chat and other features. GoToMeeting is ideal for Web conferencing, customer demos, sales presentations, staff meetings and project management.
GoToMeeting is a hosted service, delivered via Web browsers, downloadable client executables and a network of multicast communication servers operated by Citrix Online. Meetings are scheduled, convened and moderated using the Citrix Online Web site and client software. GoToMeeting automatically integrates with such existing business communication tools as instant messaging, Microsoft® Outlook® email and voice conferencing for ease of use and solution completeness.
Easy-to-use online business collaboration tools like GoToMeeting can help companies increase productivity by enabling them to communicate and interact more effectively with co-workers, business partners and customers. But such tools vary greatly when it comes to embedded security features. Moreover, it is essential to understand the security implications of online collaboration and comply with safe usage guidelines.
Using any online meeting service requires careful consideration of potential threats and resulting business risks. Business security needs that must typically be addressed when adopting an online meeting service include:
- Preventing unauthorized use of the service and its features so that only legitimate users and invited participants can schedule and participate in online meetings
- Avoiding any compromise of company assets, including client computers and the private networks to which they are attached
- Protecting the privacy and integrity of confidential
communication, including screen sharing, text messages, email and voice interaction
- Ensuring availability and reliability of the service itself, so that business communications cannot be denied or disrupted
- Integrating seamlessly with other network/computer security measures, so that meeting services can leverage (not degrade) an organization’s existing safeguards
GoToMeeting was developed from the ground up to satisfy these common business security needs. By incorporating security features and making them easy to administer and use, GoToMeeting enables effective and safe online business collaboration.
Role-based Security Features
To enable account owners to enforce company access policies related to service and feature use, every GoToMeeting user is assigned one of several application-defined roles.
- Organizers are authorized to schedule meetings. An Organizer sets up each GoToMeeting session, invites other users to participate, initiates and ends the session, and designates the current Presenter.
- Attendees are authorized to participate in GoToMeeting sessions. Attendees can view the Presenter’s screen, chat with other Attendees or view the Attendee list.
- Presenters are Attendees who are able to share their computer screens with other Attendees. Presenters also decide which other Attendees, if any, are permitted to control the keyboard and mouse of the Presenters’ computers.
- Internal Administrators are Citrix Online staff members authorized to manage GoToMeeting services and accounts.
- External Administrators are individuals from a customer site authorized to manage multi-user GoToMeeting Corporate accounts. External Administrators can configure account features, authorize Organizers and access a variety of service usage reporting tools.
The GoToMeeting user interface provides intuitive session controls and status indicators that facilitate productive and safe online meetings.
Controls and privileges available to each user depend on the currently assigned role: Organizer, active Presenter, or general Attendee.
Organizer Privileges
Organizers have the most control in a meeting and the ability to grant and revoke various privileges for the other participants. GoToMeeting Organizers can specify the respective roles and privileges of other participants.
Specific Organizer privileges include:
- The ability to invite Attendees, before or during the meeting, so that only authorized participants can join a given meeting
- The ability to see the complete list of Attendees and their current roles and privileges, so the Organizer remains aware of those present at all times
- The ability to start and end the meeting, which prevents others from disrupting the meeting accidentally or otherwise
- The ability to make any Attendee the active Presenter, controlling which desktop can be viewed at any point in time throughout the meeting
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