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Frequently Asked Questions
How long has ENKON been providing environmental and land
information (enviroLIS) systems?
ENKON first launched a stand-alone environmental management information
product called EasyMap™ in 1997. This was released as a web version in 1998.
In 2003, a Land package was added to the system framework and EasyMap was repackaged
as enviroLIS to describe its Environmental and Land Management
functionality better.
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Can enviroLIS import and export data from other applications?
enviroLIS can interface with other
databases to utilize information stored elsewhere or to pass information out to
other security regulated sources. For example, raw data can be fed into enviroLIS
in order to take advantage of the graphing and charting capabilities of enviroLIS.
Numerous enviroLIS deployments integrate with clients’ internal
databases in order to provide additional functionality to the information they hold
and to provide a common portal for viewing this data.
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Do I need to install anything on my computer in order to
use enviroLIS?
enviroLIS is a collaborative, web-based
information management system which requires only Microsoft’s Internet Explorer
on the user's computer to access the industry's most powerful environmental and
land information management system.
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Do I have to subscribe to the entire functionality and/or
all available modules in order to take advantage of implementing enviroLIS as my
environmental and/or land information management system?
enviroLIS is completely modular,
so you only pay for the functionality that matches your current needs. The system
can grow with your requirements and business processes as future business needs
dictate.
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What about support?
ENKON maintains a first-class professional Data Center, which is
supported by a fully trained staff. ENKON maintains extended office hours, as our
clients are spread throughout different time zones around the globe. ENKON’s business
hours extend from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Pacific Coastal Time from Monday to Friday.
In addition, network administrators and technicians are on call 24 hours a day.
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How will my enviroLIS application be hosted? Do I require
internal IT support?
ENKON has a server farm dedicated to hosted systems that we maintain
in a secure environment, applying all tested patches and upgrades as necessary,
and carrying out all back-up routines in the environment-controlled, fire-and-earthquake-protected
Data Center located in our head office.
ENKON’s IT personnel take care of all system maintenance. The customer's IT staff
only need to ensure that users have access to the Internet. The client can purchase
dedicated servers for its system that ENKON then maintains, or can rent servers
from ENKON, thereby completely removing the initial capital outlay on hardware.
Many of our clients find this to be the most cost-effective solution, and ENKON
recognizes that the cost as well as the overall effectiveness of a solution is always
a main consideration.
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What about training?
ENKON provides training, such as on-line tutorials, on-line demonstrations
and classroom-based seminars at the expert and beginner level, as well as an array
of help-desk support from which clients may choose.
Some deployments are sufficiently small and intuitive that users require no support
from ENKON, while clients who commission more complex deployments may request many
levels of support to help its many users.
ENKON's experienced project managers can provide guidance as to the level of support
that has been most effective for different groups of users.
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How configurable is the application?
enviroLIS is a modular system that can be released
as a workable solution with only the components that the client requires laid on
top of the core package of navigation, security and the shell. Generally, ENKON
will customize the shell to suit the corporate identity and color scheme of the
client, as experience has shown that users quickly adopt the system as their own
with these minor cosmetic changes.
With the basic structure in place, the general users are able to make many configuration
changes. For example, users can set up as many records using the data management
forms as they require. This can include creating records for assets or procedures
related to each facility. Users can also add additional items to drop-down lists
or check box items to suit the changing nature of the business. Those with specified
security rights can also set up additional user names for new users without having
to contact ENKON.
While users can make simple additions and changes to their information management
forms, more extensive changes require management by ENKON. However, we have designed
enviroLIS to allow customization to be done quickly and in a cost-effective
manner.
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Do you need to be a tech-expert to do the configuration?
No technical expertise is required to carry out the user-prescribed
changes outlined in the previous FAQ. ENKON recommends that system administrators
receive training from us to gain a full understanding of the security module used
to set users’ access rights as this is obviously important to corporate confidentiality.
However, the system is designed to be intuitively used with consistent functionality
so that even general users will find an enviroLIS application straightforward
and quick to pick up.
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How does enviroLIS' security work?
enviroLIS’ security module allows many levels of
security to be assigned to each user. Security can be set by a company’s business
unit (i.e., regions, divisions, and so on) or by functionality within the system.
This means that users can view and use only the data and functionality appropriate
to their working roles, while at the same time every piece of data across all sites
can be made available to suitably authorized users, such as high-level managers.
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Can enviroLIS be deployed across multiple sites with a single
shared instance?
This is one of the central features of the system, with many business
benefits accruing from many users sharing a single, centralized database. enviroLIS
is a web-based product that is deployed on one server that is connected to the Internet.
All that users need on their computers to access enviroLIS is Internet Explorer
and a connection to the Internet. All security issues are addressed at the web server.
ENKON has clients that have thousands of sites accessing enviroLIS,
with all of
these clients effectively using a single centralized instance of the software.
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Can an individual user customize their graphic user interface
if they only want to access data and functionality relevant to their specific job
task or responsibilities?
Yes. enviroLIS includes a Dashboard that is designed
to provide an easy way for users to access their favorite (most used) facilities
and modules. The Dashboard also includes a message center. Messages can be created
and broadcast to all users through this utility. Another section of the Dashboard
can be set up to display key performance indicators and show this information in
charts.
The Dashboard is designed to be flexible and easily customized to suit the needs
not just of different clients but also the different user groups within each system.
For example, users responsible for Environmental Compliance may tailor their Dashboards
giving them easy access to relevant ISO 14000 documents. Other users responsible for facility assets may choose to show links to internal documents on inventories
and budgets.
While the overall content of the Dashboard is customized to suit the organization,
control
over the more specific information and much of the functionality displayed
is in the hands of the user, and each user can
set up their own favorites and add messages to the corporate or group message boards.
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