Antioch U Implements Browser-Based Access to IBM SPSS

Antioch University has implemented a zero-client solution to enable students to access specialized research software and other Windows applications from anywhere using their computer, tablet or smartphone.

Doctoral students at the university use IBM SPSS predictive analytics software for their research, but they needed a way to access the software when they were off campus or conducting field research. Requiring them to do their work on campus or asking them to purchase their own IBM SPSS licenses weren't viable solutions. The university began investigating zero-client solutions so they could host the software on a server and let students access it remotely through their own devices.

The university considered several options, including Citrix and Windows Terminal Server, but ended up selecting Ericom AccessNow and PowerTerm WebConnect. According to Ericom, cost and ease of implementation were deciding factors for the university. "The Ericom solution was simply more cost-effective, both in terms of deployment and maintenance," said Chancelor C. Chao, technical director of the university, in a prepared statement.

AccessNow is an HTML5 remote desktop protocol (RDP) client that lets users access remote desktops from any HTML5-enabled browser without installing any client software on the device. PowerTerm WebConnect "is an advanced connection broker that provides secure, centrally managed access to desktops, applications, files and content on a wide range of platforms including Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (Terminal Servers) and desktop virtualization (VDI) platforms," according to information provided by the company.

Antioch U can now virtualize IBM SPSS or any other Windows-based application so students and faculty can access it from anywhere using their Chromebook, iOS device, Android device or Mac or Windows computer with an HTML5-capable browser, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari or Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Antioch University is a private university that operates five campuses in four states and serves approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

About the Author

Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • interconnected cloud icons with glowing lines on a gradient blue backdrop

    Report: Cloud Certifications Bring Biggest Salary Payoff

    It pays to be conversant in cloud, according to a new study from Skillsoft The company's annual IT skills and salary survey report found that the top three certifications resulting in the highest payoffs salarywise are for skills in the cloud, specifically related to Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Nutanix.

  • a hobbyist in casual clothes holds a hammer and a toolbox, building a DIY structure that symbolizes an AI model

    Ditch the DIY Approach to AI on Campus

    Institutions that do not adopt AI will quickly fall behind. The question is, how can colleges and universities do this systematically, securely, cost-effectively, and efficiently?

  • minimalist geometric grid pattern of blue, gray, and white squares and rectangles

    Windows Server 2025 Release Offers Cloud, Security, and AI Capabilities

    Microsoft has announced the general availability of Windows Server 2025. The release will enable organizations to deploy applications on-premises, in hybrid setups, or fully in the cloud, the company said.

  • digital brain made of blue circuitry on the left and a shield with a glowing lock on the right, set against a dark background with fading binary code

    AI Dominates Key Technologies and Practices in Cybersecurity and Privacy

    AI governance, AI-enabled workforce expansion, and AI-supported cybersecurity training are three of the six key technologies and practices anticipated to have a significant impact on the future of cybersecurity and privacy in higher education, according to the latest Cybersecurity and Privacy edition of the Educause Horizon Report.