Standard IT/IS Installation & Security Software Requirements

This is our standard response to the various Information Technology/Information Services request for information about the EZ-VOTE software & hardware:

• Please elaborate what is meant by ‘Local admin rights to install’. Is this a preference or a requirement and why?

[MERIDIA] It’s a requirement. EZ-VOTE installs a PowerPoint add-in that allows the user to utilize real-time audience polling in Presentation Mode (Slideshow). This is achieved by utilizing a USB receiver ‘dongle’ that collects votes from wireless RF keypads/clickers in the room during a training session.

• Please describe what permissions or elevated access is required to run this application once installed.

[MERIDIA] The app needs to write to multiple folders on the user’s hard drive (for logging and data storage purposes). For example: C:\Program Files (x86)\EZ-VOTE and C:\Program Files (x86)\Meridia. In the EZ-VOTE Connect app software suite, the only required, full-access folder is going to be: C:\Users{user-name}\AppData\Local\Meridia

• Please describe how Microsoft Office products are integrated with the product.

[MERIDIA] EZ-VOTE is installed as a PowerPoint add-in, allowing the user to create “interactive” slides that allow collection of votes from RF keypads, as well as evaluation and display of results in charted (graph) format. The charts are provided/built by MS Excel, therefore user must have Excel installed and be authorized to use it.

• Please describe the nature and functionality of any Microsoft Office product macros that are required to fully utilize the functionality.

[MERIDIA] No MS macros are being used. All functionality is achieved via a native .NET code. EZ-VOTE DLL is being loaded at PowerPoint startup.

• Please describe the nature and functionality of any cloud based components of your application.

[MERIDIA] No internet connection is necessary to perform the functions of the EZ-VOTE plugin (building slides, presenting, collecting votes, showing results). App needs a brief moment of connectivity after it’s been installed in order to connect to our license activation service. Once the license has been activated, user can stay disconnected indefinitely. Meridia can also provide an alternative method of activation via email.

• Please list the URL’s of any cloud based services necessary to fully utilize the product functionality.

[MERIDIA] N/A

• Please describe what, if any, data is processed or stored by this product.

[MERIDIA] App logs its activity for post-crash purposes (file location, Windows and Office crash events, etc…). User saves data directly into PPTX along with all EZ-VOTE-related polling data. No extraneous files are being created outside of PPTX. If user chooses to export a dedicated report, Excel, or Word documents are created.

• Please describe what, if any, data leaves our local network to fully utilize the product functionality.

[MERIDIA] N/A

• Please describe what, if any, data is required to be imported from outside our local network in order to fully utilize the product functionality.

[MERIDIA] N/A

• Please describe the means by which the application is patched for known security vulnerabilities. Is ‘Local Admin’ required to apply such patches?

[MERIDIA] Yes, Local Admin rights are required to update/upgrade the app (just like during the initial installation). User downloads the installer package from Meridia’s website unzips it and installs via the EXE (or client’s IT can package it into a ‘unattended’ package)

• Please describe the requirements for your organization to access our internal network resources in order to support this application.

[MERIDIA] N/A