UCaaS Need to Knows

There are five major benefits of UCaaS that need to be considered to boost sales, grow, or even just transform your business. Let our company provide you with information and assistance to thrive in the industry. 

5 Benefits of UCaaS:  

1. Cost-Effective - Physical infrastructures can be extremely costly. With the help of proper UCaaS solutions, IT expense reduction can be a large percentage.   

2. Improve Efficiency – Manual updates can be a thing of the past. UCaaS delivers a direct experience for all your platform needs.   

3. Hands-free Maintenance – Set up, implementation, maintenance, and observing running status. A good solutions provider will provide you with everything you need, so you do not have to worry about your systems. 

4. Remote Work Support – Using a single Cloud-based platform, UCaaS allows your team to work remotely from anywhere in the world.   

5. Security – If there are remote workers at your company, security measures are needed to protect your data. High-level encryption can keep your business safe, whether inside or outside the office.

There are plenty of benefits to UCaaS. We are happy to set up a call to discuss your needs and how UCaaS solutions can be useful to you. Contact us today for a free consultation!

What you need to secure your IoT devices

IoT is a fast-evolving emerging technology. There are hundreds of use cases where sensors make businesses healthy and increase effectiveness and efficiencies. Every IoT discussion must include a security component. Many IoT solutions come bundled with these four ways to secure the data created by the sensors. The benefits of IoT often pay for the solution.  

Secure Data to the Cloud.   

We mentioned this but, in more detail, backing up your device to the Cloud helps to ensure reduced breaches or exposer. Your critical information and data can be appropriately protected.   

Protect Cloud Credentials.   

As mentioned, it is easy for cybercriminals to gain access to unprotected IoT devices. With Cloud authentication credentials, frequently changing passwords and avoiding reused passwords can help protect your devices.   

Perform Audits.   

Performing frequent audits on your IoT devices can help identify the issue and prevent problems from happening. A lot of money can be saved from audits, and they can let you know if any of your devices need to be updated or replaced.    

Protecting Physical Infrastructure.   

IoT devices can face security attacks by physical access. If your device has USB ports, it is essential to maintain strict access to these devices to prevent breaches.    

Securing your IoT devices can feel overwhelming. It takes a lot of knowledge and steps to secure your devices properly. If you think you need help or even have questions about ways you can secure your devices, please contact us. 

3 Reasons Why Your Business Needs SD-WAN

A good business runs off an excellent network. SD-WAN increases application performance, all while delivering a high-quality user experience. Traditional network architecture was not built to handle the workloads and complexities of today's technology and applications. This is why your business needs SD-WAN, so you can reduce your overhead costs and increase your network performance. 

Here are three reasons you need SD-WAN

1.    Quick and Easy – SD-WAN uses the technology and infrastructure you already have. It is controlled and deployed through a software platform and can be implemented by non-technical staff. 

2.    Customizable - SD-WAN that is enabled by Cloud can be configured to your company's specific needs. Your performance matters. This is why bandwidth can be increased or decreased on-demand. Improved speed and responsiveness are at your fingertips. 

3.    Secure - SD-WAN solutions offer built-in security. Digital transformation does improve customer satisfaction, but it can also bring higher security risks. Your SD-WAN is encrypted and is segmented, so your data is protected from security breaches. 

SD-WAN can help you get the most out of your internet connection while providing dynamic path selection, top-performing network, and end-to-end encryption. Let us help you reach your potential and top performance level.  Call us today to find out how SD-WAN can help your organization.

Microsoft Office 365 Backup

Now, more than ever, companies are realizing the sensitivity of the geopolitical landscape and the need to evolve security, retention, and protection of data from bad actors.

If you use Microsoft Office 365® or are evaluating a Microsoft Teams®-enabled UCaaS solution, additional protection and support are needed for your data in OneDrive, SharePoint, and Microsoft® Email.   

 The Microsoft Office 365® product includes very limited retention of your data. This is the reason O365® backup is necessary. In reality, Microsoft® actually recommends partnering with a 3rd party company to provide additional control over your data and its retention. Implementations of this backup service are inexpensive, fast, easy, and have no impact on your user community. This is the best way for your organization to maintain ownership and control of your data stored in Microsoft Office 365®.

 As your go-to source for internet-related access, voice communications, and mobility, we partner with providers offering full-featured Managed Cloud Services. We manage infrastructure, disaster recovery, backup, and now, Microsoft Office 365® backup.

 To find out more or schedule an implementation, contact us today!

Advantages of Working with a Telecom Consultant

The options can seem endless when looking for UCaaS, CCaaS, Cloud, Cybersecurity, Mobility, or IoT solutions. It can take a lot of research and time to figure out what is right for your business. Rest assured; this process does not have to be difficult. Using a telecom consultant can provide you with the knowledge and expertise needed to get ahead in the industry.

Here are four reasons why working with a telecom consultant instead of directly with a supplier is beneficial. 

1. You get a partner - Your telecom consultant serves as a partner and helps you support your business’s current and future needs. They are there to handle the ongoing care and issue resolution needed. Your telecom consultant is there with you through all the steps, to take care of your business needs and help you reach your goals.

2. Objectivity - A telecom consultant comes with no additional cost to you because they are paid directly by providers. This allows them to look out for your company's best interests. They will present you with many different solutions to choose from so you can find a provider that puts your business in a better position and aligns with your needs. 

3. Knowledge - Telecom consultants provide a well-rounded knowledge of different solutions and providers. They are your professional guides to finding the resources you need. These consultants understand multiple offerings and attend trainings to help you make the right decision. 

4. Technology - For telecom consultants to successfully get you what you need for your business, it is their job to understand the newest technologies. These technologies can save companies money and increase their overall productivity. No single provider is the master of all technologies, so having a consultant can help a company weed through which provider fits its needs.  

Your telecom consultant is part of your team. They are personally invested in seeing your business succeed. For more information, or to discuss options regarding your services, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to help you in your business journey.

A Data Recovery Plan Fit to Secure Your Network

It’s unrealistic to think that you can completely avoid cyberattacks and data breaches, so it’s vital to have a proper data recovery plan in place. It is time for you to tighten your defenses significantly by ensuring all of your network devices are properly configured and by putting some thought into all of your potential network borders.

Data Recovery Is a Must

Every year there are natural disaster events that take place all over the world. These disasters affect your IT capabilities and can be harmful; however, the vast majority of disasters that cause significant IT downtime are from human error, hardware and software failure, and cyberattacks.

Data Recovery Capability

Do you have a proper backup plan in place? Have you tested it to see if it is fully functional? Disaster recovery is vital, but an alarming number of companies do not have an adequate system in place. A successful malware attack can lead to altered data on all compromised machines, and the full effects are often very difficult to determine. The option to roll back to a backup that predates the infection is vital. Backed-up data must be encrypted and physically protected. It’s also essential that a test team routinely checks a random sampling of system backups by restoring them and verifying data integrity.

Contact us today to learn about creating a disaster recovery plan tailored to your business.

Ways to Reduce the Risk of Internet Downtime

Internet downtime can result in files that end up damaged or corrupted. You are also more susceptible to cyberattacks due to failures in network security. The best way to reduce your risk of internet downtime is to stop them before they happen. Here are four things to look for that can reduce the risk of downtime and keep your business connected.

1. Fiber Internet: this broadband connection has a low lag time and quickly sends data. Fiber internet is also stronger than outdated copper wiring. Fiber is sturdier, whereas older internet services are vulnerable to weather and decay, leading to productivity loss.

2. Network Redundancies: a significant key player in avoiding downtime is to have a solid backup plan. Hardware failure, weather conditions, power outages, or other events can damage your business. Make sure to have multiple backup plans so if one fails, the other is there to pick up the slack.

3. Security: cyberattacks can take place at any time, and not all outages that take place are accidental. Making network security a priority can help you stay on top of the latest cyber threats and help you monitor your security around the clock so that threats can be identified and stopped quickly.

4. Service-level Agreement: SLA’s are a valuable tool to guarantee that your providers can help mitigate losses. The agreement can reveal a lot about the reliability of the service provider you work with. The agreement will also guarantee that you will know the response time for a problem.

Power outages, hardware failures, human errors, disasters, and cyber threats happen daily. There are ways to help or prevent internet downtime. We can be your guides to have a secure and stable network. Contact us today!

7 Questions to Understand Your Security Posture

For the past two years, it feels like everyone has been glued to their phone and tv screens to get the latest news on how COVID-19 is affecting business. It is sad to say, but it is not uncommon to hear that hackers are targeting companies. You know you don’t want to be in that position, but what do you do? To understand your business’s security posture, you must start with these questions:

1. What is your biggest security concern, and is your security spend and expertise properly allocated to address that risk?

2. Do you have a clear picture of your overall security posture and of how it relates to industry best practices?

3. Do you currently conduct security assessments, such as penetration tests, on a bi-annual basis?

4. How realistic is your plan to address the security gaps that you might have today?

5. Do you have an established process to address computer security breaches?

6. How confident are you in your ability to demonstrate compliance?

7. Given the skills gap that exists in security, do you view the ability to recruit and retain talent and expertise as a top priority?

Sit down, go through these questions and get a complete understanding of your security position. To learn how we can help you address these concerns, reach out today. We can help you evaluate your business priorities, and business risks, and identify your most valuable assets.

Three Advantages to Using a Telecom Consultant

A telecom consultant can provide you with the knowledge and expertise needed to get ahead in the industry. By bringing the wisdom of this third party into your telecom research, you will have a better understanding of what is readily available to you. Three advantages are readily experienced by companies who choose to use a telecom consultant.

1. You get a partner – your telecom consultant serves as a partner and helps you support your business. Your business's technological and telecom foundation can become stable with your trusted advisor's help. They are here to help your business's current and future needs.

2. A long-term commitment – your telecom consultant will handle the ongoing care, and issue resolution needed. Your consultant is there with you through all the steps to take care of your business needs and help you reach your goals.

3. Objectivity – a telecom consultant comes with no additional cost to you because they are paid directly by providers. This allows them to look out for your company's best interests. They will present you with many different solutions to choose from so you can find a provider that puts your business in a better position and aligns with your needs.

Telecom consultants are thought leaders and work for the client's benefit only. They are invested in seeing your business succeed. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to help you in your business journey.

What You Need to Know About Cloud to Stay Ahead

Staying in the know on the latest Cloud topics keeps you ahead of the game and provides extra leverage when talking business with customers. There are three hot topics that you should keep yourself informed about on a consistent basis.

Cloud Cost Optimization: running applications in the Cloud, providing value to businesses, all at the lowest cost possible. Cost for Cloud services and solutions range with each provider, which is why using providers in a cost-effective manner is beneficial to your company and your budget.

Containerization: software code is packaged with the operating system libraries and dependencies that are needed to run the software code. This package is called a container. These containers are more efficient than virtual machines and help create and deploy applications faster and more securely.

Hybrid Cloud: a mix of on-premise, private, and public Clouds. Hybrid Cloud gives companies better flexibility and offers more data deployment options. It also provides resiliency and interoperability because it allows for workloads to be run in multiple environments.

More than a brief rundown of these terms is needed to be fully in the know. If you want more information or have questions about cost optimization, containerization, and hybrid Cloud, please contact us today!