cloud Archives - TeleConsult Solutions

The Benefits of a Cloud Phone System for Small Businesses

July 23, 2018 by The Christine Advantage dba TCS

Starting a small business means wearing a lot of hats. Not only do you need to have a vision for your company, but you are also likely juggling different priorities in your budget. For a lot of small business owners, a phone system seems like a luxury, but using personal cell phones for business purposes can seem a bit unpolished to potential customers.

The cloud solution: One of the benefits of cloud technology is that it has acted as the great equalizer between big and small companies. Because it features a subscription-based pay model, even the smallest companies are able to purchase only the number of users they need, while still having access to the latest features that help them edge out the competition.

A cloud phone system is easy to access, in many cases only requiring that you download an app on your cell phone. It can assign a single phone number from your business that will then route calls to the appropriate person. You can set up other options such as the ability to have calls routed from your cell phone to an answering service if you don’t catch the call within a certain time frame.

The use of this type of cloud phone system can help mask the fact that you’re a small business, so that you don’t scare away potential clients that might interpret the use of a personal cell phone as evidence that you cannot handle their project. It can also prevent a customer from getting frustrated when they can’t figure out how to reach the right department in your company, or being confused when they are staring at a list of 12 contacts with 12 different numbers and don’t know where to start.

One of the benefits of using a cloud phone service is the analytics that churn from this type of technology. You can find out whether or not your calls really did increase after you invested in a billboard, or if there are certain times of the week or year when you tend to receive a lot of contact.

The cloud answering service: This is another tool that serves small businesses well. Investing in a cloud answering service helps you offer superior service, without needing to hire a full-time staff to handle calls. Working from a customized script, an answering service can serve as a seamless part of your organization so your customers never know that it’s not your own employees handling their call. Even better, agents have the ability to access online systems and work with your own customer relationship management solution or other applications.

An answering service can be helpful to small business owners that want to go on vacation or have certain times of the week where they engage their entire staff in a meeting and leave phones unattended.

To learn more about the wealth of technology that’s readily available for small businesses at an affordable price, contact us at TeleConsult. We can help you identify cloud tools that provide the best possible benefits to your company without adversely affecting your budget.

Cloud-Based Digital Transformation Solutions for Improving Business

July 9, 2018 by The Christine Advantage dba TCS

Without a scalable IT infrastructure, you’re not going to get everything you can out of your data. In this age of digital transformation, data is amassed quickly and is key to business processes at your organization. Cloud-based solutions can give you the scalability you need to improve workflows and improve how your business functions.

Going Off Site

Part of the power of the cloud is to eliminate the need for investing in more infrastructure and software. Rather than take up physical space at your location with expensive servers and software, which requires frequent updating, all of that is taken care of off-site by your cloud vendor.

The cloud is truly disrupting the way organizations spend on IT. According to experts, approximately a quarter of the IT market will be in the cloud by 2020.

Security Concerns

With digital transformation comes the threat of being compromised by enterprising cybercriminals. However, in order for a cloud-based provider to stay in business, they have to maintain their reputation as a safe and secure business partner.

Organizations that provide solutions in the cloud do everything they can to ensure your data will be safe. Cloud storage is becoming more common, and increasingly, the data is being encrypted so prying eyes can’t make any sense of it if they are able to access it.

The fact is, your data is probably safer in a cloud-based environment than it is on local servers. Many times, your employees are the gateway for cybercriminals getting access to your data. This is often due to weak passwords or clicking on a suspicious link in an email. However, with your data locked down tightly in the cloud, you can better remediate a breach and experience no loss of data.

Analyzing Threats

Thanks to powerful cloud-based tools, advanced threats can be analyzed and locked down, which is an important part of digital transformation. All suspicious files, which include digital communication, will be thoroughly analyzed.

Distributed networks need to be protected, especially as organizations see their workforce demand more mobile opportunities, which is another product of the digital transformation brought on by improved mobile technology.

At TeleConsult, our managed data centers will save your organization all the headaches associated with embracing digital transformation, and we can also save you time and money. We’ve provided small- to medium-size businesses with telecom and IT solutions for nearly two decades, and we can assist you as you take on evolving technology. Contact us today and we’ll further explain our value to your operation.

Are You Prepared in the Event Your Cloud Provider Goes Out of Business?

May 7, 2018 by The Christine Advantage dba TCS

The cloud technology market is still relatively new, and the industry is exploding with new providers offering solutions. As the market matures, it’s inevitable that some of these companies will not be able to survive in the face of competition. It’s important to be prepared in the event your provider is one of the unlucky companies that doesn’t make it.

The risk: Using any provider comes with a certain amount of risk, but with on-premise technology, you weren’t faced with a data retrieval scramble or the need to immediately replace software, because you owned it.

With a cloud provider, you may receive only a couple weeks’ notice that they’re closing shop and that you need to find another solution. This means a quick choice of another provider, plus data retrieval and all the complexity of network configurations and security planning.

Preventive medicine: As part of a comprehensive business continuity strategy, you need to have a contingency plan in place. It should include considerations such as the course of action to take if the provider were suddenly unable to operate, as well as the functions that are necessary to run your daily business processes.

When evaluating a cloud services provider, you should have conversations about their own business plan. Evaluate whether their company will be able to achieve long-term profitability and if their plans fit well with your own trajectory. You should also ask the hard questions, such as what their plan would be for your business continuity if their company experienced difficulties.

It’s important to note that some cloud providers operate with a proprietary file storage platform, meaning that it will not transfer to a new provider.

Make sure your contract with the provider includes information about what will happen in the event that your provider faces bankruptcy or default, or if they simply decide to no longer support a technology that your business uses.

Multiple providers: Many enterprises are avoiding much of this risk by partnering with two or more providers. This offers protection in case a provider goes out of business, because not only will you have a ready partner that can shoulder all business workloads, but your IT staff will already be familiar with the technology, taking many of the unknowns out of the equation. Having multiple cloud providers isn’t just a safety measure for the possibility of a provider going out of business. Doing so provides protection surrounding a variety of disaster recovery and business continuity objectives.

To begin working with a stable provider that will prioritize your business continuity, contact us at TeleConsult, where we will create a custom plan for your technology needs.

Improving Your Cybersecurity in 2018

March 19, 2018 by The Christine Advantage dba TCS

Despite initial reluctance on the part of some telecom vendors, cloud computing is now key for improving business for many companies. When you adopt a cloud-based solution, you’re bringing on board more safety assurances, because you’re not relying on on-premise servers that either break down or are easily accessed by cybercriminals. In fact, cybersecurity is one of the main reasons more organizations are moving to the cloud.

If storing data in the cloud has not been something that’s crossed your mind, consider these two benefits, particularly in light of how pervasive cyberattacks are today:

1. Security
There is still the potential for a hacker to break into your database. However, cloud-based data is far more secure than data on your local server.

2. Quick Access to Data
With the cloud, your data and cloud-based applications are available to you as long as you have a connection. This gives you greater mobility to do what you need to do when you’re not in the office.

Controlling Access to Data

One of the biggest considerations to make where cybersecurity is concerned is who has access to what. Some organizations will completely avoid putting highly sensitive information in the cloud, but regardless of what you’re putting on it, be sure to control access so that employees who don’t need to see specific data do not have clearance to access it.

When you control access to data, you’re closing windows of opportunity to cybercriminals who target systems that aren’t tightly locked down. Keep in mind that when your employees have access to documents from anywhere at any time, so do the hackers, which is why “access only” limits must be set.

Encryption Is Your Friend

When you look at cloud-based solutions, disregard those that don’t offer encryption services. Furthermore, those that do offer encryption services should go above and beyond encrypting files that are going between your systems’ computers and the cloud. For example, a robust encryption service also includes an added layer of protection, which protects data that is “resting.”

Practice Better Passwords

Yes, this is still part of the conversation with cybersecurity because so many people continue to use weak passwords. Nearly half of all users will keep the same passwords for five years or longer, while nearly a quarter have been found to keep theirs for a decade. Make it a rule that nobody with access to your system can use a password with birthdates or names of pets or one that is less than 12 characters long, or use the same password for more than one account.

At TeleConsult, we work with more than 100 IT, telecom, and cloud vendors to provide the best telecom services. We offer customer support 24/7/365, so our clients are never without the assistance they need. Contact us to learn more.

5 Myths About Contact Center Cloud Migration You Can’t Believe

January 23, 2018 by teleconsult

The promises of the cloud are abundant in the telecommunications space. Vendors promise everything from lower prices to improved redundancy. The key to better understanding the opportunities is to take a step back and examine how they relate to current challenges you’re experiencing and why the cloud is attractive in the first place. This is especially true for the contact center.

Given that the cloud offers a very different approach to the way we capture, move, and store data, there are a number of elements to consider when evaluating a migration. As a result, there is a considerable amount of content leading to myths that stop some decision makers in their tracks. Here, we’ll take a look at some of these myths and why they shouldn’t be derailing your plans for a cloud-based contact center.

Moving to the cloud immediately upgrades your operation. This myth is one that could quickly get you in trouble. The cloud doesn’t automatically improve your current operations, although it can end up being a better solution. The key is to clearly define your needs and evaluate cloud options to see how you meet those needs while still realizing the benefits the cloud has to offer.

The cloud makes your data more vulnerable. Perceived security risks are the most common delay in cloud migration. Moving data away from your in-house servers feels like you’re moving it away from the protection of your firewall. When placed on the server of a provider with vast resources, however, you actually gain access to better security and redundancies than you can create on your own system.

Contact center staff don’t want to move to the cloud. While it’s true that many people don’t like change, it’s easier to get behind an initiative when the benefits are understood. For the contact center employee, moving to the cloud could mean the opportunity to work from home, more flexible hours, access to more seamless systems, improved work performance, and more. The key is to communicate with staff why the change will be in their best interests.

Public, private, hybrid clouds…they’re all the same. A lack of understanding on how the cloud actually works is a great inhibitor. It can also lead to poor decision-making when the time comes. Vendors are a great resource to explain the differences among cloud options and what makes sense for the contact center.

Cloud applications are challenging to integrate. Like anything else, contact center application integration is only as hard as you make it. Cloud applications often offer APIs for easy integration into proprietary systems so your operations don’t have to change in ways that don’t make sense for your business. The open nature of the cloud makes integration a primary vantage point.

If myths like these continue to darken your plans to do anything innovative with your contact center, it’s time to contact TeleConsult Solutions. Since 2000, we’ve worked with companies just likes yours to determine the best approach to your operations. We’ll help you dispel the myths and implement solutions that make sense for all involved.

The Value of a Gradual Migration to the Cloud

December 18, 2017 by teleconsult

Reading the headlines a few years ago, it was easy to assume that, before long, enterprises would be making a sweeping, all-inclusive migration to the cloud. When they got a break from counting all the money they saved, the IT team may have a few tasks now and then, but cloud was largely going to change the way IT was done.

The cloud has certainly changed things, but enterprises are learning the value of a gradual cloud migration. In fact, a recent report by 451 Research commissioned by Schneider Electric details some of the impact of moving too quickly to the cloud for data storage.

In many cases, enterprises moved data storage to the cloud only to transfer it back to an on-premises data center. While the report says that cloud infrastructure is expected to grow at a 16 percent compound annual growth rate by 2020, on-site enterprise data storage capacity will drop only four points.

In the past two years, 41 percent of respondents reported moving applications from the cloud back to colocation facilities. According to the report, here are a few reasons for the phenomenon:

Latency or performance issues: Of the respondents, 47 percent said that latency or performance suffered when data was housed in the cloud.

Cost: Colocation was more cost-effective for 45 percent of those surveyed, while 39 percent said they preferred more predictable data storage costs.

Security: The report found that 37 percent did not believe data protection was adequate in their cloud data server.

It’s clear that there is no single cause for a migration back to on-site data storage. What may be a practical takeaway is that gradual migration to the cloud is generally preferable to a mass exodus. There are several reasons why a gradual approach sets enterprises up for cloud success:

Total cost of ownership is often misunderstood: Enterprises may go into cloud solutions expecting big cost savings because they aren’t purchasing hardware, there’s a reduction in maintenance costs, and the subscription fees can be categorized as operating expenses. What’s often missed is that cold data storage may be cheaper in the cloud, but accessing it in a timely manner may be a bit pricier than anticipated.

Sometimes, a hybrid approach is ideal. When a gradual move to cloud computing is embraced, enterprises often find they can best optimize their systems with a hybrid environment. A dashboard can unify the systems into one customized monitoring center, and the enterprise can continue to evaluate whether additional cloud services will be a good fit with their on-site systems.

A quality data center partner removes the time-consuming tedium of network management from your workload, allowing you to focus on more strategic projects and goals. At TeleConsult, we work with enterprises to determine the right timeline and approach for cloud migration. Contact us for an initial appointment.

Creating a Data Protection Plan for Cloud Storage

December 4, 2017 by teleconsult

Enterprises are increasingly turning to the cloud for cost-effective data storage, but as the recent Equifax breach makes clear, data protection is still a critical topic for IT teams. While the cloud offers relief from daily backups and investment in servers for data storage, enterprises should not assume their data is safe.

Protecting customer information is critical, but so is the safeguarding of other corporate information assets, such as pricing information and sales history. Customer financial information needs safeguarding, and enterprises in the financial and healthcare industries must use additional caution to protect client assets. In the case of healthcare, prioritizing the regulations associated with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is critical.

The EU has put some regulations in place for requiring enterprises to protect the data of consumers, but in the U.S., data protection is largely driven by self-governance, as well as the assurance that consumers will abandon a company that experiences a major security breach.

Best Practices for Data Protection

Evaluate the best options between public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud solutions. The best and most secure option for data storage and protection may be different between these alternatives depending on the type of data being discussed. It’s possible that an enterprise will need to use a combination of cloud solutions for the different types of data they need to protect.

Fully examine the security history of the service provider, as well as the storage platform itself. You need to know what the service provider’s security recovery plan is, and whether they’ve had to execute it in the past. Don’t only look at the vendor, but examine the reputation of the software they use.

Use two-factor authentication. Look for a cloud service provider that offers this, because even if a hacker has access to passwords, they won’t be able to get past the second step.

Utilize third-party encryption when data is being moved. The cloud service provider will protect data once it’s on their server, but use encryption from a third-party as a data protection safeguard.

Get creative with challenge questions. Using standard challenge questions makes it too easy for hackers. Instead, staff members can choose from a custom set of challenge questions, or they can be encouraged to use nonsense answers for standard questions.

Have a plan for devices. If you have a bring your own device (BYOD) policy, be sure there’s a plan in place for controlling the risk of security breach. From time-outs to policies that regulate how data is wiped when an employee parts ways with the enterprise, there must be a plan in place.

At TeleConsult, our expertise in communications technologies along with our diverse experience with multiple carrier products means that we bring a depth of telecommunications capabilities to our clients. Contact us for an initial appointment to discuss a data protection plan appropriate for enterprise security.

Why Mid-Size Companies Prefer Hybrid Solutions to an All-In Public Cloud Approach

October 16, 2017 by teleconsult

If you read the headlines, you may be convinced that if you don’t adopt an all-in approach to the public cloud, your competition might quickly leave you in the dust. The demand for personalization, a perfect end-user experience, and lowered costs may have companies wondering if they can survive the cloud disruption.

Much attention has been focused on what the Fortune 50 are doing with their cloud transition plans. But what works well for large-scale enterprises may not be the best fit for mid-size companies. Instead of transitioning all business operations to a public cloud solution, many mid-size companies are researching the benefits of a hybrid environment for their data storage and software needs.

Here are the reasons why a mix of private and public cloud may be the best fit for a mid-size company:

Security: When it comes to protecting your proprietary product information or client files, it helps to have a high level of visibility and control — which may not be possible when security is outsourced. It also helps to remember that no third-party provider will ever care about data protection quite as much as the company that owns that data. Many out-of-the-box security offerings address straightforward threats like firewall attacks. In reality, your security threats may be a bit more slippery.

Price: Interestingly, price is often one of the biggest reasons companies migrate to cloud solutions. Pay-as-you-go subscriptions and a minimal hardware investment make cloud technology appealing, but many transitions have been completed without a full assessment of the total cost of ownership. Surprise costs for cold data retrieval, burst workloads, or network surcharges can quickly eat up the savings experienced in other areas.

Performance: Many mid-size companies favor a hybrid solution over a full private or public cloud transition because it delivers better performance for their processes. While applications supporting sales and marketing may be better suited for public cloud, there are on-site production processes, for instance, that might perform better with an on-premise system.

Scalability: When a company quickly expands, the ability to increase the number of subscriptions for cloud applications eliminates some of the pain of rapid growth. For many businesses, this scalability isn’t worth the risk of transitioning away from a legacy system that is tailored to their needs and allows for the agility and control the company needs as it grows. In this case, a company may prefer to use a hybrid approach, using an on-site legacy system that allows a smoother transition through a growth period.

At TeleConsult, our consultation services are offered at no charge, allowing us to provide unbiased guidance in your transition to cloud services. Contact us today to discuss your communications needs, and we will work to align you with the best cloud offerings and vendors that support your vision.

Factors to Consider Before Making a Move to the Cloud

September 5, 2017 by teleconsult

The push to move to cloud technologies is heating up, with more executives hoping to capture cost savings as well as a competitive edge related to the end user experience. Executives know that the cloud delivers personalized, intuitive experiences for the customer, and they are anxious to put digital transformation in process.

Before you jump to purchase a cloud software subscription or migrate a legacy system to the cloud, however, there are a few steps you should take in order to gain a full understanding of the impact of a switch. Many companies have miscalculated the true cost of cloud operations in a rush to improve efficiency, customer experience, agility, and other perks the cloud offers. Before you embark on a cloud migration, take time for these three steps to understand all the potential risks and challenges:

Get down to the details with migration planning: Sure, you’ll enjoy a host of benefits with a cloud solution, but you need to know the full range of risks, costs, and challenges that you’ll experience with a switch to cloud, too. Complete a detailed cost of ownership analysis, create a list of requirements for security and performance, and determine how the cloud solution will integrate with your other technology.

You should also have a good understanding of the effort required to complete the transition. Compiling a full set of information related to the risks and challenges will help you make an informed decision about your cloud investment.

Create a repeatable migration plan: As you work through your decision to migrate to the cloud, document a best-practices scenario that can be duplicated for each cloud adoption. Determine what factors need to go into the decision and who will be involved in that decision, and make a complete record of each step, finishing with measuring the success of the transition.

Partner with line of business managers: Engaging the support of stakeholders in a cloud transition is essential. Your line of business managers will often be the ones pushing for a particular cloud solution because they want to improve efficiency in their department or improve the experience for the end user. Develop collaborative relationships with these managers to ensure that cloud decisions are made with a shared investment in the outcome.

Deciding to implement a cloud solution can build cost-efficiency, flexibility, and increased productivity into your organization. Talk with TeleConsult to learn more about how you can make an informed cloud decision. We’ll partner with you to ensure you realize all the benefits you’ve been hoping to capture with cloud technology.

Addressing Cloud Security Myths

August 21, 2017 by teleconsult

As public cloud use becomes more widespread, companies must address certain questions that surface with implementation. Security is often part of the discussion, with IT professionals tasked with reassuring line of business managers about the safety of storing data in the cloud.

With any data storage — public or private cloud, on-site, or a hybrid solution — there are security risks to address. The novelty of cloud technology often makes it of particular concern to managers. They want to know that measures are being taken to ensure the safety of data. They also often embrace certain myths about security.

The “black or white” myth: While data stored in the public cloud is not inherently unsafe, it’s not impenetrable, either. One of the myths of public cloud data storage is double-sided, with some believing that it cannot possibly be safe and others believing that the cloud will not allow a security breach.

Neither statement is completely true. It’s important when accessing a cloud solution that you carefully assess security risks and address them with your vendor in writing. You should not only determine which party is responsible for each aspect of security, but also who takes responsibility for damages in the event of a breach.

Public cloud options are not safe by accident; instead, they are safe because enterprises and vendors work together to adopt robust security features which often outperform any security system used in an on-site system.

The vulnerability myth: Don’t imagine that, because you have humans working on your systems, that you’ll always have some unsolvable vulnerability. It requires training and education, but you can help your staff support your security policies.

Passwords written on sticky notes adhered to a monitor and out-of-date firewalls are just two examples of the ways that casual administration of security policies can leave your system vulnerable. Shadow IT, or the unauthorized downloading of apps and other technology, can also create vulnerability.

Don’t throw up your hands and assume your system can never be safe. With the right training, your employees can be some of your best security resources. Once they know what’s at risk, they can work alongside your IT professionals to ensure a safe public cloud environment for your company.

At TeleConsult, our cloud and IT services bring you the performance and reliability you need to realize growth. We specialize in helping companies move forward as the marketplace rapidly changes, and we do it by offering unparalleled performance, flexibility, and scalability. Contact us today to find out more.

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