The workplace has been steadily evolving, and much of this is fueled by the rise of remote workers. Last year’s Gallup survey showed that of more than 15,000 adults asked, 43% of them worked outside of the office. Why does remote working look more appealing to employees these days?

The appeal of working remote

The perks of telecommuting, or working remotely, go beyond wearing your jammies while doing your job. Employees are unbound by time and space, so talent can come from anywhere. They don't have to beat the traffic during rush hour since they can work in the comforts of their home or any place of their choice. Less stress and favorable working conditions help increase employees' morale.

But there are challenges to having workers physically apart. It’s not as easy to turn to a colleague to consult when he or she is across town. Meetings can be tedious to set up, and correspondences via email lose their immediacy. And there’s more possibility of miscommunication when you cannot see the other person’s body language.

VoIP as a must-have tool for telecommuting

For remote working to work, an effective and reliable system of communication is necessary. That’s why companies turn to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology.

VoIP is a telephony system that uses the Internet to transmit data. So VoIP systems can transmit a variety of data aside from audio -- video, photo, file, etc. The more popular examples of applications using VoIP technology are Whatsapp, Facebook Video and Voice Chat, Skype, and Google Phone, to name a few.

VoIP systems make telecommuting viable. It allows remote workers to connect to one another in real time, at any time. Communication lines aren’t limited to audio; video calls bring remote workers face to face with one another. They can send files back and forth at the speed of a click, leave comments, or edit each other’s work with ease.

One of the best things about VoIP systems is that they're very affordable. Whether audio or video, so long as it’s sent through the Internet, it’s free. And because VoIP systems have flexible and changeable structures, it’s easy to expand or downsize as needed.

Getting the best out of VoIP

Here are a few ways remote workers can make the most out of their VoIP systems:

1. Use a hosted VoIP system. The system is hosted in the cloud, usually maintained by a third-party provider. Being in the cloud means easier access for remote workers from different locations. Having an outsourced provider is more convenient because they have the experience and expertise to ensure the VoIP system is always in tip-top shape.
2. Choose one with mobile app. This allows greater mobility for remote workers, as they do not always need to be in front of their desktops. And the more mobile your workers, the more agile your company.
3. Get one that uses a VPN connection. A virtual private network (VPN) allows different computers to connect safely and securely via the Internet. Remote workers can send and share data without fear of cyberattackers even when they are using public WiFi networks such as those in coffee shops, malls, and hotels.

The flexibility of VoIP systems means one can be customized for you. If you need a VoIP telephony system that’s just right for your needs, call us today.

The post Working remote? Use VoIP appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Today’s technology allows customers to engage with brands and companies across a broad range of platforms and mediums. But the telephone still remains an essential communication tool for businesses. It makes sense then to invest in a phone system that lasts, and our advice will help you find just that.

Different phone systems
Phones have come a long way, from analog landlines to digital handhelds. Today’s businesses need a phone system that can service their numerous needs, and in most cases, VoIP phones are the answer.

VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a system of hardware and software that uses the internet instead of wired circuits to transmit data. VoIP does more than just transmit audio; it can also send a variety of data (video, multimedia, SMS, etc.) and perform other tasks as well.

A VoIP system’s hardware (phone units, cables, CPUs, etc.) and software (one or more applications that run the system) can be either on-premises or hosted.

• On-Premises -- Their hardware and software are physically housed within the premises of the company.
• Hosted -- Some of the hardware, like phone units and other equipment, can be found within the premises. But most, if not all, of the software are hosted online. Service providers look after hosted systems for their clients.

Lifecycles: On-premises vs. hosted
With hardware, it doesn’t matter whether it’s on-premises or hosted. Hardware is affected by the wear-and-tear of daily usage. Barring any accidents or physical damage, VoIP hardware should last as long as analog handsets, usually several years.

It’s another matter with software, which needs constant updating. It’s faster and cheaper to update software that’s hosted in the cloud versus one that’s on-premises. The differences in longevity between the two should be negligible; both can last upwards of 10 years, depending on your IT support.

Technology today vs. before
Cloud technology has fundamentally changed the way IT solutions are produced. In the past, hardware and software were built to last. Today, they're built to adapt and change.

The effect of this shift on hardware and software is dramatic.

• Most hardware components are very similar, with replacements and upgrades coming every 5-8 years on average.
• Cloud software is faster, easier, and costs less to upgrade. Critical updates can be released almost constantly, with complete overhauls taking no longer than 2-3 years.

As your business grows, your phone system should be able to adapt to rapid growth, the need for more speed, and integration with the other systems in your business, like email or management software.

Be a step ahead
Your business cannot afford dropped or missed calls. Imagine what one day of phone downtime would do to your company. The time to replace your phone system is not after it fails. The best time is before that, when you can plan and budget properly.

Nowadays, it’s not longevity that’s important; it’s staying ahead of the curve. Call our experts today so you can always be a step ahead.

The post The lifespan of a business phone system appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

As the use of Voice over IP (VoIP) phones becomes more widespread, so too do security threats against it. And the most common type of VoIP fraud? Theft of service. Let’s examine how it affects your VoIP network and the preventative measures to counter it.

What is theft of service?

Internet-based calls are far more vulnerable to fraud compared with more traditional telephony services. VoIP calls face threats from identity theft, eavesdropping, intentional disruption of service, and even financial loss. Theft of service, the most common type of VoIP fraud, includes stealing usernames, passwords, and account information. Hackers usually introduce viruses into your system to crash it or steal user passwords.

From a legal standpoint, theft of service means obtaining service from an individual or a company without payment. It may involve: deleting or changing invoicing records, unauthorized invoicing, or taking the property of a service provider.

Also, hackers may simply want to crash your system and will flood the network with packets of data so that callers lose access. They may also try to intercept the packets to eavesdrop on calls.

A third type of VoIP hack accesses your VoIP system and allows spammers to flood your office with promotional calls similar to junk email. This type of attack is called SPIT (spam over internet telephony). Once a hacker accesses your communications system, they might broadcast unsolicited messages, advertisements, or other commercial messages over your VoIP.

The solution

Defending against theft of service does requires nothing new or unusual, just a little common sense as well as technical preventative measures.

Common-sense measures involve even IT novices who can make your passwords as secure as possible and, obviously, prevent unauthorized physical access and use of your VoIP phone instruments. The technical stuff? Keeping your antivirus software up to date, combined with fraudulent call routing detection and encryption software.

VoIP has rapidly become an essential business communication tool, so it makes perfect sense to understand exactly what theft of service is to avoid its negative impact. We’d be more than happy to give you advice on implementing any of these protections or managing your VoIP services. Give us a call to get started.

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Skype for Business is an affordable, enterprise-level solution that enables your company to communicate with clients and conduct business meetings from any internet-enabled device. Learn these four steps to get the most out of your Skype calls.

#1. Conduct a preliminary network assessment

By conducting a comprehensive preliminary network assessment, you’ll be able to determine whether or not your current network has met Skype’s network performance requirements.

Its network performance requirements are separated into three categories: latency (the time it takes for a data packet to go from point A to point B), packet loss (the percentage of data packets that fail to reach their destination), and jitter (the average change in delay between successful data packets delivery). You can meet these requirements by applying Quality of Service (QoS) to your network.

QoS allows you to reserve network resources to Skype calls. Doing so enables these types of calls to be transmitted faster over your network, minimizing interruptions and lost connections during your business calls. Deploy QoS on all your networks, including WANs, LANs, and WiFi networks.

If you experience instability even after implementing QoS, download Microsoft’s Bandwidth Calculator to know the exact WAN bandwidth requirements your Skype for Business needs for deployment and adjust your current WAN bandwidth accordingly.

#2. Test out Skype for Business with a small pilot group

Now that you’ve optimized your network, form a small group to test out your Skype for Business. From here, you’ll be able to spot kinks and make appropriate adjustments, determine its benefits, and create best practices. Once all the issues your pilot group flagged have been addressed, you're ready to deploy Skype for Business to your entire organization.

#3. Prepare the right equipments

Did you know that having high-quality equipment can impact your overall call quality? Although getting the appropriate equipment is costly, having certified, state-of-the-art devices can help you with echo cancellation, noise filtering, higher sound and image resolution, and latency.

Depending on what you'll be using Skype for, you might only require a headset and webcam or more advanced equipments. A managed services provider (MSP) can help you determine the right equipment you need to ensure high-quality calls.

#4. Research and choose the right technology partners

Last, you should conduct thorough research before deciding on your technology partner for Skype for Business. Although many MSPs offer Skype for Business, they don’t all require and offer the same things. Different MSPs may offer voice and video plans at varying prices. As a result, it is important for you to understand what each MSP offers and whether or not it’ll benefit you before committing to one.

Do you need Skype for Business to make business calls with your colleagues or business partners? Call our experts to learn how we can transform your communication with Skype for Business and get started today!

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