You Can’t Afford Not to Have a Proper Backup Solution
Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. This is what it means to believe in Murphy’s Law, a rather bleak and somewhat nihilistic view of how the world works. Unfortunately, when it comes to your business’ important data, you have to subscribe to this mindset in order to prepare yourself for the worst-case scenario. Every business has its differences, but the end result will remain largely the same–a data backup system customized to fit your organization’s specific needs.
Voice over Internet Protocol Is a Cost-Effective Telephone Solution for Almost Any Business
Running a business isn’t getting any cheaper–in fact, it’s only getting more expensive. This drives businesses to save as much as possible on operations and business-critical applications. One of the best ways to cut out unnecessary costs is to implement software solutions that spread-out costs over a span of time. You too can take advantage of the cloud to gain access to critical communication solutions.
One of the most important parts of communication is a phone solution, and that’s where Voice over Internet Protocol comes into play. VoIP can help you reduce the costs of communications for your organization in many ways, including hardware costs, fee structures, and mobility.
Hardware Costs
Hosted VoIP can be a great way to take full advantage of your phone solution without all of the troubles associated with it. Telephone lines can be a pain to install during the implementation process, but more than this, it can be expensive. You can use your business’s Internet connection to bypass all of this work, adding new users on demand without running new wires or rearranging your office.
A hosted VoIP system also takes advantage of completely removing the PBX hardware required by most traditional telephone providers. In fact, the PBX system itself can cost as much as several thousand dollars per user. Even a small PBX rollout could become a considerable investment compared to the rather modest expense of a hosted VoIP solution.
Fee Structures
The largest expense for a telephone system is how many minutes are spent while communicating. Consider how much cost your business accumulates in long distance calling every month. Even though most of your calls will be made to local organizations, it’s likely that any long distance minutes accumulated will be a major expense. Just think–if you got rid of this, you would be able to actually make some headway in reducing the overall costs of your telephone system. Hosted VoIP offers a way to accomplish this.
On the other hand, your Internet service is pr actically mandatory to keep business running, and it doesn’t cost all that much compared to traditional telephone services. You can just purchase the service speed that you need and eliminate unnecessary costs. VoIP service rates are also quite competitive compared to traditional telephony. Add in the value of having someone else manage and maintain the system, as well as a monthly payment per user, and you have a spectacular addition that offers your organization scalability and flexibility.
Mobility
Perhaps the most important part of VoIP is the ability to add mobility to your phone system. Traditionally, your landline is unable to move from desk-to-desk without considerable trouble. On the other hand, VoIP offers mobile applications that you can find in the Android and Apple app stores. These mobile solutions allow your employees to pick and choose how they stay in touch with the office. These applications can also be run over Wi-Fi, and can take advantage of a virtual private network (VPN) so that they can be as useful as possible for saving your organization capital.
If you are itching to try out a new mobile solution, we recommend considering VoIP. To learn more, reach out to Catalyst Technology Group at (317) 705-0333.
4 Ways a Unified Threat Management Solution Covers Your Company’s Security Needs
Your company’s network contains a gold mine of sensitive information that you need to protect at all costs. While it’s absolutely the case that you need to make network security a top priority for your business, thankfully, multiple aspects of your security can be covered easily enough by implementing a single, enterprise-level security solution.
The solution we’re referring to is a Unified Threat Management (UTM) tool. It’s a powerful tool that combines the fundamental security features that every business needs, into one easy-to-manage package. If you’re looking to get a handle on your company’s network security, then consider these four ways that a UTM provides comprehensive protection.
Firewalls
A firewall is the first line of defense for your company’s network, protecting your business from the onslaught of online threats trying to sneak their way in. One can go so far as to compare a UTM firewall to a sort of virtual bouncer for your network that; assesses the threat level of your network’s traffic, garners if it’s a security risk, and then clears for passage only what’s deemed to be safe.
Antivirus
Every good firewall needs an antivirus solution to compliment it. After all, some forms of malware are sneakily engineered to play on a user’s ignorance so as to bypass the firewall. In such a scenario, antivirus software is there to quickly catch and eliminate threats such as viruses, trojans, spyware, ransomware, and more. Given the destructive nature of many of these threats, you’re going to want a powerful antivirus solution in place that prevents such viruses from spreading across your network and wreaking havoc on your systems. Additionally, while there are many kinds of antivirus solutions on the market, businesses will want to take advantage of a centrally located antivirus solution like what comes with a UTM. This way, updates and scans can be done automatically and in one fell swoop, instead of being left up to each individual user.
Spam Blocker
Having spam in your inbox is totally annoying, and it can also be dangerous. One common way for hackers to spread malware is by attachments found in spam messages. Plus, savvy hackers will employ spam as a phishing tactic to trick users into opening the message and following its instructions which appeal to emotions. Examples include a fake summons to jury duty, a fake package that couldn’t be delivered, a fake resume for a job opening, etc. A quality spam blocker will prevent these messages from hitting employee inboxes in the first place, which greatly reduces the risk of a user being tricked by spam.
Content Filter
Businesses also need a way to protect their networks from the vast amount of online threats that come from visiting dangerous websites. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy for an employee to stumble upon a website that’s designed to harvest credentials or download an attachment designed to infect your network with a virus or even ransomware. With a content filter protecting your network, you’ll be able to block users from accessing suspicious websites in the first place. Additionally, a UTM content filter allows you to block time-wasting websites like social media, YouTube, Netflix, etc., making it a valuable tool that both protects your network and enhances productivity.
In order to be adequately protected, your business needs all four of these security features. A UTM from Catalyst Technology Group conveniently offers your network protection in all of these ways, and more. To equip your network with a UTM security solution that’s customized to fit the needs of your business, call us today at (317) 705-0333.