What if your business could integrate all of its communication tools (telephony, video conferencing, chat and more) over the internet? Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) provides cloud computing benefits on a subscription basis, and all your company needs is an Internet connection. Read on to learn more about the benefits – and cybersecurity considerations – of Unified Communications as a Service.
UCaaS and its Benefits
Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) is a way to integrate multiple modes of communication–voice telephony, video conferencing, email, chat and file sharing – without the need to maintain on-site infrastructure. In this cloud offering, the provider furnishes the infrastructure and data centers, helping clients to convert capital expense to more manageable operating expense. Users can move from one mode of communication to another and access information to serve customers more efficiently. With cloud’s scalability, resources can be provisioned as needed according to demand. Scalability allows users to be added and removed as needed. Even with little doubt about cloud’s benefits, considerations also exist.
Considerations in Using UCaaS
Even with numerous benefits, a company needs to consider its own network health as well as the strength of the provider’s network. Not only that, but especially the cybersecurity standards of potential providers needs evaluation. First of all, does your provider’s network have updated antivirus and anti-malware definitions, and operating system patches? Does it have sufficient bandwidth to handle high traffic volumes at peak periods of use? Does your company’s own end-user devices have protection from viruses and malware? Even more important, do potential providers have certain cybersecurity measures in place?
What to Ask a UCaaS Provider
Adopting Unified Communications as a Service presents certain cybersecurity concerns. Data is one of the biggest; businesses are justifiably concerned about their data remaining protected, private and intact. With data from phone calls, web conferencing and other computing resources traveling via the internet, a company runs a greater risk of cyberattack. How can your company protect itself in the cloud? By asking questions of your provider or potential provider. One key concern is data encryption from the network to end-user devices, if it’s encrypted at rest and in transit. Are the provider’s anti-virus and anti-malware definitions current, along with operating system patches? A provider’s compliance with regulations is vital when your own company is subject to data-handling regulations like HIPAA or GDPR. Regarding access management, your company having strong password practices and multi-factor authentication is a good start. and you can build on this with identity and access management tools from the provider. Users will have as much access to computing resources as needed while still keeping your organization’s data safe.
Adopting Unified Communications as a Service can be both rewarding and challenging. To get started, contact your trusted technology advisor today.