In the world of IT, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) makes reference to employees that bring and use their personal computing devices. These generally include PDAs, laptops, smart phones, tablets or nearly any other device. They use the mobile devices in the workplace to obtain connectivity to the company server or network.

There are many benefits for both the employee and the employer when utilizing a BYOD policy in the workplace. The employee can use the devices they have become familiar with, and have control over the preference of device they wish to use at work. The employer can save substantially on the cost of supplying every employee with the necessary communication tools by allowing the employees to use their own equipment.

Additionally, a BYOD policy allows employees to have the latest equipment, without the need of being provided the device by the employer. However, there are significant issues for the IT department concerning security.

Securing a BYOD Device

There are significant issues involving BYOD security that must be continually addressed by the IT department. The first in securing these devices is to develop and implement strict security policies concerning BYOD. These policies will need to clearly outline the corporation or company’s position on how the devices are to be used along with the strict governing policy to allow the IT department to effectively manage the devices. This is the only way to ensure the security of the network and avoid the system from being compromised by the employees that utilize their personal devices in the workplace.

The BYOD Security Policy

There are specific issues that must be addressed by the IT department in detailing all the requirements to maintain security on personal devices used in the workplace. To start, the IT department must restrict downloaded applications to avoid any compromise in the network system. They will also require specific password configurations and possibly two-factor authentication tools to avoid unauthorized access into the network. The basic specific requirement would be that all data that is transmitted to and from the device be encrypted.

Limiting the activities of a personal device used in the workplace needs to be fully enforced. This would involve limiting specific activities that can be performed by the employee on their device (access to email and other communications). The policy should include a periodic audit by the IT department to ensure the employee and the device remains in full compliance with the security policy.

BYOD policies are used as an effective tool to protect the network system from the actions of the employees.

The communications world involving business and residential use has evolved through SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) Trunking technology. Through the process of layering devices and applications, businesses and individual communication options are more cost-effective, simpler and quicker.

Defining SIP Technology

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) was developed by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force). The standard of its protocol uses open signaling technology to enable communication tools peer-to-peer. This includes voice calls, text, emails, video conferencing, instant messaging, faxes, voicemail, gaming, and others.

Nearly any type of media can be transmitted through a variety of devices and applications using SIP trunks. The technology serves as the ideal solution for nearly every type of communication on a variety of devices including PDAs, PCs, servers, proxies, PMX systems, and phone gateways along with videoconferencing devices, and collaboration systems.

The Benefits

There are significant benefits to using SIP Trunking technology. It creates a unified visual presence that can be continuously revised or changed through a virtual environment. This means that all calls could be forwarded to another phone line, video conference line, or an assistant, without regard to the type of device used for communication. This provides the opportunity that any call on a business line can be rerouted to a smart phone, or to another location anywhere else in the world. It offers a seamless way to handle telephone calls without interruption or effort.

SIP Trunking technology provides an effective communications system that is fully centralized. The Sessions Initiation Protocol technology grants every user a single address that can be used on a variety of applications and devices. This allows the user to connect to communication tools through texting, a direct office line, mobile phone, office line, home computer, home phone, laptop, or nearly any device.

Virtual Presence

Establishing a virtual presence using SIP technology dissipates frustration for both the user and anyone attempting to make contact. The system of communication tools provides some form of access to the user even when the user is not available. The caller can quickly see the availability of the user whether they are on a call, in a meeting, away or busy. All calls are simply rerouted to another device or action through SIP Trunking “parallel forking” where the communication is sent to a pre-determined specific address.

SIP Trunking provides a total sync of communication tools and is easy to retrofit into an existing PBX system. Creating a contact center, customers have the ability to make contact by submitting messages, emails, phone calls, text messages or other available communication avenues.

If you have questions about SIP, please contact one of BroadConnect’s knowledgeable Account Managers today!

In the world of mobile VoIP calling, unified communications clients that have SIP Trunking connections work very much the same way. Microsoft Lync offers a specific integration with SIP Trunking that has become a game changer in the industry. Using a hosted provider, like BroadConnect Telecom, companies can offer their employees the ability to utilize a direct link to the Microsoft system on each of their devices from the office or a remote location.

With recent advancements in technology, now every end-user can make a VoIP call using a mobile device connected via Microsoft Lync and a Bluetooth headset. However, for the end-user that requires true mobility such as using a Bluetooth while being connected to a smartphone or tablet while driving, there are significant other outside factors that might come into play. To achieve true connectivity, it might depend on the specific application being used, the locations of the 3G/4G/LTE towers, the outside weather or a variety of other factors.

Another way around the problem is to utilize Bluetooth headsets that have long range capabilities. Many inexpensive models have the long range capacity, but an uncomfortable fit. Alternatively, other high-end headsets have extremely comfortable fits but an extremely limited range. When it is impossible to utilize Bluetooth headsets with long-range capabilities, it will require a hosted or in-house PBX system that can transfer the call directly to the smart phone.

There are options that need to be considered when pairing a mobile device for hands-free calling. If the end-user is in an office building they can pair their Bluetooth headset directly to the Microsoft Lync server client on their laptop, desktop, smart phone, tablet or other device that has the capability. Although, this method does have some limitations that include the maximum distance that is supported through the Bluetooth headset, along with any mobile device integration issues.

One specific scenario may be that the end-user is on the phone with a company’s customer while sitting at their desk but needs to move to the parking lot to retrieve documents. They can remain on the call if their unified communications client provides this opportunity to directly transfer a call from the company system to the smart phone.

Many internal PBX systems have the capacity to transfer an office call to an application on the mobile phone. However, it certainly is based on specific hosted or internal PBX systems that have dial plans that are fully integrated.

For more information on Microsoft Lync and SIP Trunking, feel free to contact one of our trained in-house Lync experts today.

It was not that long ago that making video calls seemed like a futuristic idea that was unavailable with today’s technology. However, with the new innovative VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology, companies and residential end-users now have the ability to make high quality video calls today.

Most end-users use PC-to-PC video conferencing through a webcam with a built-in or attached microphone. IP video conferencing necessitates a requisite software to generate a video image on both ends. Just within the last few years, mobile applications have been built to support the highly popular IP video conferencing over a mobile device including a tablet or smartphone.

Out of all the free video conferencing providers, Skype is most likely the most popular free video calling application. However, nearly every “free” provider will actually charge a fee to make video calls when more than just a couple participants are connected. Many business VoIP providers have the capacity to incorporate hundreds of participants into a single IP video conference.

Video Meetings from Remote Locations

Many companies use IP video conferencing to hold extensive business meetings from remote locations. The experience is comparable to actually participating in a meeting in a conference room. Some companies actually believe that bringing together business associates and employees into a business meeting through IP video conferencing enhances the experience in a variety of ways that include:

·         Every Associate Attends – Now that many companies incorporate telecommuting for their workforce, they can still hold daily or weekly meetings where every associate attends. IP video conferencing allows every associate to participate from any remote location that has Internet connectivity. Through every IP connection, the associate can see and hear everything that is happening during the conference meeting. This eliminates the need to travel to one location to participate in every business meeting.

·         Building a Virtual Conference Room – Many businesses build a specific conference room designed for IP conferencing. This virtual room allows every participant to view the others.

·         Multiple Devices Accepted – With a wide variety of mobile devices and desktop PCs available, employees and associates can connect through any number of devices to attend the video conference.

·         Utilizing Multiple Cameras – Companies can utilize multiple cameras that can display whiteboards, presentations and multiple webcams to view all the necessary information during the meeting.

Video conferencing using Voice over Internet Protocol is taking the business world by storm. IP video conferencing is proving to be a viable solution that offers significant benefits to companies that have employees and associates in remote locations. For more info on UC Solutions please contact Broadconnect.ca, today!

For decades, businesses only had one option for communication through the public switched telephony network (PSTN). Within the last decade or so, Voice over Internet Protocol has offered significant advantages through a wide array of flexible telephony services to many SMBs (small and medium-size businesses) along with large corporations. As a result, numerous Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) resellers  have been able to offer cost-saving solutions to a variety of consumers.

Our consumers have enjoyed the significant benefits of communication acquired through Voice over Internet Protocol resellers. The benefits include a more efficient form of communication with more features. VoIP resellers offer their services as a liaison between the consumer and the Voice over Internet Protocol provider.

VoIP Benefits for Consumers

There are significant benefits that are experienced by all commercial consumers that utilize BroadConnect’s Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). These benefits include:

·         Monthly Savings – The most significant factor that attracts consumers to Voice over Internet Protocol is the enormous monthly savings the infrastructure provides. With the ability to send voice (audio) signals across the Internet and not through traditional landlines, the end consumer can expect savings up to 40 percent or more of the total monthly costs.

·         Efficient and Reliable Service – Voice over Internet Protocol utilizes the latest innovative technology called packet switching that compresses the voice data into audio packets. This efficient method of transmitting signals simply converts the audio data back into voice once it reaches its destination. It operates as an efficient, reliable service from any location in the world that has Internet connectivity.

·         Increased Flexibility – This cost-effective voice service is extremely flexible. VoIP calls can be performed through an IP phone, a traditional phone and even the computer. This allows the end user to make and receive calls from any location without disruption. With increased flexibility, companies can expand and contract their telephony requirements during seasonal demands, or as the company business steadily increases over time.

Our VoIP reseller program offers extensive service and features to commercial consumers of any size. BroadConnect’s end users can typically expect to receive free or low-cost unlimited local and long-distance calls to nearly any destination in the world. Businesses enjoy the flexibility of the Voice over Internet Protocol infrastructure to increase the size of their telephony demands as their companies grow.

Offering a high quality USB conference phone solution, Polycom Connect has the ability to be used with any unified communications software application. It can be connected through a USB cable to computers that operate on a Linux, Windows or Mac OS without requiring drivers for an easy installation.

The system is built to provide 360° of audio pickup from a microphone up to a range of seven feet. It also can accept a 3.5 mm headphone jack for calls that require privacy, when using headphones. It also has the capacity for audio pass-through when connected to the speakers of any desktop computer.

It offers many of the identical audio enhancements that are provided with numerous other high level Polycom conference telephones. Some of these features include dynamic noise reduction, automatic gain control and the ability to accept gated microphones that utilize intelligent switching.

An Ideal Audio Solution for SMBs

Polycom Connect was developed to meet the unified communication needs of SMBs that have conference room settings of medium to small size. For optimal use, it can handle a meeting of up to eight individuals in a single conference room. This is ideal for settings that include small home offices or business offices. Its nine inch size provides portability which might be ideal for a workforce that is on the road. Additionally, it can easily handle video and audio conferencing calls for smaller groups that use a laptop or PC.

The Polycom Connect has the ability to meet the standards for traditional unified communications conferencing performance. It is built and packaged as an elegant solution in scenarios that require optimal acoustic performance in a small to medium-sized group setting. With easy plug-and-play capacities, Polycom Connect works well for small teams, mobile workers and telecommuters.

Clear Conversations

It delivers immediate solutions for small organizations while providing clear conversation performance and amazing microphone pickup. The unit is simple to deploy and offers broad interoperability with the ability to work with nearly any software phone application. With a simple UI, it is easy to adjust the volume up to down or to mute the sound.

Within the last few years, the Polycom Sound Station Connect has become the new standard for unified communication conferencing calls. As a USB-based audio solution, it offers the answer for providing rich acoustic performance. With no software driver required, and instant connectivity through its provided USB cable, the Polycom Connect is fully interoperable on any application or computer that supports full USB audio.

While mobile applications were nearly unheard of just a few years ago, they are sure to become a major factor in doing business in the future. With many employees bringing their own devices into the workforce, and the company’s desires to make the workforce more productive, the development of mobile applications, integrated application management and the ability to manage multiple devices are becoming high priorities for many IT departments.

Many businesses have turned to PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service) as the ideal toolset for creating cloud-based applications. Platform-as-a-Service allows cloud providers to offer networks, servers, software development libraries and other vital services. It allows the consumer to utilize controls and software deployment along with a huge array of configuration settings.

For years there have been ongoing security concerns about incorporating businesses into the public cloud. However, most businesses are selecting to operate their private applications by having them hosted by managed service providers (MSPs). An MSP continually provides the best levels of security while performing services for transmitting crucial confidential data in an open, unsecured environment (the Internet).

Platform-as-a-Service Solutions

With the strong desire to develop powerful and effective mobile applications, many businesses are turning to the adoption of Platform-as-a-Service solutions to develop mobile enterprise platforms along with effective cloud infrastructures. For many company-related issues, PaaS is the only process for resolving many of the problems focused on developing mobile enterprise platforms.

With many more companies incorporating BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) programs, the workforce of many companies already requires effective mobile applications and management. For the IT department, this means better integration of a wide array of employee devices that need to connect to the same company infrastructure or cloud.

The best solution for providing application management that integrates across a variety of platforms is through private PaaS that connects directly to the cloud. The control and flexibility that is provided through cloud-based tools will instantly allow easier and faster connection configurations between the company’s back end system, and the development at the front end.

With the ever evolving changes in BYOD platforms, many mobile devices including smart phones and tablets operate on different systems. Each has different characteristics and application demands, making the company application support system a high priority to create, manage and support.

The greatest benefit of PaaS is in its capacity to develop applications quickly. It offers the best solution to a continually evolving mobile environment where businesses need to gain the upper hand in keeping their workforce connected to the company data.

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is quickly becoming a mainstay in business industries where employees in the workforce use their own smart phones and tablets to stay connected to the company. Many employees have long abandoned BlackBerrys or other company mobile devices and use their own smart phones instead. Because of this, Samsung developed Knox software to capitalize on the growing trend of needing to connect to the company infrastructure from remote locations.

Two Separate Environments on a Single Phone

Samsung’s Knox software provides an easy solution for creating two separate, distinct environments that provide secure connectivity for business and personal use, on the same device. This is not the first time this type of secure platform has been incorporated in a smart phone device. LG made the first move in providing Android phones with a dual-boot back in 2010 when it partnered with VMware.

The concept of a dual-boot Android smart phone is easy to perform. Utilizing a simple application located in the lower left corner of the phone’s display, the employee can simply select the icon to switch between two specific environments – the Knox secure business environment, or the personal secure environment. Both are completely segregated with each one holding its own applications, credentials and storage.

It is the specific setting that will determine exactly how long the employee can remain outside the secured Knox environment before requiring a password to gain re-entry. The setting will be controlled by the company’s IT management. When the application is run on Samsung’s Galaxy SIII, there is no delay or lag. It also has an instant boot when making the switch between one or the other environment.

Not Provided by iPhone

Many businesses seem to be incorporating iPhone environments to allow their employees to connect to the company infrastructure. As a result, there seems to be a specific focus on the abilities of the Samsung Galaxy SIII and the security it provides.

Samsung has initiated their SAFE (Samsung for Enterprise) program that provides the total solution for the required security and enhancements of features that are suitable for specific business use. Their devices are designed specifically to provide a safe environment that maintains the high level of security required for confidential company data. It offers high encryption (256-bit) and VPN connectivity along with full support for multi-vendor, top-tier mobile device management.

With Bring Your Own Device to work becoming the mainstay in many businesses, knowing that the company’s data is secure while employees are on the go is crucial. For more information on BYOD and service plans, please feel free to BroadConnect CDA or BroadConnect USA, today!