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Leverage franchise technology solutions to foster a satisfying customer experience

The fast-casual restaurant business is no longer defined by simply serving meals with speed and convenience. Modern customers expect a comfortable and welcoming experience, from the time they order to when they leave the restaurant.

With this climate in mind, many corporate restaurant entities and franchise operators are investing in purpose-built technology solutions. These innovations take many shapes, but examples include app-based ordering systems, drive-through operations optimized by smart tablets, and more.

However, these tools are only as useful as the networks that power them. To make the most of cutting-edge customer service technology, corporate enterprises and franchise owners alike must improve their in-store networks. Managed Network as a Service (NaaS) by CBTS could be the ideal method for taking your business network to the next level.

Also read: Network solution for retailers delivers sales

Where franchise technology solutions are heading:
  • Restaurants are rethinking drive-through lanes, using networked mobile devices to process orders faster and instill brand loyalty.
  • In-store Wi-Fi is no longer optional—customers expect to be able to enjoy a steady Internet connection while they dine.
  • If your restaurant doesn’t offer the option of ordering through a streamlined web page or mobile app, you’re falling behind the pack.
 

What holds restaurant networks back

When foodservice organizations grapple with the issue of modernizing the networks that support their stores, roadblocks aren’t uncommon. Some enterprises struggle to cut through the entanglement of sluggish long-term contracts with multiple service providers. Others are held back by licensing agreements that can prove frustrating to break out of.

Another common trial faced by restaurants is the issue of network consistency. Corporate entities and even franchise owners often find it challenging to maintain consistent network performance across disparate locations.

These obstacles lead to one result: many restaurant enterprises and franchise owners face overwhelming difficulty in implementing advanced technology solutions.

Also read: Cloud technology in retail increases productivity

Modernizing restaurants with NaaS

Businesses of any size and vertical can benefit from the cost savings and high-end performance of NaaS by CBTS. However, foodservice organizations are uniquely positioned to drive results and reduce expenses with this managed solution. At the same time, they can position their brands for the next generation of franchise technology solutions.

Downtime can be deadly for restaurants, which is why CBTS works closely with clients to deploy NaaS on demanding deadlines. This means NaaS by CBTS quickly delivers tailored networks that offer consistent performance across multiple storefronts and devices. Moreover, around-the-clock support from CBTS means owners and managers can worry less about network upkeep and focus on serving customers.

NaaS is also built to be flexible and scalable. As businesses grow and add additional franchises, restaurant enterprises can rest assured that their networks will grow with them. This flexibility also means organizations can adjust and customize their networks on the fly with minimal disruption.

Also read: NaaS solution meets automobile retailer’s needs

Enabling the next generation of franchise technology solutions

The very concept of fast-casual restaurant service has taken on a new dimension. The customer experience is of high importance and modern customers expect convenience through technology as well. Capabilities such as checking the status of an order through a mobile app or table-mounted smart display are increasingly common. But these solutions need robust and reliable in-store networks to function.

With CBTS as your cloud networking provider, you can equip your restaurant with the conveniences your customers expect. At the same time, you can reap the rewards of lower networking expenses, simplified billing, dependable performance, and much more.

Read the full case study to learn how NaaS by CBTS prepared dozens of Arby’s locations to leverage new franchise technology solutions.

The widespread benefits of Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a cloud-based team collaboration software and makes up a part of the Microsoft 365 and Office 365 suite of applications. Core features and benefits of Microsoft Teams include business messaging, calling, video meetings, and file sharing.

woman looking at laptop with notebook and pen. benefits of microsoft teams

As a 15-year Microsoft-certified partner, CBTS can help customize an organization’s unique business functions while pointing users to a myriad of best-in-class features available within the Microsoft Teams platform. Microsoft Teams is especially useful for remote work, as it keeps dispersed groups of workers connected and communicating.

Enterprises can utilize Microsoft Teams to create customized video meetings, engage employees in chat-based workspaces, and collaborate on documents in real-time. This blog will illuminate the many benefits of Microsoft Teams that can make your meetings easy and enjoyable and further enhance productivity with integrated voice.

Also read: Your Quick Guide to Conducting Secure Videoconferences

Messaging and video round out the dynamic Microsoft Teams package

One of the several benefits of Microsoft Teams is its ability to enable local and remote workers to communicate in real time across different devices. The platform also integrates with other Microsoft business applications such as Exchange, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.

On the features side, Microsoft Teams is built around clear communication with a side order of fun. Key features include:

Messaging chat – Teams is a chat-based workspace that combines individual messaging with threaded and persistent conversations. When sending an important message that needs to be seen immediately, users can simply change the delivery option to “Urgent.” This will show the receiver that their attention is desired ASAP.

Alongside one-on-one chats and voice and video calls, users can incorporate emojis, GIFs, and images into conversations. With the emoji feature, for example, you can add your appreciation and joy to online communication. Meanwhile, sending an amusing GIF to co-workers may be just the ticket to brighten up their day.

Video meetings – In addition to audio-only calls, participants can conduct virtual meetings. Microsoft Teams offers some key videoconferencing benefits such as customized virtual backgrounds, meeting recording functionality, transcription, whiteboarding, and breakout rooms.

Microsoft Whiteboard is a “digital canvas” bringing together people, content, and ideas. Whiteboard is automatically enabled for applicable Microsoft 365 tenants, though users can also sign in via Windows, iOS, and Microsoft Teams. To enable or disable Whiteboard:

  1. Go to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.

  2. On the Admin Center home page, go to the Search box on the top right, then type “Whiteboard.”

  3. In the search results, click “Whiteboard Settings.”

  4. Go to the “Whiteboard” panel, then toggle “Turn Whiteboard on or off for your entire organization” to On.

Webinars – Microsoft Teams supports interactive meetings and webinars for up to 1,000 attendees, while Teams webinars can accommodate 10,000 people in a view-only broadcast. Larger broadcasts of 20,000 viewers are available until the end of 2021 due to the surge in pandemic-spurred remote work.

Also read: Considerations for Remote Work

A few key terms for Microsoft Teams’ newbies:
  • Teams – Teams are groups of people who connect through the platform and work together on projects.
  • Channels – Within each team, users create channels to organize communications by topic.
  • Tabs – Located at the top of each channel, tabs link users to files, apps, and services.
  • Mentions – Users can use mentions to message and alert other participants.
  • Feeds – The activity feed provides a summary of messages, replies, mentions, and other activity happening within team channels.
  • Threads – A series of messages creates a thread; within the tread, users can schedule voice and video meetings.

Additional benefits

  • Calling – Integrated Microsoft Teams Voice with your existing PBX or have CBTS manage your Microsoft 365 portal for your calling.
  • Screen sharing – As the name implies, the screen sharing function permits users to share their desktop screens in real time during Teams calls or video meetings.
  • Calendar – Teams features extensive calendar capabilities so employees can track their work week, meetings, and daily appointments. Teams calendars are also highly integrated with Microsoft Outlook calendars.
  • File sharing – Through this document management feature, remote employees can store, share, and edit files with Teams.
  • External collaboration – The “Guest” feature in Microsoft Teams enables users to invite people from outside their organizations to join internal channels for messaging, meetings, and file sharing. Teams Connect is an additional external collaboration option that gives companies a shared workspace in which to chat, meet, and edit documents.

Also read: Evaluate collaboration technologies

Microsoft Teams: the ideal communication choice for your company

As a Microsoft Gold Partner and Cisco Gold Partner, CBTS is in a position to design, deliver, and implement many benefits of the Microsoft Teams platform and integrated Microsoft Teams Voice. CBTS also offers around-the-clock support, which gives organizations the collaboration infrastructure they need to thrive today and into the post-pandemic era. Contact the experts at CBTS to learn more about the benefits of Microsoft Teams.

Who uses Microsoft Teams and why? Read Microsoft 365 Business Voice: Always Stay Connected to find out more.

Three Advantages of Managed IT Services for Healthcare

There’s no question that the healthcare field has borne the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. Resources have been stretched thin and organizations have been forced to adapt to an unprecedented and dire situation.

Hospital contact center employees and other non-medical staff were among the many professionals to embrace remote work early on. While this adaptation kept staff safe and vital medical services operational, it also revealed an opportunity for improvement. As healthcare organizations expanded their networks to accommodate remote employees, many realized that their network technology was lacking.

Fortunately, managed IT services specialized for healthcare are available for a variety of applications. These solutions include Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), Network as a Service (NaaS), software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN), and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE).

Three ways managed IT services for healthcare can transform your organization:
  1. Deliver secure, reliable network access for remote employees.
  2. Streamline communication and ensure solid connectivity.
  3. Layer cutting-edge network security into every layer of your business.

Below are some of the main benefits of software-defined managed IT services that your healthcare enterprise should be aware of.

Also read: The value of the cloud in our new reality

1. Empowering and safeguarding remote work with SD-WAN and NaaS

SD-WAN is a trusted and cutting-edge technology solution that revitalizes aging network infrastructure for the cloud era. While many verticals can benefit from this functionality, healthcare enterprises are uniquely positioned to embrace SD-WAN to its full potential.

Many hospitals have historically relied on Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) infrastructures that offer privacy but tend to be expensive. Legacy MPLS can also lead to jumbled network atmospheres bloated with disparate connections. The vendor-agnostic nature of SD-WAN makes carrier diversity a strength rather than a weakness. By virtualizing networks, it allows hospitals to deploy whatever form of connectivity is needed regardless of licensing agreements.

Instead of needing hundreds of MPLS circuits to network all their devices, SD-WAN gives hospitals one streamlined, unified interface. This “single pane of glass” lets doctors, nurses, administrators, and support staff access every endpoint from anywhere in the network.

What makes SD-WAN an ideal managed IT service for healthcare, however, is the remote work capability it offers. When contact center employees and other non-medical personnel were sent home due to COVID-19, secure and reliable connections were critical. SD-WAN allows these employees to safely access hospital databases remotely without fear of sensitive data breaches.

Additionally, NaaS by CBTS can be deployed as a business model to standardize hospital communications systems. Healthcare networks tend to grow by absorbing the infrastructure of smaller organizations, leading to cluttered and patched-together phone systems. NaaS can be used to streamline each voice asset through a single provider to keep costs low and facilities running smoothly.

Also read: Four Considerations for Building a Remote Network with SD-WAN

2. Making cloud voice attainable with UCaaS

Many hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare organizations struggle with an overabundance of communication systems—from landline phones to two-way radios. In many cases, these organizations were reluctant to make the switch to cloud voice until 2020. When the COVID-19 pandemic made remote work a necessity, the benefits of cloud voice technology in healthcare became clear.

In the healthcare field, where lives hang in the balance each day, efficient communication is paramount. That’s why leading clinicians and hospital administrators across North America are embracing UCaaS as an advanced communications solution. UCaaS transforms networks of traditional handsets into hybrid communications models that combine existing devices with cloud voice applications. As a managed service, UCaaS by CBTS also offers predictable expenses and ongoing ground-level support to ensure dependable performance.

The last thing medical professionals need to worry about is whether their phone systems work. Managed IT services for healthcare like UCaaS can be leveraged to mitigate this issue.

Also read: Stepping up your UCaaS experience with SD-WAN

3. Integrating security measures into each layer of the network

Network security is a top concern for much of the enterprise world, but especially so for healthcare organizations. With hospitals and clinics processing and storing sensitive patient data every day, breaches must be prevented at all costs. To meet these standards, healthcare leaders are seeking out network security that accounts for every possible contingency.

SASE by CBTS tackles this challenge by implementing industry-leading firewalls at the edge of globally distributed cloud networks. This means every networked device can be as secure as the internal data center, with no weak links left vulnerable.

This solution is complemented by an industry-leading cloud security implementation process that starts with a thorough assessment by CBTS engineers. CBTS is capable of moving every security measure into the cloud, meaning security is no longer tied to physical buildings. This cloud-native approach marries well with the managed IT services for healthcare mentioned above.

Also read: MDR: Another security fad? Think again.

Evolve your enterprise with these managed IT services for healthcare

New technologies change the face of medicine on a regular basis, and healthcare organizations often struggle to keep pace. That’s where managed services come in. A trusted partner can help your enterprise utilize the benefits of cloud technology in healthcare while mitigating risk and simplifying expenses.

Contact CBTS today to learn how managed IT services for healthcare can take your hospital or clinic to the next level.

Top 4 cloud solutions that will improve patient outcomes

Technology and innovation for better healthcare

October 7, 3:00 p.m. | Live webcast

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Supporting secure business solutions on the cloud

Keeping pace with enterprise-level communications can be challenging in the digital age, as customers and employees both expect fast responses and seamless interactions across channels. Instead of toggling between platforms and devices to stay connected, agile organizations are looking for more effective ways to streamline and secure business communications on the cloud.

By integrating enterprise telephony, communication, and collaboration, CBTS helps companies deliver a seamless experience across channels. With hosted enterprise unified communications (UC), businesses can unlock significant benefits to protect from outages, downtimes, and other delays that might impede smooth communication.

Moving to the cloud can enhance communication and collaboration across an enterprise by enabling:

Read more: 5 ways the cloud protects your business

1. Carrier-grade protection

Expert engineers work around the clock to resolve issues instantly to support business solutions on the cloud.

When power outages or equipment failures shut down your network, you can’t connect with prospects, close sales, or collaborate with colleagues. To prevent these costly disruptions, CBTS delivers its hosted enterprise UC services over a carrier-grade network with 99.999% service level agreements to keep you connected.

Ten redundant data centers across North America provide disaster recovery and business continuity in case of an emergency, along with multiple server clusters, power sources, and network paths. Additionally, the U.S.-based Enterprise Network Operations teams at CBTS monitor and manage your network 24x7x365. Expert engineers work around the clock to resolve issues instantly, ensuring that your secure business communications won’t miss a beat.

Find out how Microsoft Teams synergizes with your hosted communications

2. One number, any phone

By connecting your enterprise telephony system to the cloud, you get the convenience and flexibility of using one number on any device. Whether you want to take calls through your desktop, tablet, smartphone, or handset, this capability allows calls to be forwarded seamlessly.

Using call pull capabilities, you can even move active calls from one device to another with a single click without interrupting your conversation. Meanwhile, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) handover maintains call quality as you move between data networks, switching from Wi-Fi to LTE. When you’re not tethered to a desk phone or on-site network, you can enjoy simple and secure business communication instead of contending with uncooperative technology.

3. Work from anywhere

If inclement weather, power outages, or other emergencies prevent your team from commuting to the office, the cloud can provide virtual meeting spaces to facilitate remote collaboration. Whether you’re on the go, working from home, or gathered in a conference room, CBTS offers a fully integrated unified collaboration experience with enterprise hosted UC.

By bringing together Webex’s advanced messaging and meeting capabilities within a single app, the cloud makes it easy to connect with voice, video, chat, screen sharing, file sharing, conferencing, and other remote collaboration tools. Wherever you are, you can join virtual meetings with a single click using your enterprise dial plan. With a unified solution that’s ”always on”’ across any device, you can be productive anywhere, anytime.

Also read: Give your remote teams the tools to connect seamlessly with Cisco Webex

4. Safely store sensitive data

As information travels faster than ever across a growing number of channels and devices, keeping your data safe is critical. End-to-end encryption helps bolster the security of your business communications through the cloud, while robust analytics allow your IT team to keep a close eye on your business in real-time.

When enterprise data is stored on the cloud, information can be synced instantly and accessed compliantly from any location. Paired with data loss prevention and risk assurance practices, the cloud enables collaboration while protecting your data, users, and devices. Hosted UC keeps your communications compliant and secure without sacrificing the must-have features you need to run your business.

Learn how Cisco Webex keeps your business communications secure.

5. Integrated cloud contact center

Customers expect prompt service from knowledgeable agents every time they contact your business, and if you can’t engage with them quickly and conveniently, they’ll find another company that will. An integrated omni-channel, cloud-based contact center can equip your enterprise to adapt swiftly to these evolving expectations.

Leveraging CBTS Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) can enhance the experience for your agents and your customers alike. With predictive analytics, adaptive routing, and active blending, CCaaS empowers agents to shift automatically from outbound to inbound queues when your call center traffic peaks. Bringing these robust contact center capabilities together on the cloud results in more productive agents and more satisfied customers.

Learn how Five9 Contact Center empowers extraordinary customer experiences.

Ensuring secure business communications

Omni-channel communication can be daunting for enterprises especially while balancing a remote workforce with regulatory compliance. With CBTS as your guide to navigate these communication challenges, your business can reap the benefits of the cloud to drive revenues while reducing risks.

The engineering experts at CBTS can custom-design a voice and data solution for your business, leveraging UC to integrate the tools that connect your company with your customers on the cloud. With multiple service delivery options, ongoing support, and automatic upgrades, CBTS is with you every step of the way.

Contact the UC experts at CBTS to streamline and secure your business communications today.

Balance employee health and productivity with remote work best practices

Communication channels are rapidly changing alongside evolutions in software. With remote work now commonplace, agile enterprises are turning to hosted unified communications as a service (hosted UCaaS) to maximize productivity. For organizations adopting the Cisco Webex collaboration tool, leading technology provider CBTS is delivering an integrated platform that empowers companies to stay completely connected.

While such integration can increase your organization’s productivity and efficiency, staring at a computer screen all day can also have an impact on your staff’s physical and mental well-being.

This blog will detail remote work best practices that can help your teams adjust to working from home. Implementing these best practices can result in happier workers and higher levels of productivity.

Also read: Give your remote teams the tools to connect seamlessly with Cisco Webex

The impact of remote work on mental health

According to a survey conducted last year by health benefits provider Aetna International, around 33% of people working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic were concerned about their mental health.

The online survey compiled responses from more than 4,000 employees and 1,000 employers in the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, and United Arab Emirates. Based on this sample population, the survey found that:

  • Stress (32%) and weight gain (43%) were the top health concerns for remote employees.
  • About 74% of all workers—including 88% of those aged 18 to 24—said poor mental health had negatively impacted their productivity.
  • Nearly 84% of employees surveyed agreed that their mental health was more important in 2020 than the year prior.
  • 40% of employers expressed concern that a lack of social interaction would have negative long-term effects on employee mental health.
  • Around 61% of workers want to return to the office by mid-2021. 81% said they would return if able to work remotely for part of the week.

Since March 2020, CBTS has been exploring ways to enhance the remote work experience. As businesses move from pandemic mode to long-term planning, executives must put remote work best practices in place to create a working environment that supports the needs of employees.

Also read: Four Considerations for Building a Remote Network with SD-WAN

CBTS suggests the following best practices for remote work:
 
  1. Stand up and stretch at least once an hour, or take a five-minute walk outside or around your home. Simple exercise not only improves your circulation—it can make it easier to focus on work as well.
  2. Add a block of time to your calendar for a relaxing lunch.
  3. Change your online status to “Out to lunch” or “Be right back” to let co-workers know you need some downtime or use the “Do not disturb” function on your phone or collaboration app.
  4. Create a daily schedule when working from home, including dressing as you would for the office. This will put you in the right mindset from the moment you boot up your computer.

Make the best out of your remote work practices with Webex

The CBTS Hosted Unified Communications (UC) solution is now fully integrated with Webex. This combines two powerful platforms to deliver the ultimate collaboration and communications experience.

Building on our mutual vision to delight the small to medium business customer, Cisco is thrilled to join with CBTS to deliver Hosted UC with Cisco Webex. With fully integrated Webex technology, CBTS users will experience a modern, all-in-one collaboration tool that delivers simple, flexible communications, making their businesses more productive and more secure.
 

Tony Lopresti
Product Management Director
Webex
Implementing remote work best practices keep teams productive and engaged.
Implementing remote work best practices keep teams productive and engaged.

At the click of a button on the Webex app, users can:

  • Make and receive calls.
  • Send and receive instant messages.
  • Set up audio conferences.
  • Host and attend video meetings.
  • Share screens and files.
  • Integrate apps to build relationships and speed projects forward.

This convenience, flexibility, and user-friendly operation aligns Webex with remote work best practices that keep teams productive and engaged.

To get the best out of your remote work situation, CBTS also suggests these best practices for remote work:
 
  1. Find the right place to work: It helps to have a dedicated working environment, whether a spare room or a table in the living room. Even simple things—like using the same side of the table each day—can help get you into “work mode.”
  2. Get your equipment ready: Take time to fine-tune your keyboard, mouse, displays, speakers, coffee mug, and any other remote workplace accessories.
  3. Cancel out noise: For folks sharing space with children, spouses, pets, or roommates, a good pair of headphones can be a lifesaver.
  4. Check in with teammates: Make time for Friday happy hours or other non-work events with Webex.

Also read: Your Quick Guide to Conducting Secure Videoconferences

Conclusion: Bringing power to the people who work remotely

Seamless integration of Cisco Webex permits workers to meet instantly and securely while ensuring the best and most stress-free remote work experience possible.

Contact CBTS for more information on how Webex can keep your remote teams healthy, productive, and engaged.

How NaaS can be a game-changer restaurant technology

The following blog details the primary benefits of customized NaaS solutions for restaurant technologies and hospitality management.

The past year has been difficult for everyone, especially those in the food service and hospitality industry. Enterprises in this vertical have been forced to contend with a variety of challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, not the least of which is a severe decline in business, as well as demanding safety measures and a great deal of uncertainty.

Amid this trying climate, many food service organizations are discovering the benefits of empowering their restaurant technology with managed networking solutions such as Network as a Service (NaaS) by CBTS.

NaaS works by replacing legacy networks with a scalable, agile, and potent cloud-capable environment that can be managed and supported by capable off-site experts. With everything that restaurant operators must juggle and considering how important the customer experience is to the success of a hospitality venture, it’s no wonder that food service leaders are looking to offload their network architecture with customized NaaS solutions.

Read more: Answering the vital question: What is NaaS, and how can it improve business outcomes?

Managed NaaS solutions can:
  • Provide a uniform customer experience across disparate storefronts.
  • Generate useful analytics to better understand customer behavior.
  • Allow for the easy onboarding and networking of new locations.
  • Be secured with full malware protection and 24x7x365 provider oversight.
Also read: NaaS Is the Future of Food Service Networking

What NaaS can do for your food service enterprise

In the customer-facing hospitality world, experience is everything. Retail customers expect a positive experience when interacting with your business, and delivering services and features such as reliable public Wi-Fi is key to ensuring customer satisfaction. Chances are you must also maintain an in-house network for a wide variety of restaurant technologies such as point-of-sale (POS) terminals, tablets, registers, inventory databases, and more. A managed networking solution like NaaS can simplify and enable these aspects of your business.

By partnering with CBTS for a networked restaurant technology solution, your organization can easily and seamlessly network POS devices, guest Wi-Fi connection points, internal databases, and more, all of which can be scaled up and down as needed to accommodate new locations. This flexibility is especially crucial for seasonal businesses and those looking to expand as the pandemic eventually winds down.

Also read: 4 Reasons Retailers Love NaaS

On top of the functionality that managed NaaS solutions offer for food service, enterprise leaders can gain an even greater resource: time. NaaS takes the burden of network management off in-house IT personnel and offloads it to a qualified service provider such as CBTS. This means food service and hospitality managers can spend less time on network upkeep and more time on customer service and long-term strategic goals.

Business leaders are also constantly on the lookout for opportunities to cut costs. Compared to legacy multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) networks, a managed NaaS solution operates as a less expensive broadband solution while presenting a predictable monthly expense. This also allows enterprise leaders to modernize their networks without costly capital investments.

Conclusion: Prepare your restaurant technology for the future with NaaS

Embracing NaaS for food service is only the beginning of your enterprise’s transformation—it’s also vital to partner with the right provider to help you meet your specific goals. CBTS has extensive experience in delivering customized NaaS solutions for a variety of industries, including food service and retail.

Moreover, NaaS comes complete with 24x7x365 support. Any time your business suffers an outage, slowdown, or any other networking obstacle, CBTS will be there to address the issue so you can continue providing your guests and customers with the experience they expect.

For more information on how CBTS can deliver a custom NaaS solution for your business, also read:

Contact CBTS to find out how NaaS can modernize and streamline restaurant technology across your entire organization.

Enhance services for your communities with Unified Communications for Government

In an increasingly remote work environment, governments around the globe are improving the effectiveness of their workforces by combining voice, video, and data functionalities in one streamlined channel, a technique known as Unified Communications (UC).

Unified Communications (UC) improves government workforces
Unified Communications (UC) addresses service issues faced by government constituents.

Adoption of UC is particularly crucial for communities navigating the economic impact of COVID-19. As the pandemic raged across the U.S. last year, CBTS assisted a government Jobs and Family Services (JFS) office in the Midwest that was overwhelmed by unemployed residents seeking new employment opportunities.

CBTS designed and implemented a UC for government solution to address service issues faced by JFS constituents. The solution included scaling existing call paths, organizing remote call center operations, and configuring a new Interactive Voice Response (IVR) solution. Cisco’s Unified IP IVR was deployed at scale specifically to address mass layoffs by major companies.

Even as the pandemic dissipates, state and local governments worldwide are meeting citizens’ heightened service expectations with Cisco UC solutions. This article will explain the benefits of UC innovations for agencies and municipalities of all stripes.

Also read: VoIP vs UCaaS: What is right for your business?

How to utilize the benefits of UC for government

Accustomed to reliable online and automated voice service from retailers and other private-sector institutions, most people expect the same response from their government. Antiquated phone systems and outdated legacy systems are being replaced by UC technology boasting a wide range of benefits:

  • Enhanced public safety: First responders are more efficient when they can communicate and access critical information from anywhere, at any time, under any circumstance.
  • Improved service effectiveness: Citizen satisfaction is enhanced when services are easier to obtain. Reaching an employee or agent on the first call, receiving a medical consultation from a nearby clinic, or reserving a public meeting via an automated voice response system can foster greater trust and satisfaction among citizens and stakeholders.
  • Citizen empowerment and social inclusion: Connected communities enable residents and businesses to get timely government information and services through self-service voice applications and web portals. UC for government also helps public agencies reach out to underrepresented or rural populations that are typically unable to access key services.
  • Economic development: Employers are attracted to communities that make it easy to do business—which UC for government can provide while also enabling the education and training required to cultivate a skilled workforce.

Also read: Four Considerations for Building a Remote Network with SD-WAN

With Cisco UC services, communities and agencies are bolstered by:
  • Effective phone systems, unified messaging, and collaboration.
  • Advanced call processing and contact centers.
  • Robust video collaboration and surveillance.
  • Mobile voice and interoperability.

Eight benefits of UC for governments

Public safety, effective services, high productivity, and social inclusion are keystones of any strong community. A cloud-based UC solution can help transform governmental activities, while the right partner will lead your agency to success.

CBTS provides industry-leading modern communication resolutions for any number of municipal functions and use cases. Here are a few examples:

1) Surveillance video: An ability to see real-time video improves citizen safety and public safety personnel responsiveness. For example, when police officers in Everett, Washington, are dispatched to a crime scene, they can plan an effective response by viewing live surveillance footage from vehicles equipped with Cisco mobile access routers.

2) Rapidly deployable communications: Public safety agencies must be able to maintain lanes of communication in case of network shutdown or lack of infrastructure. With Cisco’s rapidly deployable communications solutions, a first responder can simply flip a switch to connect to an IP network by satellite. This creates an instant network through which to send and receive voice, video, and data utilizing wired or wireless devices.

3) Access to government services: In many cities, individuals who reach the wrong department must wait while an employee searches a paper directory for the appropriate extension. With Cisco UC for government, calls can be seamlessly transferred by selecting an employee’s name from an up-to-date online directory located on their Cisco Unified IP Phones.

4) Well-organized contact centers: Cisco Unified Contact Centers route calls to agents ready to meet callers’ pressing needs, improving service efficacy, and reducing call-handling time. Derwent Living, a UK-based not-for-profit organization that partners with local governments on affordable housing, harnesses UC technology to direct calls from citizens to expert housing advisors.

5) Unified messaging: With Cisco Unified Messaging, government personnel can access messages all from one interface, either their PC or voicemail inbox. Responsiveness improves further when employees retrieve communication and collaboration tools from a single screen.

6) Workplace transformation and efficiency: Many agencies provide permanent desks to mobile employees who rarely work in the office. Cisco UC for government solutions enable desk sharing, allowing workers to make and receive calls from any available desk. This is made possible either by logging into a Cisco Unified IP Phone or Cisco’s Unified Personal Communicator software on PC.

7) Access to human resources: Rural residents can link to social workers, child psychologists, and other human resource offices by using Cisco video telephony and Cisco Telepresence available at their local government offices.

8) Ease of doing business: With so many employers preferring to base their companies in business-friendly communities, Cisco IVR solutions and online web portals are key for governments seeking to provide secure tax payments and other services to new and established businesses.

Also read: Case Study: Safer travels with CBTS on-premises private cloud

A foundation for government services of all kinds

Cisco Unified Communications for Government solutions bridge the gap between needed services and available resources. Ultimately, this technology creates a foundation for a connected community, satisfying demands for public safety, service reliability, citizen empowerment, and a thriving economy.

Contact CBTS for more information on converting your government agency’s legacy infrastructure to a modern cloud-based environment.

How CBTS and Opex Technologies teamed up to implement a state-of-the-art NaaS platform to address healthcare network challenges

Network as a Service (NaaS) for healthcare has emerged as the most reliable solution for healthcare providers needing to scale, especially considering that healthcare providers tend to possess extremely sensitive data for a large number of patients. When a provider begins to grow and starts expanding from a single office to multiple locations, they can be faced with adding new equipment, platforms, licensing, and all the costs of expanding IT architecture.

Then there’s the added data burden of the office staff, who must coordinate information from multiple platforms to meet regulatory requirements, process billing, and coordinate with hospitals, pharmacies, and other providers, all while maintaining communications with patients.

MindPath Care Centers, a southeastern-based mental health provider, was facing these same healthcare network challenges when they expanded to multiple sites across several states. The disparate infrastructure became difficult to manage, they suffered from a limited IT staff, and they needed a knowledgeable IT partner to streamline their growing multi-office operations.

Also read: A Q&A on Taking the Vertical Dive

Network as a Service (NaaS) for Healthcare

The solution came in the form of a state-of-the-art Network as a Service (NaaS) platform powered by the Cisco Meraki dashboard. The solution addressed a number of key requirements, including a low start-up cost with simplified operations and upgrade processes. It solved the need for full compliance with HIPAA and other regulations. In addition, the solution came in an agile format offering cloud-delivered deployment and management of hybrid public, private, wireline, and wireless networks.

“As we adapted to expanding our company, it was eye-opening to see how flexible the CBTS team and our trusted advisor Opex was. Their teams make it easy to add locations and make changes to their solution as our company evolves.”

Eric Garrison, CTO, MindPath Care Centers
By implementing a NaaS for Healthcare Platform, you can:
  • Easily scale branch locations up or down.
  • Significantly reduce month to month operating costs.
  • Improve your network’s performance and functionality.
  • See real-time data analytics.
  • Avoid downtime with 24x7x365 monitoring.
Learn more about NaaS

Download the full case study to learn more about how CBTS and Opex Technologies created a cloud-enabled networking solution that solved MindPath Care Centers’ scaling and IT infrastructure problems.

Powered by Cisco Meraki

NaaS, powered by Cisco Meraki, packages hardware, licensing, configuration, implementation, and co-management into one monthly expense. It can easily be scaled up or down according to your needs. Today, CBTS supports NaaS for Healthcare solutions for more than 600 clients and can install a managed network in as little as 30 days. 

Today, MindPath Care Centers is in full command of a fully-virtualized network ecosystem that connects its multiple sites and allows for deep visibility into network traffic conditions to ensure optimal data flow. The day-to-day management burdens have been offloaded to CBTS, freeing the internal IT team to focus on higher-level operations.

Also read: Why SD-WAN is a powerful healthcare technology solution

“CBTS was very easy to work with and accommodating,” said Auburn Holbrook, president of Opex Technologies. “The Channel manager and solution engineering team were quick to respond and creative when it came to generating a solution that satisfied the customer. At the end of the day, they strive to always put the customer needs first.”

Contact CBTS for more information on how NaaS can help your organization address a variety of healthcare network challenges while expanding operations with ease and confidence.

Learn more about our Channel Program from CBTS today, and how you can be the hero in your story.

Continue reading: How NaaS helped a cannabis company manage its rapid growth

How UCaaS is changing the face of education communication solutions

Colleges and universities must be prepared for any number of disruptions, a lesson learned over the last year during the COVID-19 pandemic. And with any disruption, communication is key.

Man at university works on laptop, utilizing education unified communications services
UCaaS offers integrated cloud-based education communication solutions and services, supported by trained staff.

Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) from CBTS is becoming a widely adopted tool for higher education leaders seeking to keep pace with the modern digital world. Forward-looking institutions are turning to UCaaS solutions for help navigating an IT environment that is becoming more unwieldy to manage and finance.

Evolving technology demands IT expertise and a large-scale upfront capital outlay that most schools can neither staff nor afford. Without expert support, poor security compliance and protection can erode the trust among an institution and its students, parents, faculty, and additional constituents. 

UCaaS offers integrated cloud-based education communication solutions and services, all supported by trained staff, available with predictable monthly pricing, and capable of scalability for physical or virtual campus locations. Active support from CBTS reduces the burden of network upkeep and allows for a greater focus on the development of services that address the unique needs of students and faculty.

This article will detail the education communication solutions by CBTS, especially for entities ready to make the transition from legacy networks to cloud-based solutions.

Also read: VoIP vs UCaaS: What is right for your business?

Savvy educators bring UCaaS to campus

Compared to other sectors, higher education is historically slow in adopting new innovations, including the paradigm shift associated with modern cloud-based solutions. It’s imperative for education CIOs to understand how the long-term benefits of cloud migration outweigh the temporary disruption of restructuring existing IT staff and services.

Put simply, the future is now, as the rapid pace of technological change can wreak havoc on higher education budgets. Savvy educators choose CBTS UCaaS for strategic cloud services that continuously deliver updated technologies and analytics, as well as tech support from anywhere on the planet.

Also read: Leverage SD-WAN to get the most from your UCaaS platform

Five ways UCaaS can help transform higher education:
  1. Increased operational efficiencies
  2. Improved safety and security
  3. Enabling next-generation learning
  4. Leveraging crucial education data
  5. Seamless connection to an expanding network environment

Five communication solutions UCaaS offers the education sector

Unified communications requires multiple functions to work together while enabling departments and colleges to function independently. Strategic technologies assist schools in boosting academic quality, which fosters innovation and improves student retention—goals that can no longer be tethered to legacy technology platforms and practices.

1) Increased efficiencies

As effective communication across all departments is key, UCaaS integrates communication channels, so that voice, teleconferencing, and messaging are woven into the student experience whenever and wherever they are needed.

Through UCaaS, educational institutions can:

  • Deliver seamless, simplified communications.
  • Offer single-number reach.
  • Simplify management.
  • Improve productivity.

2) Better-quality security

Managing data storage, compliance, and security is a prime concern of education leaders seeking new communication solutions, considering most higher education institutions can’t afford the costly blowback from a massive data breach. UCaaS solutions protect enterprise data against potential assaults thanks to network segmentation backed by qualified CBTS experts. Schools using UCaaS can also:

  • Enhance staff response during a crisis.
  • Easily share emergency messages, or send them in a simultaneous, real-time broadcast.
  • Expedite communications with first responders.
  • Notify parents and emergency contacts within minutes of an incident.

Also read: The Effects of the Coronavirus on Cybersecurity

3) Enabling learning

With the pandemic accelerating a need for reliable remote teaching, UCaaS can make a key difference in how your institution reaches young learners. From utilizing online sources and class notes to communicating easily with professors or improving how students submit projects, UCaaS integration provides campuses with a singular solution rather than a confusing mix of vendors, software, and solutions. By including UCaaS in day-to-day operations, colleges can:

  • Provide cost-efficient IP-based phone services.
  • Enable communications and collaborative learning.
  • Give students and faculty access to global resources.
  • Enhance parent-teacher-administrator communication.

Also read: How SD-WAN & NaaS come together to supercharge remote work productivity

4) Leveraging data

Data analytics tools can help schools find and retain students while identifying demographic trends that offer a competitive edge. This strategic analysis allows institutions to parse enrollment data alongside factors contributing to waning admissions.

At the governing level, business intelligence tools supported by CBTS give decision-making insight about every aspect of managing and sustaining a higher education enterprise. Education communication solutions from CBTS come with a single-pane management design, delivering operational analysis via dashboards and real-time displays.

5) Seamless connections

As campus footprints expand both physically and virtually, continuous connectivity will keep your entire digital universe operating as a single unit. UCaaS presents an integrated package of innovations that scales to both current needs and any future expansion.

A competitive edge through UCaaS

Migrating to UCaaS cloud-based services is a must for educators seeking to take their institutions into a competitive, secure, and future-forward academic landscape.

CBTS provides best-in-class UCaaS infrastructure and support to empower your educational transformation. See how CBTS assisted a higher-ed client in reaching its cloud-based communication goals.

Contact us for more information on how UCaaS from CBTS can enable innovative education communication solutions for your college or university.

Continue Reading: Reliable WiFi Access Vital to Universities

Check Point Harmony: A secure solution for remote users

The business world has comprehensively shifted over the last year into remote work, a way of life that may be permanent for many organizations. Staying connected at a time of widespread change is paramount, as your employees must be able to work from anywhere on any device, and have access to work-related applications at all times.

Check Point Harmony is a secure solution for remote users
Check Point Harmony consolidates six security protocols to provide uncompromised protection.

Of course, additional touch points mean more opportunities for hackers to steal your data. To defend against attacks from increasingly sophisticated threat actors, it’s not enough to simply keep adding individual security products.

Enter Check Point Harmony, the industry’s first unified solution for remote work. Harmony consolidates six security products to provide uncompromised protection, safeguarding devices and Internet connections from attack while ensuring Zero-Trust Access for corporate applications.

Utilizing Harmony gives organizations a suite of services including:

  • Clientless connectivity.
  • VPN remote access.
  • Mobile and e-mail security. 
  • Secure Internet browsing.

Combining Harmony with a managed and hosted partnership from CBTS—a Check Point Software Technologies 5-Star Partner—will keep your enterprise network productive and connected.

Also read: Protecting your most vulnerable cyberattack vector: E-mail

Let CBTS and Check Point Harmony secure your “work from anywhere” efforts

Check Point Harmony is simple to manage and capable of securing the your new “work from anywhere” environment. Organizations concerned about fortifying staff endpoints are covered by Harmony, with CBTS acting as a managed provider to relieve the burden on already busy IT staff.

Harmony unifies endpoint, browser, e-mail, and remote access security components to protect user devices and networks against known and unknown threats. Harmony integrates key security capabilities into a single solution to deliver:

  • Complete web security: As a core component of Harmony, the new Harmony Browse feature offers secure, fast, and private web browsing by inspecting SSL traffic directly without adding latency or re-routing traffic through a secure web service.
  • Secure remote access from any device, anywhere: Harmony Connect securely links a user or branch to mission-critical resources, supporting clientless Zero-Trust Access from any browser.
  • Best-in-class e-mail and productivity app protection: Harmony Email & Office secures e-mail clients, giving users complete protection for Microsoft Office 365, Exchange, Google G Suite, and more.
  • Total endpoint and device security: Harmony Endpoint defends PCs from ransomware, phishing, and malware, minimizing breach impact with autonomous detection and response capability. Meanwhile, Harmony Mobile secures employees’ mobile devices against malicious apps and OS attacks.

Harmony is easy to deploy due to its simple per-user pricing model. With CBTS acting as a managed provider, companies can apply user-centric security policies across all organizational environments.

Also read: How SD-WAN security enhances critical business applications

By harnessing Check Point Harmony, organizations can:
  • Securely connect users to any resource, anywhere, with cloud-delivered network security powered by 11 SASE services.
  • Provide clientless Zero-Trust Access to any corporate application from any web browser, web applications, database, remote desktop, SSH remote terminal, and more.
  • Allow for a secure, fast, and private Internet browsing experience with the industry’s first in-browser protection.
  • Protect user e-mail and collaboration apps such as Office 365, MS Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and G-Suite.
  • Prevent threats on user devices with complete endpoint protection and a mobile threat defense solution.

Look to Check Point Harmony and CBTS for a complete network solution

CBTS, a leading technology provider of communications, cloud, infrastructure, and consulting to clients worldwide, is on the front line of supporting organizations struggling to equip remote workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Not only has CBTS developed a suite of networking solutions to connect employees to reliable, secure bandwidth no matter their location, the leading technology provider also works with different partners and is provider-agnostic. For organizations, this means CBTS can deliver the best solutions available from different vendors to a single point of contact.

Through its partnership with Check Point, CBTS can protect the full Check Point Harmonyproduct suite. For example, Harmony Endpoint is a complete security solution built to shield user PCs and laptops from today’s complex threat landscape. Endpoint protection tackles imminent threats and enables enterprises to quickly minimize breach impact with autonomous detection and response.

“CBTS has always taken pride in the organizations we choose to partner with to deliver industry-leading technology solutions for our clients, and this latest partnership with Check Point Technologies is a milestone in that long history,” said Joe Putnick, Chief Innovation Officer with CBTS. “Check Point Harmony represents a new standard in comprehensive, future-forward network security, especially for an age of hybrid workplaces and remote connectivity. We’re proud to work with Check Point Technologies in equipping our customers and stakeholders for success.”

Additionally, CBTS can help enterprises maintain fast and private Internet browsing safe from malware downloads, phishing attacks, and corporate credential reuse. Via Harmony Browse, companies can also block access to inappropriate websites.

Harmony Email & Office secures user mailboxes and productivity apps, while blocking sophisticated phishing attacks and malicious attachments. Finally, Harmony Mobile is a mobile threat defense solution giving organizations comprehensive protection across application, network, OS, and device vulnerabilities.

“Many times over, CBTS has proven to be a reliable and expert facilitator of cutting-edge technology solutions, making them an ideal partner to bring Check Point Harmony to market,” said Marco Garcia, Director of Engineering, Global SI & Telco at Check Point Software Technologies. “Together, we’re confident that our organizations can revolutionize the way enterprises secure their remote workforces for the post-COVID era and beyond.”

Also read: Employ cloud-enabled security to safe-guard your SD-WAN network

A best-of-breed protective partnership

With Harmony and CBTS, your users get the same level of protection regardless of location, the applications they access, or devices they use. Whether it’s a phishing attempt, a malicious e-mail attachment, or zero-day ransomware, the comprehensive solution guards them from threats across all attack vectors. Powered by revolutionary AI engines and the industry’s most extensive threat intelligence network, Harmony—with CBTS as a hosted cloud provider—stops attacks before they happen.

Learn more about Check Point Harmony here, and contact CBTS for more information regarding remote working solutions and managed services.