Some businesses do a good job of securing their data network (local area network or LAN) but forget to secure their wireless network. Despite all the pains they took to secure their LANs, their network is as vulnerable to entry as a locked car with the windows rolled down. Wi-Fi network security is a common blind spot, especially for small businesses. Here we look at some basic steps companies can take to lock down their Wi-Fi networks.

The quality and reliability of telephone calls placed over the Internet (voice over Internet protocol – or VoIP – calls) keep getting better, and often callers cannot tell the difference between calls placed over an IP network and a traditional phone line. That said, VOIP calls do sometimes get dropped and here we examine a few of the causes and tips for troubleshooting them.

One hesitation some companies have in moving over to a full IP business telephone system revolves around concerns over using the 911 emergency call service. Do companies really need a back-up PSTN line to make emergency calls? How reliable is emergency dialing over the Internet?

Asterisk is one of the most common open-source frameworks for running IP (Internet protocol) PBXs and VOIP gateways. Here we list a few cool tricks that can be done with SIP (session initiation protocol) phone systems running Asterisk. Many other open-source and proprietary platforms allow you to do some or all of these, so ask your manufacturer’s rep about these features if you are using a different platform.

A simple yet powerful feature of SIP (session initiation protocol) enterprise phones are soft keys. Soft keys allow users to customize their own phones by assigning their desired functionality to the buttons on the device. Used properly, they can supercharge the efficiency and productivity of a busy workstation.

Assisting users in programming their soft keys is an often underestimated service that nevertheless can boost customer satisfaction and optimize the productivity of the installed system. With most SIP phone systems, soft keys can easily be programmed for each endpoint centrally via the WebGui or management interface. They can also be programmed directly into the endpoints themselves. They are a detail worth paying attention to when installing an IP phone system.

For many types of businesses, workforce mobility is indispensable. Wireless technology allows associates to communicate internally and externally without being bound to a desk or station. Traditionally, DECT (digital enhanced cordless telecommunications) has been the technology used for this purpose. More recently, as wireless local area networks (WLANs) have become more commonplace, voice over WLAN (VoWLAN or VoWi-Fi) has emerged as an increasingly utilized technology.

Because VOIP telephone systems send voice over a packet network, they are just as vulnerable to data breaches and cyberattacks as any other IP (Internet protocol) application. According to The Sileo Group, a data security think tank, fully 60% of small companies go out of business within a year of a data security breach.

“Cybercrimes hit companies of all sizes and affect their bottom line to the tune of several years of profit,” asserts John Sileo, CEO of The Sileo Group.

The good news is, if your data network is secure, your VOIP voice transmissions are in some ways even more secure than a traditional analog phone system. And most risks can be mitigated by putting some basic best practices in place.

Since SIP phone systems are software-based platforms that send voice over a data network, they are interoperable with other business software, which translates into a huge productivity boost for the user. Did you know that the vast majority of these system integrations are performed by channel partners, vendors and consultants? According to the 2015 Unified Communications Integration Report published by Software Advice*, in only 14% of the case studies analyzed did end users do the work of integrating their systems themselves. This represents a considerable upselling opportunity for telephone systems dealers.

     Part 2 of 2 in a series on video conferencing

Last week, we looked at room-installed video conferencing systems. In this article, we look at video phones – and we’re not referring to a Beyoncé song, but rather SIP (session initiation protocol) endpoints that give users video-conferencing capability from their desktop. Here we offer a comparison between the Grandstream GXV3240 and GXV3275, and the Yealink T49G.

Note: Yealink and Grandstream have introduced additional video phones since this article was published. To read about the latest products, click on Yealink or Grandstream in the Topic list to the right.

How to set up a financing plan for your customer's business telephone equipment

Installing a new telephone system can require a significant capital outlay, which could lead some companies to sacrifice desired functionality to save money. Or, they may choose a hosted VOIP service provider for financial reasons, even in cases where an on-premise solution would better meet their requirements. This is where leasing comes in.

A leasing program can help your customers procure a voice solution that best suits their needs without overstretching their budget, allowing them to pay for their new phone system in manageable monthly installments rather than up front. In addition, leasing can make it easier to stay attuned to your customers’ sales cycles.