Cloud Technology

What is a Firewall?

What is a firewall? While many people have the impression that a firewall is just a layer of security between two networks, its functions and purpose go far beyond that. Not only are firewalls essential in maintaining your business security but also thwart malicious attacks from a broader range of sources.

So how do you decide which firewall is the best for your company? First of all, you’d have to take the existing infrastructure of your organization into consideration. Then, choose among the three different categories of setups available.

It’s crucial that you know about the pros and cons of these firewall setups to make a better-informed decision. So, keep on reading!
Types of firewalls
1. Software firewalls

This is the kind of firewall that best suits individuals wanting to protect their network. But, since software firewalls are essentially a piece of code, it’s definitely not idea for businesses with significant amounts of data to protect. Think of it this way – the software firewall is more of a lock on your door than an impenetrable fortress protecting you from attacks on all sides.

Don’t get us wrong; this type of firewall does have value, and they are good at blocking malware, preventing risky activities, scanning blacklisted IP addresses, and detecting suspicious application requests. But these aren’t the only things that are needed for a large-scale enterprise with numerous network connections.

The biggest disadvantage of a software firewall is that they rely on one computer to run the …

5 Reasons Why a Switch to the Cloud Should Begin with Your Phone System

As an increasing number of businesses are now adopting cloud-based solutions, not being able to do the same may give you the feeling of being left out. Apart from the obvious advantages that a cloud-hosted platform brings to business operations, this solution is also very cost effective, given the right vendor.

If you feel overwhelmed at the thought of the transition of your services to cloud, then it may be helpful to concentrate on one service at a time. Integrating your phone system would be a great way to begin as this segment of business operations is deemed to be relatively simple.

Still need more reasons as to why the switch to the cloud should start with the phone system? Keep on reading to find out.
5 Reasons Why a Switch to the Cloud Should Begin with Your Phone System
 
1. IT can build internal support for cloud
One of the primary advantages of the cloud-based phone system is that it can be deployed in a controlled manner. This means you get full control of choosing how many employees or workgroups take the benefits of this deployment. As a result, you can put the new phone system to test incrementally before planning for a major scale rollout.

This practice will allow the IT system to work around potential hiccups that may hinder the full-time deployment. Additionally, your employees will also have a good experience with the final rollout and more willing to embrace cloud-based applications in their daily …

Banking Card ATM

Banks and IP Telephony

In an increasingly competitive banking environment, customers desire nothing but the best. Banks must do everything within their capability to provide the best service possible. Since customer service can come in many forms, the banks have decided to focus on phone systems.

This is where the benefits of IP telephony come in with all the bells and whistles of internet-based communicative services. Financial institutions stand a better chance to improve their public communication with IP telephony than what they could have with circuit-based telephone network connections.
Banks and IP telephony – how they stand to benefit
Business happens fast when companies decide to move their communications to cloud systems. Financial service firms also reap the benefits of innovative cloud communication to improve their overall services and communication process.

Even though there are many ways in which banking can benefit from IP telephony, these are some of the most common ways this technology has affected banking:
1. No tolls and MAC charges
One of the common problems that many banks face even today pertains to adding, modifying, or removing an existing phone line (MAC) as the service provider has to be contacted in every case.  Phone companies charge based on each MAC and keep the bank waiting as they work according to their schedule.

This issue can be eliminated with IP telephony as the entire network can be setup in the cloud and scalable on-demand. There is no need to contact the service provider.  Nor wait for them to …

Top Cloud Trends 2017

There is no doubt that cloud computing has helped many enterprises transform themselves over the last half a decade. But according to experts, this technology is preparing to enter its second wave, beginning around 2017.

Both private and public cloud services hosted and built in corporate data centers will drastically change, and so will the experience of users in the wake of these VoIP trends of 2017. The market of cloud voip will accelerate even faster in the upcoming year as businesses are now seeking more efficiency to scale their resources better in order to serve customers.

As companies with big data centers, huge budgets, and complex applications look into the cloud as a viable platform to run core business applications, the future seems more than just bright.
Top cloud trends to look for in 2017
Forrester released some cloud computing predictions for the upcoming year that will dramatically change this technology and how businesses are affected by it. Keep reading this article to know more.

1. Buyers will save money in many ways

Forget pay-per-use; the New Year is expected to be a revolutionary time period for cloud computing that would make this technology reach out to a greater audience. More businesses will be able to afford cloud voip as the services become more cost-efficient and more diverse to suit specific business models.

2. Expensive private cloud suites will go on a decline

It is expected that more and more enterprises will eventually shun large and costly private cloud software suites …

How Cloud Technology Aids the Healthcare Industry

It’s important for the healthcare industry to utilize technologies to their maximum possible extent for the welfare of the patients they serve. While there are still various healthcare sectors that are largely dependent on pen and paper method of record keeping, a vast majority of other industries are slowly moving towards adopting digital information storage.

Cloud Technology within healthcare is no longer in its infancy, and is now globally engaged in the modernization of operations. From helping in storing significant amounts of data to facilitating easy data sharing among hospital employees, the benefits of implementing this technology is unparalleled.

 
Cloud technology – the Best Implementation Practices
The most crucial aspects in the healthcare industry are security, ease of availability of data, confidentiality, long-term data preservation, and data traceability. Since quite a large portion of challenges faced by this industry are related to IT, the cloud can come into play both in clinical and non-clinical applications according to the needs of the organization.

For clinical use, the deployment of the cloud should take place in either a private or hybrid cloudas they require the most extreme level of precautions. The non-clinical application would suit just fine under a public cloud deployment model, as the need for security and exchange of information is not as critical.

Cloud has helped healthcare companies overcome different challenges while cutting down costs in the process. So, it’s essential that you choose the model that best fits your particular industry needs.

 
Advantages of Cloud …

Understanding the Facts: Is the Cloud Safe?

We are living in a technological era where we are constantly gaining access to some of the most advanced and innovative technologies that make our lives better and easier.

While these advancements do bring us a lot of benefits, there’s one question that always surrounds these developments: are they really safe? And included in those concerns is the popular and growing trend of Cloud technology use.

This incredible technology allows us to store our data remotely rather than storing them on our personal computers. This substantially cuts IT costs while speeding up operations dramatically. And while Cloud technologies do bring a ton of benefits, do they also come at the expense of privacy?
Take Precautions to Protect Your Business
The Co-founder of Apple, Steve Wozniak, recently expressed his concern over “everything going to the cloud.” He also said that we might face a lot of privacy issues and troubles in the next five years due to this trend. One of the most real and persistent fears regarding Cloud computing is the possibility of data loss and theft. But when you understand the risks and prepare a disaster recovery plan, you can still experience the benefits of the cloud with protection in place.

Let’s take a look into some of the most common risks associated with Cloud computing:

Data Breach: One of the most common risks of working in a cloud-based environment is the possibility of a data breach. Many of the poorly-designed and associated applications can actually …

Breaking Down the Features of Mitel Connect Cloud

First established in 1996, Mitel entered the phone market with its IP Telephony venture in 1998 at the beginning of the Internet explosion in office communications. Since that time, Mitel has expanded its offerings with its desktop management products, mobility services and connections, and cloud services some 20 years later. Today, Mitel Connect Cloud brings all of its past services to bear with the massive scalability of the cloud, allowing both small and large businesses to enjoy the same benefits, many of which were previously only available to enterprise-size systems.
Unified Communications at the Forefront
The key factor in Mitel’s Cloud design is a focus on unified communications. Instead of disparate systems and multiple individual units, Mitel’s approach aims at wrapping all of a company’s communication assets together into one woven system for seamless crossover and sharing. Further, Mitel’s latest features are expanding the same benefits to the mobility side, allowing connection and access to the same information databases and assets while company personnel are on the road, boosting productivity while traveling.

These mobile features include:

Worker location and presence along with traditional digital communications tools.
Seamless switching between databases of contacts, events, file information, and calendaring.
Multiple digital communication channel switching and management to control more than one conference at a time.
Agenda management tools and timers for meeting benefit control.
Intuitive app design for easy learning and adaption to mobile tools provided by Mitel for Cloud connecting.
Secure connection without the delay of VPN …

Does More Technology Really Improve Business Productivity?

For many business owners, and senior executives, the thought of embracing the latest business technology can be daunting for numerous reasons. Reason being, making a significant technology change can quickly impact how the entire organization gets work done – so it must be carefully executed. So, the first logical question posed is: will these investments truly improve team productivity?

The second consideration involves the financial expenditures needed to fund these changes effectively. In this type of situation, stakeholders need to feel comfortable with the cost and benefits as it relates to their ROI.
Technology Should Make Work Easier – Not Harder
It’s important for management to understand how investing in new technologies can not only improve ROI but also enhance the overall workplace environment and productivity. For example, having an employee utilizing numerous applications on different devices that aren’t synced with one another can cause that employee to spend more time trying to track down just to get one piece of information they need.

Cloud VoIP solutions are helping to solve these types of problems by providing access to big IT without the headache of setting it up internally. Many technology companies offer services that are already linked together with advanced productivity applications and tools. These services also come with additional security features and updates – another line item that can relieve concerns for top executives.
The New Standard For Business
In today’s competitive business environment, there’s a massive shift taking place toward cloud VoIP solutions. …

Demystifying the Top 3 Concerns about Cloud Phone Solutions

There are many reasons organizations are turning to cloud technology. It’s flexible, scalable, offers cost savings and has the mobile features to meet your business and employee demands. But what about your phone system?

There are many reasons organizations are turning to cloud technology. It’s flexible, scalable,offers cost savings and has the mobile features to meet your business and employee demands.But what about your phone system?
You may be considering updating your phone system to the cloud, but have concerns about security, control and risk. The reality is that world-class cloud phone systems have largely addressed these worries.
Making your concerns disappear isn’t magic. The truth is, all of the concerns above are legitimate and it’s up to you to find a cloud phone solution that has an established track record.So you’re probably wondering, how can a proven cloud phone provider make your concerns disappear?  

Concern #1: Being secure in the cloud
When most executives consider switching to a cloud-based phone solution, they initially picture everything that could go wrong. Outsiders could steal a phone and use it to hack into their network. Someone might listen in on their calls. And the biggest worry of all: Someone may tap into the system to make international calls, which would cost the business dearly.

Why security isn’t a concern: Sophisticated cloud phone solutions have firmware built into their phones that have unique digital signatures. These signatures can’t be re-written, which limits the ability for somebody to hack the system to place, listen to, or disrupt calls. Additionally, these phone systems use SIP to encrypt signaling information. This prevents …

Why Successful Businesses Commit to Cloud VoIP Solutions

More so than at any time in history, successful companies are dependent on their phone systems. Your first contact with your first customer will likely take place over the phone; the first order placed with a vendor, the first customer concern that’s answered by a customer service rep. The quandary for the new business owner today is although he knows exactly how many phones or lines he needs on day one, he cannot be certain how many he will need on day #365 and beyond. He hopes and believes his company will flourish and expand, but he doesn’t want to waste money on phone lines that may never be used. Yet the first question a traditional phone company sales rep will ask is, “How many lines will we be installing?”

Savvy business start-ups avoid this question by committing to Cloud VoIP solutions.
Cloud VoIP Systems Save Money
Unlike traditional phone companies, cloud service providers require no initial outlay of large sums of money on hardware and installation since the server and all equipment is located and maintained at the provider’s data center. A fledgling business need only purchase IP phones and software that plugs into their broadband internet connection and they’re ready for business. The money saved on equipment can go towards other must-haves like advertising, recruitment, or inventory building. As for the service, it will be billed on a monthly basis. VoIP phone systems are also highly scalable, so as the company grows and the day comes when …

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Millennia Technologies is a full-service voice and data solutions company for midsize to enterprise customers. Specializing in UCaaS , CCaaS , Cybersecurity , IoT , Voice , Cloud , and more. Our passion is firmly rooted in showing clients how well-designed data solutions can significantly accelerate business operations, and then celebrating their goal-shattering successes.