VoIP for Business

Voice over internet protocol, or more commonly known as voice over IP or VoIP, is a type of technology that allows users to make phone calls over broadband internet. Unlike traditional phone systems, a VoIP system works by converting sound into digital voice communication and transferring it through Internet broadband.

Bottom line? If you have access to the Internet, you can call anyone in the United States or internationally with VoIP. VoIP works on any computer and offers advantages over public switched telephone networks (PSTN), also known as plain old telephone service (POTS) for business communications.

There are many distinct advantages of switching to a VoIP system for business purposes. Let’s take a look at the top 8 advantages of VoIP vs. traditional hard-wired phone systems.

1. Low Cost: Cost savings is one of the biggest advantages of using a VoIP service. VoIP telephone systems eliminate the need for individual telephone lines which can add costs over time. In addition, long-distance calls are less expensive with VoIP since you are utilizing your existing Internet connection.
2. Higher Call Quality: When VoIP was introduced in the mid-90s, one of its disadvantages was poor call quality. With the advent of fast and stable Internet connections over the last two decades, the original quality issues have disappeared. VoIP calls are crisp and clear, with no latency issues, lags, or dropped calls.
3. Portability: With VoIP, you can take your business phone number wherever you go, as long as you have a broadband connection. You no longer have to be tied down to a desk with VoIP – it goes where you go.
4. Scalability: VoIP is a great choice for growing organizations. Adding an additional phone number takes minutes and does not require expensive hardware or a dedicated line. Does your business have a spike in seasonal employees or are you opening branch offices regularly? VoIP is an effective tool for growing businesses.
5. Remote Workforce Friendly: Remote work has grown exponentially over the last two years. A VoIP phone system can support a remote workforce to help keep them connected to your business. VoIP enables both remote workers and office-based employees to be on the same system. Office-based employees can easily transfer a call from a customer to a remote worker, rather than instructing them to make another call to a separate phone number, and vice versa.
6. Improved Customer Service: Have you ever missed an important call from a client? With VoIP, you can choose where your calls ring and how, and avoid missing important calls. For example, you can choose for the first few rings to go to your office. If you don’t answer, the call can be forwarded to a second and even third device, such as your mobile phone or tablet.
7. Wide Array of Features: VoIP is great for making calls, but there are many other features that make VoIP a smart business decision. VoIP also includes video conferencing and conference calling that help both external and internal communications. Other features include auto-attendant, call forwarding, caller ID, voicemail-to-text, call recording, and extension dialing.
8. Futureproofing: Older technologies such as ISDN are being phased out and businesses that use VoIP are using the modern standard for communications.

If your business is still utilizing old telecommunications technologies, Everound can help you select the right VoIP system for your business. As a managed IT services provider, we have experience helping both small businesses and large enterprises find the best solution for their needs. Our team can advise you on if switching makes sense and can help implement the changes in the most effective way possible to minimize any interruptions.

Ready to make the switch? Reach out today to discuss VoIP for your organization. We focus on your IT, so you can focus on your business.

How to Choose the Right Firewall

When putting together a robust cybersecurity plan for your business, it’s critical to include adding a firewall to your plan. A firewall is a piece of hardware or software that is placed between your internal network and the external public Internet. A firewall is designed to stop malicious intrusions on your private network.

Which kind of firewall is right for your business? There are several different types of firewalls with different levels of protection. Let’s take a look at how to choose the right firewall by examining the different types, what you should consider when choosing one, and how Everound can help you choose the right firewall for your business.

There are many different types of firewall architectures and each works in slightly different ways to monitor the data coming in and out of your network. While this list is not inclusive of all types of firewalls, here are several common options to consider:

• Packet filtering firewall: A packet filtering firewall is a network security technique that controls data flow to and from a network. It is a security mechanism that allows the movement of data “packets” across the network and controls their flow on the basis of a set of rules, protocols, IP addresses, and ports. Essentially, data passes through a network in the form of small pieces called data packets. These packets will only get through the firewall if they match the predefined filtering rules set in place.
• Circuit level gateway firewall: Unlike a packet filtering firewall, a circuit-level gateway firewall does not inspect individual packets, but rather monitors the transmission control protocol (TCP) handshaking between the packets to determine whether a requested session is legitimate.
• Application-level gateway (proxy firewall): An application gateway or application-level gateway (ALG) filters incoming node traffic to certain specifications which means only transmitted network application data is filtered.
• Stateful inspection firewall: A stateful firewall, or stateful inspection firewall, keeps track and monitors the state of active network connections. It also analyzes incoming traffic and looks for potential data risks.
• Next-gen firewall: A next-generation firewall (NGFW) combines a traditional firewall with other network device filtering functions.

Think of a firewall as the virtual wall that separates your internal data from external threats. Without an effective firewall in place, a network could be susceptible to malicious threats and data breaches. If your business isn’t protected by a firewall and you are unsure which kind is best for you, a managed services provider (MSP) like Everound can help you determine what considerations are important in your selection.

With several different options to choose from for a firewall, consider the following questions to find the best firewall to meet your needs:

• What are your top threats? All firewalls offer a similar function – the monitoring of network traffic. How much network traffic do you have at your business? Are you sending and receiving large amounts of data? Are your employees at risk for accidentally opening a door to your network for malicious threats?
• Does it have DoS/DDoS protection? DoS (denial of service) and DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks occur when a network is flooded by a machine or a group of machines with malicious intent. Both kinds of attacks can paralyze an organization and opting for a firewall with DoS/DDoS protection can help prevent downtime and lost data.
• Does it send attack alerts? Some firewalls send real-time alerts when there is a potential threat or breach. Real-time alerts can inform you of when an attack was prevented and when an attack is occurring. With real-time alerts, you can stay ahead of a cyberattack and minimize impact.
• Are you planning on scaling your business? Some small businesses don’t feel they need cybersecurity protection like firewalls, especially if they only have a few employees. Small businesses, though, can benefit from a firewall especially when starting to grow. Although media coverage focuses on cyber threats to large businesses, small businesses are also at risk.
• Do you have remote or telecommuting employees? One of the biggest spikes in cyberattacks occurred when remote work increased during the pandemic. If you have a remote team of employees, a software firewall can help you prevent unwanted access to your network.
• Do you need ongoing support? Before choosing a firewall, ask if the manufacturer has ongoing support. Will they help with installation and integration or are they only selling you the firewall itself? If you need ongoing support, opt for a firewall manufacturer that offers a go-to support specialist.

If you are considering adding a firewall to your cybersecurity plan and are unsure of which type is right for your business, reach out to Everound for help. Our team of cybersecurity experts has decades of experience working with business owners to select and install a firewall solution.

Everound also offers managed IT services and can support your business on an ongoing basis for your information technology needs. Reach out today to start a conversation about cybersecurity best practices including firewalls for your business. We offer a free cybersecurity risk assessment and can recommend the best firewall to protect your network from malicious traffic. We focus on your IT, so you can focus on your business.