Is your business reevaluating its business phone service contract? If it’s been a while since you’ve gone through this process, you’ll find that the landscape has changed considerably in recent years. Traditional landline phone service used to be the only choice. Upstart challengers like VoIP hit the scene, but early iterations were clearly inferior to the status quo.

Not anymore: hosted VoIP business phone technology has evolved, and businesses of all sizes are turning to hosted VoIP service with increasing frequency.

We highly recommend VoIP to just about every customer who’s evaluating phone service or looking for ways to trim their telecom budget.

Here are the reasons why.

1. Massive Cost Differences: VoIP Is More Affordable

The biggest driver of VoIP adoption is cost: the average monthly cost per “line” (there aren’t really lines with VoIP, but that’s a separate conversation) on VoIP is often half the cost of traditional phone service.

We speak with business owners all the time regarding new phone systems.

They're unhappy that their current system doesn't perform as expected, is old, doesn’t allow employees to work remotely, or a plethora of other reasons you may be experiencing right now. I can only assume that's why you're reading this blog.

Based on the number of users, it’s possible to break even or even save money on the expenses they accrue with their current system by moving to a brand-new phone system!

So, why don't they?

There is a fear that the transition will be difficult. I even get asked if they can keep the same phone number! I assure you we would sell very few phone systems if clients had to get a new number every time.

In the modern business world, communication is vital – every moving part in your business needs to stay connected and in sync in order to meet the expectations of your clients. It’s no secret; technology is the driving force behind effective collaboration for businesses.

And as much as email and instant messaging have changed the way we communicate, business phones are still a primary utility in the professional world. Any business that’s serious about communication, growth, and success needs to think critically about their telephony solution.

The question is: could you benefit from VoIP phones?

If you’re not sure, that’s OK. Here are the most popular questions we receive about VoIP and our responses.

What Is VoIP And How Does It Differ From Traditional Phone Systems?
VoIP (Voice over IP) business phones let you make and receive calls over the internet with 99.999% uptime reliability, crystal clear connections, and enterprise-grade features that aren’t found with traditional phone services.

Physicians have a lot on their plates: managing busy schedules, staying up to date with medical advancements, and providing the best possible care to their patients.

Amidst all these responsibilities, it can be easy to overlook the importance of cybersecurity and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance. However, protecting patients' personal health information (PHI) is of paramount importance. This blog aims to outline why physicians should care about safeguarding their patients' PHI and how partnering with the right IT provider can help achieve this goal.

The Importance of Protecting Patient Data

• Trust and Patient-Doctor Relationship

The cornerstone of any patient-doctor relationship is trust. Patients entrust their physicians with sensitive information about their medical history, conditions, and treatments. Breaches of this trust can lead to irreparable damage to the physician's reputation and, consequently, their practice. By taking the necessary steps to protect patient data, physicians demonstrate their commitment to maintaining patient confidentiality and safeguarding the sanctity of the patient-doctor relationship.

• Legal and Financial Consequences

HIPAA regulations are designed to ensure the security and privacy of patients' PHI. Failing to comply with these regulations can result in hefty fines and legal consequences. In addition to financial penalties, healthcare providers found in violation of HIPAA rules may face criminal charges, leading to potential imprisonment. Protecting patient data not only saves physicians from these legal and financial troubles but also reinforces their dedication to ethical practices.

• Ensuring Quality Patient Care

Patient data is invaluable in determining the most appropriate course of treatment. Inaccurate or incomplete patient records can lead to misdiagnoses, medication errors, and other complications that may harm the patient. By securing patient data, physicians can ensure that accurate and up-to-date information is always available, leading to better-informed clinical decisions and improved patient outcomes.

Healthcare organizations are, like many others, in the middle of digital transformation. A new generation of tools and tech promise all sorts of real benefits, from increased efficiency to fewer errors to better data-driven decision-making.

But getting from wherever you are right now in terms of your organization’s relationship with technology to wherever it is you want to go? It’s a complicated process, and there are plenty of places where organizations can get off track.

In some cases, this just means not getting as much efficiency or ROI as possible from a digital transition. That’s highly unfortunate but isn’t necessarily an existential threat. In other cases, though, there’s much more at stake. Transitioning to the wrong system or tool — or using a good tool in the wrong way — can lead to regulatory violations, including HIPAA violations. And that’s something no medical organization wants to face.

Microsoft 365 and SharePoint in the Healthcare Setting

Within this context of digital innovation and regulatory concerns, many healthcare organizations have questions about specific tools and platforms. Microsoft 365 is a wide-ranging suite of tools that offers plenty to healthcare organizations, and many are already using it or are transitioning to it soon.

Interested in the idea of partnering with a Managed Service Provider, but don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered! Here is our list of the pros and cons of your business working with a Managed Service Provider. No misleading here: these are the honest advantages and disadvantages of working with an MSP, written by a current MSP.

Pros:

• Replicating the resources and expertise you gain with an MSP would be very expensive. Often having a dedicated cybersecurity specialist, multiple network administrators, professional services team, provisioning team, and help desk.
• The suite of tools they have access to are oftentimes specialized and expensive. Due to the economies of scale of the computers and networks they support, they can manage and monitor your network at a higher level than an internal IT (usually) at a lower cost.
• They have vast knowledge of technology at hundreds of different locations. They see what works and does not work in different settings. They are not "siloed" and can introduce you to new and better technology to improve your business operation.
• Robust processes and documentation to ensure tickets are completely in a timely fashion. There is a mutual incentive to fix problems quickly and ensure service tickets are minimized which requires doing things right the first time!
• Allows scaling up and down easily. Pricing is often on a per endpoint or per user. As you grow, your technology spend is easy to predict, rather than having to hire an additional IT team member that may not be working at full capacity or even close to it.

Cons:

• You have access to the resources, but that amount of time you get is much less than if you had an internal team.
• They will not know the ins and outs of your business specific applications or vendor nuances like an internal IT person could.
• Massive variation in the quality and responsiveness of MSPs. It can be difficult to determine which MSP to choose. Support and pricing can vary greatly! To help more with this, check out (20 questions to as a potential Managed IT Provider). The responses to these questions will tell you a lot and help you choose the right provider.
• Employees don’t have contracts usually… Even if you’re unhappy with a provider. Oftentimes, there is a minimum of a one-year contract in place.
• Less direct management of your IT systems – Your provider will likely have a standard set of tools they implement. If you or your internal IT prefer a different set of tools, there will often be a mishmash. This is rarely an issue because most organizations hire a Managed Service Provider so they do not have to consider these things. However, in the rare cases they do want to stray away from the recommendations, it could be considered a con for both parties.

Read through our list and decided that working with a Managed Service Provider may be the right fit for your business? Still need a bit more convincing?

Reach out today for a free consultation to identify your technology and goals! 

Make Sure Your Router is Secure

There’s a reason that browsers like Edge have added breached password notifications. Data breaches are an unfortunate part of life. And can have costly consequences for individuals. Hackers can steal identities and compromise bank accounts, just to name a couple.

Cybercriminals breach about 4,800 websites every month with form jacking code. It has become all too common to hear of a large hotel chain or social media company exposing customer data.

Hackers can breach your personal information and passwords without you knowing it. And the time from breach to notification of the breach can be lengthy. One example is the data breach of CafePress. This is a popular online retailer that prints personalized items.

CafePress suffered a data breach in February 2019. That breach exposed millions of names and addresses, security questions, and more. Hackers also breached social security numbers that weren’t encrypted.

As mentioned, the breach happened in February. But many consumers weren’t notified until late summer. The FTC recently took action against the company. This was due to its careless security practices.

If you follow Microsoft products, then you may know about Microsoft Ignite. Held annually, it generates many exciting updates and announcements in the Microsoft world.

Microsoft held its most recent conference last October. In the rush of the recent holidays, you may have missed some of the highlights. So, we’re bringing them to you now.

One thing you’ll notice is that Microsoft Teams got a lot of love at the event. Microsoft is now describing Teams as “the app at the center of Microsoft 365.” We can see why the company keeps enhancing this virtual workspace. Teams now has over 280 million users. It’s not surprising seeing that Microsoft has introduced over 450 new Teams features. And that's just in the last year.

We’ll go over some Teams features below, along with other Microsoft App announcements from Ignite. These may give you some ideas for your next digital workflow upgrade.

Teams Premium

There is a new Teams Premium offering from Microsoft that adds a whole new AI component to the platform. This service includes several AI-powered features. They make it seem like you have your own meeting assistant.

The new buzzword around town is “metaverse.” But what does that actually mean for businesses? Is it just something that social media companies need to be concerned about?

According to people like Apple’s CEO Tim Cook, the metaverse is coming. He stated that “Life without AR will soon be unthinkable.” Whether that’s a short-term or long-off prediction, companies need to be ready.

First comes the understanding of what the metaverse is. Metaverse is a general term – hence why it’s not capitalized like a proper name. The metaverse refers to a collective upgrade of the internet to a 3D virtual environment. This would be a world interconnected between various sites. These sites would reflect the immersive games that you see today.

Did Facebook/Meta invent the metaverse? No.

The idea of connected 3D immersive worlds has been around for decades. Several online gaming companies have staked a territory in the metaverse. But their applications are less interconnected.

Cybersecurity researchers uncovered an alarming mobile statistic. During the first few months of 2022, mobile malware attacks surged by 500%. This is alarming both in scale and because many people aren’t yet protecting smartphones.

For years, mobile phones have become more powerful. They now do many of the same functions as a computer – just with a much smaller screen. Yet, people tend to secure their computers better than they do their smartphones.

This is a behavior that needs to change. Over 60% of digital fraud now occurs through mobile devices. That makes them highly risky if proper safeguards aren’t followed.

Many of these are the same types of protections you have on your computer. It’s time to start thinking about your smartphone as a mini-computer and keeping it just as secure.

Tips to Improve the Security of Your Smartphone

Use Mobile Anti-malware

Yes, your mobile phone needs antivirus/anti-malware too! Malware can and does infect smartphones and tablets. You need to ensure you have a reliable mobile anti-malware app installed.

Our technology inevitably comes with us when we travel. Most of us won't even travel to the end of the block without our smartphones. When you go on a trip, not having your technology there when you need it can ruin your day. Travel smarter and more securely by doing several checks before you go. Use our handy tech travel checklist. It can save you...

Data privacy has been a growing requirement ever since the internet age began. So much personal information is flying around through computer networks. Protecting it has become a mandate. Most companies must follow HIPAA, GDPR, or another industry or locality-based privacy rule. By the end of 2024, 75% of the world's population will have their pers...

 In 2020, 75% of companies around the world experienced a phishing attack. Phishing remains one of the biggest dangers to your business's health and wellbeing because it's the main delivery method for all types of cyberattacks. One phishing email can be responsible for a company succumbing to ransomware and having to face costly downtime. It c...

A torn-down virtual infrastructure creates risks for any business. And it can have a significant impact on how quickly you can retrieve your data and resume operations following an attack. These days, many businesses use virtualized infrastructure for more straightforward data storage. It's because this approach is superior to physical solutions du...

Printing devices are often overlooked when it comes to security. But the reality is, cybercriminals can hack your printer to get confidential information. Your printer is probably the last piece of computer equipment you thought needed protection from cybercriminals. But the truth is very different. Attackers actively try to locate the weakest link...

 With the world grappling with a health pandemic, scams are shocking. Regrettably, bad actors are everywhere, always looking for opportunities, and they're seeing one in the coronavirus. This article outlines what you need to watch out for and how to stay cyber safe. The last thing you want to read right now is that there's another threat out ...

There are many hands-on trades that haven't traditionally needed technology. Yet modern tech tools help the plumber, carpenter, welder, or other trade improve productivity and competitiveness. There are certain common tasks tradespeople face daily: scheduling appointments with clients, suppliers, or inspectors;tracking project deadlines and budgets...

The executives of your company are the big fish in your sea. Yet cybercriminals think of them as whales. In fact, whaling is a new cybersecurity threat targeting the C-suite level. You've likely heard of phishing attacks. Phishers use scam emails or spoofed websites to obtain user credentials or financial information. This might be an email that lo...

Small business owners are proud of getting everything done with few people. Every team member wears many hats. They are part of a family, devoted to the firm's success. But that doesn't make them qualified to handle IT. Really, you're never too small to outsource your technology needs. A small business may only have a few computers for its handful ...

Quarantine doesn't have to mean you're on your own all the time. Sure, back in the days of the plague or pox, people were stuck. But now, we have technology to let us remain connected even while social distancing. Here's a roundup of top options for fun with family and friends. You can't have an actual party at your home right now, but a virtual ho...