New Avaya Cloud Office Powered by RingCentral Pricing

Avaya, a leading provider of communication and collaboration solutions and soon to exit from bankruptcy proceedings with a healthy balance sheet, recently announced a new pricing structure for their Cloud Office offering.

The three pricing tiers are:

  • Essential
  • Business
  • Enterprise
New Avaya Cloud Office Powered by RingCentral Pricing

This new pricing structure is designed to offer customers more flexibility and cost-effectiveness when it comes to their communication and collaboration needs.

The new pricing structure is based on a per-user, per-month model, which means that customers only pay for what they use. This allows them to easily scale up or down their usage based on their needs and only pay for the features they actually use. Additionally, Avaya Cloud Office now offers three different pricing tiers, each with different features and capabilities, so customers can choose the level of service that best meets their needs.

The Essential tier is designed for small businesses and includes all the basic communication and collaboration features such as voice, video, messaging, and team collaboration. It also includes file sharing, conference calling, and desktop and mobile apps.

The Business tier includes all the features of the Essential tier, plus additional capabilities such as contact center integration, call recording, and single sign-on. This tier is designed for mid-sized businesses that need more advanced communication and collaboration capabilities.

Finally, the Enterprise tier is designed for large enterprises and includes all the features of the Business tier, plus advanced security and compliance capabilities, as well as additional integrations with third-party applications.

With this new pricing structure, Avaya Cloud Office customers can choose the level of service that best meets their needs and only pay for the features they actually use. This makes it easier for businesses of all sizes to access advanced communication and collaboration capabilities without breaking the bank.

In addition to the new pricing structure, Avaya Cloud Office also offers a range of support and service options to help customers get the most out of their investment. This includes 24/7 support, onboarding assistance, and ongoing training and education to ensure that customers are using the platform to its fullest potential.

Overall, the new Avaya Cloud Office pricing structure is a welcome addition for businesses of all sizes looking to access advanced communication and collaboration capabilities without breaking the bank. With its flexible pricing and advanced features, Avaya Cloud Office is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of today’s businesses.

Please contact us if you are an existing Avaya IP Office or CM client to see if the new ACO is a good fit for you

Top 10 Types of Technology for a Remote Workforce

Top 10 Types of Technology for a Remote Workforce

Over the last several years, there’s been a shift towards remote work, and COVID-19 only expedited that shift further. The forced shutdown of offices all across the country helped many companies realize that remote work is possible. It’s also made them realize that remote work can be a much more cost-efficient solution. And better yet, it can increase employee happiness, health, and well-being. Remote work really is a win-win. If your business is transitioning away from the office, here are ten types of technology for a remote workforce that you’ll want to consider.

1. VoIP

VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a great technology that can cut communication costs and improve team flexibility. VoIP phone systems allow employees to access their office phone phone system from anywhere, anytime. They can also forward calls to mobile phones, join in conference calls, send instant messages, and more.

2. VPN

A VPN, or virtual private network, is one of the most important technologies of all. Without it, your team won’t have a secure communication channel through a public internet connection.

3. Cloud technology

Cloud technology is becoming more and more important to daily business operations. With it, companies can gain easy access to work-related files and integrated apps.

4. Network security

Your company’s network security should always be a top concern, even for your remote workers. Perhaps even especially for remote workers. Getting hacked can cost your company thousands of dollars, and the bad press can negatively impact your company’s reputation too.

5. Office 365

Office 365 is one of the most popular SaaS solutions for companies of all sizes—and for good reason. Its easy-to-use desktop and mobile applications allow your team to work from anywhere with a stable internet connection.

6. Slack

Effective communication is key to the success of any business, regardless of the industry, but it’s even more important when it comes to managing a remote workforce. Slack is a great tool to help team members keep in touch and stay engaged when they’re working from home.

7. Unified Communications

Unified communications help your team integrate communication channels for easy access in one central location. In doing so, you can enhance collaboration, improve team-wide communication, and significantly increase productivity.

8. Project management tools

When employees are working in multiple dispersed locations, project management inherently becomes more difficult. That’s where project management tools come in. They allow your employees to collaborate and communicate synchronously and asynchronously. Tools like AsanaActiveCollab, and Monday.com are all reasonably priced, popular project management software applications.

9. Zoom

Face-to-face interaction is important to maintain, even if you transition to remote work. Zoom is a great video conferencing tool that’s used across virtually every industry. And these days, it feels like an absolute necessity for any business.

10. Cloud computing

Cloud computing is here, and it’s here to stay. With a single sign-in from any device, anywhere, remote workers are sure to have a secure and seamless experience every time. Plus, it’s a cost-effective, scalable, and convenient technology solution for your business.

Learn more about top technology for a remote workforce

If you’re interested in learning more about your options for top technology for a remote workforce, contact us today at High Country Workplace Technologies. We have been helping businesses and organizations with their technology needs for more than three decades.

Contact us today to learn more.

Your Comprehensive Guide to Cisco Phone Systems for Small Business

Your Comprehensive Guide to Cisco Phone Systems for Small Business

Streamlined communication and strong customer service are the cornerstones of success for small businesses. But not just any old business phone system can help you achieve those goals. If your phone system is no longer serving you in the way you need it to, consider Cisco phone systems for small businesses. These innovative phone systems can help you improve communication internally and externally, simplify IT management, and even save you money each month. Here’s how.

What You Need to Know When Purchasing a New Small Business Phone System

There is no shortage of small business phone systems available on the market today. You might feel overwhelmed by the wide range of options, so keep in mind that there are many different features, benefits, and configurations for you to consider.

These days, most modern office phones run on Internet Protocol, or IP, networks, which is the same network you use to surf the web. But how do you narrow down which features your business actually needs?

Understand What Your Employees Need

The right office phone system will empower your employees with the tools they need to work more efficiently. Do they need one number that is connected to multiple devices? Do they need easy access to video and conference calls? Do they need to be able to make work calls from their personal smartphones? Would they benefit from an automated attendant? These are all things you’ll want to consider before you even start your search for a small business phone system.

As an industry-leading communications company for more than a decade, Cisco phone systems offer all those features and more.

Be Prepared for Business Protocols to Change

As great as new phone systems are, they will require some things to change within your company. And even though change is good, it can also be challenging. Consult with your local service provider to ensure your staff is well-trained on your phone system’s features so that communication continues to run smoothly and you can achieve your short- and long-term business goals.

Take Advantage of All Features

VoIP phone systems offer many benefits for your business. When you leverage the right provider and the right system, you can take advantage of:

  • Lower monthly payments
  • Simplified conference calling
  • Increased mobility for your service
  • Call recording features
  • Improved security
  • Ease of use
  • More opportunities for collaboration
  • Business app integrations
  • And more

With all these benefits, it’s easy to see why so many small businesses are switching to VoIP phone systems.

Learn more about Cisco phone systems for small businesses

If your current phone system is no longer serving you, reach out to us today at High Country Workplace Technologies. We are a family-owned and operated business that specializes in creating customized technology and communication solutions for small businesses.

With more than twenty years of experience working with businesses both small and large, we are here to help install your new phone system, train your staff, and provide ongoing support should anything go wrong.

Contact us today to learn more about Cisco phone systems for small businesses. There are a number of innovative solutions designed specifically for small businesses and we’ll work closely with you to determine which one is best for your company.

Your Guide to the Best Remote Office Phone System

Your Guide to the Best Remote Office Phone System

COVID-19 and the resulting shift to working from home have forever impacted the modern workplace. Companies that once thought remote work wasn’t possible are now discovering it actually is—and that it’s far more affordable than working in the office. While some companies have extended work-from-home policies through mid-2021, others have gone so far as to become permanently remote. No matter what, remote work is on the rise. And to ensure your business succeeds throughout this transition, you need a top-of-the-line remote office phone system.

What kind of phone system is best for companies with remote workforces?

Typically, today’s office phones are either cloud-based Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems or VoIP private branch exchange (PBX) systems. If you’re familiar with a traditional PBX phone system, a VoIP PBX is essentially just a more modern version that allows you and your team to use broadband and/or data connection to make and receive phone calls. Unlike the more traditional version, VoIP PBX phones don’t require any hardware installation, making it a much more affordable option than in the past.

Still, cloud-based phone systems are the most popular model on the market. And they’re an especially great option for companies who are shifting towards more remote work. Here’s why.

Benefits of cloud-based phone systems for remote offices

By opting for a cloud-based phone system, your organization gains a flexible and exceptionally cost-efficient solution. Not only are cloud-based phone systems more affordable than landlines, but they also offer employees greater flexibility (and mobility) with their ability to route calls to and from VoIP-enabled phones, from any device, anywhere.

Here are a few reasons to consider a cloud-based phone system and more on why they can improve remote workforce productivity.

Reduce costs

Cloud-based phone systems can result in major cost savings for your business. For starters, they don’t require any installation costs. A cloud-based phone system also eliminates the need for landline phones, which are often charged by the number of lines. As you may know, that can get expensive fast. But with cloud-based phone systems, you only pay for internet usage.

Increased flexibility and mobility

Cloud-based phone systems allow remote workers to share the same features as workers who are in the office, no matter where they are in the world. Workers just connect their mobile phone, tablet, or computer to the system and route calls to a business number that can be shared by multiple employees. It’s really that easy!

App integrations

Cloud-based business phones also offer a plethora of app integrations that can help improve overall employee efficiency and productivity. With integrations for other cloud products such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Salesforce, and more, your team won’t constantly have to switch between communication channels and waste time searching for the information they need. Instead, everything will be located in one, easy-to-access place.

Find the right remote office phone system for your business today

As remote work continues to become the new norm, it’s increasingly important to ensure you have the right communication tools in place to prevent a lag in productivity. If you’re interested in learning more about cloud-based phone systems and how they can benefit your business, reach out to us at High Country Workplace Technologies.

We can work with your existing provider or be your one-stop-shop for a remote office phone system set up. Contact us today to learn more.

Ring vs Mitel: Which Unified Communications as a Service Is Best

Ring vs Mitel: Which Unified Communications as a Service Is Best

More and more companies are changing the way they communicate—both internally and externally—by switching to Unified Communications as a Service. In doing so, they’re combining the many different communication tools and software they use into one, easy-to-use platform. Two of the most popular providers of these communications tools are RingCentral and Mitel; but how do you know which one is right for you? Today, we’re breaking it down and comparing Ring vs Mitel UCaaS so you don’t have to.

What is Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS)?

Before we dive in, let’s establish a clear definition of Unified Communications as a Service. A Unified Communications system is simply a VoIP phone system that can integrate, or unify, communication technologies and software into one platform.

In today’s digital age, most businesses communicate via multiple channels including phone, video, email, and instant messaging among others. A UCaaS system helps bring those channels together to work seamlessly in one easy-to-use solution.

Unified Communications as a Service, or UCaaS, is the deployment method that’s used to deliver UC to companies via the Cloud. Unlike the more traditional on-site UC systems, UCaaS operates as a subscription service with lower or no upfront costs.

The benefits of UCaaS

UCaaS boasts a long list of benefits for businesses across every industry. Some of the top benefits include:

  • Reduced costs – With most Cloud-based services, there are virtually no upfront costs. Instead, the service provider absorbs the initial equipment cost and your business pays as you use it, leading to both short- and long-term cost savings.
  • Increased functionality  With remote work at an all-time high, increased functionality is more important than ever before. And with UCaaS, employees can access communication tools from any device, anywhere.
  • Superior reliability – Communication is crucial to virtually every business. And if equipment goes down, it can mean missed sales opportunities, fewer leads generated, and a loss of revenue. Luckily, UCaaS is exceptionally reliable. With built-in geo-redundancy, you can rest easy knowing if one piece of equipment goes down, a different piece will kick in.

Ring vs Mitel

As mentioned earlier, RingCentral and Mitel are two of the most popular UCaaS service providers. But depending on your communication needs, one option is likely better than the other. Here’s how RingCentral and Mitel compare.

RingCentral

RingCentral is widely considered as a UCaaS application specialist within the industry. Their top strengths include:

  • Demonstrated success in supporting clients with more than 5,000 end-users
  • Strong contact center capabilities
  • A robust API ecosystem with easy integrations to other Cloud applications

Mitel’s MiCloud Connect


Mitel’s flagship UCaaS product is called MiCloud Connect. MiCloud Connect offers solutions for phone, unified messaging, email-to-fax, meetings, and team messaging capabilities among others. Their top strengths include:

  • A robust support process for easy implementation
  • Top-rated telephony and mobile experiences with strong voice quality and reliable service
  • Custom solutions for specific industries including hospitality, healthcare, and retail

Talk to the experts about Ring vs Mitel UCaaS

As you can see, both Ring and Mitel systems have their pros and cons. If you’re still unsure which solution is right for your business, reach out to us at High Country Workplace Technologies. We work with both service providers and we can help ensure you find the perfect fit for your business.

Contact us today to learn more.

Considering a Mitel Phone System? Choose the Mitel MiCloud Connect

Considering a Mitel Phone System? Choose the Mitel MiCloud Connect

Your phone system plays an incredibly important part in your company’s ability to succeed. And with remote work at an all-time high, your current workforce needs solutions that offer more than the traditional phone systems of the past. If you’re considering a Mitel phone system, we’re here to help you learn more about Newsweek’s best business tool of 2019: Mitel MiCloud Connect.

What is Mitel MiCloud Connect?

Mitel’s MiCloud Connect is an all-in-one cloud communications, collaboration, and contact center service. With MiCloud Connect, you can connect phones, applications, and network operations so your employees can stay productive from anywhere, with any device.

This innovative phone system has so much to offer your business with tons of outstanding benefits. Some of the top features of the Mitel MiCloud Connect include:

  • Audio and web conferencing software with built-in desktop sharing
  • Individual and group chat instant messaging
  • Business SMS
  • Built-in VPN
  • Calendar, scheduling, and CRM integrations
  • Software and web dialer options
  • Mobile-first design
  • IP desk phones
  • An integrated contact center with call control
  • Available for PC, Mac, iOS, and Android devices
  • Team workspaces to promote productivity
  • Collaboration tools
  • Smart features like a “Join” button, event wizard, agenda timer, and conference call-out
  • Automatic updates to ensure your team always has easy access to the latest features

These features, combined with the ability to work from anywhere, make MiCloud Connect much more than just a phone system. MiCloud Connect is an end-to-end unified communication system that drives consistency and collaboration for your business.

Is a cloud-based system best for your business?

Cloud-based phone systems offer a wide array of benefits for plenty of businesses. For starters, cloud-based systems offer better value, minimal maintenance, more accessibility, easier integrations, and increased scalability.

Those all sound great, but just because cloud-based systems boast a long list of benefits, that doesn’t automatically mean they’re the best fit for your business. Some of the common signs that your business is ready to move onto a cloud-based system may include:

  • Your business is growing
  • Your business operates in multiple locations
  • You have limited IT resources
  • You currently have outdated equipment
  • You need or want to improve your customer service
  • You want to increase employee productivity

If your business is reflected in the list above, a cloud-based system could be exactly what you need.

Mitel MiCloud Connect in the news

A Newsweek survey of 10,000 business professionals recently named Mitel’s MiCloud Connect the top VoIP product of 2019. This unique phone system received top scores in service promise, security, reliability, satisfaction, and consumer trust categories in the survey.

The survey also asked respondents how likely they were (on a scale of 0-100) to recommend the provider to others. These scores were then assigned to each provider and only companies with a score of 75+ made the final cut. MiCloud Connect was one of the top three solutions recommended for VoIP software, making it clear companies of every size see the value MiCloud Connect brings to their business.

Learn more about this Mitel phone system today

If you’re interested in setting up a Mitel phone system such as the MiCloud Connect for your business, reach out to us at High Country Workplace Technologies. Our technology experts are here to help you through the onboarding process to ensure the smooth integration of new phone systems into your workplace. And as an authorized Mitel partner, we offer on-demand support to ensure your business is always operating at peak efficiency.

Contact us today to learn more about the right Mitel phone system for your needs and how we’ll help you get started.

Introducing Avaya Cloud Office by RingCentral

Introducing Avaya Cloud Office by RingCentral

Late last year, Avaya and RingCentral forged a strategic partnership that made RingCentral the exclusive provider of Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) solutions for Avaya. With RingCentral contributing $500 million – a $125 million preferred equity investment and a $375 million advance for future payments and certain licensing rights, the dynamic duo moved forward with a comprehensive plan to deliver value through advanced technology solutions.

The partnership was welcomed by the market, with a plethora of positive feedback from power figures in the industry. People are calling this partnership the biggest move in the UC market ever and is expected to produce long-term growth opportunities for both companies. Presently, the partnership between Avaya and RingCentral brings the latest innovation in cloud communication to the market in the form of Avaya Cloud Office by RingCentral. The platform will also be known as Avaya Cloud Office or ACO.

What Is Avaya Cloud Office by RingCentral?

The latest introduction to the UCaaS market brings a full-suite of UC, CC, UCaaS, and CCaaS to a customer base of more than 120,000, with more than 100 million UC lines and 5 million CC lines globally. With this platform, the transition to cloud is made seamless and, better yet, economical, for businesses around the world.

Avaya Cloud Office is designed to be a harmonious addition to your business operation, mobilizing your communication capabilities to ensure maximum value from advanced cloud technology. With more than 100 business integrations, Avaya Cloud Office by RingCentral allows organizations to create comprehensive customization that supports the needs of their operation. The ultimate goal of Avaya Cloud Office is to help businesses run smarter.

Features Of Avaya Cloud Office

Avaya Cloud Office by RingCentral is a comprehensive tool with all the features your business could possibly need and more in a single solution.

  • Calling – The most fundamental tool in a UCaaS solution is the basic calling feature. ACO offers robust calling capabilities.
  • Chat & Messaging – More and more of our everyday communication, even in the business world, is done through chat and messaging applications. Avaya Cloud Office offers both private and group messaging features.
  • Video Conferencing – ACO gives you the opportunity transition easily between voice and messaging into video conferencing with a full-suite of collaboration tools, including file sharing and task management.
  • Analytics – Gain insights about your communications to streamline your operations. The ACO reporting capabilities give you objective data that helps you determine how effectively your business is communicating.
  • Integrations – Lastly, the ACO platform has more than 100 ready-to-use integrations that give you access to all the tools you could need.

The All-In-One UCaaS Solution

The partnership between Avaya and RingCentral brings a one-of-a-kind UCaaS solution to the market for businesses to take advantage of. From advanced call and chat features to countless customized integrations, your business can find all it needs and more in a single platform that’s not only easy to use but also cost-effective.

Considering taking your business communication to the next level? Contact HCWT today to learn more about Avaya Cloud Office by RingCentral.

What Is Avaya in 2020? New Partnership Brings Changes To Telecomm

What Is Avaya in 2020? New Partnership Brings Changes To Telecomm

Over the last nine months, Avaya has been making waves in the news with rumors swirling about. After exiting bankruptcy protection in 2017 and becoming a publicly traded company, Avaya reported nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars in revenue in Q1 of last year. People started to wonder, “What is Avaya?” Avaya is a multinational tech company that specializes in unified communications. Specializing even further, Avaya is one of the only UCaaS companies targeting government operations, which has a high barrier to entry for a number of reasons. As a leading provider of Avaya solutions, High Country has been watching the evolution of the company and the associated rumors carefully. Let’s review the recent timeline of this UCaaS leader and see where it might be headed next.

A Brief History: So, What Is Avaya?

Avaya is two degrees of separation from AT&T, who began spinning off unitys in 1995. Officially founded as a public company in 2000, the organization was soon bought by two private equity firms in 2007, delisting from the New York Stock Exchange. Over the years, the company has introduced many innovative technology resources to the market, including multi-platform call centers, multi-site contact centers, speech-to-text features, and the comprehensive Avaya Unified Communications system.

Not long after becoming a private entity, Avaya purchased Nortel in a $900 million acquisition. Following that, the company became the go-to resource for major events, including the 2010 Winter Olympics. With this major increase in visibility, the public and competitors alike began to wonder not only “what is Avaya?” but also “what will they do next?”

Over the next few years, Avaya went on to acquire Sipera Systems, Aurix, and Radvision.

In January of 2017, Avaya filed for bankruptcy protection, listing $5.5 billion in assets and $6.3 billion in debts. To increase liquidity, Avaya sold its networking business and related products to Extreme Networks for $100 million.

What’s Been Happening Lately?

Since 2017, Avaya has undergone significant internal changes, including new leadership. After emerging from bankruptcy protection and re-entering the stock market, new leadership analyzed what seemed to be very volatile changes in progress and profits. Rumors began to circulate regarding a buyout. As stock prices bounced, Avaya announced the hiring of JPMorgan Chase to explore options and maximize shareholder value. This was one of the rare times the company publicly announced intentions with any kind of clarity.

In August of 2019, Mitel (a rapidly growing UCaaS giant) bid on Avaya for more than $5 billion. With additional rumors of private-equity buyouts that may or may not have been related to RingCentral, the general public grew wary. A merger with Mitel would require shareholders to accept stock in the combined company, so Avaya leaders began entertaining private buyouts that had a significantly lower sticker price.

In October of 2019, RingCentral officially invested in Avaya and the two companies set out to develop a UCaaS solution. Immediately following this announcement, Avaya stock jumped 11%.

The Details On The RingCental & Avaya Partnership

The investment is not the outright sale most industry experts were anticipating, but it shook out to a $500 million investment from RingCentral. This partnership makes RingCentral the exclusive provider of UCaaS solutions for Avaya and will lead to a number of new solutions being introduced to the market on behalf of the two companies.

Next month, Avaya will be hosting their annual event, Engage 2020, where we can expect to learn more about where this new partnership will take UCaaS moving forward.

Is Avaya The Right Choice For You?

All of the infrastructure changes within Avaya over the last year may make consumers hesitant to consider Avaya solutions for their business. In some cases, the customer may be right. In others, however, Avaya may still be the ideal solutions provider to take your business to the next level.

If you’re interested in upgrading your business communications technology, give the team at HCWT a call. We can give your more information on Avaya and other UCaaS providers who can support your business.

Is Your Avaya Phone System Putting Your Business At Risk?

Is Your Avaya Phone System Putting Your Business At Risk?

Avaya is one of the world’s largest providers of VoIP phones, specializing in providing phone systems for Fortune 100 companies. With desk phone systems that can accommodate small, mid-sized, and even large corporations, Avaya is constantly bringing technological evolutions to the market. However, as technology changes, certain vulnerabilities can come to life and the providers have to respond accordingly to ensure users are protected. In 2009, Avaya had to do exactly that. The Avaya 9600 series IP Deskphone presented with a Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability. We know what you’re thinking – what does a vulnerability that was identified in 2009 mean to today’s Avaya’s phone system users? A lot.

It is likely that the initial bug was copied and modified without subsequent security patches being placed on the technology. As recently as August, the presence of this bug was identified in the phone’s firmware. The good news is that only the H.232 software stack was affected, not the SIP stack that can also be used with this phone system, so the risk is not as widespread as the Avaya phone system itself.

What’s At Risk With The Avaya Phone System Bug?

This bug gives hackers an opportunity to exploit business communications. An attacker can go so far as to take over the normal operation of the Avaya phone system, record audio directly from the phone, and even bug the phone to record later on. The phone can be directly hacked, but it is also vulnerable to remote hacks through a shared network.

In order to determine if your Avaya phone system is putting your business at risk, you’ll want to confirm the phone model you have. Only the 9600 Series, J100 Series, and B189 phones were affected by this bug. In the “About Avaya IP Deskphone” screen on the phone itself, you can see what firmware version your phone is operating on. Version 6.8.1 and earlier are vulnerable when the H.323 firmware is in place.

What Do You Do Now?

If your Avaya phone system is, in fact, vulnerable to this bug, there is a simple resolution to the problem. Security researchers with McAfee have established the various pathways that make the Avaya phone systems vulnerable to hackers and have shared their findings with Avaya. Detailed instructions for developing an effective, long-term fix for the issue led to the creation and testing of a patched firmware image.

If you have an Avaya phone system deployed in a large enterprise, it is not uncommon to deploy the patch is batches to test the resolution and ensure that no conflict arises. However, this patch has been out for a reasonable duration that would make most IT experts comfortable deploying across the entire system if they so choose.

Because technology is so prevalent in today’s comings and goings, we often don’t think twice about the potential vulnerabilities these solutions may bring with them. In this case, the Avaya phone system was afflicted by a weakness that put businesses at risk for over a decade. With the help of dedicated researchers who identified the bug and swiftly presented solutions to the manufacturers, businesses can rest assured that there is an answer that keeps their communication assets protected.

Get The Best Solutions For Your Business With Avaya Phone Systems

The bug that was recently resolved was not an isolated incident as far as technology is concerned. Across all manufacturers and providers, there are risks that present themselves as technology evolves. All you can do is be diligent about the technology you employ within your organization and pay attention when manufacturers identify and resolve problems.

If you have an Avaya phone system and aren’t sure whether or not your business is at risk, contact the experts at High Country today.

Smart Cameras Just Got Smarter: Cisco Meraki MV Series Launches

Smart Cameras Just Got Smarter: Cisco Meraki MV Series Launches

In a digitally-centric society, the importance of security is at an all-time high, both in and out of the virtual business world. If your business requires any sort of security camera, you’ve likely been forced to select the lesser of two evils time and time again. The predicament of selecting a system that you know doesn’t satisfy the right need at the right price is something you’re security team will no longer have to face. Cisco Meraki has been a leader in the technology systems space for nearly two decades now and continues to successfully introduce innovative ideas to the marketplace. The latest product launch, the MV Series Smart Cameras are no exception. Let’s discuss some of the benefits of this new, cutting-edge technology.

What Do You Need From A Security Camera?

For those who aren’t well-versed in what information you need to be able to gather from surveillance or security footage, it’s easy to write off this question. What do you need a security camera to do? Well, that’s simple, film. Right? Wrong. The expectations of what information you can glean from a security camera are increasing at a rate that the available technology has failed to keep up with thus far. A security camera worth investing in needs to do much more than film your property.

Storage That Lasts

How many times have you needed to pull footage only to find that you’ve exceeded the 24-hour or 7-day wiping period? Because security is such an expensive endeavor, it’s only natural that we’d look for cost-saving measures that could be implemented without introducing additional risk. Rewriting tapes is a very common practice in the space, however, that doesn’t make it any more convenient when you need film that no longer exists. When you’re purchasing a security camera system, you want equipment that not only can store data locally, but can also integrate with cloud systems so that you never have to write over film. Additionally, this kind of expanded storage allows your security to scale with your business as things change, both internally and externally.

Smart Storage

Cisco Meraki’s Smart Cameras not only retain the most recent 72 hours of continuous footage, but they will also intelligently trim footage to eliminate video that lacks movement so that you can maximize your storage space and only maintain relevant data.

You also have the option to eliminate storage altogether and view live footage only. With Cisco Meraki Smart Cameras, you maintain all the control – from scheduled recording sessions to real-time storage tracking, you know exactly what’s going on with your security system at all times.

Uncompromised Connectivity

There are so many factors that can lead to lost footage. Whether you reach your maximum storage allotment or your network connection cuts out, the risks posed by elements outside of your control are extensive. Ensuring that your camera systems are all in working order when they need to be is practically a full time job in and of itself. Add to that all of the maintenance, data collection, and analysis that you’re also responsible for and you very quickly run out of hours in the day.

A Back Up For Your Back Up

The MV Series Smart Cameras don’t require a network connection to continue recording. The simplified architecture of the equipment ensures that no data is lost due to a connectivity lapse or outage.

Analytics You Can Trust

In addition to high-volume storage that’s in your control and isolation from your network that prevents breakdowns due to connectivity outages, the analytics available from your security cameras are essential to the overall value the equipment offers your business. In the age of machine learning, we want all the data available, we want it yesterday, and we want it to be easily digestible. That’s not always the case when it comes to thousands of hours of security footage. Selecting a camera system that can intuitively process some data and start the analysis process for your security team can save you hundreds of hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars over time.

Artificial Intelligence Makes Analysis Easy

The Meraki Smart Camera features a cutting-edge processor that makes machine learning and computer vision not only scalable, but also cost-effective. Much like the processors being used in smart cars, your Smart Camera can detect what is and isn’t human so collecting traffic statistics, behavior patterns, and more without the need for separate servers and expensive software is a seamless experience. You can easily collect and digest relevant data for your business from a single solution that serves multiple purposes at once.

The Smart Security Camera You’ve Been Waiting For

Cisco Meraki is well-known for innovative solutions that move the needle for businesses of all sizes. When you’re looking for a security system, performance is everything. When it comes down to performance, you can’t find a solution that has more all-encompassing features in a more scalable package than the Cisco Meraki MV Series Smart Camera.

If you’re looking for a security system that makes your job easier, instead of harder, look no further. Contact the technology experts at High Country today to set up a consultation.