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What to Look for in a Secure Senior Living Community or Hotel UC Solution

Caregiving, Hospitality and Security go hand in hand… Every resident in a Senior Living Community has unique needs, just as the hospitality industry strives to offer personalized experiences to every guest.

No business can afford to lose the confidence of its customers, but lost confidence comes at an even higher cost when families have placed their loved ones in your care – and every hotel guest expects to be as secure as they are in their homes.

Yet the reality is that senior living communities and hospitality providers have a lot to focus on behind the scenes to deliver that level of security.

  • Cybersecurity efforts include preventing data breaches from outside the corporate network (including data stored in the cloud) and protecting residents and guests from man-in-the-middle attacks and other forms of phishing and espionage when using the property’s Wi-Fi network.
  • Then there is the physical security of residents and guests, which can be enhanced through digital keycards and IP-based security cameras.
  • Real-time security during emergencies is another critical consideration, involving everything from real-time text alerts to ensuring that 911 services work in every room or location.
  • Finally, there is the simple right to private communications, from encrypted voice calls to messages immediately erased when a guest checks out of a hotel.

What to Look for in a Senior Living or Hospitality UC Solution

While no single vendor can address all security touchpoints, it’s essential to partner with providers that are vigilant in bringing the latest security technologies and compliance requirements to bear on their solutions.

When you choose unified communications (UC) and voice solutions, whether a single phone or a complete UC platform, you should be assured that those solutions meet the most stringent security standards for your industry:

  • The best solutions meet the compliance requirements for both Kari’s Law, which mandates that every multi-line telephone system (MLTS) can easily make 911 calls from any phone, and the Ray Baum Act, which ensures that location information such as room number is passed on to emergency dispatchers during a 911 call.
  • During emergencies, a mass notification messaging solution supporting real-time alerts via multiple possible outlets (desktop messaging, email, text, billboard signage, paging, voice-activated loudspeakers, mobile or SIP-DECT) keeps residents, guests, and staff safe and informed.
  • Details matter… Most cyberattacks and data breaches are the results of little things that were overlooked, from outdated software to setting up weak security passwords.

Residents and guests deserve great accommodations and excellent service. If they don’t feel safe, they won’t be comfortable, and they may not return.

Learn how Mitel solutions can provide your residents, guests, and staff with a comfortable, secure communications experience. Contact TCI at (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.
 

As Cyber Attacks Speed Up, Innovative Managed Firewall Solutions Keep Pace

In the mid-year update of its 2018 Cyber Threat Report issued in July, SonicWall raised the alarm on the continuing surge of malware and ransomware, as well as encrypted threats and chip-based attacks.

Among the key takeaways from the report…

  • More than 5.99 billion total malware attacks detected, up 102% in the first six months of 2018.
  • Ransomware is back in big way, with 181.5 million attacks since January, a 229% year-to-date increase.
  • Encrypted attacks that hide weaponized code are up 275% over last year.

Download the full report

Criminals are not the only ones making big gains, however. The report noted that innovative and emerging firewall technologies are adapting to the changing threat landscape by delivering actionable threat intelligence, security efficacy, and automated real-time breach detection and prevention.

For example, the company’s Real-Time Deep Memory Inspection (RTDMI) firewall technology now stops Meltdown and Spectre chip-based attacks, as well as attacks leveraging PDFs and Microsoft Office documents.

With TCI Secure, our multi-layered security service, you can rest easy knowing all your systems are protected by a broad array of Next Generation Firewall and Management Solutions from SonicWall, End Point Security from Cylance, as well as Patch Management, Wireless Security and Backup/Recovery from security industry leaders.

TCI Secure is subscription-based, offering a flexible, Security as a Service approach to fit your changing requirements. And when coupled with our exclusive Net360 Network Assessment, Comprehensive Onboarding Process and Cloud Based Managed Services, you’ll experience the TCI Advantage!

Don’t wait for a cyber attack to cripple your business… TCI has security solutions that are right for your organization. Contact TCI today: (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.