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Ready for 2026? Safeguard Your Customers & Data – Secure Your UC and Contact Centers Now!

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Cyber threats keep evolving, and so must your defenses.

Your customers and constituents expect your organization to protect every interaction they have with you. TCI designs and deploys security-first, customer-centric UC and contact center services that will comply with evolving regulations and defend your organization against emerging threats. With the new year approaching, now is the time to ensure you’re prepared.

2026 UC Security Checklist

  • Deploy voice biometrics and intent-aware routing to authenticate your customers quickly and reduce your handling time.
  • Integrate IVR with secure, policy-driven identity verification and optional escalation to your live agents when your customers need human help.
  • Implement comprehensive recording with selective data masking and automatic retention aligned to your compliance needs and your policies.
  • Use AI-driven fraud analytics to detect anomalies, flag high-risk calls, and trigger protective workflows so your teams can act quickly.
  • Maintain a scalable, hybrid deployment model to support centralized compliance and decentralized operations across your DC-area sites and remote workers.

Here’s a deeper dive on security best practices for your business communications:

Voice Authentication that Personalizes and Protects

Organizations are directing more customer interactions through self-serve channels – chat, voice bots, and mobile apps – to cut costs and speed up responses. When escalation to your live agents is necessary, identity verification for your customers remains critical. Attackers increasingly mimic voices, reuse recordings, or spoof credentials to target your business.

Voice biometrics integrated with your modern UC platform delivers continuous, frictionless verification for your customers and internal users. By analyzing vocal patterns and speech characteristics, it authenticates callers and routes them to the right member of your team, reducing authentication friction for your legitimate customers while raising the bar on fraud detection. The result is a personalized customer experience that stays secure across your organization.

Enhanced IVR, Recording, and Fraud Analytics for Confidence and Compliance

Modern UC solutions pair embedded Interactive Voice Response (IVR) with advanced speech recognition and biometric checks tailored to your customer journeys. A capable IVR guides your customers through self-service options and confirms identity before connecting to one of your agents.

Secure recording capabilities enable your business to meet compliance and auditing needs, with strict access controls that minimize exposure of your customers’ sensitive data to only the right people on your team.

Advanced speech analytics scans calls for fraud indicators, risk signals, or policy breaches, with automated scoring that flags high-risk interactions and supports your post-call investigations. These capabilities help your organization meet evolving regulatory demands while preserving a trusted customer journey.

Scalable Solutions for Centralized and Distributed Operations

Whether your contact center is centralized at one headquarters or distributed across multiple locations and remote teams, modern UC platforms give your business consistent security policies, centralized analytics, and a unified agent experience.

They support on-premises, cloud, or hybrid deployments, giving your organization the flexibility needed for your 2026 planning. This helps your leadership balance operational efficiency for your teams with data residency and regulatory requirements in your region.

Privacy and Compliance at the Core

Privacy regulations are tightening, and your customers expect you to protect their personal data as a core part of how your organization operates. A robust UC approach shields personal data during calls, at your agents’ workstations, and in stored recordings across your business. Practical steps for your teams include data masking during collection, automatic redaction or deletion of sensitive fields when no longer needed, and strict role-based access controls.

Transparent consent management and detailed audit trails reinforce regulatory compliance for your operations. For your cloud-native and multi-tenant environments, new controls ensure privacy travels with your data across your geographies, workflows, and business units.

For 2026 planning, your organization should adopt a data-centric security model – encrypt data at rest and in transit, minimize what you collect to what your business truly needs, and enforce strict data lifecycle policies across all your communication channels.

Strengthen Security – Without Slowing Service

Security must be built into your everyday workstreams, not treated as an afterthought that slows down your people. Your self-serve options should verify identity before exposing sensitive data, while your live agents focus on efficient issue resolution for your customers. Your UC tools should enable seamless authentication, frictionless customer experiences, and robust fraud controls across your organization – without slowing your service delivery.

Let’s plan for 2026 together

Learn how a modern UC security approach can enhance your customers’ trust, reduce fraud across your operations, and position your business for success in the new year.

Contact us today to discuss your 2026 UC security priorities: (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.

 



Spotlight on Communications Solutions for the DC Region’s Financial Services Sector

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TCI delivers Mitel Financial Services Solutions that allow you to differentiate yourself from the competition with communications, collaboration, and AI-augmented customer experience (CX) applications that result in better customer and employee interactions.

How TCI Solutions Can Strengthen Your Financial Institution

  • Deliver Better Customer Experiences – Serve your clients on their preferred channels (phone, email, SMS, Web chat, Virtual Assistant, social media, etc.) while empowering your staff with real-time client information from leading finance applications such as Jack Henry and Fiserv for a personal touch.
  • Optimize Performance and Manage Risk – Banks, Credit Unions, and Investment Advisors in the DC region rely on TCI’s Financial Solutions to help their organizations maintain regulatory compliance with MiFID II, GDPR, Dodd-Frank, and PCI DSS while optimizing the performance of staff with interaction recording, quality control, and workforce management.
  • Financial Services Contact Center Agent Solution – Capture customer information, validate customer identity, and provide information with AI-powered voice/chatbots. You can route clients who need additional help to experts in your organization for a frictionless client and agent experience.
  • Mortgage and Loan Application Solution for Financial Services – For Financial Services organizations, establishing mortgages or general loans and closing applications in a timely manner is critical for business success. The next financial institution is waiting with competitive rates, and your applicants will commit when they can lock in the mortgage or loan at the best rate.

Mitel Solutions in Finance… Watch the Full Video – 2:50 min.

Don’t let outdated technology hold your institution back.

Partner with TCI to revolutionize your customer experience and drive growth in the competitive DC financial market.

Contact TCI at (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.

 

TCI Recognized as a 2025 Mitel Finance Specialization Partner

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What Does This Recognition Mean?

This prestigious Mitel specialization highlights TCI as a trusted local partner chosen for our expertise and dedication to helping banks, credit unions, and financial services firms exceed their client expectations in a digital-first world.

We achieved this through rigorous sales and technical certifications on core Mitel-powered Unified Communications platforms, as well as a proven track record of successful solution deployments and ongoing post-sales excellence.

Why This Matters for Our Clients

  • Specialized Support – Our team is certified to deliver industry-tailored Mitel solutions, ensuring your staff can collaborate seamlessly while delivering memorable client experiences.
  • Exclusive Resources – Recognition as a Finance Specialization Partner gives us priority access to the latest Mitel innovations – so we can help our bank and CU clients stay ahead with advanced technology, resilience, and enhanced features.
  • Proven Results – We’re proud of our numerous customized deployments across the DC region, supporting our clients’ efforts to streamline operations, increase productivity, and create an exceptional UC environment that seamlessly connects your customers and team members.

Looking Forward

At TCI, we are proud of our team and their commitment to excellence and innovation in bank, credit union, and finance communications. We’re looking forward to helping your organization thrive in 2025 and beyond.

(703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.

 



4 Best Practices to Get Your Organization Ready for Cybersecurity Awareness Month

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America’s Cyber Defense Agency – CISA, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency – marks its annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October. This is the ideal time to review and share an effective cybersecurity action plan with your team.

Your business is digitally connected – to employees, vendors, and customers – and now is the time to make your organization safer from online dangers.

Your systems store sensitive business and customer information. This information and personal data could be at risk. No business is too small to be a target for online crime.

Thousands of small and medium businesses (SMBs) have been harmed by ransomware attacks, with small businesses three times more likely to be targeted by cybercriminals than larger companies. The total cost of cybercrimes to small businesses is in the billions every year!

Four Smart Ways to Protect Your Business

Online criminals are always looking for easy targets. Businesses that don’t take basic precautions are at risk. Take the following four steps to make it harder for malicious actors to access your data or trick employees into allowing access to your systems.

DC-area businesses must also safeguard their Phone systems and UC services from cyber threats.

A compromised system enables attackers to steal sensitive information, disrupt operations, and damage reputation. Strong UC security ensures customer trust, regulatory compliance, and uninterrupted communication – protecting both employees and clients from malicious bad actors.

Need help with your UC or Voice communications security? Contact TCI today at (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.

 

Evolving Threats Require a Multi-Layered Cybersecurity Strategy that Includes Your UC

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The cyber threat landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by AI, increasing connectivity, sophisticated adversaries, and the widespread adoption of cloud and remote work environments.

New vulnerabilities are rising. Ransomware remains the top concern, while cyber-enabled fraud, including phishing and business email compromise, is the second most significant threat. Supply chain attacks and AI-powered intrusions are also escalating, exploiting weak third-party defenses and leveraging automation to bypass traditional security measures.

Fueling these threats is AI, which cybercriminals use to craft highly convincing phishing campaigns and automate attacks. The expansion of connected devices and cloud migration increases attack surfaces, making endpoint protection and cloud security paramount. Human factors remain critical, as social engineering exploits employee vulnerabilities.

To mitigate these risks, business leaders should adopt a multi-layered cybersecurity strategy:

  • Implement Zero Trust Architecture to continuously verify every user and device accessing network resources, minimizing lateral movement within systems.
  • Leverage AI-driven threat detection for real-time anomaly identification and proactive defense.
  • Enforce robust cloud security practices, including encryption, identity and access management, and continuous monitoring.
  • Prioritize employee cybersecurity training to strengthen the human firewall against phishing and social engineering.
  • Maintain regular backups and disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity in case of ransomware or data loss.
  • Conduct ongoing vendor risk assessments to secure the supply chain.
  • Ensure compliance with evolving industry regulations to avoid penalties and build customer trust.

We understand the complexity of today’s cyber threats. Work with TCI to ensure your UC services are safeguarding your business communications.

Contact us today at (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com

 

UC Your Way – Leveraging the Power of Hybrid Communications with TCI

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Resilient, flexible, and secure communications with deep integrations into your most valued business applications – it’s UC your way.

TCI powers connections tailored to your organization’s needs. Whether you’re pursuing growth or improving customer experiences, building culture or reducing costs, TCI’s hybrid communication solutions deliver unmatched flexibility and control to help you achieve your goals.

With over 200 app integrations, our Mitel-powered solutions not only enable better connections but also allow you to scale efficiently while ensuring business continuity, compliance, and security.

The flexibility of our UC platforms seamlessly ties everything together. Whether you choose to maintain on-premises infrastructure or adopt a blend of private-hosted and partner-hosted models, we enable you to adapt with precision and confidence.

  • Common Experiences with Deep Integrations – Our hybrid cloud approach delivers seamless experiences across customer and employee touchpoints with deep integrations into UC and industry-specific solutions. The results mean support for diverse knowledge and frontline worker needs.
  • Simplicity at Scale – TCI offers scalable solutions that support up to 10,000+ users with secure cloud options, and we provide a path to the cloud at your pace, using existing investments and supporting your business continuity.
  • Control & Security – Our focus on secure, resilient, and tailored communication solutions means the highest performance and flexibility for your organization while you maintain control.
  • UC Integrations with Vertical Apps – Our vertical communication solutions, in conjunction with 200+ applications, seamlessly blend on-premises and cloud technologies. We work closely with you to connect your unique workflows.
  • Single Integrated Experience – Through a common user experience across UC and Contact Center applications, we can tailor your communications to improve employee engagement and productivity regardless of location or job function.

TCI’s customized approach to hybrid communications will fit your organization today and keep up with your goals for tomorrow.

For UC your way, contact us at (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.

 

Schedule Your Mid-Year TCI Technology & Business Review Today!

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Improving Operations with Better Technology Starts with a Conversation

Now is a good time to evaluate your current office technologies and set strategic goals for the remainder of the year. Whether you’re aiming to simplify your IT infrastructure, enhance connectivity for your hybrid workforce, or explore faster broadband, collaboration tools, disaster recovery solutions, cloud services, or voice systems, a TCI Technology & Business Review is your essential first step.

Why a Technology & Business Review?

Technology evolves rapidly, and staying current is critical to maintaining productivity and competitiveness. Many organizations struggle to keep pace with innovations and emerging applications that can streamline operations and improve communication. Our review sessions provide you with expert insights into the latest advancements, helping you identify opportunities to optimize your technology investments and align them with your business objectives.

Key Focus Areas for 2025

  • Hybrid Workforce Enablement – With hybrid work now the norm, connecting remote and onsite employees seamlessly is vital. We assess your collaboration tools, security measures, and network infrastructure to support flexible work models effectively.
  • Faster Broadband and Network Reliability – As data demands grow, upgrading to higher-speed broadband and resilient networks ensure your operations run without interruption.
  • Cloud and Disaster Recovery – Transitioning to cloud services and implementing robust disaster recovery plans safeguard your voice and data and enable business continuity.
  • UC and Voice Services – Streamline your communications with scalable, cost-effective voice solutions tailored to your needs.

Stay Ahead with TCI

Not sure which technologies or apps fit your business best? Our team will bring you up to speed, providing personalized recommendations to help your business connect more easily and boost productivity.

It all starts with a conversation. Schedule your mid-year planning session with TCI today. Contact us at (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.

 

TCI Makes Access Control Easy – Improve Your Building Security from Your Phone

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While data security is crucial, protecting customers and employees from physical threats is equally important. Security cameras have become standard equipment in schools, hospitals, hotels, and businesses, serving as a front line of defense.

However, integrating these video feeds into a broader unified communications (UC) platform can be challenging. TCI offers a solution that simplifies this process which allows you to manage building access right from your phone.

Advanced Access Control Solution

TCI’s cutting-edge Access Control solution integrates seamlessly with your existing communications infrastructure, offering:

  • Live video display on your videophone when someone approaches your doors
  • Real-time audio feed for communication with visitors
  • Pop-up buttons on your phone to lock or unlock doors
  • Ability to send notifications to employees, students, or emergency services in case of an incident

This customized solution from TCI combines various technologies to create a unique solution to specific security challenges.

How It Works

  • A visitor arrives and rings the video doorbell camera.
  • This triggers a call to the receptionist’s IP phone.
  • The phone’s video screen displays a real-time video feed, indicating which door is the source.
  • After a brief conversation, the receptionist can open the door via an on-screen button.
  • In case of a potential threat, they can select an “evacuate” button to notify security or emergency services.

Stay Ahead of Potential Threats

TCI’s Access Control solution extends the functionality of existing products by integrating them with third-party solutions and services. It combines:

  • Voice, video, and messaging capabilities
  • IP phones supporting real-time video feeds and touch-activated prompts
  • Text-based messaging for emergency and non-emergency situations
  • Third-party products like video cameras, screen-capture software, SIP-enabled remote access control systems, and local alarm services

By tying everything together, TCI can transform your IP phone into a security command center that controls communication, identification, and notification.

Experience the future of facility security with TCI’s innovative Access Control solution. Contact your local TCI team at (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.

Insider Fraud – A Cautionary Tale and How to Protect Your Business Technology

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Insider fraud often occurs when trusted individuals exploit their IT access for personal gain or revenge.

Recently, the British Museum experienced an unexpected disruption when a former contractor disabled its IT systems. This incident highlighted the risks posed by disgruntled employees and inadequate access management. It also serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of insider fraud, which can have devastating consequences for businesses of all sizes.

In the British Museum’s case, the contractor’s continued access to IT systems after leaving the organization was a critical oversight. This scenario underscores the importance of robust offboarding processes and continuous monitoring of user access.

Mitigation Steps for Businesses

  • Implement Robust Offboarding Processes – Ensure that all access rights are revoked immediately upon an employee’s departure. This includes both physical and system access.
  • Update Access Controls – To prevent unauthorized access, access controls should be reviewed and updated regularly. To detect suspicious activity, use tools like user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA).
  • Adapt Zero Trust Policies – Limit access based on user roles and behaviors, enforcing continuous identity verification.
  • Enhance Employee Training – Educate employees on cybersecurity best practices and the importance of reporting suspicious activities.

By taking these proactive measures, businesses can significantly reduce the risk of insider fraud and protect their critical IT assets.

In today’s interconnected world, where communication systems like UC and VoIP solutions are integral to operations, safeguarding against insider threats is more crucial than ever.

Contact TCI to discuss your business communications security and compliance. We have solutions that can safeguard what counts. Call (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.