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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.

 

TCI Powers Business Connections & Control with Tailored Hybrid Communications

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TCI implements hybrid unified communications systems that combine the best of cloud-based managed services with an on-premises deployment.

Whether you’re pursuing growth, improving customer experiences, building culture, or reducing costs, TCI’s hybrid communication solutions can help you achieve your goals.

We’re ready to support your on-premises infrastructure and help you adopt the right blend of public, private, or partner hosting. Leveraging the flexibility of Mitel’s Common Communications Framework, our local experts seamlessly tie the right mix of solutions together for every client.

  • Common Experiences – Our hybrid cloud approach delivers consistency across your location, customer, and employee touchpoints
  • Integrating your UC and industry-specific solutions – With over 200 integrations, our Mitel-powered solutions enable value-driven connections with the business apps you use every day.
  • Control & Security – TCI’s focus on secure, resilient, and tailored communication solutions means you can depend on the highest performance and flexibility for your organization, all while maintaining local control.
  • Simplicity at Scale – Our platforms also allow you to scale with your embedded investments as you grow – up to 10,000+ users – and ensure operational continuity, compliance, and security.

TCI empowers you to adapt your communications with precision and confidence.

Get the planning conversation started… Call (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.

 

Simple Cybersecurity Tips from CISA to Protect Your Business

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The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recommends businesses keep it simple and focus on these four critical actions now:

  • Teach Employees to Avoid Phishing – Phishing happens when criminals trick employees into opening malicious attachments or sharing personal info. Implement training to teach employees how to identify and report suspicious activity.
  • Require Strong Passwords – This is one of the easiest ways to protect your business from criminals who might otherwise access your accounts by guessing or using automated hacking programs.
  • Require Multifactor Authentication – Use more than a password when signing into accounts, such as a texted code, authenticator app or biometrics – to make them much safer than a password alone! MFA protects accounts by requiring additional authentication to prevent access by others.
  • Update Business Software – Defects in software, routers, VPNs and apps can give criminals an opening to your accounts. Software manufacturers publish patches, but you must install them to be protected! Don’t use outdated software. Keep business software up to date.

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

 

Making Hybrid Work Successful with the Latest UC Capabilities

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A recent survey shows that nearly 7 in 10 workers prefer the option of a hybrid work model, meaning companies that are laser-focused on the Return-To-Work movement without flexibility are losing out on top talent. Navigating this shifting work dynamic can be challenging, but today’s workplaces must evolve to meet the demands of the modern workforce.

An organization’s UC technology can play an important role in this evolution. Modern UC solutions go well beyond voice telephony and, by incorporating omnichannel communication and emerging technologies like AI, are smart investments that allow employers and employees to stay ahead of the curve. When implemented wisely, they can streamline day-to-day operations and make the hybrid work model seamless without compromising the experience and effectiveness of employees.

4 Challenges in Migrating to a Hybrid Work Model

1.   One of the biggest challenges organizations often face when embracing hybrid work is finding the proper way to ensure navigation across a mix of collaboration apps and tools. This has usually meant looking at public cloud deployments. However, that isn’t the only option and, in many cases, may not be the best approach.

2.   Market research by Frost & Sullivan shows that by 2027, more than three-quarters of organizations will be operating hybrid (a blend of cloud and premises-based) telephony environments. That can mean collaboration and conferencing in the public cloud, telephony, and vertical solutions on-premises or in hosted or private clouds. While not all workloads can be migrated to the cloud, TCI can help you find a customized mix that will work for your specific needs to ensure seamless interoperability between specific tools, simplifying daily work for your employees.

3.   Another challenge for the hybrid working model is that remote workers often feel disconnected in these environments. Business leaders can leverage technology to bring remote and in-person teams closer together. The right communication solutions can provide a consistent experience that serves your entire workforce.

4.   You’ll also need to look closer at how your teams handle the security of business data and define processes for protecting communication privacy for individuals. Compliance can be a concern in regulated industries like finance, government and healthcare, so you’ll want to ensure your tools comply with applicable regulations. TCI offers a range of compliant solutions.

Tech Solutions: 5G, AI, Communication Tools

Get up to speed on new technologies that can impact hybrid work and the ability to work from anywhere. To retain top talent, get familiar with the advantages of technologies like 5G, AI, and new communication tools to make hybrid work successful in your organization.

  • 5G offers enhanced mobility at faster speeds with low latency. This, coupled with support for IoT devices such as a paramedic’s radio, location sensors on hospital equipment and patient monitoring devices, make it an excellent investment for those looking to explore the hybrid world.
  • Of course, AI is already being embraced across industries as it streamlines and automates routine processes and helps workers communicate. Natural Language Processing (NLP), a machine learning technology, can help with meeting transcription, translation, and summarization to streamline the development of post-meeting materials such as action items and meeting minutes. NLP can also improve video conferencing, document sharing, and more.
  • Different communication tools such as team workspaces, collaboration platforms, desktop sharing, specialized vertical devices, and instant messages help keep distributed teams connected. Look for communications technology that offers a single experience across multiple devices, so it is easy for employees to switch between work environments without any hassle.

Creating a Seamless Transition

With the continued normalization of hybrid work, there will be a growing emphasis on the interoperability of UC systems. It will be crucial for all workers to have access to technology that works in tandem with their in-office tools so they can work anytime, anywhere. This is especially true for verticals like healthcare and hospitality. For example, bedside infotainment terminals in hospitals can allow patients to communicate directly with nurses and doctors, even if they are off-site. AI virtual assistants can help during and after a call to recap decisions, follow up on action items, and summarize results.

Other critical capabilities for hybrid workers involve equalizing the remote user experience in meetings with the team in an office conference space. This can be achieved by bringing immersive experience capabilities to conference calls, including augmented reality and AI-supported meeting moderation, to increase meeting effectiveness and remote user engagement.

The Power of Next-Gen UC Solutions

In today’s hybrid work environment, having the right UC solutions makes all the difference. With features that offer integration with other technologies like office suites, project management, and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) platforms, modern UC solutions aided by AI and immersive experience tech are set to revolutionize how we work.

By investing in such solutions, you can catalyze more efficient work and foster seamless connections between employees and employers, ultimately reducing stress and boosting productivity and engagement.

Contact your local TCI team today to learn how to engage and empower your hybrid workforce with today’s UC technology: (703) 321-3030 or info@tcicomm.com.

 

How Performance Analytics Offer UC and Network Insights for Better Business Performance

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Why Performance Analytics?

Many TCI clients have deployed Mitel Performance Analytics (MPA). It’s an intuitive, user-friendly fault and performance management application that monitors and manages your entire network, with a special focus on voice quality.

You can monitor the performance of your entire communications network – identifying real-time issues and rapidly alerting your IT team to adverse conditions.

Check out this 6:30 min. video MPA overview

Mitel Performance Analytics provides quick resolution tools like secure remote access and active testing capabilities that make it simple to manage locations seamlessly. Whether you have 8 or 8,000 users, voice quality stays crystal-clear and downtime is minimized.

MPA also lets you know when and where a problem occurs. Voice quality problems – delay, echo, and jitter, for example – can be caused by a variety of events, from congestion to improper configuration. For faster problem resolution, MPA monitors devices like routers and servers in the network infrastructure, in addition to your UC systems.

Your admins can access devices from anywhere, and devices can be moved easily between containers. Plus, data can be consolidated in one central place. Information can also be shared more easily among your locations. You can now monitor just about any device, anywhere in the world.

Mitel Performance Analytics is available as part of your Mitel Premium Software Assurance subscription. Stay current with the latest Mitel Platform software releases, bug fixes, and security enhancements, while having access to expert support services whenever you need them.

Performance Analytics at a Glance

  • Continuous performance monitoring
  • Real-time alerting for fast problem detection
  • SIP voice quality (R Factor Rating per Call), valid for Mitel 6800, 6900 SIP phones, and MiCollab mobile and desktop softphones
  • Secure remote access and testing tools mean problems are fixed faster
  • Shifts support model from reactive to proactive, detecting and preventing problems before users are impacted
  • Proven in thousands of customer networks
  • End-to-end network performance management of your Mitel services AND the surrounding network

Key Benefits

  • Faster problem detection and resolution for more reliable network performance
  • Simplified management of large distributed networks
  • Improved user satisfaction and adoption
  • Better use of IT resources
  • Secure remote access

Key Features

  • Intuitive multi-tenant data-rich dashboards
  • Network-wide voice quality reporting and analysis, including softphones
  • Comprehensive testing tools and secure remote access
  • Network diagram integration
  • Reporting tools that add value
  • Scheduled backups

Reliable Unified Communications network performance improves the user experience and makes better use of an organization’s IT resources.

Contact your local TCI team today to learn more about MPA: (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.