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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.
 

Connecting Your Sr. Living Community with TCI Managed UC & Infrastructure Solutions

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TCI designs, deploys and supports the technologies you need to bring your entire senior living community together.

We offer a full suite of integrated services, bringing the ‘TCI Advantage’ to your community with Managed Voice, Core Network and Infrastructure services to connect what counts…

TCI Host

Connect your community with Mitel-powered communication features and built-in mobility, customized app integrations, professional cloud, on-prem and hybrid deployments, and 24/7 support.

  • Voice & Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS)
  • All-in-one Phones, Video Meetings, and Messaging
  • Integrations with Your Business Apps
  • Contact Center Solutions

TCI Connect & Manage

Managing a complex communications infrastructure is no simple task. We handle the day-to-day details so you can focus on your strategic priorities.

  • Wired Infrastructure & Managed Wi-Fi, Data Centers & Broadband
  • 24/7 Help Desk, Monitoring, Alerting, Response & Resolution
  • Asset Management, Data Backups & Recovery

We back up your Assisted Living technology with outstanding TCI support…

  • 24/7 Remote Monitoring
  • On Call Technicians
  • Emergency Service

TCI’s customized technology and communications services keep your families and caregivers in touch, providing the peace of mind they deserve and expect.

Let’s talk about new ways to serve your Senior Living Community: Contact your local TCI experts at (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.
 

Set Up Your Business for Success with Customized ‘Your Way’ UC as a Service

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Get Ahead of the Game

If you haven’t done it yet, now is a great time to take stock, reassess where you stand, and make commitments to improve your technology this year.

TCI offers a range of customized solutions, including Mitel’s unified communications platforms. Mitel UC solutions combine voice, chat, email, video meetings, file sharing, and more – providing the tools your team needs to get ahead.

Flexible deployment options

Mitel’s core UC systems offer the most flexible deployment and payment options on the market. TCI and Mitel put you in the driver’s seat to implement the latest business communications, your way.

For example, as your organization’s IT strategy evolves – from distributed servers in multiple sites to a single private cloud – Mitel UC evolves with your business – delivering a strong, futureproof solution with a low total cost of ownership.

Premises Options

  • Mitel SMB Controller
  • Mitel EX Controller
  • Industry Standard Server

Virtual Software Deployments

  • VMware, Hyper-V, and Nutanix virtualization
  • Single or multiple virtual machine option

Public Cloud Deployments

  • Amazon AWS
  • Microsoft Azure

Private Cloud Deployments

  • This solution leverages virtualization and physical infrastructure for public cloud-like scale and efficiency, but in a private, dedicated system within your data center. The protected nature of a private cloud provides an extra layer of security and control to meet industry-specific compliance requirements.

Meet New Hire and Employee Expectations Head-on

Talented job candidates are more likely to make employment decisions based on their workstyle and preferences now than at any time in history. We can enable your organization to activate a hybrid or fully remote workforce. Your employees can collaborate, communicate, and share information from anywhere.

Arrange a time to discuss your business challenges and communication needs. Contact TCI today at (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.
 

AI and Your Phone System… The Good, Bad and Ugly

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We expect the evolution of AI to be as earth-shaking as the creation of the semiconductor, the personal computer, the Internet, and the mobile phone. AI will change the way people work, learn, travel, get healthcare, and communicate with each other.

Evolving phone systems will be just one aspect of its far-reaching influence as AI revolutionizes industries and our society.

Where will AI take UC?

“2024 may well be the year of reckoning for AI. So far, the main application of Gen AI has been with chatbots and voice-enabled bots. The real value is transitioning from front-end chatbots to ones that can act based on their process inputs. The next step will be for customer support software to go beyond just answering questions and move toward enabling true end-to-end task automation.”
– Martin Bitzinger, Mitel SVP, Product Management

AI will improve customer service in phone systems in several ways, including:

  • AI-supported Contact Centers: AI will reduce the likelihood of human error with improved user satisfaction, shorter call times, and more accurate information for callers.
  • Personalization and Customer Satisfaction: AI-powered systems will enable businesses to provide more personalized responses, leading to improved caller satisfaction rates.
  • 24/7 Availability and Quick Response Times: AI will allow for round-the-clock availability of virtual assistants, leading to quick response times and improved customer experiences.
  • Automated Call Transcription: AI call transcriptions will enhance call quality assurance, aid in targeted training of new representatives, and help identify key service trends and recurrent issues, ultimately improving customer service.
  • Chatbot-Based Customer Support: Web-based chatbots powered by AI will enable customers to find solutions without calling customer service, thus enhancing the overall customer experience.

More powerful smartphones

Companies like Google, Qualcomm, and Apple are heavily investing in AI to evolve smartphones, with a focus on generative AI, which can create new content and provide personalized recommendations based on text and image inputs.

Trouble Ahead

The use of AI in phone systems won’t be without its challenges. Scammers are already using AI to clone voices, making phone scams more sophisticated and believable.

Experts recommend adopting a “code word” system with your loved ones, always calling back to verify the situation, and setting social media accounts to private to prevent publicly available information from being used against individuals.

AI-enabled phone scams have raised concerns about the increasing threat of advanced phishing and targeted scams, prompting more calls to regulate the use of this powerful technology.

Let’s explore new ways to leverage and safeguard the technology in your business. Contact us today at (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.
 

Connecting Healthcare Providers with HIPAA-Compliant and Cloud-Based Communications

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As a local technology leader, TCI is committed to delivering the best HIPAA-compliant healthcare communications tools for your facility.

The entire healthcare industry underwent a rapid digital transformation due to the pandemic and continues to evolve as the world changes.

Telehealth, remote treatments, and virtual patient services have grown in popularity, enabling patients to receive care outside the traditional clinical environment.

Healthcare providers are embracing the latest communications technology to keep up with their patients’ evolving digital-first expectations – and many are already taking advantage of the Cloud to achieve healthcare benefits.

The Key Benefits of Cloud-Based Healthcare Communications

  • Enhanced Data Security and Compliance – Hospitals and other providers are among the biggest targets of hackers and ransomware due to the sensitive data they must store and transmit. Patient information is more secure in the Cloud, protected by encryption and access controls. TCI offers Cloud-based UC solutions that are updated continuously to comply with the latest privacy and security standards, including HIPAA and GDPR.
  • Scalability and Flexibility – Healthcare systems with Cloud-based UC solutions can seamlessly transition to remote operations and manage increased volumes of patients during a pandemic or short-term crisis.
  • More Cost-Efficient, Effective Processes – Private and hybrid Cloud communications solutions reduce infrastructure and maintenance costs using digital rather than physical storage. Integration with medical apps streamlines complicated processes. Time-consuming administrative tasks can be automated for improved operational efficiency.
  • Advanced Analytics and Insights – Cloud-based UC solutions can use powerful predictive analytics tools for data-driven decision-making.

All aspects of your healthcare communications can be elevated to the Cloud, such as:

  • Contact Centers
  • Patient Portals
  • VoIP Phone Systems
  • Video Calling and Voice Messaging
  • Collaboration Software and Teamwork Solutions
  • Text Alerts and Reminders

Take Your Healthcare Communications to the Cloud with TCI & Mitel

TCI deploys HIPAA-compliant Mitel solutions that empower your clinical staff to spend less time on administrative tasks and more on critical care by supporting streamlined workflows, seamless file sharing, and API integration.

Innovations like AI-enabled automation, self-service tools, and virtual assistants will increase patient engagement, trust, and satisfaction with their healthcare experience.

To future-proof your healthcare communications, look for the deployment model – private, hybrid, or public Cloud – that best fits your clinical needs, data security requirements, and budget.

Contact your local TCI experts to learn more about migrating your healthcare communications to the Cloud: (703) 321-3030 or GetHelp@tcicomm.com.