14 Jan Is Hybrid Cloud Telecommunications Right for Your Business?
Are you thinking about switching from your on-premise telecommunications solution to a hybrid cloud solution but not thoroughly ready to make the switch to complete cloud solutions? Well, guess what? You are not alone! More and more businesses turn to cloud telecommunications (a.k.a. hosted communications), as shown from the 25% market growth from last year.
Why choose a hybrid cloud? What do you need to know about the hybrid cloud? And what are the next steps on your path? Before diving in, you must have the answers to these critical questions. We are breaking down the basics of hybrid cloud and what you need to know before taking the next step.
What are the main reasons to deploy a hybrid cloud telecommunications model?
The best of both worlds: A hybrid cloud deployment offers the advantages of both premises- and cloud-based deployments. You can house specific servers internally and leverage the cloud for others, providing a highly tailored approach for companies of any size.
A gradual transition to the cloud: A hybrid cloud communications strategy is often adopted by organizations as part of a transition strategy, building from a traditional on-premises phone system to a more robust cloud-based unified communications solution that provides unlimited scalability and advanced business capabilities.
Privacy and control: More than just a transition strategy, a hybrid cloud can be a long-term solution. In a hybrid cloud model, you can maintain complete control of certain aspects of your communications infrastructure while leveraging the resiliency, management, and scalability benefits of the cloud. If your business is in financial services, healthcare, or any other industry with data privacy concerns, you may be subject to strict regulations on where your data lives. Examine your regulations carefully and evaluate whether patient or customer information is best-left on-premises to stay compliant.
Contact Centers: Cloud-based contact centers provide agility at the workforce level. With all essential functions, features, applications, and services hosted in the cloud, employees can be recruited from anywhere, and the workforce can be scaled up or down quickly as needed. The cloud also adds a layer of protection in terms of business continuity.
Failover Server: In the event of a network failure impacting your cloud provider, having a redundant on-premises environment can minimize costly downtime. For this reason, hybrid cloud deployments add a critical layer of reliability to your business communications.
Data that requires instant availability: If you have data that must constantly be accessible, such as large files that must be frequently edited, then those types of files might be best-left on-premises.
Now that you have learned the basics of hybrid cloud communications, it is time to assess your organization’s structure and requirements. Here are the next steps to take on your way to hybrid cloud communications:
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CAREFULLY EVALUATE ANY PRIVACY REGULATIONS POLICING YOUR DATA
Determine if your data is subject to explicit regulations on where it can live or feel more confident with in-house security compliance.
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ESTABLISH WHAT STAYS ON-PREMISES AND WHAT MOVES TO THE CLOUD
Build a strategy for your new architecture that leverages cloud- and premises-based infrastructure benefits most effectively. Look at your organization by department or function to build your structure.
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PLAN FOR THE WORST
What is the cost of downtime for your business? Can you afford to lose your network connection without a backup plan? If not, you will need to build a strategy for high availability to avoid leaving your users stranded in the event of failure.
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EXPAND YOUR VENDOR EXPECTATIONS
As you evaluate whether hybrid cloud telecommunications are the right choice for your business today, consider the future as well. A hybrid cloud is an excellent option if you want to test the cloud waters without fully migrating over. When shopping for a provider, be sure to select one that allows you to move freely between on-premises, cloud, and hybrid deployment models rather than having to commit to one long-term. Additionally, ask your vendor questions about their data centers, service level agreements (SLAs), and the total value of their offering—what can they provide beyond dial tone that will enhance your business and, ultimately, your bottom line? This is the reason why we work with customers to determine the best model for their unique business needs and implement a solution that delivers confidence and peace of mind, freeing you up to focus on your customers and your bottom line.