Unified Communications

The integration of applications, driven by web and mobile services, and the technical advances of hardware technology and diminishing costs are having a dramatic effect on the way we communicate, both in the office, at home or on the road. Unified Communication, first driven by the convergence of hardware architectures and now delivered through the integration of messaging technology, is enabling the enterprise, now more than ever, to reduce cost associated with employing separate messaging technologies, improve user productivity and enhance the customer contact experience like never before.

"Unified communications offer the ability to improve how individuals, groups and companies interact and perform tasks. Companies should review how the new generation of communication systems can improve their business operations and processes."

Gartner Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications, 2007

Unified Communications is redefining the way we communicate, at a variety of different levels, with our customers, our staff and our suppliers. Solutions we offer are Communication & Application Servers, Unified Messaging and Contact Centre's.

• Remote Access

  An increasing amount of data is being stored on the network and work conducted online that has to be protected.

  The nomadic business environment has given birth to a generation of mobile workers and road warriors who demand remote access to the network and its applications to be able to work more effectively and productively. However, the technologies and devices used to empower the workforce also open up the network to the risk of intrusion and therefore make it more vulnerable to being compromised.

  Against a backdrop of tightening compliance regulations and accountability, an increasing amount of data is being stored on the network and work conducted online that has to be protected. The need for secure remote access capabilities for mobile users and devices to protect corporate assets while catering for the changing working locations of employees is essential. Which area of remote access would you like to find out more about – SSL VPN, Two Factor Authentication, End Point Security, RADIUS?

• Network Access Control/802.1x

  An increase in ‘outsiders’ accessing the network such as guests, partners and contractors using unmanaged devices creates a headache for IT Managers.

  Mobility and new business models such as outsourcing and collaboration are forcing enterprises to open up the network to achieve greater business efficiencies. An increase in ‘outsiders’ accessing the network such as guests, partners and contractors using unmanaged devices creates a headache for IT Managers who must provide a flexible and open network, yet maintain tight security controls.

  By deploying Network Access Control only authorised users may be admitted onto the network and using post admission controls by role or policy allocation can determine what the users can access and allowed to do once on the LAN to protect enterprise assets.

  Once on the network, accurate information on user activities to ensure traffic is moving legitimately is needed. Devices that aren’t compliant with security policy and may contaminate or disrupt the network must be prevented from accessing.

• Wireless LAN

  Mobile devices are changing and are rapidly evolving - mobile phones, laptops, PDAs, VoWLAN phones and scanner guns... all with an expectation to roam seamlessly without performance loss over the WLAN.

  After several years popularity in many vertical sectors, wireless networking has now become embedded in the enterprise as a recognised form of connectivity and flexible way of working. Using an array of devices such as laptops, PDAs and mobile phones, companies have benefited from the productivity gains and cost savings of employees being able to work anyway within the organisation and gain access to information in real time.

  Wireless networking offers many advantages to companies but the provision and management of a wireless environment presents its own challenges. Wireless security is critical as a WLAN offers another gateway into the organisation meaning rogue access points and unencrypted traffic can put sensitive data at risk from intruders, unauthorised users or cyber terrorists.

  Mobile devices are changing and are rapidly evolving - mobile phones, laptops, PDAs, VoWLAN phones and scanner guns... all with an expectation to roam seamlessly without performance loss over the WLAN. In addition, many mission critical applications are converting to wireless such as CRM, RFID and CCTV, and with new specific mobile applications, all require a resilient infrastructure over which to run.