Category: News

Communication is a vital element for any business, and, regardless of its size, as a business grows, the cost and levels of complexity of the communication channels increase.

Historically, traditional telephone management systems (TMS) were used to report on expenses of a PBX. Businesses today require more from a service than just monitoring telephones on desks, especially in the face of unexpected bills, and the requirement to allocate expenses to various cost centres. Given that we are no longer only bound by a fixed line handset,, companies need to be able to monitor communication channels such as printers, mobile voice and mobile data.

Growing communication mediums, and the expansion of cloud based solutions will increasingly drive complexity in companies that haven’t considered TMS solutions in the past. Having to monitor a wider range of communication channels means businesses need to be able to centralise and host everything, and this demand will continue to drive migration to the cloud

Cloud-based TMS solutions present a significant opportunity for businesses, particularly smaller or mid-sized companies. It eliminates the need for large capital expenditure, as companies don’t need to purchase expensive on-site equipment, and makes previously enterprise only solutions, more affordable for smaller businesses.

When choosing a TMS solution, there are a number of things a business needs to consider.

Your TMS should ideally help manage communication costs, monitor staff productivity and not place additional administrative pressure on your operations function.

We believe that the right solution should address the following issues:

• Understanding staff productivity – know how long staff members spend on the phone, and which portion of calls are personal as opposed to work related
• Narrowing costs down in various layers being able to portion costs from various branches, departments or each individual user.
• Understanding when there is an influx of calls and how to service those incoming calls more efficiently – knowing how many calls are abandoned for example will allow you to decide if you need to increase or decrease staff
• Identify whether the bulk of your calls are mobile – knowing whether you have the right partner providing the best rate possible
• Need to understand how employees use their mobile devices- monitor data and voice usage.

Vox  has launched Business Class Fibre, a world class fibre-to-the-business offering that delivers a broad spectrum of customisable solutions, to suit businesses of all sizes.

Fast, reliable connectivity has become an essential requirement for every business, from the start-up running multiple applications in the cloud, to the established corporate that needs to remain always-on.

“We believe that we are able to offer more than just an internet connection, and have created the ideal platform for convergence,” says Shane Chorley, Executive Head of Carrier and Connectivity division at Vox.

“Business Class Fibre enables businesses, to truly optimise and drive the efficient coexistence of voice, video, data and other IP-based services, over a single network.  The result? A direct increase in productivity and greater cost-savings by consolidating telecommunications spend.”

The Vox Fibre network is available in all major cities nationally, and is continually expanding its reach.  This includes in excess of 200 individual pre-fibred precincts, areas and business districts where fibre is connected into the buildings. This makes Vox Telecom, one of the largest fibre providers in South Africa.

Concludes Chorley, “Based on the feedback from our customers, we’ve created a solution that is not only fast, but also flexible, providing the ability to upgrade bandwidth as required. The result is our high-availability, low-latency network, that delivers future-proof capacity for the dedicated or broadband application requirements of our customers.”

 

 

 

Vox’s new Microsoft Private Cloud Services portfolio combines the best of Microsoft’s applications with the power of cloud to offer medium-to-large companies a single supplier for all their communication, collaboration, CRM, and business intelligence needs – all as part of a fully managed service.

“While Microsoft’s applications form a core part of how many companies operate, the ability of their internal IT departments to deliver on these services affordably and efficiently is being affected by the shortage of critical skills locally, as well as rising costs of datacentre infrastructure,” says Craig Freer, Executive Head of Cloud at Vox.

Unlike typically available cloud products, which are offered on an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) or Platform as a Service (PaaS) model, Vox is offering a turnkey solution that includes the network layer, virtual hosting, security, operating system and database, and applications.

“Everything in the ecosystem is flexible, and end-users can even customise applications to suit their business needs,” says Freer. “

Vox’s Microsoft Private Cloud Services offers companies access to the complete Microsoft application suite, including Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Skype for Business, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Microsoft Dynamics NAV and GP, and Microsoft Business Intelligence.

“Microsoft Private Cloud Services is a complete solution, backed by defined service level agreements or available as a fully managed service, and with a single point of accountability,” says Freer.

Customers only pay for the services that they need, and are also able to leverage the benefits of licensing mobility – which allows companies currently using certain Microsoft applications onsite to deploy them to the cloud without paying additional software licensing fees – further reducing costs.

By using a private cloud platform, which is dedicated to a single customer, companies can get the added benefits of privacy and performance guarantees, as compared to public cloud offerings.

“This solution allows any company that relies on Microsoft’s technologies to outsource the complete management of their application suite, and free up company resources to focus on their core business instead,” says Freer.

 

 

Vox is partnering with Ionizr, the pioneer in real-time proximity advertising technology in South Africa, integrating the open access digital engagement platform into its Vox AURA managed guest Wi-Fi solution.

“We wanted to be the first to market with a total solution for businesses that are serious about not only monetising their Wi-Fi, but also driving a more customised user experience, and this partnership provides us with this opportunity,” says Dederick Venter, Executive Head of Outsourced Technologies at Vox.

Ionizr is the first company in South Africa that combines technology, internet of things, analytics, marketing and digital media to provide advanced data-driven location based marketing and advertising services.

“Our strategic partnership with Vox allows for consumers to receive carrier grade public Wi-Fi services combined with real time, location based personalised content. The global trend is location based personalised marketing, nothing facilitates this more than free Wi-Fi,” says Wayne Venter, CEO and founder of Ionizr.

“Consumers want free data and lots of it, by being able to offer value and personalise their experience through the insights derived from a consumer’s physical behavior our clients now have the means to implement relationship marketing.  Consumers use more data when sharing real-time promotions, which they only receive when in a venue, via social media, and harnessing this will be a key differentiator among brands”

The monetisation of Wi-Fi can no longer be driven by mass media type tactics, but rather leveraging the data and analytics that users are generating every day and creating tailored, customised user experiences.

Adds Dederick Venter: “There are numerous platforms, both locally and internationally that provide portions of the digital engagement eco system, but Ionizr is the first of its class, to provide real time engagement, to our digital marketing agencies and customers alike, on an open access model.

We have successfully integrated multiple best of breed systems to offer a captive portal and guest Wi-Fi solution, social media integration and now also digital advertising campaign management via Ionizr.”

For the first time, digital agencies will have a level of control of their Wi-Fi-advertising campaigns and messages across multiple customers and multiple venues, through a single interface and in real time.  This coupled with the fact that it is a locally developed platform, offering local support, makes it another best of breed ‘must have’ for our Wi-Fi portfolio.

“Through the recent acquisition of Ionizr by the Tritech Media group, the Vox offering is now one of the most comprehensive in the industry.  It can now offer loyalty, vouchers, mobile payment, targeted advertising and marketing on public Wi-Fi, this depth of services and value to consumers has never been offered before,” adds Wayne Venter.

Vox has already been commissioned by a number of its customers in the hospitality, retail and entertainment sectors to provide a proof of concept that utilises the integrated Ionizr platform.

“We’re excited to be part of the revolution of Wi-Fi monetisation, and continue to focus on delivering world class solutions to our customers,” concludes Dederick Venter.

 

 

Advancements in camera technologies, internet connectivity, and new security solutions being offered by service providers are enabling South African companies to vastly improve their CCTV and monitoring capabilities, and, in many cases, reduce costs.

Local companies looking to upgrade their legacy systems now have a cost-effective option: “Instead of going the full IP route, they can keep the analogue cabling, but switch from their existing cameras to HD Analog ones,” says Niven Perumal, National Sales Manager, Outsourced Technologies, at Vox.

“Businesses must embrace this progress; as new technologies become mainstream, legacy equipment will become expensive, and harder to replace.”

Smarter cameras

Modern cameras with built-in intelligence features open up new forms of identity authentication such as facial recognition, instead of using codes or access cards, while increased low-light sensitivity & auto-tracking capabilities enables accurate monitoring in any conditions.

“You no longer need people staring at screens for hours, waiting for something to happen,” says Perumal. Unlike traditional ‘dumb cameras’, these cameras can have exceptions programmed, and are able to immediately alert users to suspicious activity. “While these technologies have been around for the past year or so, the cameras are getting smarter.”

IoT: cloud services and remote monitoring

Improvements in broadband connectivity – both wired and wireless – mean that cloud storage becomes a viable option as video footage can be recorded in real-time. Footage can be stored for longer than the typical 30 days since cloud storage has become more affordable, and companies can easily and quickly search their online archive.

Most notably, there is no longer critical equipment on site, with the exception of the cameras themselves. “This gives you additional security, with no possibility of intruders breaking into your control room and vandalising CCTV equipment, or stealing hard drives, leaving you unable to determine what happened,” says Perumal.

A growth area is remote monitoring, where third-party service providers monitor feeds from an off-site control centre. If an alarm is triggered, security or police are alerted, and can even be given access to the property remotely. Comprehensive incident reports are provided so companies can monitor the effectiveness of their security service providers.

In a retail environment, smart surveillance can cut down on theft or fraud through remotely monitored cameras at point-of-sale devices, ensuring that all items are paid for. In the event of suspicious behaviour, control room operators alert the relevant manager.

“With the advent of high-speed connectivity, and the Internet of Things, we are able to run all these services off-site,” says Perumal. “Instead of having people looking over dozens of screens, we are using intelligence to identify suspicious activity. This significantly reduces the risk of collusion by security personnel in criminal activity.”

The eye in the sky

Another huge area of development is drones, which are not only used in the security sector, but also for agriculture, conservation, and disaster management, as well as for providing postal or delivery services in some countries.

Users are able to geo-fence their property, and the drone can be programmed to respond to security alarms by flying to the problem area, identifying potential threats from a height advantage, and providing video coverage that can even be viewed on a mobile device.

Perumal gives the example of the mining industry, where instead laying kilometres of cabling to support cameras, and having many guards, a single drone can accomplish the job. “A drone is capable of surveilling a larger area, and is far quicker than humans. In addition, if there is a security situation, there are no people in harm’s way.”

He expects that once there is more legal clarity around the flying of drones locally, it’s only a matter of time before the South African market – commercial, industrial and even residential – adopts this technology in the future.

The rapid expansion of the internet has vastly changed the way we do business. The average speed of broadband  is now 160 times faster than it was ten years ago, and with better speeds, tools and applications, so businesses are consuming massive amounts of bandwidth. For a business owner this may mean an exponential increase in the consumption of internet-based applications which may call for that switch to broadband.

To tackle some common issues faced by SMEs when it comes to broadband and getting the best out of the service, Shane Chorley, Head of Carrier and Connectivity at Vox answers some frequently asked questions.

Q: How do I determine what impacts my broadband performance?

A: To ensure that you get the best performance from your broadband, you have to understand what you need, what applications and tools your business will use, and importantly, how many people will be connected at any given point in time.

For many, the technology becomes overwhelming and time consuming when you have bottom-line objectives to meet. But it does take a big load off when you can at least identify the biggest consumers of bandwidth – increasingly video, and always having things like Facebook, twitter and other social media tools running in the background..

So from this base, the next step would be to identify what applications require video consumption, how users are consuming it and for what reason. This should give you an idea of on steps to take such as blocking usage or just getting a better understanding of what your costs are. It does help to enlist the services of someone with technical knowledge to guide you through the process, make and implement recommendations of taking control of data usage. This will require an understanding however of what internet-based tools are necessary for optimal performance for your business.

Q: How do I know which broadband options are best suited to my needs?

A: The reality is that internet consumption is only going to grow, you need to keep up with that demand. It’s important to note, that the bigger the pipe, the more data you will consume.  In other words, if you move from a 4Mbp/s line, to an 8Mbp/s line, you won’t necessarily change your usage, but you may consume more data, quicker.

Adaptive bit-rates on applications like YouTube, mean a better quality streaming experience, through the faster line speed, and a lot more data consumption.

Unless mission critical, we’d recommend blocking data heavy tools and applications, in the interest of an optimised experience.

Tools that assist your employees, improve the way you do business and create innovation in your business are important and you should choose a broadband solution that will sustain this traffic.

The good news is that the cost of internet is decreasing, the bad news is that consumption of internet based offerings is increasing at a higher rate. For this reason, We would advise going for a bigger data bundle that what you currently use, in anticipation for additional usage, brought about by upgrades line speeds.

Q: We recently upgraded to a faster line, and suddenly the business is going through much more data, yet we are not doing anything differently

A: Many people are not aware that consumption is not directly related to what you do, but the Over The Top (OTT) application services, which have become very data hungry. Applications using video such as Facebook and Youtube all use adaptive bitrate, which understands your throughput ability and optimises the video quality based on your line speed.

As your speed goes up, the applications consume more data to deliver richer content, so the faster your line is the more data it will consume. If you upgrade from a 10 meg line to a 100meg line for example, you will increase your throughput by 30% by doing nothing differently.

So when upgrading to a faster line, be aware of the data implications.

My advice – understand what you need to work efficiently. Is speed currently an issue? Are there applications that are not necessary in your business that you can block users from accessing?  Do you perhaps need to relook your programs or servers and adapt to say a cloud-based model? once this analysis is done, it will be far easier to identify a broadband offer that caters to your individual needs as a business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vox has launched Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business to provide endpoint protection for all virtual, physical and mobile devices within its SME and Corporate customers.

“Technology advances, and evolution of the Internet leaves businesses more exposed to cyber-crime, with an estimated 325 000 unique threats every day, says Mayleen Bywater, Product Manager for Security Solutions at Vox.

Recent findings suggest that the purpose of these crimes are to hack into existing accounts as a means of stealing information or to set up new accounts with stolen information.  Endpoints are seen as the easiest way of gaining access to a network, largely because of the mobility (not being fixed within the office environment).  Few organisations are implementing intrusion protection, running on mobile devices.

“There is a critical educational role in the business, when it comes to accessing documents, from reliable sources, on the network, or via mobile access points.  Investing in endpoint security, provides an additional barrier to entry for otherwise easy targets,” says Bywater.

From just R370/month including 10 licenses, the Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business is a unique and sophisticated technology, designed and built by Kaspersky, the industry’s leading security experts. This service provides customers a single view into their local network and users devices and ensures safety from outside threats.

Concludes Bywater, “Many businesses are unsure of where to start, but partnering with an organisation that can help with developing and deploying a security strategy that offers maximum coverage is the first step.  An IT security strategy, developed from the inside out has never been a more critical business consideration.”

A decade ago, it would have been impossible to envisage exactly how the internet was to change the way we live, interact and operate. The only safe prediction for the decade to come then is that the evolution of internet-based technology isn’t over- it is happening – and will remain in a constant state of evolution. All we can do now, is ensure that we are prepared for it.

This is according to Shane Chorley, Executive Head of Carrier and Connectivity at Vox who says, “As internet based technologies and applications proliferate the marketplace, changing us socially, we continuously experience a greater demand for enabling these platforms to run faster and more efficiently.  So, whilst we may not know what our lives are going to look like in ten years from now, we do know that we need to constantly prepare for it, so as to enable it and grow with it.”

To this end, Chorley envisages an explosive demand for fibre optic internet technologies in the consumer space. “Demand for connectivity is growing. Connectivity allows us to work differently, interact differently. The more connectivity we consume, the faster we require it to work.”

Fibre Optic Internet, like ADSL is the means the internet relies on to carry and support traffic. “The more we engage with Over-The-Top (OTT) service offerings like Whatsapp, Skype, Facebook, Netflix, YouTube etc… the more we rely on connectivity that will allow us to stay connected in real time, that is, without delay,” explains Chorley.

Fibre optic internet, unlike ADSL allows for instant, uninterrupted and fast connectivity that is redefining how internet connectivity is being experienced.

“Whilst there is nothing wrong with ADSL , Fibre Optic Internet and LTE, has made a massive difference in the business world because they are much faster and businesses have felt that they experience less downtime which means better efficiency and more profitability,” says Chorley.

“Cost has been a major barrier to entry for most people but we predict that as the demand for faster connectivity rises, these costs will be driven down enabling further growth in this market,” he says.

And the demand for fibre based technology is on the rise, trends in society predict that people want to be connected to the world around them from both a professional and personal experience. “People want to be able to strike a balance between their workstyle and lifestyle. People want to be able to consume a movie in real time or chat without being delayed by an interruption in connectivity or a slow transmission line.”

It just takes reflecting over the past decade, to realise the reality of a life we a living now, one we would never have imagined back then to understand how far we have come and also to realise how vast the possibilities of where we are headed are.

Some examples of how this access, speed and connectivity has impacted our lives includes how, with access to the internet, more people are being banked, allowing for the  rise of Africa’s middle class. More people are able to shop online contributing to growth in the retail sector. News is more easily accessed allowing us to become involved with the world in real time, not just our home town.

Fundamentally, connectivity allows us to do many things differently,  that didn’t seem possible a decade ago.

Chorley’s  advice for the next decade, “There is little point resisting the evolution of internet based technologies and the rapid evolution of our society, because as technology evolves, societies evolve and people evolve. Not accepting this evolution means falling behind and rendering yourself vulnerable to being viewed as inefficient and unable to cope.

We are living a reality we would never have imagined. Growth at an exponential rate of internet users has demanded it become faster, more affordable and more available.

As a small business owner, there are many things to juggle in order to keep your business running and often a vast majority of these are not core functions. IT, for most businesses is one of the most critical functions and, few can afford downtime, data breaches and a myriad of things that could go wrong without proper management.

Managed IT services offer a viable alternative to a single internal resource for SMEs, with a number of obvious benefits.  For small businesses (15 users or more), managed IT services deliver greater cost efficiencies, than a single internal resource, while at the same time providing access to a team of professionals from junior to senior level, who are always available (something you could never afford internally).

One size does not fit all

Small business needs are very different from large corporates, as are the resources. Small businesses feel a bigger impact financially, and are proportionately more affected by downtime, and therefore need to be much more agile. More support, with tighter budgets make managed IT services ideal, providing the specific resources required,  at a price that small businesses can afford.

What to look for

The biggest mistake SMEs make when choosing an IT partner, is outsourcing to one man bands. Many companies do this in their startup phase, when their IT infrastructure is fairly simple, and they get by with just one person initially. What often happens, as the company grows, so too do the IT demands and soon a single resource can no longer support the business.

Another mistake to avoid, is choosing on the basis of price alone. When looking at price, some service providers may charge more than others, but you may find they offer more support.

Here are some ideas of what you need to look for in a managed IT partner:

• The company should have a team of people that can provide a broad spectrum of services – look for a one stop solution, a company that can service all your needs
• They should be very familiar with prevailing technologies
• Various certifications to back up what they are offering
• A track record with experience in similar vertical industries, in depth experience serving your specific needs
• Check if they provide a monthly service level agreement (SLA), to ensure you receive a full suite of services without discrepancies

Where to start

The best option is to have a single managed IT services partner, but if budget is a concern, start out with the basics and evolve to a fully managed service based on business growth. Essential services should be the maintenance of computers, email and company website.

Some tips on budgeting for IT management

• Compare IT companies offering the same suite of IT management – check the costs of what other companies are charging vs. what they are offering. You get what you pay for, so make sure you compare service offering and price
• Opting for remote support as opposed to onsite support is one way to cut the costs. Support will be provided via remote access to your computer, and if a technician is required on site, you pay a call out fee, and an hourly rate depending on what they do
• When comparing month to month services, most times the hourly rate costs more than a fixed SLA
• Look into a rental option, which is a very affordable option for SMEs in the context of managed IT and ensure you always have access to the latest technology. You don’t need the capital for hardware such as laptops, desktops, printers, PBX – and it’s all fully taken care of by the your managed IT service.

 

South Africans are exposed to crime every day, and while there has been a decline in the last 12 months, the statistics of reported crimes is still staggering. Between 2014 and 2015 a total of 558 228 property related crimes were reported, according to the annual crime statistics released by the South African Police Service in September 2015. Of those,  253,716 cases of residential burglary were reported,  an average of 695 each day.

Residential estates are becoming increasingly popular, as people move to these secure complexes in an effort to escape crime. In the property industry, security has become a primary drawcard for homeowners and tenants. The onus is therefore on the estate manager to ensure that first and foremost the estate security systems are up to date, functioning properly and should an incident occur, measures are in place to mitigate loss.

There are three main challenges estate managers face when it comes to securing the estate, each with their own obstacles.

• Visitor management
• Managing general security around the perimeter as well as the common areas
• Determining what is a threat and what isn’t

Visitor management

As criminals become more sophisticated, more advanced access control is becoming a necessity. Technology has evolved significantly in this regard and has come a long way since the access cards and biometric finger scanning we have long been familiar with. Specialised cameras are being used for number plate recognition. Residents are identified by their car registration number, which has been pre-populated into a database. The downside being that  it’s only fully effective when entering, as anybody can drive the vehicle out of the estate.

Facial recognition, which has improved vastly, is a viable option when it comes to accurate access control. Vox Telecom’s Guardian Eye system uses a camera, as well as a facial reader, which has made facial recognition extremely reliable.

Managing general security

Video surveillance can be a tactical security measure, but there are several obstacles that hamper its efficacy.  Recording equipment typically resides in the guardhouse, and often recordings are lost,employees sabotage the equipment or intruders remove it to eliminate evidence. Poor maintenance or lack of proper technical support could also result in loss of evidence.

The value derived from video monitoring is highly dependant on the quality of on site guard monitoring, and easily hampered by human error or oversight. Guards are not usually monitored, and quite often sleep on duty.

Factors like these mean that monitoring is often a reactive measure, after a crime has taken place.Remote monitoring is not always viable due to insufficient bandwidth.

For optimal monitoring of a residential estate, one needs to remove risks associated with human behaviour, proactively prevent crime from taking place and secure the evidence. Latest technology from Vox Guardian Eye has changed the face of CCTV monitoring as we know it. Cameras placed around the estate are connected to a remote control room, and triggered by motion sensors. Rather than live monitoring, which consumes massive amounts of bandwidth, the cameras only record when triggered by motion, and instantly notifies the control room, simultaneously feeding live footage to the remote facility. The motion trigger enables guards to identify real threats, and is only triggered when pre-determined parameters are breached. As a proactive measure, the control room communicates with the intruder through the audio system, and in most cases avoid the crime from happening. All recorded footage is backed up to a remote server, eliminating the risk of losing evidence

When choosing a security solution, estate managers should check all the boxes and make sure it will provide the support needed. Find out whether they offer a managed solution, with a service level agreement (SLA), or  just the equipment and training. Given that the equipment is often kept in the guard house, and can easily be removed or tampered with,  it’s vital to find out if they have off site backup of all data and recordings. The most important thing to bear in mind is whether they have a deep understanding of the residential security sector, and the unique risk profile in this environment.