At Mitel, we’re fortunate to work with an incredible partner community full of deep, diverse expertise. So, each month, we’re going to share some of that expertise by highlighting partner blog posts about the business communications topics relevant to modern IT pros.
The Benefits of Next-Generation Firewalls Extend Beyond Security By CDW
When you think of next-generation firewalls, you probably think they are only used to help secure the network. They have features like user identification, URL filtering, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), malware prevention and application identity and control. All those items are directly related to security and controlling what users and systems can and cannot do, along with preventing attacks on the network. That is all true of course, but along with those numerous features, a next-generation firewall can also can also help network administrators build quality of services controls. These controls allow businesses to rank and prioritize what traf..

It doesn’t take much to become a “service provider” providing a sub‐par cloud communications experience. For example, a vendor can pair open source software with commodity off‐the‐shelf servers and partner with a third‐party session initiation protocol (SIP) provider, and voilà! There’s a new kid on the block offering cheap voice services “in the cloud.”
However, any cloud communications system is only as good as the ongoing end‐to‐end services that it provides to its customers. In addition to the foundational software, there are data center operations, staffing, design, scalability, customer service, and much more to evaluate. In this chapter, we’ll look at ten key communications capabilities that you need to consider when evaluating cloud communications providers for your organization.
Download the Cloud Communications for Dummies ebook > Cloud-based voice and telephony Voice is, of course, a basic requirement of any cloud communications solution. In addition to providing end‐to‐en..

It doesn’t take much to become a “service provider” providing a sub‐par cloud communications experience. For example, a vendor can pair open source software with commodity off‐the‐shelf servers and partner with a third‐party session initiation protocol (SIP) provider, and voilà! There’s a new kid on the block offering cheap voice services “in the cloud.”
However, any cloud communications system is only as good as the ongoing end‐to‐end services that it provides to its customers. In addition to the foundational software, there are data center operations, staffing, design, scalability, customer service, and much more to evaluate. In this chapter, we’ll look at ten key communications capabilities that you need to consider when evaluating cloud communications providers for your organization.
Download the Cloud Communications for Dummies ebook > Cloud-based voice and telephony Voice is, of course, a basic requirement of any cloud communications solution. In addition to providing end‐to‐en..

Everyone knows to bring comfortable shoes, an extra pair of socks and Advil to a conference. I mean, we’re all adults here, right?
But have you ever thought about what you can leave behind? There’s some obvious ones: you shouldn’t bring your pets, and it’s a bad idea to bring metal cutlery on an airplane.
The line blurs a little after that. With airline fees often depending on how heavy your suitcase is and fewer airlines allowing large carry-ons, you need to save space and weight wherever you can.
So let’s go over some unnecessary items that you can leave behind and some key tools that could enrich your Enterprise Connect experience and make life much easier on you.
Do check Twitter Enterprise Connect has a Twitter account and a specialized hashtag for the weekend to find out more about the event.
Not only that, but your favorite speakers and participants in the conference will be tweeting both at the Enterprise Connect account and with the hashtag. You can keep up with all the a..

Despite all the changes in communications channels that we’ve seen over the past few years, the phone call and audio conference remain some of the key ways for organizations to get work done. However, many of these conversations are sub-optimal due to the technology delivering the audio.
For instance, there are examples of individuals ignoring their desk phones and using their mobile phones for most calls. It could be argued this an example of the ‘consumerization of IT,’ whereby the preference for consumer-type experiences is creeping into the office.
Mobile phones are not necessarily the best tool for large volumes of in-depth calls. For a start, there’s the higher cost of making mobile calls compared to the cost of a desk phone call. Today’s mobile phones still have limited battery life, especially if being used as multi-channel devices, so it’s not uncommon to miss an important call due to a dead battery. However, the biggest issue with mobile phones is the availability of a stro..

In a few short weeks, Mitel will be one of many exhibitors at the annual Enterprise Connect 2017 conference and expo in Orlando. Aside from a booth and available demos, we’ll also be hosting speaking sessions and breakout sessions to share more about the best path to the future.
Meet us at the booth Join Mitel from Day 1 (March 27) at booth No. 518 for information on hybrid and global cloud, digital transformation, collaborative enterprise, customer experience and the new MiVoice 6900 IP series phones.
Schedule an appointment Meet with us at Enterprise Connect and we’ll throw in a $25 Starbucks gift card and a complimentary copy of Digital Transformation for Dummies® after your meeting.
Schedule a meeting > Attend our general sessions What Role (if any) Should Cloud Communications Play in Your Enterprise?
Jon Brinton, President, Cloud Division | March 27, 10:15 a.m.

Driving Digital Transformation and Powering Connections
Terry McCabe, Chief Technology Officer | March 28, 5 p.m.

Io..

It’s that time of year again—hundreds of business professionals across the country are starting to gear up for Enterprise Connect. We’re excited to be participating again (come visit us at booth #518!) and to help you get the most bang for your conference buck, we’ve put together a few handy tips on how to get the most out of Enterprise Connect.
Before you leave Set some goals With over 5,000 attendees, 60 sessions, and 190 exhibitors, Enterprise Connect 2017 is a lot to sink your teeth into. The very first thing you need to do is spend some time thinking about your goals for the conference. Are you looking to learn about the newest innovations in unified communications and collaboration? Are you looking to network with like-minded professionals? What do you want to get out of the event?
Enterprise Connect has nine conference tracks to help shape your conference experience. Take some time to review them, and prioritize what themes meet your business goals.
Make a plan Enterprise Con..

The Government of Victoria, a state governing body in the southern part of Australia, covers 90,000 square miles and controls all aspects of government not superseded by the Commonwealth of Australia.
With 285,692 employees in 3,388 public sector bodies, the Victorian Government provides police and emergency services, government schools, public health and water and land management; public service employees also include impartial and objective policy advisers and administrative offices.
Special Minister of State Gavin Jennings is the leader of the government’s Legislative Council and one of many who help oversee the technology Victoria needs to run functionally.
Tasked with assessing the Victorian Government’s technology needs, Jennings discovered a need to update telecommunications across the state.
Victoria’s reliance on voice-only The Victorian Government has used voice-only phone systems for years. Many of the state’s offices are a great distance apart.
Victorian Government em..

At Mitel, we’re fortunate to work with an incredible partner community full of deep, diverse expertise. So, each month, we’re going to share some of that expertise by highlighting partner blog posts about the business communications topics relevant to modern IT pros.
5 Reasons to Use a Virtual Assistant by Frontier Business Edge
Thanks to technology and advanced communication tools, virtual work and telecommuting have significantly increased in popularity, with freelance workers accounting for roughly 34% of the total US workforce. One such telecommuting position that can help small-business owners get more done is the virtual assistant. Check out this post from Frontier to find out how using a virtualaAssistant can make your life easier.
Read the post >
It’s a No-Brainer: Two Things You Should Do for E-Rate Discounts of Up to 90 Percent by Windstream
School districts and libraries rely on updated and secure communications and network services more than ever before. So remember, t..

Over a month has passed since Avaya’s January 19 filing for Chapter 11 protection in the US bankruptcy courts.
This petition marked the next step in a long journey of uncertainty for Avaya that started in 2009 when it acquired Nortel. Burdened by a large debt ever since – one that ultimately reached nearly $6 billion – Avaya seemed destined to struggle financially as it battled the triple challenge of debt payments, legacy pension obligations and declining revenues.
Despite this, Avaya continued to innovate and compete with a well-regarded portfolio. Mitel respected Avaya as a strong rival; the two companies contended regularly, with both claiming their fair share of wins across the small business and enterprise segments, and the private and public sectors.
So, what’s next for Avaya? More to the point, what’s next for its customers and those who were considering Avaya?
Since January 19, Avaya customers have been targeted from all angles by other vendors keen to lay out their cred..