Frequently asked questions
All your unified communications questions, answered here.
Cloud
Hybrid
On-Prem
What is UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service)?
UCaaS is a term for a unified communication solution that seamlessly combines productivity and collaboration into a subscription based model. It consolidates voice, video, and messaging into a single platform, offering centralized management that simplifies operations and reduces the need for extensive on-site hardware.
When is a cloud-based UCaaS platform the best choice for your business?
A cloud-based UCaaS platform is ideal for businesses with remote, hybrid, or globally distributed teams that need a flexible and centrally controlled platform in an OpEx model. Perfect for small start-up businesses who may not have the capital to spend upfront.
Does a cloud-based UCaaS solution offer a good ROI?
Yes, a cloud-based UCaaS solution offers strong ROI by minimizing IT involvement and cutting costs associated with on-premises hardware, maintenance, and traditional telecom services.
Cloud UCaaS utilizes a monthly subscription pricing model, providing predictable costs without large upfront fees.
Unified communications tools for voice, video, and messaging enhance productivity and collaboration, helping businesses maintain steady revenue and focus on growth without disruptions.
What are other deployment models for UCaaS?
UCaaS deployment models include cloud-based (fully hosted online) and hybrid (combining on-premises and cloud). An on-premises system is a unified communications (UC) platform managed on-site. Each suits different needs for scalability, control, and budget.
How secure is a cloud-based UCaaS platform?
A cloud-based UCaaS platform is highly secure, offering encryption, secure access controls, compliance with regulations, and frequent updates managed by the provider. No longer are on-premises hardware devices required for security, as UCaaS handles all that in the cloud. Sangoma’s UCaaS is HIPAA-compliant and PCI-certified and operates on our own private network.
How difficult would it be to switch from my current setup to the cloud?
Shifting to the cloud can be straightforward with proper planning. The difficulty depends on factors like the complexity of your current setup, data migration needs, and user training. Reputable UCaaS providers like Sangoma offer tools and support to simplify the transition.
What features are included in Sangoma’s cloud UCaaS offering?
Sangoma’s cloud Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) platform provides a comprehensive suite of features designed to enhance business communications:
- Call Control: Advanced call management capabilities, including call pickup, transfer, park, intercom, paging, group paging, ring groups, and both on-demand and always-on call recording.
- Voicemail and Messaging: Features such as voicemail-to-email, SMS, and instant messaging to ensure seamless communication.
- Collaboration Tools: Integrated solutions like Sangoma Meet for video conferencing and TeamHub for team collaboration, facilitating efficient teamwork.
- Contact Center Features: Advanced functionalities to support customer service operations, including call queuing, interactive voice response (IVR) systems, and detailed call analytics.
Is Sangoma’s cloud UCaaS solution truly all-in-one, integrating voice, video, and messaging?
Yes, Sangoma’s cloud UCaaS is an all-in-one solution that seamlessly integrates voice, video, and messaging into a single platform. This unified approach ensures that businesses can manage all their communication needs efficiently without the need for multiple disparate systems.
How does Sangoma’s cloud UCaaS ensure reliability and uptime?
Sangoma guarantees a 99.999% uptime for its cloud UCaaS solution. This high level of reliability is achieved through:
- Redundant Infrastructure: Multiple data centers and server redundancies to prevent single points of failure.
- Intelligent Routing: Advanced routing protocols that ensure calls are directed through the most efficient paths.
- Continuous Monitoring: 24/7 system monitoring to proactively address potential issues before they impact service.
How does the cloud UCaaS solution differ from hybrid or on-premises options?
Sangoma offers flexible deployment models to suit various business needs:
- Cloud UCaaS: Fully hosted in the cloud, offering scalability, remote access, and reduced on-site hardware requirements. Ideal for businesses seeking minimal maintenance and easy scalability.
- Hybrid UCaaS: Combines cloud-based services with on-premises equipment, providing local survivability and failover options. Suitable for organizations that require a balance between cloud convenience and on-site reliability.
- On-Premises UC: Entirely hosted on-site, offering maximum control over the system. Best for businesses with specific security requirements or those needing complete oversight of their communication infrastructure.
Each deployment model offers distinct advantages, and the choice depends on factors like control preferences, scalability needs, and existing infrastructure.
Does the cloud UCaaS solution work with existing hardware, such as phones?
Yes, Sangoma’s cloud UCaaS is designed to be compatible with a wide range of existing hardware. It supports Sangoma’s own line of phones as well as multiple third-party devices, allowing businesses to leverage their current investments in hardware.
- Microsoft Teams: Direct routing integration allows users to make and receive calls directly from the Teams interface without the need for additional software or interfaces.
- Salesforce: Integration enables features like click-to-call, inbound screen pops, and call detail tracking, streamlining customer relationship management.
What kind of support does Sangoma offer for its cloud UCaaS solution?
Sangoma provides comprehensive support for its cloud UCaaS solution, including:
- 24/7 Support: Round-the-clock assistance to address any issues promptly.
- Help Center: An extensive online resource with tutorials, videos, guides, and FAQs to help users navigate and utilize the system effectively.
- Dedicated Onboarding Team: Assistance during the implementation phase to ensure a smooth transition.
Is the cloud UCaaS solution secure, especially concerning compliance requirements like HIPAA?
Sangoma’s cloud UCaaS is designed with robust security measures to meet industry compliance standards:
- HIPAA Compliance: Ensures that the system adheres to regulations protecting patient information, making it suitable for healthcare organizations.
- Data Encryption: Protects data in transit and at rest to prevent unauthorized access.
- Regular Audits: Conducts routine security assessments to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
These measures ensure that sensitive data is handled securely, helping businesses meet their compliance obligations. Sangoma’s UC is PCI-compliant and operates on it’s own private network.
When is a hybrid UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) deployment model the best choice for your business?
Hybrid UCaaS is ideal for businesses with critical communication needs, like healthcare or education, that need to control sensitive data while benefiting from cloud scalability and flexibility. It combines on-premises reliability with cloud advantages, ensuring business continuity and security.
How does hybrid UCaaS guarantee uninterrupted business communications?
Hybrid UCaaS guarantees uninterrupted communications by combining the local reliability of on-premises systems with the redundancy and scalability of the cloud. With 99.999% uptime and multiple failover options, if one system fails, the other seamlessly takes over, ensuring continuous operations and minimal disruption to your business-critical communications.
What are the key advantages of Hybrid UCaaS over a fully cloud-based solution?
The biggest advantage of Hybrid UCaaS is local survivability. If your internet connection or cloud services go down, your business can still operate using the local, on-premises system. You don’t lose communication because the on-site system keeps everything running smoothly, while the cloud provides extra support and flexibility for things like remote work or scaling your business.
Can hybrid UCaaS be customized for specific business needs?
Yes, Sangoma’s hybrid UCaaS solution (powered by Business Voice Plus) can be customized to meet specific business needs. We offer features like custom CRM integrations and Microsoft Teams integration, allowing businesses to tailor the system to their unique requirements.
Is Hybrid UCaaS cost-effective compared to cloud or on-premises solutions?
Yes, hybrid UCaaS can be more cost-effective than both fully cloud-based and on-premises solutions. It reduces the need for expensive on-site hardware and maintenance, while still allowing you to leverage cloud scalability and flexibility. This hybrid approach means you can avoid the high upfront costs of an entirely on-premises system and the ongoing costs of fully relying on cloud infrastructure, while still benefiting from both.
How does Sangoma’s hybrid UCaaS, powered by Business Voice Plus, integrate cloud mobility with on-premises systems?
Sangoma’s hybrid Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), utilizing Business Voice Plus, blends cloud-based flexibility with the reliability of on-premises infrastructure. This integration is achieved through the deployment of the on-site StarBox® appliance in conjunction with cloud-based network components. The StarBox® manages local call processing, ensuring uninterrupted internal communications, while the cloud infrastructure facilitates external connectivity and mobile access. This design ensures that even if the internet connection is disrupted, internal communications remain operational, providing both mobility and local survivability.
What are the primary features of Sangoma’s hybrid UCaaS, and how does it ensure business continuity?
Sangoma’s hybrid UCaaS offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to maintain seamless business operations:
- Built-in Business Continuity: The system’s architecture ensures that internal communications continue without interruption during internet outages, maintaining essential business functions.
- Voice-Optimized Call Routing: Advanced routing protocols prioritize voice traffic, ensuring high-quality calls and efficient communication.
- End-to-End Communication Controls: Comprehensive management tools provide oversight and control over all communication channels, enhancing reliability and performance.
How does the StarBox® appliance collaborate with cloud-based components in the hybrid UCaaS?
The StarBox® appliance serves as the on-premises hub, managing local call processing and ensuring internal communications remain active during internet disruptions. It works in tandem with cloud-based network components that handle external communications and mobile access, creating a cohesive system that leverages the strengths of both on-site and cloud infrastructures.
What failover options are available with the hybrid UCaaS?
To maintain communication during unforeseen outages, Sangoma’s hybrid UCaaS offers multiple failover options:
- 4G LTE: Provides a wireless backup connection to the internet, ensuring continued external communications if the primary connection fails.
- Secondary Internet Connection: A secondary internet connection can take over in the case the primary goes down.
- POTS Lines: Traditional Plain Old Telephone Service lines can be utilized as a fallback to maintain voice communications during internet disruptions.
What call control and routing capabilities does the hybrid system offer?
The hybrid UCaaS system provides robust call control and flexible routing features, which are compatible with Sangoma phones and select third-party devices, offering flexibility in hardware choices.
- Call Transfer, Park, and Intercom: Facilitates call management within the organization.
- Paging and Group Paging: Enables efficient broadcast communications to individuals or groups.
- Ring Groups: Allows grouping of extensions to manage incoming calls effectively.
How does the hybrid system manage voicemail and SMS functionalities?
Sangoma’s hybrid UCaaS ensures comprehensive messaging capabilities:
- Voicemail Groups: Allows messages to be directed to specific groups, ensuring timely responses.
- Voicemail-to-Email: Automatically forwards voicemail messages to email, enhancing accessibility.
- SMS and Instant Messaging: Facilitates quick and efficient text-based communications within the organization.
What advanced contact center features are included in the hybrid UCaaS?
For organizations with contact center operations, the hybrid UCaaS offers advanced features that enhance customer service efficiency and responsiveness such as:
- Multi-Layer Cloud Auto Attendant: Directs callers efficiently to the appropriate department or individual.
- Time-Based Call Routing: Routes calls based on the time of day, ensuring optimal resource allocation.
- Enhanced Caller ID and Presence Management: Provides detailed caller information and real-time status of team members.
How does Sangoma’s hybrid UCaaS ensure local survivability during internet outages?
The system’s design ensures that the on-premises StarBox® appliance continues to manage internal communications even if the internet connection is lost. This local survivability ensures that essential business operations can continue without interruption, maintaining productivity during network issues.
How is reliable voice-optimized call routing achieved in the hybrid UCaaS?
Sangoma’s hybrid UCaaS employs advanced routing protocols that prioritize voice traffic, ensuring high-quality and reliable voice communications. This optimization minimizes latency and jitter, providing clear and consistent call experiences.
Is the hybrid UCaaS suitable for businesses with multiple locations?
Yes, the hybrid UCaaS is designed to support multi-location businesses by offering:
- Multi-Location Flexibility: Ensures seamless communication and management across various sites.
- Centralized Management: Allows for unified control and oversight of the communication system from a single platform.
This design facilitates efficient operations and consistent communication standards across all business locations.
What third-party phone compatibility does the hybrid UCaaS system offer?
Sangoma’s hybrid UCaaS is compatible with a range of third-party phones, including Yealink, allowing businesses to utilize existing hardware investments.
Who should choose an on-premises UC system over cloud or hybrid deployment models?
An on-premises UC system is ideal for organizations like county or local governments, businesses with high-security needs, or those requiring SIP trunking integration. It’s also the best choice for businesses that need full control over their communications, strict security compliance, reliable offline operations, or have existing infrastructure and dedicated IT resources to manage and maintain the system.
Can the on-premises system support remote work or virtual environments?
Yes, an on-premises system can support remote work by using VPNs, remote desktop tools, or integration with cloud-based services. Additionally, desktop and mobile softphones can be used to provide employees with the flexibility to make and receive calls from virtually anywhere. However, supporting remote work with an on-prem system requires more effort and resources compared to cloud or hybrid UCaaS models.
How secure are on-premises UC solutions?
On-premises UC solutions are very secure, giving businesses full control over data and infrastructure. Sangoma ensures security through proper implementation, regular updates, and strong security measures like firewalls, encryption, and access controls.
Is an on-premises UC system difficult to manage?
An on-premises UC system is best suited for businesses with a dedicated IT team, as it requires ongoing maintenance, system updates, and troubleshooting. While it offers full control and customization, managing the system can be complex, especially as your communication needs grow. With the right IT resources, however, an on-premises solution can be effectively managed to ensure reliable performance and security.
Can I switch to a hybrid or cloud UCaaS solution later?
Yes, you can easily switch to a hybrid or cloud UCaaS solution later. The Sangoma team will work closely with you to ensure a smooth and seamless transition, providing migration tools and expert support to help you move from your on-premises setup. Whether you’re looking for a gradual or full migration, we’ll tailor the process to fit your specific needs and ensure minimal disruption to your business operations.
Will an on-premises UC solution save costs as compared to cloud and hybrid?
An on-premises UC solution may save costs in the long term if you already have the necessary infrastructure and a dedicated IT team. However, it requires higher upfront investments and ongoing maintenance, compared to cloud or hybrid solutions.
How does Sangoma’s on-premises UC system, powered by Switchvox, provide administrators with complete control over updates and integrations?
Sangoma’s on-premises Unified Communications (UC) system, Switchvox, offers administrators full control over system updates and integrations. By hosting all hardware and software within the organization’s premises, IT staff can manage updates, implement custom integrations, and fine-tune network settings according to specific business requirements. This setup ensures that the system aligns seamlessly with existing workflows and policies.
How does Sangoma’s on-premises system (Switchvox) operate, and what hardware and software are hosted on-site?
Switchvox operates as an on-premises VoIP phone system where both the hardware and software are installed and maintained within the organization’s facilities. The system includes a dedicated server appliance or can be deployed in a virtualized environment using platforms like VMware or Hyper-V. This on-site hosting provides businesses with direct oversight and control over their communication infrastructure.
Can existing desktop phones and hardware be reused with Sangoma’s on-premises system?
Yes, businesses can often reuse their existing desktop phones and hardware with Switchvox, leading to significant cost savings. The system is designed to integrate with a variety of devices, allowing organizations to maximize their current investments while upgrading their communication capabilities.
What kind of departmental contact center features are offered by the on-premises system?
Switchvox provides comprehensive contact center features suitable for departmental needs, including:
- Call Recording: Capture calls for quality assurance and training purposes.
- Monitor, Whisper, and Barge: Supervisors can listen in on calls, provide guidance to agents without the caller hearing (whisper), or join the call if necessary (barge).
- Queue Management: Efficiently handle incoming calls by organizing them into queues for better agent productivity.
- Custom Music/Message on Hold (MOH): Enhance caller experience with tailored messages or music during hold times.
- Enhanced Caller ID and Presence Management: Access detailed caller information and view the real-time status of team members
Can Switchvox be deployed in a virtual environment, and what are the benefits?
Yes, Switchvox can be deployed in a virtual environment using platforms like VMware or Hyper-V. Benefits of virtualization include:
- Scalability: Easily adjust resources to meet changing business demands.
- Cost Savings: Eliminates the need for dedicated physical servers, reducing hardware and maintenance costs.
- Disaster Recovery: Utilize virtualization tools for efficient backup and recovery processes.
This flexibility allows businesses to optimize their IT infrastructure while maintaining robust communication capabilities.
What level of control does the on-premises system provide over updates and integrations?
Switchvox’s on-premises deployment grants administrators complete control over system updates and integrations. This autonomy enables IT teams to schedule updates at convenient times, ensure compatibility with existing applications, and implement custom integrations tailored to the organization’s specific needs.
How does Sangoma address security concerns in the on-premises UC system?
Sangoma’s on-premises UC system enhances security by keeping data management within the company’s controlled infrastructure. This setup allows businesses to implement stringent security measures, monitor access, and ensure compliance with industry regulations, thereby reducing the risk of external threats.
Does the on-premises system have a web-based interface?
Yes, Switchvox features an intuitive, web-based interface that allows administrators to manage the system from anywhere with internet access. This interface simplifies tasks such as configuring settings, monitoring system performance, and managing user accounts, contributing to efficient system administration.
Is the on-premises system suitable for small and medium-sized businesses?
Yes, Switchvox is designed to meet the needs of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). It offers a comprehensive suite of features, flexible deployment options, and a simplified pricing model, making it an ideal choice for SMBs seeking a robust and cost-effective communication solution.