The business phone made simple

An IP-PBX based in your office

For years, the PBX (Private Branch Exchange) serviced the telecom requirements of most businesses, setting expectations of how calls are managed within the business environment.

The PBX has since evolved from a system connecting us to the PSTN (public switched telephone network) via analogue & ISDN phone lines, to the latest evolution known as the IP PBX, connecting businesses with SIP trunks over their internet connection (additionally ISDN for those wanting some back up & resilience).

Bridging the gap between Hosted VoIP services and On Premise PBX’s is the Cloud Server Option.

The concept enables you to purchase the IP PBX, but rather than deploying on a local server, at your offices, it is deployed on a virtual server in the cloud.

All the benefits of running services from the cloud, but without the constraints of a multi-tenanted “ring fenced” environment.

Of course, not every IP PBX can be deployed this way, but when selecting a solution, having the ability to be deployed in such a manner can have significant benefits.

By taking a cloud server, you are “outsourcing” the headache of the hardware to run your phone system.

If you are wanting more control over your phone system, but don’t want the hassle of maintaining hardware onsite, then a cloud server could be the right solution for you.

• No on premise voice platform required
• Minimal upfront charges
• Pay monthly subscription service
• Access to new features/software levels at no additional fee
• Cloud-based Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery options
• PSTN Service access via single or mixed SIP services, ISDN2/ISDN30 trunking for increased resilience

For those organisations where uptime is key, then there are solutions on the market that can address such requirements.

By deploying a virtual server in the cloud, as well as a gateway at the office, the system runs one live database over multiple locations. What this means is that if there is a hardware issue, there is another server which can service the needs of all the handsets, regardless of their location.

Likewise, if you lose your Internet connection, local ISDN can be utilised to keep mission critical handsets in use, with minimal disruption. This is paramount for businesses where mobile failover is not a viable option.

This is simply not an option if you elect to take a Hosted VoIP service. This is another example of the limitations of a rented service off the shelf.

The cost for a hybrid deployment is much less than you may think and really does give the full belt and braces.

• Main voice applications located on premise
• Cloud based Survivable Gateway
• Ability to combine cloud-based DR with on premise local survivability (typically main sites) for advanced Business Continuity
• Improves network utilisation for remote offices and remote users
• All the benefits of on premise