Solutions
Cloud
Cloud Computing Platforms
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud are several examples of cloud service providers, each one offering many types of services. These services can enable an organization to host their data center in the cloud or offset some of their data center in a hybrid cloud scenario. Setup times in the cloud are usually much quicker than setting up a solution on premises, and there are many customization and pricing options to meet the needs of most companies. Services in the cloud are also very scalable, allowing a business to easily expand their infrastructure as their business grows. In addition, the cloud offers the ability to utilize services at multiple locations, which can be used to provide redundancy. If something were to happen at one location, then another location could be used as a backup. This might not have been feasible with an on-premises setup for a smaller business operating out of a single location.
Unified Endpoint Management (UEM)
With the growth in use of devices such as smartphones and tablets at work, companies need ways to manage and secure these devices. Cloud-based unified endpoint management (UEM) solutions, such as Microsoft Intune, allow a company to manage these devices, along with traditional devices, from a single service. Options exist for fully managing company-owned devices or partially managing personal devices, also known as bring your own device (BYOD) devices. Managing company-owned devices gives the organization full control over security policies and settings on a device, while managing BYOD devices gives the organization the ability to secure company apps and data on a device, without the ability to control anything else. UEM solutions also allow hardware vendors to add devices purchased through them into the company’s UEM solution before shipping the devices. This allows for the complete setup and configuration of a device directly out of the box, known as zero-touch provisioning. This contrasts to setting up devices in the past, where IT employees had to physically touch every device to set it up before handing it out to an employee. Windows Autopilot, Android Enterprise, and Apple Business Manager can all be set up to enroll devices this way into a UEM solution.
Collaboration
With the phasing out of analog phone lines, voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is now the norm for landlines. This has allowed cloud VoIP providers to step in and handle most of the functions that a traditional Private Branch Exchange (PBX) once provided. This includes features such as call transfers, call forwarding, auto attendant, and voicemail. The VoIP systems can even integrate with other communication systems, such as text or video conferencing. There are many providers to choose from, and configuring the phone system can even be handled by the provider.
Cisco Meraki
Cisco Meraki offers cloud-managed network administration through its web-based dashboard. It allows centralized control over network devices, such as routers, switches, and wireless access points (WAPs). Devices can be configured, monitored, and troubleshot through this dashboard. In addition, advanced security can be added on to enable real-time threat intelligence.
Google Chrome Enterprise
Google Chrome Enterprise allows for a business to manage Google Chrome browser on company devices, and it allows for a business to manage the company’s ChromeOS devices, such as Chromebooks. Management is done centrally from the cloud, through what is called the Google Admin Console.
When managing ChromeOS devices, users can be created for logging into devices, which will allow a user to log into multiple devices using the same account. This could allow, for example, a user to securely log into their own account on devices shared by other users. Also, policies and settings can be configured to manage users and devices. An example of setting a policy would be preventing a specific user, or groups of users, from downloading certain apps. Another benefit of managing ChromeOS devices, is an administrator can centrally push down apps to these devices through the Google Admin Console. This would free up an IT person from having to physically go around to each individual device to install the apps.