How are your communications hosted? In today’s business world, organizations are constantly looking for that next advantage, often based on the answer to that question. Whether you employ a traditional on-premise system, an all-inclusive cloud environment or something in between, the need abounds to be able to exchange information in the most efficient and effective way possible.
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While the benefits of turning to a cloud-hosted service provider have been well documented, less emphasis is usually placed on the hybrid architecture and those companies that support cloud or on-premise communications. Providers offering a complete selection of tools and options to accomplish this task can support whatever your needs may be. So — what are the benefits of a hybrid implementation, versus its alternatives? How can its selection help your organization to accomplish more? And, ultimately, why should you select a provider that best supports this decision?
Benefits of Hybrid Communications
In many cases, choosing a hybrid cloud service can be the correct choice. Hybrid allows its users to incorporate some of the more promising aspects of the aforementioned alternatives. Organizations can rely on proprietary software to foster communications capabilities, yet do so across a virtually limitless number of options and services.
Potential benefits include:
- Adaptivity: Allowing employees to shift workloads between cloud options, or take them entirely offline, as necessary.
- Cost Effectiveness: Helping respond to price fluctuations by migrating software and information to the most-affordable options. Also, a pay-per-use scale allows the hybrid architecture to better manage costs.
- Customizability: Improving control over and manipulation of communications data, including information residing on a local cloud or your own data center.
- Power: Accessing multiple resources, including computational, from a single interface.
- Info Integrity: Fostering geo-redundancy, through which data is backed up across multiple, disparate geographic locations, limiting disruption or data loss.
For these and so many other reasons, today’s businesses can benefit from selecting a service provider that offers support for hybrid options.
Other Cloud Deployments
In today’s communications-first world, cloud-based interactions are still the preference of many. Whether your organization is seeking to reduce hardware investment or cost, streamline management or increase agility, cloud communications is helpful in eliminating physical space, streamlining deployment and bolstering agility.
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Organizations do not have to retain their own physical investments, instead essentially renting capacity on a pay-per-use basis that limits cost. This factor also means that further investment – beyond paying for expanded capacity – is not necessary as the company grows. Businesses do not have to invest considerable time or energy in installing, personalizing or managing their assets. Likewise, given that UCaaS and other similar options are virtual, they are accessible regardless of the in-house system or other logistical obstacles. All that is needed is a stable, reliable internet connection, making it especially useful for organizations with expansive remote- or hybrid-work practices.
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In contrast, many businesses that tend not to rely on the internet turn to traditional on-premise communications. The most logical reason to adopt this type of infrastructure is physical security, most often in cases where sensitive information is exchanged that needs to be kept strictly in-house. In a world where cybersecurity has become an increasing concern, on-premise communications options tend to alleviate collaboration security pressures because they keep this data offline and accessible only to those with access to the physical, in-house server.
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On-premise deployments also offer benefits regarding accessibility and manageability. Information is accessible, even during times of internet outage. Likewise, hardware and files are more easily manipulated, as their oversight is not bound by the rules and restrictions of a remote server. Of course, the balance is that your business risks disruption or data loss in the event of disaster. If reducing or even eschewing internet connectivity is a goal, however, then on-premise is the way to go.
So — Which Cloud Communications Deployment Is Best?
That decision depends on your organization and its needs. Companies already adept at relying on the internet for other aspects of their communications and operations will find comfort and certainly cost-savings in the cloud, while businesses that can exist largely without connectivity may find an on-premise model is most effective.
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For many organizations, however, the hybrid option may provide the perfect blend of the two. By relying on a provider that can support this type of communication deployment, many of the hassles related to maintenance, scaling and cost go unnoticed, while improved customizability and manageability is retained. And in a world where every company’s operations are different, this choice may make all the difference.
Choosing a Cloud Provider
Ultimately, when it comes to making a choice for your communications system, you want to have as many options available to you as possible. A provider that can support all of the above deployments offers the greatest amount of flexibility and support, ensuring your business is set up for success no matter what you choose. This also allows you to pivot and change your communications system more easily if you decide a different model will work better for changing needs. In today’s fast-paced, constantly changing work landscape, that level of agility can be a game changer for how companies manage their communications.
Interested in seeing how Sangoma can help to fill your communications needs? Visit www.staging.sangoma.com. 
