If you’re in the business world, you have probably already heard about the benefits of cloud-based software: easy upgrades and security patches lower initial costs, consistent monthly billing, remote workers with complete access to business applications and tools, easy disaster recovery due to data storage in multiple places—the list is endless. Business phone systems that benefit from the cloud, i.e, desk phones, don’t have to be tethered to a traditional, on-site PBX. Instead, they are placed in the cloud and accessible through IP-based hard phones or desktop soft phones and mobile apps.
If this is a lot to wrap your head around, Avaya offers a variety of cloud-based solutions for consumers. At VMworld 2015, engineers exhibited Avaya UC and CC, which are hosted on VMware vCloud Air (the company’s cloud-based service platform). One of the key benefits of vCloud Air is that it is available in a phased rollout.
“A phased approach gives customers a chance to try a smaller piece of the infrastructure in the cloud and builds their confidence in cloud-based solutions,” said Mohan Gopalakrishna, one of the lead engineers on the project. “We can gradually retire servers from the on-premise campus and into the cloud. Avaya protects the investment and gives you an easy migration path to the cloud at your own pace.”
Switching to the cloud in a phased approach means that you’re not ripping and replacing. Avaya’s Enterprise Solution Practice team helps architect cloud migration plans for their clientele. Gopalakrishna estimates that it would take a midsize company a month to fully switch to a unified cloud communications system under the phased approach.
Under this approach, your company can operate as normal while undergoing a big switch. With Avaya’s philosophy regarding the cloud, there is no longer a reason to postpone a decision that will not only enhance your company but also save you money.
About The Author
