Data Security: Three Reasons to Take Your Business to the Cloud

choruscx on March 20, 2023


The shift to cloud computing has been one of the most significant tech trends of the past few years, with many businesses embracing the host of benefits the cloud can offer.

From reduced IT costs and increased flexibility to improved security and boosted application performance, the cloud brings about the potential for innovation and new capabilities — especially for businesses that rely on telecommunications to conduct their business.

Communication has never been more critical in the rapidly changing (yet always competitive) world of commerce. Thankfully, effective communication has also never been more accessible thanks to cloud communications.

So, if this is the case, why are business owners still resisting the switch?

At its most basic, ‘the cloud’ refers to any software or service not located on a personal computer or device. Instead, data is stored off-site and lives solely on the internet.

For some, this framework may seem untrustworthy and raise alarm bells about data security. But cloud data isn’t just floating around unprotected. In fact, sensitive data is often a lot safer in the cloud than on-premises — and here’s why…

1. Data loss prevention

Surrendering data to the cloud can feel like the digital equivalent of a trust fall.

But if organisations aren’t investing in a cloud computing solution, all valuable data is inseparably tied to its office computers. So, why’s this an issue?

Computers and hardware can malfunction for many reasons — from viral infections and age-related deterioration to simple user error (we’ve all been there…). And if any physical equipment experiences a problem, valuable data could be lost — permanently.

Alternatively, if data is stored in the cloud, all that information is secure and accessible from any device with an internet connection. So, no matter what unforeseen circumstances arise, that data can be retrieved and accessed from a backup server.

2. Round-the-clock security

Did you know cloud networks are under constant surveillance?

Previously, businesses always stored data in privately owned servers. But that requires having your own IT department and premises to keep the servers, continually updating hardware and software and developing stringent contingency plans in case of a data breach or an unforeseen disaster, like a fire.

So, for most organisations, 24/7 data security isn’t a cost they can afford.

On the other hand, cloud providers have full-time staffing and a round-the-clock security operations centre (SOC) that constantly monitors network infrastructure — keeping your data secure.

Protecting sensitive information is a top priority for any business (especially with security threats like call spoofing, malware and denial of service attacks swirling around)…

Cloud communications providers offer security measures like data encryption authentication protocols to keep communications safe. So, if hackers intercept a person’s data during its transfer to or from the cloud, they’ll be the only user with the information needed to access their files.

3. Safer collaboration

Collaboration is an integral part of most business operations, and transitioning to the cloud can provide team members anywhere in the world with the tools to work together both safely and efficiently.

With new cloud solutions like unified communications software, we’ve entered an era where the workday is no longer confined to a specific desk, phone or computer screen. Professionals now have the freedom to work remotely and share their skills globally — all they need is the right device and a cloud connection.

Unified communications solutions enable a higher level of interaction, making sure that everyone has access to the same secure system and that shared information is protected with end-to-end data encryption.

And the best part? We have the perfect solution for you — packaged into one easy-to-use, intuitive app…

The future of unified communications 

ChorusCX Flow

is our Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) solution that unites telephony, PBX, instant messaging, video meetings and call-centre functionalities under one umbrella.

What does this mean for businesses? Boosted productivity, more flexibility, cost savings and improved data security — with access to IT support for all your company’s users, no matter where they are.

The options are endless with ChorusCX Flow — from both a partner and end-user perspective. Gone are the days of investing in separate data sharing and communications systems. Now, cloud-based unified communications solutions can provide a complete package of interconnectivity between teams, making working together simple, secure and efficient.

Are you ready to make the move to the cloud?

With ChorusCX Flow, you can revolutionise the way you work without compromising your data security. Get in touch with our team at sales@invosys.com to learn more about ChorusCX Flow and our other telco solutions. We’re more than happy to help.

2023 Telco Trends: Stay One Step Ahead with ChorusCX

choruscx on February 15, 2023


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Going into 2023, telcos everywhere can be proud of their collective resilience over the last few years. 

Between price increases, supply chain issues and geopolitical tensions, recent events have caused telcos of all shapes and sizes to stand back and examine their strategies as they navigate the ever-changing landscapes of technology and communications.  

And with a new year comes a new set of challenges. From where we’re standing, 2023 will likely continue to be defined by change — something the telecommunications industry certainly isn’t exempt from.  

Though there’s no way to predict exactly what will unfold for telcos this year, there are a few trends and changes we expect to see in the coming months… 

Private 5G 

Will 2023 be the year private 5G finally goes mainstream? Mobile subscribers can already get 5G access in major areas depending on the provider. But private 5G networks will take things one step further, designed to enable enterprises to control their destiny regarding partners, features and connectivity.  Thanks to private 5G networks, businesses and consumers alike may finally have it all: complete indoor and outdoor coverage with a high degree of security (making them a good choice for large institutions and companies), ultra-reliability, low latency and reduced energy usage.  Pretty good, right? Still, there’s one thing to keep in mind as we embrace 5G connectivity: cyber crime… 

Cyber security

Cyber security has always been a concern for telcos. But as our national telecommunications networks expand to facilitate 5G and more businesses migrate from traditional phone systems to alternative cloud-based services in preparation for the ISDN switch-off, concerns over cyber security are only getting more serious.  From the growing risk of cloud threats leading to misconfiguration to the potential for hackers to access sensitive information being shared between internet of things (IoT) devices via private networks, telcos will have their work cut out to stay ahead of the problem this year. And the issue of telco fraud shows no signs of slowing down in 2023, either… Of course, phone scamming isn’t a new phenomenon. But with a steady 34% increase in digital phone call scams since last June — voice phishing (vishing) and voice over IP (VoIP) scams in particular — it’s more important than ever for businesses to invest in automated solutions that can accurately detect and report caller fraud. 

Energy efficiency

Did you know that the energy costs of running the world’s mobile networks have reached $25 billion (£20 billion) annually due to ongoing crises and inflation? Yikes. It’s time to take a new approach. To reduce their energy consumption, telcos need to modernise their existing networks and maximise their traffic performance through tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and automation. Doing so is crucial to minimising energy costs and lowering carbon footprints — without compromising user experience. 

Metaverse 

The metaverse — a shared, immersive 3D virtual space — is one of the biggest trends in the telecoms industry. So, how will it impact telcos this year? Virtual reality (VR) has been used for ages in online gaming. Now, it’s reaching new realms — planting roots in many industries and businesses, allowing them to create true-to-life simulations in risk-free, cost-effective ways for training, data visualisation, manufacturing and more.  Great… except VR metaverse users require around five to 40 times more data than it takes to stream a video (that’s quite a lot). As a result, telcos will have to invest in the ultra-fast fibre connectivity and cloud computing infrastructure needed to meet the low-latency requirements of the metaverse. 

Cloud computing 

Remote working may have kicked things off for cloud computing, but the global hyperscale cloud market will drive things forward in 2023 (and beyond). Hyperscale computing is an agile method used to process data, with hyperscale architecture able to scale up or down depending on data traffic.  With the adoption of 5G, IoT devices, edge computing, video streaming apps and a need for more data storage, ‘hyperscalers’ like Google, Facebook and Amazon have taken this computing method and applied it to data centres and the cloud to accommodate fluctuating demand. So, now that these big companies are trying to dominate the public cloud and cloud services industries, it might be time to look at your cloud connectivity offerings to ensure you’re keeping up with the competition. 

Weathering the storm

Although there’s no way of knowing how events will unfold this year, one thing’s for sure: things could get challenging. So, now’s the time to get your ducks in a row, streamline your finances and boost productivity to put your business in the best position to adapt. One of the first steps in this process is identifying what functions could be outsourced to save time and money — including managed services, such as help desk and product support, technology consulting, operational services and much (much) more.  Without adding a single person to your payroll, managed telco services can help fill any technical skills, knowledge or headcount gaps to ensure your business runs as smoothly as possible — even during busy periods, such as the summer and bank holidays. When ChorusCX provides these specialist services, we’re not just a voice at the end of the phone — we offer a white-labelled service, remote local support and hands-on maintenance. And when we supply our industry-leading ChorusCX Number Manager platform, we provide in-depth training and 24/7 telecom support. Plus, because of our vast portfolio of products, you can bundle products and services together to maximise your offerings and available profit margins. Win-win! Are you ready to revolutionise your business? No matter how unpredictable the telco industry may be in 2023, ChorusCX is your sure and steady solution, offering businesses a one-stop shop for all things telecommunications. Contact our team at 0161 444 3333 or email sales@invosys.com for any questions. 

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ChorusCX and Cybersecurity: Protecting Our Network

choruscx on May 16, 2022


It’s no secret that cyber attacks have become a regular occurrence for businesses around the world.

With such swathes of existing data and more created each day, hackers are spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding who their next victim will be. And, now that a vast chunk of the world’s workforce is working remotely and relying on cloud-based systems, the risk of an attack or a breach is higher than ever.

In response, many organisations have developed sophisticated systems and software to protect their networks. But are they enough? What should we really be looking out for?

The perfect storm

In 2022, 39% of UK businesses have already identified a cyber attack on their company — the same figure as the whole of 2021. However, enhanced cyber security measures lead to increased identification of attacks, meaning organisations with less mature security infrastructure may be underreporting.

If a cyber attack is successful, it can result in a detrimental data breach. Cyber attacks often result in a substantial financial loss, and companies tend to incur significant costs repairing affected systems, devices and networks. However, there are also legal and reputational consequences of a cyber breach that are much more difficult to rectify.

In the modern age, cyber attacks are a common accompaniment to warfare, and they’re used not only to infiltrate government systems but also to disperse propaganda and spread fear. The devastating conflict between Russia and Ukraine has had a global impact, displacing millions of Ukrainians from their lives and causing rifts in industries worldwide. We’ve already seen a spike in cyber attacks due to the Ukrainian war. Whilst these have mostly taken place within Ukraine, there have been warnings of overspill into other countries.

As such, businesses everywhere are on high alert.

A social engineering enterprise

The increasing threat to every company in the digital age makes cybersecurity awareness more important than ever. Did you know that roughly 85% of all email traffic in the world is spam? Spam emails typically take two forms: marketing or malware. And whilst most spam filters catch and prevent these emails from reaching our inboxes, many of them still slip through the net.

So, although the risks of a business’ systems getting hacked in real-time by breaching security software and firewalls are still prevalent, the real danger usually comes from within. Did you know that 95% of cybersecurity breaches are a result of human error? And of these, 90% are usually totally avoidable — if you know how to avoid them.

Ensuring your staff are all alive to the signs of a cyber attack is one of the best forms of cybersecurity. No matter how many high-tech security systems or impenetrable firewalls you have in place, they won’t stop a colleague from falling victim to a convincing email or text containing catastrophic malware.

Accessing a business’ sensitive information can also happen over the phone. It’s not totally new, but phone fraudsters are tapping in to technology that lets them present a different number to the one they’re calling from, a technique known as ‘spoofing’. Often, these kinds of criminals take advantage of a company’s IVR menu, trying every series of digits possible to pass the next security level.

But it doesn’t stop there. Cyber criminals take advantage of social media accounts, as well as act as a business’ CEO to win the trust of employees. There are myriad avenues for hackers to take — all of which come down to individuals’ cybersecurity awareness.

Anyone can be a target

No business or individual is safe from a cyber attack. Even ChorusCX receives probing at all hours to our systems’ entry points as criminals and automated systems, from all over the world try to identify weaknesses. And as a downstream provider, we always feel the impact of cyber attacks on large-scale telephony outfits.

To ensure we never miss a trick, we run automated test calls into every end-point of our platforms that will identify if something isn’t right. If a test picks up on any inconsistencies, we’ll receive an SMS alert to say the testing has failed — allowing us to pinpoint the location of the failure and address it as a team.

Implementing geo-blockers as a preventative measure against cyber attacks is advisable, keeping users outside of our known client locations from ever being able to access our systems. However, whilst this kind of automated blocking can successfully safeguard systems against hackers, you always run the risk of blocking legitimate traffic. So, what more is ChorusCX doing to protect our network?

Risk management is everyone’s business

Basic cybersecurity really is everyone’s business. Many professionals think they’re too smart to be caught by an email containing malware. But often, hackers follow refined, sophisticated processes that often align in a series of coincidences to stage the perfect scam.

Of course, ChorusCX has several firewalls, multi-factor authentication and VPN measures active to prevent basic attacks on our internal systems and our customers’ data.

However, we run cybersecurity awareness training sessions to educate our staff on the telltale signs of a scam. Whether it takes place via email, text, phone call or social media, we’ve prepared our team to not only know what to look for but also how to minimise the initial risk and deal with the consequences if something goes wrong. Our cybersecurity training encompasses everything from how to choose a strong password to the benefits of cloud sharing. We believe that thorough and regular training is essential in this ever-evolving landscape of digitisation and cybersecurity.

And, whilst we’ve mentioned that there’s no single system that’ll safeguard your business, ChorusCX’ new Call Shield product provides the perfect blend of artificial intelligence (AI) with human intervention to prevent caller fraud. Call Shield uses AI to flag a call as potentially fraudulent or spam, allowing our customer to configure the settings and pass the call onto a team of real people to establish the best course of action.

Ultimately, it’s up to us to make sensible and informed decisions, and that all starts with our staff.

Want to know more about ChorusCX’ cybersecurity measures or are keen to learn about our new Call Shield solution? Get in touch today to book a demo, or simply give us a call at +44 (0)161 444 3333 if you have any questions.