Avaya IP Office Increases Security for Cloud-based Deployments, Enhances User Experience

Avaya today announced it has upgraded its unified communications solution with unique built-in encryption that supports over-the-top public and hybrid cloud deployments to help reduce the growing number of cyberattacks aimed at small and midsized businesses

Avaya today announced the latest version of its market-leading unified communications solution for small and midsize businesses. Avaya IP Office release 10 adds a number of benefits for businesses in terms of security, resiliency and end-user experience, as well as for the channel partners who serve them.

Among several enhancements, the latest version of the Avaya IP Office Platform™ increases security and resiliency. Now, built-in signaling and media encryption between endpoints and UC clients helps preserve privacy and data integrity — critical in any deployment, but especially in those delivered through pure or hybrid cloud services. This unique feature in Avaya IP Office is provided at no extra cost or added complexity, unlike many other over-the-top, pure cloud UC vendor offerings available today that only provide encryption as an optional line item - if at all.

This increase in security is especially significant to the midmarket: According to a recent global survey^[1], the number of attacks reported by midsize companies increased 64% between 2013 and 2014, from 2,581 to 4,227. The increase in attacks on this segment comes partly due to the hackers turning to midsize businesses as easier targets than larger companies.

Blog: Securing the Cloud for Midsize Enterprises

Unlike pure cloud deployments, the latest version of IP Office takes a unique approach to resilience, providing system failover cloud to cloud, cloud to premise, premise to cloud and premise to premise.  Whatever the approach, the system stays active and users maintain UC capabilities throughout the outage.

Richer User Experience

To meet the rising expectations of end users for a richer, more streamlined experience, the Avaya IP Office Platform introduces the H175 video phone, with a 7” hi-definition touchscreen display that is suitable for the personal, executive desk or a small conference room. In addition, IP Office R10 opens a number of APIs to make it easier for developers to create WebRTC based clients to simplify configuration and deployment for partners. Finally, virtual meeting functions have been streamlined and strengthened with WebRTC audio and richer collaboration capabilities.

Smarter Contact Centers for Midsize Companies

For midsize companies with contact centers, in June Avaya announced a new Customer Engagement solution that provides midsize companies with the operational intelligence needed to enhance contact center performance and drive a high-quality customer experience. Highly affordable, simple to deploy, and intuitive to use, Avaya Workforce Optimization Select enables a wide range of insights into the customer experience, allowing midsize businesses to create the most value through every customer interaction.

The Avaya IP Office Platform is available through authorized channel partners in three deployment options: premises-based, hybrid or pure cloud solution. With over half a million systems shipped globally, Avaya IP Office is one of the most widely sold unified communications solutions for small and midsize businesses available in the market today.

Avaya was positioned as a Leader in the 2015 and 2016 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications for Midsize Enterprises (North America). 

“The challenge of keeping up with growing, ever-changing cybersecurity threats is daunting  - especially for small and midsize businesses with budget and resource constraints. It’s these very constraints that increase the inclination to choose cloud-based services; however, it’s also not a given fact that security is or will be provided by their cloud vendor. That’s why we’ve enabled IP Office with unique, built-in, out-of-the box security capabilities that a business would have to go out of the way to turn off - with no added cost or complexity," stated Gary E. Barnett, SVP and GM, Avaya Engagement Solutions.

“With interest in cloud solutions escalating among our customers, Carousel can offer our Powered by Avaya IP Office as a service, as well as a premises-based solution. Updates in the architecture with this release make our lives easier through streamlined deployments, and the built-in encryption provide a significant differentiator over other OTT cloud solutions that will help drive sales," said Jim Marsh, TITLE, Carousel Industries.

“SMBs are increasingly interested in cloud solutions, but are at different stages of adoption: some are all in, some prefer on premise, some are in between. Avaya offers a choice with the same code base and performance regardless of deployment approach. And just as important, security capabilities are baked in, not just optional.  Avaya’s message of security, flexibility, and performance will resonate with SMBs," commented Ray Boggs, vice president SMB research, IDC.

Source: Avaya release