There are a number of users and enterprises that have reported the cloud to be a bad experience at the beginning. After going through many negative reviews, it has been revealed that many of them point to the downgrade services by the provider. This makes the choice of Hosted PBX provider a very important consideration while upgrading your PBX.
However, much of the negativity seen online about cloud-hosted solutions is FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) – partially driven by, traditional premise-based service providers trying to cut down the number of customers making the move to cloud technology and partially, by customers with poor networks in place.
Before picking up any hosted PBX service provider, taking into consideration following points can benefit businesses significantly:
1. Kind of Support Offered
Every cloud service provider offers 24/7/365 support. Most of the quality service providers offer a wide variety of features at an affordable price. Depending on the size and type of industry, businesses can choose ideal provider and service options. It is critical for businesses to evaluate the present and future business needs as per company’s budget and then opt for the best suitable service provider that meets the business requirement completely. Considering, the limitations and practices followed you can take complete control of the cloud solutions incorporated.
2. Requirement of Any Specific On-site Equipment
Some of the providers prefer to sneak in equipment requirements such as specialized servers, session border controllers (SBCs) and other pricey gears which may not have been discussed on the sales call. Be specific about initial conversations and ensure that no specific equipment is required beyond core basics that may be required by VoIP-grade network such as switches, good firewall and desk phones to support business communications.
3. Kind of VoIP Security Capabilities Implemented
Businesses communicate constantly. Here the role of VoIP comes into the picture. And sharing passwords, PIN or key over the VoIP channel can be affect organizations negatively. As VoIP messages and calls exist as data packets that are sent over the network and these can be converted from audio to text. So, it is important to ensure that passwords are always shared over a secured network. Additionally, organizations must also, check that appropriate firewalls are installed properly. VPN network in combination VoIP ensures entire data transferred across the network is encrypted.
4. Any contractual or cancellation fees Applicable
This varies with each provider. Before opting any provider, it must be ensured that term details and cancellation fees are clearly defined. Service fees agreement must include any kind of fees as applicable for domain name registration and its maintenance. Refundable fees, other billing information as applicable for continuity of services and discounted services should be included in the service agreement. For any kind of service cancellation or automatic renewal must be notified to the subscriber.
5. Trial Period Offered
Similar to taking a test drive before buying the car, taking the trial period for testing the cloud solutions can help to take advantage of services. Many of the cloud solution providers offer the ability to take industry standard trials. Services such as server up-time, control panel, and live support can be tested without paying anything. This trial period covers few restrictions which must be taken into consideration while choosing any cloud service provider.
Conclusion
Opting the right hosting provider is a critical decision for smooth business functioning. Small to large-scale businesses can be benefited significantly on choosing the right hosting provider. The right hosting provider can ensure all of the company’s needs are fulfilled in time.