No Data is Lost Thanks to These Benefits of VoIP

When it comes to business communication, many companies have transitioned to VOIP (Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol) for its convenience, scalability, and ease of use. However, this internet-based communication method also proves highly useful to businesses during disaster recovery, too.

How does VOIP work again?

VOIP uses an internet connection to transmit “digital packets” between endpoints. In layman’s terms: VOIP operates like a traditional phone, but without the need for a pesky landline or analog signals. Users dial in through an internet connection, and because information is transferred digitally, users gain the ability to not just talk, but communicate via video, share documents, or share their screens. And, VOIP can work on desktops, tablet devices, and mobile phones, making it a highly versatile option for team members.

What are the benefits of VOIP for disaster recovery?

VOIP gives businesses the ability to communicate virtually uninterrupted in the event of a disaster. Because VOIP services (the software that allows this type of connection) are operated by third parties outside of your physical business location, they won’t be impacted by any inclement local circumstances. This means that during disaster recovery, employees that disconnect any VOIP phones and reinstall them at a different location will find that once they get back online, it’s possible to remotely login to the VOIP system and recreate their VOIP environment just as it was at the previous location. This is the same for laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. Just log back into the VOIP software, and you’ll be ready to go. Any information that you had saved on your VOIP network will be there waiting for you.

In essence, your business can keep communicating anywhere there’s an internet connection.

By relying on VOIP systems, rather than physical desk phones and landlines, you also save your business from the hassle and expense of replacing that physical property. Again, all your team needs is an internet connection to get itself back into its VOIP environment.

With VOIP, communication with clients during disaster recovery can carry on normally. Inbound calls won’t reach dead ends and customer meetings can occur as they normally would, with full video and screen sharing capabilities. Your team can deliver exceptional customer service even as your business works through its disaster recovery response at its physical location.

Of course, there are couple of precautionary measures to consider, even when relying on VOIP.

1. Backup Internet: Think about a backup internet connection should your primary connection go down during a disaster. For example, let’s say you need employees to work on a singular secure network, even if they’re operating from a secondary location. A backup connection can help ensure your team gets back online quickly and safely.
2. Data Center Locations: Ask your VOIP service provider about the location of their data centers. It could be that both you and your provider are in the same region facing the same natural disaster. In that case, your vendor may not be able to offer help much sustaining your VOIP service. Make sure a provider’s data centers are dispersed throughout different regions.
3. Provider Disaster Recovery Plans: Should disaster strike your provider’s data center, compromising your VOIP connection, how will they respond? What failover measures do they have in place? The overwhelming majority of VOIP system providers have a disaster recovery plan in place. Double check that yours does as well!

Which VOIP provider will be there to back your business in the event of a disaster? For more information on the benefits of VOIP, including other ways this type of communication can be of value during disaster recovery, give us a call at Matthijssen Business Systems. We’d love to hear from you.