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Lessons from the Microsoft Teams security breach

In Microsoft Teams
September 8, 2020
3 Min Read
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Security has become a top concern of companies in this era. Microsoft Teams security promises next-level security methods being deployed for more reliable communication across enterprises. Microsoft Teams security is equipped with the latest security methods like two-factor authentication and end to end encryption and is best suited nowadays. However, the need for security is still persistent after claims from Tech Giants given the recent Teams cyber-attacks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bigger picture

Since a huge number of users shifted to Microsoft Teams during the COVID-19 pandemic, much collaboration software including Teams experienced security breaches. It was reported in recent news. Around 15,000 to 50,000 employees were victims of this attack the attackers used Impersonation emails for Microsoft 365. These were convincing emails that looked exactly like notification emails from Microsoft Teams. The URLs redirected the users to landing pages that looked similar to Microsoft Teams web pages. One of the sender email id originated from the “sharepointonline-irs.com” domain which is neither related to IRS nor Microsoft SharePoint Online.

What was the payload of the Attacks?

The original URL that hosted the attacks was concealed under many different URLs. This made it easier to bypass malicious link detection. The links redirected the employees towards a Microsoft login phishing credentials site. Here, the username and passwords of the employees were obtained by the hacktivists, thus exposing thousands of mailboxes.

The effectiveness of Attacks was inevitable

As Cybersecurity solutions and experts suggest, it is always necessary to check where you are entering the credentials. But the attack became successful because it was very well planned and there had been a number of passive attacks before to gather enough knowledge by the hacktivists in order to carry out the active Microsoft Teams attack with success. The thing which supported the hacktivists was the timing of such an attack: during COVID-19, most people were working from home and became used to frequent Teams notifications.

5 Tips for a secure online presence

Given the increase in the number of cyber-attacks these days including the Microsoft Teams security breach incident, it is always important to make your online presence safe. Cybersecurity experts suggest these 5 tips that can keep your online identity secured and minimize risks of a security breach:

  • Prefer Private Browsing

A custom private web browser hides the traces of your online presence and makes it almost impossible to track your activity.

  • Use strong passwords

Cybersecurity experts recommend the use of strong passwords. It is because the sophisticated Brute Force attack makes password guessing an easier game these days.

  •  Limit social media sharing

The more you are active with your activities on social media, the more are you vulnerable to passive cyber-attacks where the hacktivists keep an eye on your activity to gather information needed for an actual attack.

  • Deactivate and terminate old accounts

Old accounts are hacktivists’ best friends. If you happen to own one but do not use it, it’s time to terminate it.

MachCloud – The secure and reliable digital business communication platform

MachCloud is a one-window for all your business communication and cloud hosting needs. It provides solutions like Cloud PBX, SIP Trunking, Microsoft Teams, Cloud provisioning, Microsoft 365 services, and all the many cloud automation and communication services you need for best inline cloud provisioning. MachCloud offers a secure setup with reliability and by following the CIA Trade (Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability).

Get your business aligned with the latest and secure tools from MachCloud for better productivity.

DID YOU FIND THIS ARTICLE INTERESTING? WHY NOT READ: “4 TIPS TO BEEF UP MICROSOFT TEAMS SECURITY“? 

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What are the Unified Communication platforms?

In FAQ
September 1, 2020
1 Min Read
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Unedited communications form many different platforms of communications into one centralized and unified manner. Platforms like business phone systems having features like audio conferencing, instant messaging, and others like email, SMS, video conferencing, and Fax together make up the broader unified communication platform. Unified communications provide a way to centrally manage all the communication within an organization via different channels.

Technologies like Cloud PBX, SIP Trunking, and other platforms like Microsoft Teams form a part of the overall unified communication domain. A unified communication system provides the level of modern connectivity and reliability needed in enterprise communication. With multiple communication platforms working together to provide a unified communication experience within an organization, the employees can experience better connectivity and thus the business gets the required competitive edge.

Contact MachCloud experts for a smooth unified communication experience and enrich your business with modern-day collaboration services.

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4 Compelling reasons to adopt unified communications in the cloud business

In Unified Communications
August 13, 2020
3 Min Read
4

Modern Unified communications is a way to streamline core business operations and increase productivity. With a state-of-the-art business phone in place, your employees can collaborate better and manage project communication much more eloquently via email, chat, phone, text, voicemail, audio conferencing and video conferencing. Having the right Unified communication setup lets you have an improved relationship with your customers too.

What are the few UC Solution options?

Modern born-in-the cloud PBXs are best to opt-in to a business. There are options to go for a SIP Trunking solution or a Hosted PBX system. In addition to this, Microsoft Teams is also a lucrative and emerging unified communication trend that satisfies most businesses’ communication needs. It offers Direct routing capabilities in which you can experience Teams Calls via your existing PBX.

What are the Major benefits of unified communications?

Apart from better collaboration, Unified communications provide many other benefits. Let’s have a look:

  • Top-notch infrastructure

With cloud communications, you get top-notch infrastructure at your hands to carry out inbound and outbound calls within your office. Cloud communications also provide geo-redundancy which inherently provides your business communication structure, resiliency against any disaster, or more specifically against a pandemic.

  • Improved business flows

Well-crafted unified communication solutions of today are designed to keep People’s communication in mind. Either they are your customers or employees; you’ll have to deal with people at the end of the day. With improved people communication your business processes eventually improve that gives you all the productivity needed for a growing business.

  • Reduced Shadow IT effects

In modern workspaces, it is getting difficult to combat the effects of Shadow IT. With a centralized cloud communication solution, you can stop shadow IT in its tracks. This keeps cyber criminals at a bay.

  • Better customer experience

Once you’re internal and external comm channels are better connected, you get faster response time. This makes things easier for the sales team or the customer support people to tackle customer things. 

Also read: A GUIDE TO DEPLOY MICROSOFT TEAMS DIRECT ROUTING

MachCloud takes your business to the next level

With MachCloud, your organization can get a modern communication system within no time. MachCloud provides best-in-line solutions for business communication. With services like Cloud PBX, SIP Trunking, Microsoft Teams Direct Routing, and Calling in Teams, MachCloud stands out from others. The Calling in Teams Solution can be obtained via MachCloud Solution for Microsoft Teams Solutions. In addition to this, there is a MachCloud Voice solution for better Calling options.

Keep your business communication updated with the latest MachCloud offerings and take your business phone to the next level.

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New Voice Devices for a rich Microsoft Teams experience

In Microsoft Teams, SIP Trunking
August 10, 2020
3 Min Read
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Many eyebrows were raised when the announcement of Skype for Business End of Life was made last year from Microsoft, that too, in favor of a new M365 system: Microsoft Teams. Not only Teams is native to Microsoft 365, but is also an “integrated” system that provides the business a modern communication solution; a full-fledged Microsoft Teams phone system.

Not only Microsoft offers a business-oriented telephony system but it also fosters better communication with its certified Microsoft Teams desk phones like Yealink VP59 and other Voice and Display devices. Recently, Microsoft announced some advancement in its Teams functionalities including an introduction of SIP Phones!

The need for Teams Voice Devices

With the rapid adoption of Microsoft Teams, especially after the pandemic, organizations are finding ways to collaborate with video and audio-conferencing capabilities. Teams Voice and Display Devices are used to cater to the growing business collaboration need as companies make the shift to a hybrid mode of work. Apart from typical desk phones like Yealink VP59, Microsoft is introducing the capability of fully integrated Teams SIP based Phones for a rich Microsoft Teams phone system experience. These phones are expected to have basic Phone capabilities while working with Microsoft Teams. Basic features include ring, dial, and answer functionality. They can, however, not feature the more advanced Teams functionalities

A look into existing Skype for Business 3rd Party IP (3PIP) phones

The Skype for Business 3PIP phones work with specific firmware and can get on with Microsoft Teams via a specific “cloud gateway”.

Microsoft also made another interesting announcement in the same blog regarding Skype for Business 3PIP phones. The timeline for Skype for Business 3PIP IP Phones, which haven’t migrated to Teams yet, has been extended beyond the previously set date i.e. July 31st, 2023.

These phones have firmware options for standard SIP as well.

RELATED: MICROSOFT TEAMS INTEGRATION WITH BUSINESS PHONE: WHAT TO EXPECT?

MachCloud- A Reliable Telephony Solution Provider

MachCloud stands out from the other Telephony providers with its unique set of services in the most pocket-friendly rates. The high-rated back-end infrastructure is what makes MachCloud telephony services robust. Offering services like Cloud PBX, SIP Trunking, VoIP, and Microsoft Teams, MachCloud has got many solutions for reliable service delivery.

With MachCloud, you get smooth business-critical solutions in a matter of hours. These solutions can take your business communication to the next level. Born-in-the-cloud MachCloud platform lets you enjoy your company work from anywhere. We offer instant delivery, easy management, simple and centralized services for your day to day business communication.

Whether it is Teams or Migration or any other Microsoft 365 offering like Exchange, SharePoint, Azure, OneDrive, our teams are ready for the rescue. Out experts value your existing systems and take full responsibility to successfully perform the deployment and migrations. With MachCloud, you are free to grow your channels.

Get started with MachCloud for a smooth Microsoft Teams experience for your business.

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How to use a PBX system?

In FAQ, PBX
July 29, 2020
1 Min Read
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A Private Branch Exchange or a PBX is a modern telephony system used for business communication. It can consume multiple channels of communication like VoIP, ISDN, or analog. You can use a PBX system to carry out calls, transfer calls, and receive calls, call queues, get a voicemail feature, call recording, and interactive voice menus (IVRs). Modern PBX phones include IP based telephony in which phone calls can be made via the internet over a PBX system.

You can use PBX as hosted solutions or a virtual solution that is backed by the cloud infrastructure. This thus supports scalability and is best suited for business communication of today. Features like Ring Groups, Digital Receptionists, Queues, Voicemail, and Reporting are prominent that makes a cloud PBX so popular. Modern PBX has redefined business collaboration.

To know more about how to use a PBX, contact a MachCloud expert, and get better guidance and details. 

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A guide to Deploy Microsoft Teams Direct Routing

In Microsoft Teams
July 23, 2020
3 Min Read
A

Microsoft Teams Direct Routing has gained immense popularity ever since the concept of modern business telephony is introduced. An on-premises telephony system infrastructure being directly linked to Microsoft Teams gives an edge to your business phone system. Microsoft has provided a full-fledge documentation on the step by step guide for Deploying Direct Routing for latest cloud business communication. However, it is very complicated to implement involving PowerShell scripts and connectivity protocol including security implementation. There are providers who easily can set up your business telephony with Microsoft Teams, without any hassle for you.

Microsoft Teams Direct Routing makes you do more with less

The Direct Routing feature expands the capabilities of Teams. There are two major phases to deploy Direct Routing in Microsoft Teams. These are: 

  • Planning & Prerequisites

  • Deploying Direct Routing

Planning the Business Telephony System

It is important to know the details of Teams Direct Routing before Deployment. Direct Routing allows the customers to interoperate with third party systems like on-premises PBX, Microsoft Phone system and Analogue devices. It further lets you leverage the existing infrastructure which you are using with other service providers. It facilitates users who do not have calling plans in their area. It is important to know the licensing requirements before you get started with direct routing.

RELATED: HOW Machcloud Teams FACILITATES BUSINESSES WITH TEAMS DIRECT ROUTING

Deploying Microsoft Teams Direct Routing with your local provider

The following steps are performed under this phase:

Step 1: Enable Direct Routing

In this step, the connection between Teams admin center and your local provider is created. No configuration at your side, all is fully automated provisioned by your local provider.

Step 2: Enable users for Direct Routing

For this step, you need to first create a user in Microsoft 365 and assign a license. You can create users via admin center. You can then assign the right Microsoft licenses to this user.

  • Configure Voice Routing Options

You can either configure Teams to route through a voice channel directly to the phone network or configure Teams to connect to existing PBX.

  • Phone number

A new or existing phone number can be assigned to a Teams user or an existing PBX extension number can be assigned to a Teams user. This process is automated by your telephony provider.

MachCloud helps companies in setting up their business telephony like no other

MachCloud is an all-in-one business telephony system provider that assists companies and organizations ranging from SMEs to enterprise level, in providing business phone systems. The services include Cloud PBX (Hosted PBX), SIP Trunking and Microsoft Teams Direct Routing. With its Teams-oriented unique solutions like Teams Calling Plans and Teams Extension, MachCloud stands out from other providers in the market. 

Get started with MachCloud to get details on Teams Direct Routing setup and enjoy state of the art business telephony service and cloud business communication.

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5 Technology Must Haves for ‘work from home’ scenario

In Business Communication, Digital Communications, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Office 365
July 10, 2020
3 Min Read
5

Work from home has become a norm in companies ever since the COVID-19 had been declared as a pandemic. However, in the IT sector, the term “work from home” has been circulating for more than a decade now. People who telecommute often know what gadgets to have their hands on, for a smooth work from home experience. However, this pandemic has forced most of the organizations to implement telecommuting and get their hands on the latest technology to facilitate home working.

What are the major Home Working Technology Must-Haves?

Cloud communication tools have emerged as major essentials to keep teams connected while staying geographically apart. If you think you can manage with a normal chat-based tool or simple email communication, you might be surprised that it isn’t enough to cater for today’s collaboration needs.

  • Video Conferencing Tools

Either it is your regular Agile meeting or a comprehensive Project feasibility report meeting, a video conference is essential for one on one communication with your boss or employees for better Team collaboration. There are many freely available Video conferencing tools, but they are vulnerable to threats. However, Microsoft Teams is a full-fledged solution that provides secured Video conferencing experience.

  • Project Management Tools

While staying at home it requires more effort to notify Teammates of the project progress. Investing in a better project management tool is always a good idea since it reduces the time you need to notify every member of the team on the work progress. Cloud-based Project management or business productivity tool would be an excellent choice to foster the team’s collaborations being geographically apart.

  • Microsoft Teams Collaboration Solution

This is by far the most effective and efficient productivity solution to cater for modern-day project sharing needs amongst project teams. Since its native to Office 365, you get to share any SharePoint content, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel work files for better understanding and collaboration. In addition to this, Teams offers Calling in Teams Solutions for easy calling right from your Office 365.

  • Cloud PBX for Staying Connected

Even if you are not working from home, this tool comes in handy for normal office communications. A cloud PBX lets you stay connected with other Teams members via cloud communication technology. It is also cost-effective for the organization and lets you stay in control of your cloud-based calls and offers all the features of a Cloud Phone system. So, whether you are working from home or office, a Cloud PBX is a must-have technology!

  • Digital Assistants

Digital assistants have emerged as an important tool to cater for fast-paced communication. Most workers are mostly familiar with digital assistants. These tools can carry out calls for you, take notes, and send emails at the scheduled time and much more. Modern telecommuting requires a digital assistant that can adapt to the working schedule and learn about next Gen communication requirements.

Related: WORK FROM HOME SIMPLIFIED WITH UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS

MachCloud – The cloud communication platform for modern-day business communication

MachCloud provides a digital communication solution that derives collaborations and makes it effective amongst remote working teams. MachCloud has assisted various teams in connecting them for productive working amidst the employees to work from home scenarios. It offers services Like Microsoft Teams solutions including Calling in Teams, Direct Routing for Teams, Office 365 reselling, SIP trunking, and Cloud PBX. No matter what size your organization, there is something for every type of business.

Get started with MachCloud’s services for a smooth work from home experience.

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Is Cloud PBX More Expensive than On-Premises?

In Cloud PBX, FAQ
July 3, 2020
1 Min Read
I

A cloud PBX costs less than an On-Premises setup. When it comes to cost comparisons, the on-premises setup requires initial setup costs. This includes the infrastructure costs and the cost of setting up by hiring an expert. In the case of a Hosted PBX solution, all the setup, installation, and maintenance is handled at the Provider’s end. The On-premises setup adds to the maintenance cost since the maintenance and hardware up-gradation has to be done by the business itself. In addition to this, the security requirements of the communication lines also demand an additional cost. In the case of a Hosted setup, the security and maintenance are provided from the Provider’s end.

Cloud-based communications and cloud-first approach always leads to better productivity and cheaper rates in the long run.

Stay in the know and keep in touch with a MachCloud expert to gain details regarding Cloud PBX vs. On-premises PBX.

DID YOU FIND THIS INTERESTING? WHY NOT READ: “CLOUD PBX VS. ON-PREMISE PBX – WHICH PHONE SYSTEM TO OPT FOR YOUR CLOUD BUSINESS“?

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How does a cloud PBX work?

In Cloud PBX, FAQ
July 3, 2020
1 Min Read
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Cloud PBX essentially needs an Internet connection to carry out cloud-based communication. A VoIP system or any other IP system is needed that provides essentially an IP to your telephony system. It is a full-fledge Virtual PBX phone system hosted in the cloud. Cloud PBX is a hosted private branch exchange. With this, IP PBX transfers the call via the internet to Public Switch Telephony Network (PSTN). Thus, Companies adopting a hosted PBX solution do not have to spend on installation, maintenance, and setup of services.

Cloud PBX interface software allows for accessing the cloud PBX features from any device, Multiple devices can communicate with each other via a middleware. In this way, the office phone can be used on-the-go. Cloud PBX is flexible and provides self-resiliency.

The Cloud PBX Provider is responsible for the maintenance and the technical aspects of the underlying infrastructure. A cloud PBX works best for companies that are growing and have an increasing number of employees.

Talk to A MachCloud expert for more information and technical assistance on MachCloud® Cloud PBX.

DID YOU FIND THIS INTERESTING? WHY NOT READ: “Is Cloud PBX More Expensive than On-Premises?“

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