Category: Uncategorized

Failure to switch from legacy phone technology may be costly for NC businesses

GREENVILLE, N.C. – May 5, 2022 –  One Source, a leading provider of managed information technology services, is urging North Carolina businesses relying on Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) to switch to an alternate service before the looming August 2 deadline. In response to a 2010 order from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), all POTS lines in the United States must be replaced. Multi-line services, including Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), also fall under this order.

Though digital technology has grown in adoption, many businesses still have POTS service lines supporting critical functions like elevator phones, fire alarms and security systems. As the major carriers sunset their POTS services, all these functions must be migrated onto either voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) lines, a dedicated IP network like Ethernet or fiber or a cellular connection over the air, leaving businesses still using POTS systems potentially without these services.

“A significant challenge for many organizations is that POTS line systems were designed for reliability long before the internet and IP telephony became widespread,” said Chris Hope, senior director of IT and security, One Source. “As a result, businesses cannot simply swap out one mode of communication for another and expect systems to work as intended. It takes significant planning and assessment to ensure all systems continue to function amid the change.”

One Source identifies the steps they should take to make the switch successfully:

• Identify which services rely on POTS: Companies should complete an inventory assessment of where POTS services reside, what hardware they are using, where they are located and what the potential side effects are for temporarily interrupting those services.

• Determine which alternative means of communications will work best: When changing over from POTS lines, companies may need to add additional capabilities to maintain services. This could include adapters, converters for modern IP-based networks or a managed voice service. Since POTS replacements are IP-based and controlled by software, new service lines can be configured and monitored remotely.

• Consider the cost: Different connectivity solutions cost different amounts. Historically, renewals for POTS services increase substantially – up to 700%. North Carolina businesses can expect to save between 30% to 50% on their existing POTS costs after switching to a modern IP-based network. Businesses can opt for a hybrid approach that uses internet first and cellular as a backup.

“The time for North Carolina companies still relying on POTS services for critical communications nearing its end,” said Hope. “The cost of doing nothing is becoming increasingly burdensome and will soon be even more so thanks to the looming FCC deadline. There has never been a better time for NC companies to invest in future-proofing their operations by migrating critical infrastructure to modernized systems to support business operations.”

Click here to learn more about copper POTS replacement for North Carolina businesses.

About One Source

One Source helps businesses simplify a complex technology world. One Source is the leading provider of fully-managed Communications Lifecycle Management and Managed Security Services for mid-market enterprises. Today, One Source manages more than 1,000 customers, 20,000 business locations, and over one million assets throughout the U.S. In addition to traditional Telecom / Wireless Expense Management services, One Source provides 24 / 7 local helpdesk, procures and provisions telecom/IT, and handles all service requests. One Source frequently generates triple-digit ROI for customers through contract negotiation, portfolio optimization, and ongoing expense management. In addition, One Source partners with FireEye and Cofense to bring Fortune 100 security solutions and fully managed services to the mid-market. One Source’s approach empowers businesses to focus on customers and revenue-generating activities. Learn more at https://www.onesource.net/

Managed security services leader encourages companies to plan ahead for an expected rise in threats

GREENVILLE, N.C. – March 7, 2022 –  One Source, a leading provider of managed information technology services, today announced recommendations for businesses across North Carolina to protect against an anticipated rise in cyberattacks amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. With tensions escalating across the globe, companies of all sizes should anticipate increasing attacks and take the necessary steps to guard against potentially costly damage.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict presents an ideal environment for threat actors to launch new cyberattacks on unsuspecting businesses, including distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) and ransomware attacks and data breaches. Echoing global authorities, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), One Source expects these threats to rise both in retaliation for increasingly painful sanctions levied against Russia as well as from opportunistic non-state-sponsored threat actors seeking to capitalize. While state-sponsored attacks will likely target the infrastructure and energy sectors, cybercriminals will use the fog of war as an opportunity to launch attacks against commercial businesses of all sizes, making companies across North Carolina potential targets.

As NC businesses seek to bolster their defenses, there are several steps they should take immediately to protect against attacks:

• Establish Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA is one of the single strongest actions a business can take to protect themselves. This is especially important as the credentials for widely used business applications are the most heavily used to exploit other services. Turning on MFA is something every North Carolina company can do now to protect their technology infrastructure.

• Understand your cybersecurity environment: Now is the time for companies to identify which assets in their organizations need protecting – from laptops to servers to mobile devices – along with where those assets exist on their network and how they might be vulnerable to attack. Companies should also ensure that employees understand company IT security policies and communicate frequently with employees about both emerging threats and required protective actions.

• Consider investing in cybersecurity defense: While many of the strategies threat actors will use in cyberattacks are well known, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has seen the emergence of new forms of malware and other malicious attacks that could catch businesses off guard. It is imperative that NC companies find a reputable partner to help manage cybersecurity protection in the event they lack the internal skill sets, bandwidth, resources or knowledge to protect assets.

“The Russia-Ukraine conflict is one of the first major global conflicts in which cyberattacks have been a foundational element,” said Chris Hope, senior director of IT and security, One Source. “As the conflict continues to escalate, our message to fellow North Carolina businesses is to prepare now and take cyber threats seriously. It is imperative that companies take steps to protect themselves to keep their brand reputation, data, and other important assets safe.”

Click here to learn more about One Source’s Managed Cybersecurity Service offerings for North Carolina businesses.

About One Source

One Source helps businesses simplify a complex technology world. One Source is the leading provider of fully-managed Communications Lifecycle Management and Managed Security Services for mid-market enterprises. Today, One Source manages more than 1,000 customers, 20,000 business locations, and over one million assets throughout the U.S. In addition to traditional Telecom / Wireless Expense Management services, One Source provides 24 / 7 local helpdesk, procures and provisions telecom/IT, and handles all service requests. One Source frequently generates triple-digit ROI for customers through contract negotiation, portfolio optimization, and ongoing expense management. In addition, One Source partners with Trellix and Cofense to bring Fortune 100 security solutions and fully managed services to the mid-market. One Source’s approach empowers businesses to focus on customers and revenue-generating activities. Learn more at https://www.onesource.net/.