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Conferencing in the Cloud

Moving your communications to the cloud: what does it mean, why move...and why not?

VideoCentric offer the most comprehensive portfolio of cloud video conferencing and visual communication services available today for the UK and international market, and are perfect for SMB's, national enterprises and multinational corporations looking to utilize video communications, or expand their current video infrastructure.

For VideoCentric's VideoCloud Portfolio, visit the VideoCloud website or see the VideoCloud Summary.

What is Cloud Based Video Conferencing?

The ability for businesses to have face-to-face meetings using video conferencing has rapidly reduced the need for business travel and has greatly improved company performance for many businesses across the world. But until now, high quality video conferencing has often been confined to large enterprises and even these have often spent much more than necessary, usually only getting average performing conferencing between static dedicated video conferencing and telepresence suites.

With businesses keen to make cost savings wherever possible and the increased pressure to act upon key environmental issues, it is more important than ever to deploy cost effective and efficient solutions into the workplace.

How does the Cloud effect Interoperability?

In the video conferencing world, there has always been issues with interoperability. It is often the case that one video conferencing vendors equipment will not interoperate with another vendor, and with an increase in mobile devices, users with webcams and desktop conferencing software, and a continually changing technology market, businesses must have the ability to interoperate all technologies seamlessly. This idea is often labelled as unifying or unified communications.

Interoperability is possible in the cloud where it was not possible before. This means you should be able to practically use and bring in any endpoint or device into your meeting, including but not inclusive to those shown above.

So even if you have a Cisco Telepresence Suite, some Legacy Tandberg video conferencing and HD LifeSize room systems, Polycom M100 desktop software, an audio conferencing system and a home user using Skype, they can all participate in the meeting that is easy to join and manage, and provides the best audio and video quality possible.

Cloud based Video Conferencing Interoperability between Cisco, Polycom, Google, Microsoft, Radvision, LifeSize, Tandberg, Codian, VCON, Avaya and more

Simply, cloud based video conferencing gives businesses and organisations the benefits of video conferencing but without having to invest in expensive network infrastructure usually required to deploy video communications throughout an organisation.

Cloud based video conferencing also allows anyone to access from anywhere. Room video conferencing, large telepresence suites, personal telepresence, video phones, desktop PC software, ISDN and legacy systems and even mobile devices - everyone can access the Video Cloud and interoperate, increasing the use of previous investments in the workplace, involving remote workers, improving collaboration and greatly increasing ROI. Explore the tabs below for more information on Cloud Based Video Conferencing Services.

You may also wish to view: The VideoCloud Website and VideoCloud Bundles

Cloud Based Video Conferencing Network Security
One of the main technological issues for businesses is network security. Many have expressed concerns over how secure cloud based services are and the risks associated with outsourcing data and network infrastructure.

Gartner, an independent analyst firm in technology and IT research says, "Cloud Computing has unique attributes that require risk assessment in areas such as data integrity, recovery and privacy, and evaluation of legal issues in areas such as e-discovery, regulatory compliance and auditing".

By selecting a high quality vendor with experience in implementing highly secure networks, these issues highlighted by Gartner regarding security can be addressed openly and this allows businesses to ensure safety of data and protected communication.

Many firms can actually implement much higher security by holding their video communications network in the cloud. Cloud video conferencing services from integrators such as VideoCentric continuously work to provide the highest security possible for their customers by seeking data centres who exceed ISO 27001 security standards and enable encryption options for all endpoints, alongside many other features implemented for the highest available security.

Reliability of Cloud Services for Video Conferencing
Cloud based services allow for pro-active management and continuous monitoring of networks and calls to ensure smooth video calls everytime. To ensure reliability, downtime of networks must be at a minimum. By using cloud based video services from high quality vendor, backup networks can be available to seamlessly switch across to if a network error occurs. Similarly, by choosing a vendor highly experienced in video conferencing hardware, telepresence systems and video infrastructure rather than those only offering services and software, any issues with calls in progress can be resolved by an expert technician and user difficulties can be addressed by calling an expert helpdesk run by highly experienced engineers.

VideoCentric offer all of the above as part of their cloud service in addition to system maintenance options including on-site engineers, rapid hardware swapout and user training sessions via video for those not 100% confident with using video conferencing and associated equipment in the workplace.

Expertise and Knowledge of Cloud Based Services for video conferencing and video network infrastructure
For small to medium sized businesses (SMB) cloud-based video conferencing is particularly valuable, where effective and affordable technology is critical in allowing a business to grow and be more productive without having to have large budgets and spend money upfront on, firstly, video network infrastructure, and secondly, the in-house staff required by investing in infrastructure and equipment.

That experience, expertise and technical knowledge of video conferencing hardware, software and infrastructure can be left to the cloud service provider such as VideoCentric, who can manage the operational and technical requirements whilst leaving you to concentrate on the meeting.

For larger businesses and enterprises, outsourcing video network management into the cloud can benefit in the same way, saving money and freeing up IT staff to enable them to do what they do best in IT and technology at ground level whilst the service provider does what they do best in the cloud.

Management and Monitoring of networks and video conferencing in the cloud Cloud based video conferencing allows meetings to be managed and scheduled by experts in video conferencing and meeting management.

A good quality cloud service offers options of meeting and resource scheduling, meeting support, usage reporting and billing information, and additional options such as automatic call launching and a professional meet & greet concierge service.

With additional features such as VideoCentric's award winning maintenance services, technology refreshment and spares, video conferencing in the cloud can be tailored to what best suites your needs. No more, no less.

PRC