When is Skype for business ending? Skype for business is ending on July 31, 2021. For the next few weeks, it will continue running to allow customers time to transition to Microsoft Teams, but immediately following July 31st, the platform will no longer be supported by Microsoft. After acquiring Skype for business, Microsoft began working on a more comprehensive communication option which became what it is known by today, Microsoft Teams. Are you ready for the transition? To help you out with the process, we have put together some tips to make the transition as seamless as possible.

Odyssey Elevate is an easy-to-use cloud based unified communications system that helps employees to be more productive and collaborative. The solution is ideal for any size business and scales quickly and easily. Odyssey Elevate is ideal for any workforce that requires the ability to work anywhere while maintaining the same features that once required the user to be in the office.

When selecting a communications platform for your business, comparing your options side-by-side is important. Cloud-based business communications solutions like Zoom and Microsoft Teams will have many features in common. However, what's the difference between Microsoft Teams and Zoom? Zoom Is a Newer Platform Zoom is a much newer company, while Microsoft has been around for a long time. Since Zoom is a newer organization founded in 2020, it is more prone to bugs in cybersecurity than more established companies. The platform experienced security issues when unauthorized individuals began joining private calls. This issue was eventually resolved, but it raises the question of whether Zoom's overall security features can measure up to hackers. Unlike Zoom, Microsoft has been around for a very long time. As an established company, it has fewer reported security issues. Teams is a newer platform for Microsoft, but it is built on a strong foundation from years of development. Complexity and Range of Collaboration Tools Zoom offers a platform that is easy to use for any skill level and gives you basic functionality from video conferencing, screen sharing, and recording. If you are looking for the most basic communication system, then Zoom may be the better fit for you. Zoom is only used for video meetings and does not integrate as seamlessly as Teams with other systems. Therefore, you will need additional tools for activities like SMS chat functions and project management. However, this makes Zoom simpler to learn for those who only want the basics. Teams as a Dynamic Alternative to Zoom When comparing Zoom vs Microsoft Teams, there's no question of which platform offers more integration. As an extension of Microsoft 365, MS Teams can integrate seamlessly and offer an all-inclusive communication channel. Join or plan a video conference, schedule meetings with attendees via your calendar, and chat with your members before and after the meeting. Although most email hosting providers offer Zoom integrations, Teams is a more dynamic system overall. Hundreds of apps can integrate with Teams, which can simplify your project management and collaboration. You can also save all your files into Teams so you do not need to go elsewhere to upload them. You can also retrieve conversations stored within the platform for future reference. How is Microsoft Teams Like Zoom? Microsoft Teams and Zoom overlap quite a bit in the features they offer. Both Zoom and Microsoft Teams offer collaboration features such as: Screensharing functions Breakout rooms Document sharing Voice calling Whiteboard tools In-call chat features Along with these video conferencing tools, both platforms offer security features to help prevent unauthorized access to meetings. Both use multi-factor authentication (MFA) and waiting rooms to verify participants before they can join a call. How to Choose a Video Conferencing Solution It's wise to partner with a managed communications provider with experience in your industry. They should be well-versed in your industry, so you can meet data security requirements and get the most out of your cloud-based communications software. If you're ready to invest in efficient and convenient unified communications, click the button below to speak to an experienced managed communications expert.

Out with the old and in with the new! This upcoming July will be the end of Skype for Business. Skype is a managed communication tool that was first released in 2003. First owned by eBay and later bought by Microsoft it has had a long life, but as Microsoft began creating a more advanced and integrated communication platform, Microsoft Teams, they began to move away from Skype for Business. As of September 1st, all new Outlook365 members will be directed towards Microsoft Teams. Microsoft Teams Microsoft Teams is the one pane of glass for all your needs.  It includes the actual meeting, a calendar to schedule meetings with attendees, and a chat to communicate with your members before and after the meeting. This makes Teams a much more complex system than Skype. There are hundreds of apps that can integrate with Teams allowing it to be a very versatile platform. You can also save all your files into Teams, so that you don’t need to go elsewhere to upload them. You no longer need to search through hundreds of emails for a conversation. All your private and group team conversations are saved right on the platform. It is a one stop shop all your workplace communication needs.  What Now? With Skype for Business slowly and surely moving out of the managed communications applications field, it is important to be prepared for the future. When choosing your new workplace collaboration and communication platform, having a functional interface for all your users is essential. Microsoft Teams has fully prepared to make a seamless and effortless transition for all your users. For any questions about Microsoft teams and the new integration, click here or call 800.724.2119.

What is Digital Signage? Digital signage is a digital display that can be used to inform, direct, welcome, warn or promote material to current or prospective clients. It is comprised of three main elements: Content, Hardware, and Software.   Digital Signage for Community Banks Digital Signage can provide a better client experience and attract prospective clients. As a business, it is always important to put yourself in the shoes of the client. In doing so you will realize what types of tools are most efficient when attracting them. When you are sitting in a business’s office, you are more likely to look at the TV with informative visuals and alerts appearing rather than a paper sign on the wall. Digital Signage is an effortless way to produce versatile virtual content that will appeal to your clients. How Digital Signage Will Benefit Your Bank Environmentally Friendly Having the ability to display messages on a virtual display means that you can inform people without needing to use copious amounts of paper or signs. Information such as daily hours of operation, contact information, or marketing promotions will be displayed in any format of your choice. With digital signage, you can also display a QR code that can be scanned to provide any clients with more information with ease. A QR code can be accessed by your clients by simply scanning a cell phone which will provide them with a link they can click on. This will increase the likelihood of a client receiving information because they will receive it instantly on their device after scanning. Digital Signage creates a more sustainable and versatile office environment for both you and your clients. Promotion Digital signage is an efficient way to promote any innovative marketing messages that you want the public to see. Today people are more likely to notice a screen that is displaying a message than a sign or cutout. Placing your digital signage display in an environment that is visible to current clients and potential clients who are walking by is an effective way to gain attraction. The messages can entail new services, branding, exclusive deals, or any other details about your banking service. Increased Customer Engagement By using digital signage to display videos, informational graphics, or artful messages, customers are much more likely to engage with the content. Many people will only fully engage with material if it is given in a format that is visually captivating. With digital signage you can get as creative as you would like, while also having the ability to present fresh eye-catching content every day! Digital Signage will elevate your customers' overall experience at your bank. It is important to keep up with technological trends. As the world keeps advancing, staying strategic with those advancements will ensure your clients will remain captivated. Digital Signage allows your business messages to be in a visual format that will resonate with today's customers. Many people are looking for their information on screens and if they do not find it there, they may not look much further. For more Information on Digital Signage click here or call 800.724.2119

Northwood is a boarding school located in Lake Placid, NY. The school includes grades 9-12, plus a post-graduate year and offers competitive academic and athletic programs. There are about 190 students from all around the United States (and the world!) that attend and about 85% of them live on campus. Northwood is a very well-rounded educational institution, that helps students gain the knowledge necessary to sculpt them for future success. The Issue with Learning During a Pandemic Due to COVID-19, sending students into schools was no longer an option in September 2020-- with no end in sight. Whether it meant moving to fully remote learning, bringing students in and splitting them up into smaller groups, or a half in-person and half online method, it wasn't going to be a normal school year. The pandemic forced many institutions, such as Northwood, to reevaluate their previous teaching structures. In Northwood’s case, they had to come up with a plan that would allow their students to receive a superior education, all while accommodating the structure of going fully online for classes. Northwood School was looking for the ability to provide the most interactive experience, both in and outside of the classroom. They also wanted to consolidate onto a single platform, instead of having separate conferencing, voice, and email platforms. For such a prestigious school, it was important they have a workflow solution that would allow both faculty and students to operate at their highest efficiency. The solution would need to grow with the school as the environment continues to expand and change. Usherwood wanted to make sure Northwood was provided with just that. Solving Remote Challenges Through Cloud Based Education Software Usherwood’s mission was to provide Northwood a solution that would deliver the highest level of education to their students. Together, Usherwood and Northwood created a solution that would allow them to integrate all their communication methods into a single solution. Usherwood deployed 12 room solutions in a single day. The deployment included 3 buildings on campus, as well as their Innovation Hub located in downtown Lake Placid. The overall solution included: 1. Implementation of Microsoft Office 365 for Staff: Microsoft Office O365 was chosen because it uses powerful cloud services, device management, and advanced security allowing students and faculty to communicate effortlessly, share documents, create meetings, and create virtual classrooms. 2. Migration from Skype to Microsoft Teams: Teams is a powerful extension of Microsoft Office 365. Teams was implemented because it seamlessly integrated voice communication, video conferencing, and virtual classroom communication. 3. Email Migration from Google to Microsoft Office 365: Switching from Google to Microsoft Office 365 email platform allowed all the applications that make up the solutions to have a more seamless integration. 4. Industry-Leading Equipment: Classrooms were outfitted with durable and versatile carts housing 65” displays, voice, and video equipment allowing for the application to create the virtual classroom. Staff were outfitted with a mix of headsets, compact speaker phones, handsets, and high-resolution video cameras so that they would be able to communicate seamlessly with other staff and students. What Did Implementation Look Like? The application portion of the solution was configured prior to deployment. The Northwood’s staff was trained on how to use the solution and was encouraged to practice utilizing demo systems in the weeks prior to the solution going live. The hardware portion was preassembled and configured at Usherwood. The entire solution was then wrapped and readied for transport at Usherwood. To be sure that the delivery didn’t interfere with the students or staff working at Northwood, the solution was delivered based on room availability and class schedules. Each solution was unwrapped, powered on, and tested to validate proper connectivity. Usherwood executed the deployment in a single day, to assure that Northwood was up and operational with it in no downtime. To assure that there were no surprises on day two, a Senior Applications Engineer and a Managed Solutions Specialist were onsite to verify that there were no issues and assist with any questions that may arise. An Opportunity for Growth in the Education Space Northwood will have the ability to communicate, hold online classrooms, and give assignments effortlessly. Students are even getting the opportunity to use and master an application that is heavily prevalent in the business world. Using Teams as a platform for school will prepare them for using it in their careers upon graduation. Northwood quickly adapted to their new environment in order to give their students the education they deserve, and for that we were so excited to have had the opportunity to work with them and become partners. If there is anything positive to come of the pandemic, COVID-19 provided an opportunity for the world to reimagine education. As new problems arrived for schools, technology companies like Usherwood were able to develop new solutions to help navigate a new learning/teaching process. This was the first time Usherwood entered the classroom with a Microsoft Teams solution. However, Usherwood, like many others, discovered the need for virtual classrooms with Teams as a cloud-based learning platform to solve new challenges facing educators. This period has been a new journey for so many industries and as a technology company, it has been a rewarding experience working with other industries and revealing opportunities for immense growth. To learn more about cloud computing in education, read our blog: How Would K-12 Schools Benefit from Cloud Communications? If you need some cloud upgrades for your school, or if you're just interested in exploring IT solutions, click the button below to speak with an expert.

Usherwood Helps Two School Districts Reopen Safely with Odyssey Defender Temperature Kiosks COVID-19 has posed many obstacles for the reopening of educational institutions in 2020. In hopes of creating a safer work environment for teachers and students, schools have begun to implement strict health protocols. Many schools are participating in a hybrid learning model; some students participate in virtual learning and others participate in in-person learning, face masks must always be worn, and there are regularly scheduled cleanings and enhanced disinfection methods. For those schools who are requiring that students and faculty go into the building, it is important they are making it as safe as possible. For that reason, Usherwood released a solution that can help prevent fever-like symptoms from going undetected in your building. As a member of our greater community, it is essential that we make sure our clients are equipped with the safest, newest, and most secure technology always. For this reason, when the world came to the realization that COVID-19 would be an enduring pandemic, Usherwood’s team worked together to build a solution that can allow buildings to feel more comfortable with reopening and re-welcoming visitors. Usherwood’s Odyssey Defender can go in the front of a building to take the temperature anyone who enters via a contactless kiosk. People entering the building will be informed if their temperature is being recognized as normal or elevated. Elevated temperatures are a sign of fever which is a potential symptom of COVID-19. For this reason, using Odyssey Defender is a good preliminary tool to keep COVID-19 from spreading through your building. Usherwood was excited to have received the opportunity to install Odyssey Defender temperature kiosks inside two school districts, General Brown located in Dexter, NY and Carthage, in Carthage, NY. The install in the General Brown district included: (3) Brownville-Glen Park Elementary, (2) Dexter Elementary, (5) General Brown Jr/Sr High School The install for Carthage district included: (3) Black River Elementary, (3) Carthage Elementary, (3) West Carthage Elementary, (5) High School, (5) Middle School A Smooth Install and Simple Solution After working with General Brown and Carthage on the necessary naming, connectivity, and security information to preconfigure the solution, the install then took place. The install was as simple as going on site, unwrapping the kiosk, powering on, and testing to make sure everything was working properly. Kiosks were preconfigured in house so that they would just need to be plugged in and tested on site. No training was necessary for General Brown and Carthage to operate the kiosk but the Usherwood team scheduled some time to stay with the customers after the implementation to assure that the solution is operating as expected. Usherwood also wanted to make sure that the administrators were able to leverage the data in the portal, so that they were able to view real time data. Usherwood’s Experience Working with General Brown and Carthage was an amazing experience for Usherwood’s team. As an organization, Usherwood strives to provide continuous value to new and current clients. Having the ability to create a safer environment for General Brown and Carthage Schools was extremely rewarding. Usherwood looks forward to continue providing these districts with valuable solutions and to aid the community during this global pandemic. To learn more about our Odyssey Defender solution click here!

Of all the things to come out of the pandemic, it’s fair to say that “Zoombombing” was not something any of us, including Zoom, saw coming. The emergence of video conferencing as a necessary tool in almost every business in every industry brought about cyber breaches like this, and they haven't stopped since. To give you an overview of the differences in security features of the most popular video conferencing platforms, here's a comparison of Zoom vs MS Teams. Zoom vs Google Meet vs Microsoft Teams The three major collaboration platforms on the market are still Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. However, the differences between these tools go farther than their desktop application features. When choosing collaboration tools, make sure they have strong cybersecurity features to protect meetings and data from unauthorized access. Meeting encryption is a common feature, as well as meeting PINs to prevent outsiders from entering meetings. Is Microsoft Teams like Zoom in Security? When comparing Microsoft teams vs Zoom, it's important to remember that Microsoft is a much older company with much more robust security measures in place. This isn't their first rodeo at securing cloud tools, and Teams is no exception. Experts have praised Microsoft for their attention to detail to create solid cybersecurity features for Teams. Zoom has remedied some early claims about the security of meetings by adding features like meeting PINS, waiting rooms, and other tools to verify meeting participants. However, it is still a relatively new company prone to bumps in the road. To read more about popular video conferencing platforms to compare big names like Zoom vs Webex vs Teams, check out our reviews of them here. Microsoft Teams and its History of Cybersecurity Innovation Overall, companies that have been in the online communications space longer tend to have stringer cyber protections, such as Microsoft. Microsoft Teams is very helpful tool for businesses facing more cyber attacks than ever. Not only does it allow the workforce to stay connected within work-from-home and hybrid workplaces, it accomplishes this with security in mind. Microsoft published this blog that highlights what they are bringing to the table. Due to work-from-home mandates and a new culture of remote work, Zoom usage shot up 20 times what it was pre-pandemic. With this spike in users came cybersecurity issues showing how ill-prepared the platform was for commercial primetime. Although Zoom could be a good way to keep in touch with friends or family, professional communication often involves PII (personally identifiable information). This means that security gaps that lead to Zoom meeting breaches can spell disaster if your information falls into the wrong hands. “We meet more than 90 regulatory and industry standards” is an eye-catching statement from the company. Since meetings can be highly confidential and/or contain sensitive information, security should be top of mind when choosing a cloud platform. Is Google Meet a Worthy Zoom or Microsoft Teams Alternative? Google Business Suite is a popular and cost-effective solution, but some concerns have been raised about the cybersecurity of the platform. To read a detailed comparison of Google Meet vs Microsoft Teams, check out our blog: Google Meet vs Microsoft Teams. How to Find the Ideal Video Conferencing Software for Your Business If you're ready to bring your business communications into the digital age, click the button below to speak to an expert about the best cloud platform for you.

With the increasing focus on health, and the outbreak of the most recent coronavirus, working from home is becoming more top of mind. In addition to that the need to wash your hands and stop touching your face (I seriously touch my face way more than I ever realized). Case in point? I am working from home while writing this. Rather than take my germs in to work, I decided to work remotely. There is a certain stigma that comes with remote work. Do you get enough done? Are you distracted? Do you have the tools needed to still get the job done? While I can’t help you with the first two (as it is my dog likes to heavy mouth breathe on me while I’m on conference calls), there are absolutely ways to stay connected and collaborate even from home. Our company uses Microsoft Teams for our internal collaboration, file share, and video calls. It allows me to be present for meetings, one on ones, file share, and chat for quick messages. In addition to that, an app on my cell phone to stay connected to Teams on the go. Check out this link from Microsoft themselves with some timely examples of ways you can stay busy and take care of both your physical and mental health while working from home. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/2020/03/02/working-remotely-during-challenging-times/ I loved the point about going all in. Embrace online, use it to keep connected, and those longer stints of remote work won’t seem so disjointed. I also love the idea of not just using it for work amongst teammates but also to keep morale up by sharing pictures, and videos. The ability to turn to co-workers and share thoughts and feelings is powerful and often a way to get through a hectic day. Let’s face it, working from home isn’t something that everyone has available. However, for many of us it can be a reality with tools like Teams to help keep us connected.