Author: David Botero
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Modern business phone systems combine calling, messaging, meetings, and presence in one platform. Common platforms – Microsoft Teams Phone for organizations already on Microsoft 365 – Hosted VoIP / UCaaS services from specialized providers – Zoom Phone and similar platforms – On-premises PBX systems, still used in some cases Benefits – Work from any device…
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When employees work from home, the office network no longer protects them, and IT can’t walk over to a desk. What distributed teams need Manageable devices. Laptops enrolled in a device management tool such as Intune, with encryption, patching, and security tools applied automatically. Secure identity. MFA everywhere, Conditional Access, and single sign-on. Cloud-based tools.…
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Technology is the first thing employees need on move-in day. Start planning early, since internet service installation alone can take weeks. 8–12 weeks before – Confirm the move date and floor plan – Order internet service for the new location, ideally two connections for redundancy – Assess the new space: power, cabling, network closet, and…
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A Wi-Fi site survey measures how wireless signals behave in your actual building, so access points are placed correctly. Types of surveys – Predictive survey: software models coverage from floor plans and building materials. Useful for planning and quoting. – On-site (active/passive) survey: an engineer walks the space with measurement tools, testing real signal strength,…
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A network built piece by piece often ends up fragile and insecure. Professional design starts with your needs. Phase 1: Requirements – How many users, devices, and locations? – What applications and traffic types (voice, video, cloud, large files)? – What uptime, security, and compliance requirements? – What growth do you expect in the next…
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Data residency refers to the physical or geographic location where data is stored and processed. Why it matters – Legal exposure: data stored in another country may be subject to that country’s laws and government access powers – Privacy obligations: Quebec’s Law 25 requires assessing risks before communicating personal information outside Quebec – Customer and…
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Customers increasingly ask suppliers to prove their security. Three frameworks come up often. SOC 2 A report from an independent auditor on how a service organization manages data security and related criteria (security, availability, confidentiality, processing integrity, and privacy). – Common for: software, cloud, and managed service providers selling to North American customers – Output:…
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Businesses in Canada may face both PIPEDA (the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act) and Quebec’s Law 25. The two share principles but differ in strictness. This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm which laws apply with legal counsel. Who each applies to – PIPEDA applies to private-sector organizations in provinces without…
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Privacy and security obligations grow every year. Compliance as a service (CaaS) turns one-time projects into steady, managed practice. What drives compliance for Canadian businesses – Quebec’s Law 25 for personal information of people in Quebec – PIPEDA at the federal level, and similar provincial laws – Contractual obligations from customers who require security standards…
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Without a roadmap, IT becomes a series of emergencies and impulse purchases. A roadmap provides direction. What it is A forward-looking plan, typically covering 12 to 36 months, that shows which technology initiatives will happen, in what order, at what cost, and why. How to build one 1. Understand the business goals. Growth plans, new…