Training and Security
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Step 4: Get Your Staff Up to Speed
The time and cost of training end users on a new IP system will depend on the number and complexity of the telephony applications that are implemented.
With a normal phone system, it costs about $100 to move a single employee inside the same office. These costs may be significantly reduced with IP because technicians can use familiar network configuration tools.
End-user training costs may increase, however, depending on the number of new applications in the handset (such as directory information) and the level of integration with end-user applications such as unified messaging.
Step 5: Watch Out for Viruses and Spam
I.T. managers also should consider the new security concerns that an IP system brings with it. Although no viruses that specifically target VoIP telephone systems have been reported, it is only a matter of time before such a virus is released. Unwanted calls, or what weve labeled "VoIP spam," also have the potential to become a nuisance.
Next page: Developing an RFQ.
Cameron Sturdevant has been with the Labs since 1997, and before that paid his IT management dues at a software publishing firm working with several Fortune 100 companies. Cameron also spent two years with a database development firm, integrating applications with mainframe legacy programs. Cameron's areas of expertise include virtual and physical IT infrastructure, cloud computing, enterprise networking and mobility, with a focus on Android in the enterprise. In addition to reviews, Cameron has covered monolithic enterprise management systems throughout their lifecycles, providing the eWEEK reader with all-important history and context. Cameron takes special care in cultivating his IT manager contacts, to ensure that his reviews and analysis are grounded in real-world concern. Cameron is a regular speaker at Ziff-Davis Enterprise online and face-to-face events. Follow Cameron on Twitter at csturdevant, or reach him by email at csturdevant@eweek.com.
