Use these techniques for securely accessing company data—while staying productive

Few small businesses are fully contained in one office. Chances are good that some of your employees—maybe even you—travel for business or work from a remote location. These days, no one can afford to be completely cut off from email, client databases, and other business-critical information shared on the local network. Luckily, it’s easier than ever to stay securely connected to colleagues, clients, and prospects —just follow these seven tips.

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Tags: mobility, remote_access, small_business

In the third chapter of our Valley Sleep Center customer story, we get a closer look at the company’s phone system upgrade. Working closely with a Cisco certified partner who understood its needs, Valley Sleep Center replaced its inefficient phone system with a user-friendly Cisco UC540 solution. In the past, calls were routed to a single location, and periods of high volume were frequent. Now empowered by the right network, employees in the five locations share the load and can route calls efficiently. Watch the video to learn more.

Part One of the Valley Sleep Center

Part Two of the Valley Sleep Center

Watch Part Three >>

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Tags: Call Center, Cisco, Cisco certified partner, Invision Technology Solutions, load-sharing, right network, sleep clinic, UC, UC540, unified communications, Valley Sleep Center

Fresh Direct, an independent produce importer located in Vancouver, British Columbia, prides itself on customer service. A Cisco Small Business network makes employees more accessible to customers and to each other. This not only has improved the company’s service and efficiency but also help set them apart from their competition.

Watch the video to learn more!

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Tags: customer case study, network, small_business

It’s hard to believe another year has come and (almost) gone. Every year seems to speed by ever faster, much like the pace of technological advancements. We understand that it’s a challenge keeping up with the latest technologies that impact your small business. So we were curious to find out what topics caught your eye this past year on the Small Business Blog.

Security was by far the most popular topic; and security in all forms—from your core network to personal devices to the cloud. That’s not surprising when you consider all the ways in which you can now access data.

Here’s the list of top 10 posts for 2011:

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Tags: cloud, networking, routers, security, small_business, switches

In the second installment of our Valley Sleep Center case study, we witness the importance of installing a robust, secure virtual private network (VPN). As a medical clinic, Valley Sleep Center needs to maintain HIPAA compliance and also allow employees to review confidential patient records. Overhauling its antiquated VPN technology, the company implemented a high-performance Cisco VPN solution. Now, employees have reliable connections and can efficiently transfer files among the business’s five locations. Perhaps the best benefit, however, is the peace of mind that comes from the security provided by the right network.

Part One of the Valley Sleep Center

Watch Part Two>>

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Tags: Cisco, Invision Technology Solutions, right network, savings, sleep clinic, UC, Valley Sleep Center, vpn