The introduction of cloud-based video bridging solutions has made the traditional MCUs redundant. According to Telepresence Options, traditional MCUs are almost killed, and even the traditional vendors providing MCU hardware are migrating to cloud-based solutions. It further states that 65 percent of CIOs believe that desk phones will be a thing of past by 2017. The future lies in cloud-based video bridging for IT, according to Blue Jeans. Cloud-based solutions are easier to scale and least expensive when compared to their MCU offerings. However, MCUs are not completely out of the market since infrastructure market is valued at $700 million a year. The industry is moving towards acceptance phase and is migrating to cloud-based solutions due to the immense advantages they offer which you cannot ignore anymore.
Benefits of Cloud Video Bridging
There are three types of multipoint control units(MCUs) you can choose with respect to video collaboration: Stand-alone, embedded, and cloud-based. Most think that the low-cost aspect is the only benefit with cloud-based video collaboration solution – but it has got many more advantages.
Reduced Maintenance
Cloud-based MCUs substantially reduce the maintenance and management of bridging service. It even eliminates the need for IT staff to take care of the hardware and their up gradation. You can totally allow specialized experts to support, manage, and maintain your video conferencing solutions in the cloud, which will give you total peace of mind. It will help in reducing the burden on your IT support team.
Less Infrastructure Requirement
When you move to the cloud embracing software based MCUs. IT companies like LLC Georgia can eliminate the hardware systems and associated infrastructure. Software MCUs run on virtualized servers; there is no need for expensive infrastructure. It helps companies save money.
Scalability
Hardware MCUs always limit the scalability. Even when they are scalable, they are expensive since they are defined on a per-port basis. You require more video ports to serve multipoint customers. All these cost money. With the aid of software MCUs, you have the flexibility to scale as and when you need. You pay only for what you avail, and there is no worry of over or under provisioning. It enables you to expand your capabilities as needed, either temporarily or permanently without investing on extra MCUs. It is always easier to purchase additional licenses that are much cheaper.
No Upfront Costs
The talk of cloud-based MCUs is not complete without discussing the savings regarding money. A major advantage of Cloud-based MCU is their cost efficiency. The traditional MCU requires upfront costs to purchase infrastructure equipment. The usage-based subscription model of cloud-based services cuts down these upfront costs drastically. Cloud-based MCUs make video collaboration more affordable and accessible to small and medium-sized IT organizations who cannot afford to spend huge upfront costs.
Accessibility
The biggest issue with traditional MCUs is managing firewalls. Usually, the hardware version is deployed behind the company firewall. External callers have to obtain firewall permissions to connect. End users will not have the ability to open ports to accept calls from outside. However, Cloud-based bridging makes collaboration simpler by creating a virtual meeting room for everyone to interact in the cloud. Each one dials from behind their firewalls and meet in a central virtualized meeting room.
Interoperability
There are many vendors in the market offering different solutions. The differences in standards create the problem of interoperability. Since different vendors follow their protocols, configurations, and networks, the connectivity becomes cumbersome. The cloud-based MCUs provide seamless connectivity across different devices since it acts as a translator for various protocols enabling different devices to connect smoothly.
Bandwidth Usage
Video conferencing consumes considerable bandwidth. It affects the corporate network and slows down the entire network affecting the performance. Cloud-based MCUs help bandwidth intensive video calling to be streamed separately from the organization’s network. It is separated from the local LAN, which keeps the corporate network accessible for other critical operations.
The Cloud-based MCUs are mobile ready and provide video conferencing ability to mobile devices to improve the productivity of organizations without requiring any extra infrastructure.
Cloud-based solutions are almost 75 percent more cost-effective than traditional hardware-based MCUs as indicated by Kitaro website. The Cloud-based video conferencing solution can save you time and money and increase the productivity of employees. It also enables top management to stay in constant touch with the employees at lower levels and reinforce the goals of an organization irrespective of where these employees are based.
Cloud-based services are gaining popularity since companies realize the benefits it offers regarding cutting upfront costs and also on maintenance. These software based MCUs are also scalable and allow you to expand as a business grows without requiring additional investments in infrastructure, which could quickly become redundant. In conclusion, well-organized video conferences can impress the clients to an extent that might convince them to work with you for a longer period or might as well reward you with a bonus.
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