The Benefits of Cloud-based Video Managed Services

By Erin Harrison, Executive Editor, Cloud Computing

Over the past few years, video communications has increasingly become an asset to businesses since it offers improved productivity, lower costs and, yes, even more revenue.

In the past, video communications were primarily deployed by large enterprises and government entities, which typically implement large-scale, global video networks. Video communication networking has evolved significantly to offer an array of applications and devices, bridging technologies and high-speed IP network services.

While the benefits of video communications mentioned above don’t come without a price, the complexity of deploying and managing a distributed video network can be eased with video managed services, which provide the expertise needed so organizations can gain the most value possible from their investment.

Yorktel, for example, offers video managed services by viewing video communications from an IT perspective, allowing video to be integrated, utilized and managed as an IT application. Yorktel’s capabilities include: video and UC integration; end-to-end video management; technology selection; and ITIL-based processes. The company has also been making more strides into the cloud, and integrating its core video wares with unified communications as well as Microsoft’s (News - Alert) Office 365 cloud productivity suite.

With Yorktel’s large array of supported videoconferencing devices, Lync and other customers can now with devices from Polycom, Cisco, Radvision (News - Alert) (now owned by Avaya) and others. To assure customers with optimal operation of their video network, the company offers the following services:

• 24/7 monitoring;
• Management of systems, networks, rooms, calls and resources; and
• Detailed tracking and reporting of system usage, network usage, and user experience.

But perhaps most important, Yorktel’s managed services are flexible and can be available for on-premise installations, as a hosted cloud-based service, or a hybrid of the two.

On-premise installations allow organizations to keep large, complex video conferencing and unified communications systems fully utilized at their site. Meanwhile, a hosted cloud video service offers businesses with enterprise quality while allowing them to minimize equipment investments and on-site costs.

Lastly, a hybrid model can allow businesses to leverage a company’s existing video infrastructure, with disaster recovery, overflow and expansion from Yorktel’s video cloud.

(source: http://video-managed-services.tmcnet.com/topics/video-managed-services/articles/341213-benefits-cloud-based-video-managed-services.htm)