5 Benefits of Cloud Communications in Higher Education – EdTech Magazine: Focus on K-12

3. Cloud Communications Require Less IT Management

Transitioning communications offsite means no longer having members of the IT staff fully dedicated to managing phone communication and server rooms, freeing them up to focus on more pressing tasks at colleges and universities. And with higher education institutions reporting staffing shortages and struggles in hiring new employees, particularly in areas like cybersecurity, having IT experts with more time on their hands can only be a good thing.

On the infrastructure side, cloud communications require little more than a strong internet connection, and preferably a redundant connection in case of an outage, along with a quality switch to route communications correctly. As for the cloud providers themselves, most offer a 99.99 percent uptime promise for their service, so interruptions should be rare if not eliminated entirely.

4. Limited Hardware Means Cost Savings Now and Later

Traditional phone systems involve many wires running from desk to desk and into a large phone server in a backroom somewhere. Cloud communications mean no more on-premises servers and, for those users who ask for nothing more than a headset to make their calls, no more physical phones. Even for people who still want a traditional on-desk phone, communications run through a switch, and connections are most often made to a computer via USB or Bluetooth.

That means there’s not only less for IT departments to maintain, but also little upfront equipment to buy and fewer capital expenditures. As for the cloud communication service itself, most providers charge on a per-user basis, so unused desks no longer continue to rack up phone bills when they sit empty.

READ MORE: How to set up a cloud-based telephony solution in higher ed.

5. Prepare for the Future with Cloud Communications

The flexibility that is a major selling point for cloud communication tools can also apply to future planning.

As collaboration tools evolve, there are sure to be new features that colleges and universities want to incorporate. With cloud communications, it will be as easy as updating a piece of software. That also goes for security updates as they are rolled out to keep cloud communications protected.

Cloud communications systems are also easily scalable, both up and down. So, if your communication needs expand, it’s as simple as adding any number of new users, or vice versa when users need to be retired.

The future in cloud communication is already here, but the vast number of options can be overwhelming to sort through. To find out which platform might be best for your college or university, a CDW expert can conduct an assessment of your current infrastructure, break down the pros and cons of every option, and recommend a solution tailored to your needs.

This article is part of EdTech: Focus on Higher Education’s UniversITy blog series.