A SIP trunk is a direct connection between your organization and an Internet telephony service provider (ITSP). Having one of these connections allows for the client to extend their VoIP telephony system directly to the ITSP without the need of a firewall. This connection configuration is easier to set up and more secure than traditional network configurations.
The advantages do not stop at VoIP; SIP trunks can be used to implement a host of real-time services such as instant messaging, conferencing and security features.
Deploying a SIP trunk means simplifying your business' telecommunications and having options later as technology expands beyond IMs, teleconferences and monitoring. Here are a few more reasons to look into deploying a SIP trunk.
- A SIP trunk eliminates the need for built-in network redundancy. When you connect your business directly to the ITSP, it means your business will be using your service provider's servers rather than its own. Your ITSP will provide your business with backup virtual machines, eliminating the need for extra switches, routers and firewalls at your place of business.
- Equipment consolidation is important to business. Walking into a backroom brimming with switches, routers, firewalls or even a telephone backboard isn't desirable. A SIP trunk connects to your ITSP without having to connect to publicly switched telephone networks. This makes the need for an IP-PSTN gateway obsolete. Less equipment means less overhead as businesses no longer need to hire someone (or a service) for upkeep of equipment that a SIP trunk eliminated.
- Connecting directly to an Internet telephony service provider also means not having to pay for extra switching equipment to handle the extra bandwidth. This is generally handled on the service provider's side.
- Purchasing bandwidth is much, much easier with a SIP trunk. Instead of buying bandwidth in batches of 24 or 32, businesses can buy the bandwidth they need as they need it. This type of incremental buying means savings.
- Cost efficiency is a factor. Long distance service typically costs 30% less than a VoIP solution and up to 70% less than landline based international long distance.
Ensure that the service you are considering has a good service record with little to no downtime. Also make sure your new service will have proper and secure back up services to negate any impacts upon your business. If your service has an outage, your telephone system will run on a backup.
Deploying a SIP trunk is a giant step towards business tool unification, communication security, and reducing overhead cost in the long term. The technology associated and implemented in SIP trunking is impressive and flexible. Expansion will be even more effective as upgrades and process changes come about. Give Tri-Copy a call to set up a free consultation to discuss your business needs.
