Time to Consider System Integrators for Your Managed Network Services
Release Date: 01/14/2021
Farewell to AT&T Corp.
Staying Connected
AT&T is quietly proceeding with a corporate restructuring that will, in AT&T’s words, involve a series of internal transactions that “merges AT&T Corp. out of existence”. AT&T has not made any flashy announcements about this change. Instead, they have added one line to relevant invoices telling customers that “effective May 1, 2024, any services provided by AT&T Corp. will be provided by AT&T Enterprises, LLC.” In this 11-minute podcast, joins to discuss the restructuring, what happens to client contracts and deals, and what enterprise...
info_outline
Look Out for Upcoming Changes to Lumen Account Support
Staying Connected
While companies should always be on the lookout for unexpected hikes in their ICT spend, in today’s uncertain environment it is more important than ever to maintain vigilance. Just last month Lumen notified its customers of an upcoming change to their operational and technical support structure that may leave enterprises footing a steeper bill. In this 5-minute podcast, TC2’s and join to discuss Lumen’s forthcoming shift in support and what enterprises can do to alleviate the corresponding unanticipated cost increase. If you would like to learn more about our experience in...
info_outline
Deal Integration – Headache or Opportunity?
Staying Connected
Merger and acquisition activity can be beneficial to the business, but it can also lead to complications when it comes to integrating ICT deals of the two entities. Harmonizing disparate commercial terms, service schedules and pricing from legacy contracts can be a headache. In this 7-minute podcast, and discuss how, when approached strategically, deal integration presents a unique opportunity to both reduce costs and increase commercial flexibility across a broader portfolio of services. If you would like to learn more about our experience in this space, please visit our ...
info_outline
Examining AT&T’s Recent Data Breach: Does it Put Enterprise Information at Risk?
Staying Connected
On Saturday, March 30th, AT&T announced a significant data breach that exposed the sensitive personal information of millions of its current and former customers. As data breaches seem only to increase in frequency, enterprise customers can’t rely on service providers alone to keep their data safe—they must be proactive about security, which includes negotiating appropriately protective contract terms, limiting unnecessary data exchange, and enforcing internal security practices. On our latest 11-minute podcast, and join to discuss what enterprise customers should...
info_outline
Fixed Wireless Access
Staying Connected
5G was in the doldrums, but 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is a success story – it is growing and we predict more adoption by enterprise customers in 2024. In certain industries, particularly those with more remote or ex-suburban presences, 5G FWA tempts enterprise customers as an alternative to fixed broadband. Investments by providers, fueled by the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program and other available funds (e.g., Connect America Fund), will make 5G FWA more available and affordable. In 2024, we also predict the accelerated adoption of 5G and Wi-Fi 6E...
info_outline
Contract Guardrails to Prevent AI Mishaps
Staying Connected
This is the season of AI, and it should be no surprise that we predict that AI will continue to have a significant (and growing) impact on the ICT market and day-to-day use of information, communications, and network deals. Three areas in which AI-driven change will directly impact ICT in 2024: (1) the backend processes for vendors, including NOCs and staffing, (2) the refined use of AI in enterprises’ management of their services and customer relationships, and (3) security – with both improvements and new threat factors accelerating. In the face of these changes, and join for...
info_outline
Pendulum Swings for Managed Services
Staying Connected
2024 is a year of customer/user experience. In this 12-minute podcast, and join to discuss how enterprises continue to evolve their use of outsourced managed network service (MNS) arrangements, including co-management models – where the customer and provider collaborate on delivering certain functions deemed critical to the business. Changes in the provider landscape will accelerate this review, and combined with ever-evolving automation, machine learning and AI tools will provide ample opportunity for enterprises to examine their needs and obtain the savings...
info_outline
Rethinking Cloud
Staying Connected
Enterprises did a herculean job of adapting to the pressures imposed by the pandemic, but now find themselves managing multiple cloud solutions with confusing invoices and overwhelming costs. In 2024 enterprise customers will deal with two big cloud-related challenges – cloud management and cloud costs. In this 10-minute podcast, and join to discuss what Cloud Services are, examine management of diverse cloud environments, integrating WAN Solutions with cloud management platforms, migration strategies, and ways to eliminate wasted spend in this technology investment. If...
info_outline
Enterprise Customers Diversify Away from Cisco
Staying Connected
When rethinking their ICT infrastructure strategy, enterprise customers will demonstrate an increased willingness to diversify away from Cisco, focusing on the continued transformation to cost-effective, secure, easy-to-manage, cloud-first architectures. Equipment providers including Juniper, Palo Alto, Arista Networks, and HPE/Aruba are positioned favorably to benefit from the diversification. Odds are that the Gartner quadrants will look very different at the end of 2024 than at the beginning of this year. In this 8-minute podcast, joins to discuss how...
info_outline
Contact Centers as a Service: Our Predictions for 2024
Staying Connected
Looking forward into 2024, we expect an upsurge in migrations from on-premise solutions to cloud and hybrid cloud deployments. While enterprises often engage third-party help for implementation support and optimization as they move from legacy to cloud-based solutions, once implemented, enterprises will continue to bring more of the day-to-day management in-house. Listen to this 9-minute podcast as LB3’s and TC2’s join to discuss the maturation and development of the CCaaS provider market and solution capabilities. Effective integration and adoption of AI in CaaS...
info_outlineThe market for managed network services is undergoing some significant changes. Enterprises are increasingly shifting their reliance away from carriers for managed services to system integrator led managed services.
Listen to this 10 minute podcast as Ben Fox, one of TC2’s Managing Directors, and Joe Schmidt describe how adoption of network solutions like SD-WAN and Internet First are allowing enterprises to take advantage of the customized, and often cheaper, managed services offerings of systems integrators.