JT vehicles to go all electric within next few years

JT has become the latest large company to begin replacing its vehicle fleet with zero emission alternatives. Ten years ago, it was hard to imagine being able to drive more than a few miles in an electric vehicle, on a single charge – today it is very different and with an ever-growing network of charging facilities, more and more Channel Islands businesses are making the transition from fossil-fuel to low carbon electric transport.

JT have begun their transition by purchasing ten Nissan electric vehicles, starting by replacing the oldest of JT’s fleet of Suzuki vans, supporting their goal of achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2030.

Tom Noel, Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, said: “JT has one of the largest commercial fleets in Jersey, with almost 100 cars used daily by our engineers. Our aim is to not only replace all petrol and diesel vehicles but to reduce the number of vehicles on our roads, supporting that with charging points in key locations. As a business that has placed sustainability at the heart of everything we do, we’ve made initiatives like this a key priority of our Sustainability Strategy over the next decade.”

The EV’s may be new to JT but all have been bought at auctions having previously been used by councils in Scotland in keeping with JT’s policy to reuse, reduce and recycle wherever possible.

JT’s people are key participants and drivers of JT’s sustainability programme with many of their ideas now being adopted companywide, including going 100% paperless for note taking by using Rocketbook Fusion notebooks, re-usable water bottles, a solar panelled building and an employee voucher scheme for e-bikes.

‘Moments of global crisis often lead to historical change and the recovery from the pandemic presents a huge opportunity for Governments, businesses and individuals to put action on climate at the heart of their efforts,” said Tom.



Cisco Webex Calling app features

7 core benefits of Webex Calling

Author:
James Singleton
Partner Manager & Product Specialist

Webex Calling is a cloud PBX system. With all of the core features of traditional PBX systems that enterprises have come to expect, with the flexibility and cost-savings of a cloud solution.

The service combines phone calls, meetings, and messaging into a single app that you and your team can access on any platform. This allows companies to stay connected to each other as well as their customers, even in the face of disruptive market events.

Webex Calling was designed with a cloud-first mentality and comes with the modern collaborative features your team needs to work better together — from any number of locations.

Webex Calling: key benefits and features

1. Everything you've come to expect from a traditional PBX

Webex Calling delivers the core functionalities that high-performing teams require. Phone calls, DID, call routing and forwarding, call recording, receptionist support, extension numbers, and more are all included.

In this way, Webex Calling gives you the versatility of the cloud without any compromise.

Companies that use Webex Calling also save money when they make the switch. That's because you get all of the features of a PBX system with none of the in-person maintenance expense.

2. Cloud-based communication

Of course, Webex Calling is also packed with plenty of exciting features that aren't possible with a traditional PBX. By working through the cloud, your team will be able to make and receive calls at the office, from home, and on the move — anywhere they have an internet connection. You can also hand-off between different devices and gain access to advanced analytics and reporting.

In a world that’s rapidly moving to more flexible work structures, cloud-based communication is a necessity. It makes out-of-office communication simple, professional, and secure — all for an affordable price.

3. Enhanced mobile experience

Webex Calling's dedicated mobile design empowers a streamlined and reliable mobile experience that your team will love.

The app is incredibly simple to use and available on every platform (smartphone, tablet, and desktop). This makes it easy for your team to stay in touch, reduces the strain on your IT department, and simplifies the migration process.

On top of having an excellent mobile experience, Webex Calling features over 150 integrations. Make use of bots and third-party apps with Webex Calling, and totally customise the service to your business's needs — integrating other day-to-day apps your teams use.

4. Next-generation end-to-end Cisco security

Securing your services in a work-from-home environment is extremely difficult — that’s something many companies have had to learn the hard way. Everyone is working in different regions, from different devices, and on different internet access points. Not to mention that when employees are using their personal hardware for work, your data is at risk of being stolen with their device.

That's why Cisco has incorporated its next-generation security into Webex Calling. This security is end-to-end, so every component of your PBX network is protected every step of the way. You can mitigate and deter security threats without needing to upgrade the hardware your employees have at home.

5. A unified application

When you get Webex Calling, you get:

 A fully-functional PBX system
 Video and phone conferencing tools
 Support for a virtual receptionist
 And solutions for team collaboration

What you don't get is several disjointed, single-feature apps that clutter your employees' devices and overcomplicate your workflow.

Instead, everything Webex Calling has to offer is available through a single app. This unification saves you (and your colleagues) from learning a different interface for each different task. You won't be switching between apps on your devices as often, and it'll be easier to track the time your employees spend in Webex.

6. Exceptional control over your telecommunications

Management is a major challenge for companies switching to a remote work structure (even part-time or for part of the team). Keeping up with schedules, your employees' tasks and progress, and addressing issues promptly are all made more difficult when your team is no longer in a centralised location.

To help with this, Webex Calling offers a high level of control over your telecommunications through the Webex app. Administrators have a unique portal where they can quickly access an overview of your teams, analyse performances, and help team members when they run into problems.

Additionally, Webex Calling has procedures in place that make your switch to Webex Calling seamless. Its commercial license offers UCM and hybrid deployment options for whatever environment you happen to be shifting from and to.

7. Built for enterprise performance

Cisco's Webex Calling is globally available — and that has to be one of its biggest selling points. This not only allows your team to travel nearly anywhere and still be able to work, but it also changes the boundaries of who you can hire.

Webex Calling is ultra-reliable, too. It offers geo-redundancy, which means your data is stored and backed up to separate physical locations. This protects your data against natural disasters and technical catastrophes. Meaning Webex Calling can play a pivotal role in your Business Continuity strategy moving forward.

Bonus Benefit

Webex bundle icon

Webex Calling can be taken on as a bundle alongside Teams and Meetings to bring even more capabilities to your Webex suite and rid your teams of more disparate communications and working tools. As a bundle, you can perfect your business's unified communications strategy and streamline application usage all while making the experience better for your teams.

The power of Webex Calling, backed by JT

JT is a trusted and modern telecommunications provider in the Channel Islands, and we’re proud to supply Cisco's Webex Calling. Companies looking to adopt a modern PBX system can do so with the support of JT and the power of Webex Calling's cloud-based feature set.

Contact our team today to see why Webex Calling is right for your enterprise.

Enquire now >



Channel Island business man using Cisco Webex Calling

What is Webex Calling? And how does it compare to other cloud-based phone systems?

Author:
James Singleton
Partner Manager & Product Specialist

Employees no longer expect to be beholden to an office. They want to be able to communicate with clients and colleagues on-the-go, wherever they are. Free to send information instantly and hold meetings virtually.

The problem is, simply calling (landlines and even standard mobile calling), don’t translate to a flexible working environment. Managing inbound calls, diverting them to the right recipient and maintaining voicemail protocols necessitates a network of expensive and interconnected hardware. Or at least it used to.

Thankfully, the last five years have delivered exponential improvements in the technology, reliability and security of remotely managed communications solutions — thanks primarily to the advent of virtual, cloud-based phone systems like Webex Calling.

Introducing Webex Calling

VoIP — or Voice over Internet Protocol — has untethered business communication.

By migrating this vastly complicated network of landlines and hardware to the cloud, organisations are now able to connect and communicate remotely. Today, they need nothing more than a stable internet connection, with a compatible device and app.

CISCO’s Webex Calling represents the latest advancement in that technology.

Webex Calling facilitates calls, messages and meetings to keep teams connected and productive. Wherever and however they may be working, employees can conduct all their meetings, check-ins, and catch-ups via one single app.

Cisco Webex Calling app features

What are the benefits of Webex Calling?

Scalability

Webex Calling has been designed to be scalable from as little as 10 users to any size.

Feature-rich and yet affordable, Webex Calling combines functionality and agility to deliver a complete solution for businesses and enterprises of all sizes seeking to unlock greater efficiencies and connectivity.

For example, in-built voice recording capabilities maintain compatibility with industry-specific regulations. While virtual conferencing tools not only deliver utility in the form of internal meetups but also present a way to personalise customer service operations — helping to differentiate a business’ offering from that of its competitors.

Fully-functioning Cloud PBX

A PBX service routes all incoming and outgoing calls, essentially fulfilling the job of a business’s telephone operator or receptionist.

With Webex Calling, this PBX service is delivered virtually and entirely over the cloud — operating seamlessly via the Webex app, available to all registered employees.

Once installed, staff members can make and receive business calls on their smartphones, desktops, laptops and tablets, with outgoing calls displayed as the company’s landline.

This enables your entire team to work remotely, as and when required, while maintaining their on-site numbers, maintaining consistency for team members and customers alike.

One app, all devices

With the Webex Calling app, on-site desk phones can be synchronised with your staff’s personal devices. Meaning when their desk phone rings, so too do their other screens of choice.

Compatible across the full suite of Android, iOS, Windows and Mac, members can utilise their preferred device depending on situation and location, without suffering from any difference in service quality.

Not only does this facilitate flexible communication on-the-go, but it also minimises reliance on expensive hardware.

Affordable licensing, lower overheads

Designed with all sized enterprises in mind, Webex Calling represents one of the most cost-effective solutions on the market.

Where previously the costs of a VoIP may have been too much for many SMEs to justify, Webex Calling is covered by CISCO’s Flex Plan software subscription. Businesses can simply license the quantity of named users and common area devices they need for a low monthly fee, with the flexibility to mix and match services as required.

What’s more, Webex’s licensing plan can scale alongside your organisation. When 250 users are exceeded, simply sign up to an enterprise agreement to help reduce costs further.

Bonus Benefit

Webex bundle icon

Webex Calling can be taken on as a bundle alongside Teams and Meetings to bring even more capabilities to your Webex suite and rid your teams of more disparate communications and working tools. As a bundle, you can perfect your business's unified communications strategy and streamline application usage all while making the experience better for your teams.

 

Channel Island business woman using Cisco Webex Calling

Is Webex Calling right for me?

Optimised for any sized business, Webex Calling delivers a sophisticated and reliable solution for growing and large teams. The flexible pricing and rich feature-set deliver ample capabilities for firms looking to upgrade their remote communication solution, today and in coming months or years.

While other market-leading alternatives offer similar, robust capabilities, they remain targeted at larger organisations, and therefore don’t necessarily scale-down and translate as well for smaller firms.

With simplified purchasing options, enhanced deployment flexibility, and the widest array of collaboration tools in the industry, Webex delivers the tools to answer the remote or multi-office needs of your teams.

Channel Island business man using Cisco Webex Calling

Making the transition to Webex Calling

Whether you are considering migrating your communication services to the cloud for the first time and would like some advice, or are simply looking for a solution more suited to the specific needs of your organisation, JT can help.

As the Channel Islands’ provider of choice for CISCO and Webex, JT delivers collaboration solutions for every type of business requirement. 

For a demonstration of Webex Calling’s capabilities or to enquire about how to implement it within your business, get in touch today.

Enquire now >



Why remote teams need Webex Calling

Author:
James Singleton
Partner Manager & Product Specialist

The remote working revolution is here.

While flexible working is often credited with great swathes of benefits — from attracting top talent to improving employee wellbeing — it also presents fresh challenges for businesses. Not least in the form of maintaining effective collaboration and communication.

Teams that are used to working closely together in an office environment can often struggle to replicate this connection online. When this happens, collaboration and productivity can invariably suffer.

Webex Calling helps mitigate these issues and keeps your teams connected to each other and to your customers, regardless of where they choose to work from.

What is Webex Calling?

Cisco Webex represents the latest advancement in remotely-managed communication technology.  A virtual, cloud-based phone system, Webex Calling enables employees to work and communicate how and when they want — no longer confined by traditional desk phones or second work mobiles.

Because it utilises cloud technologies, Webex Calling is able to deliver the full breadth of capabilities you would expect from a traditional PBX service, only without the need for a complex network of expensive hardware and cables.

Likewise, by migrating this network to the cloud — and harnessing the latest advancements in Voice over the Internet (VoIP) protocols — Webex Calling facilitates instant communication, from anywhere in the world.

How Webex Calling can meet your remote working needs

Remote working demands novel changes from organisations. From video conferencing to instant messaging and everything in between, getting to grips with the reality of communicating and collaborating online can be a challenge for even the most tech-savvy employee.

Thanks to its unified approach, Webex Calling can help make this transition that little bit easier.

 

Cisco Webex Calling app features

One application, all of your tools

Webex Calling enables staff members to make and receive calls, send messages, and conduct virtual meetings, all from a single app that team members can download to their preferred device — be it desktop, mobile or tablet.

By integrating these multiple functions into one app, team members have the freedom to communicate in the manner that suits them most depending on the task or time, without having to navigate multiple platforms or interfaces.

Not only does this facilitate flexible communication on-the-go, it also minimises reliance on expensive hardware and helps get team-wide buy-in for new remote ways of working.

Cisco Webex Video Calling on laptop

Video is the new email

Relying exclusively on phone calls and emails makes working remotely tough. Even with the best will in the world, some things are simply better-articulated face-to-face.

With Webex Calling, high-quality audio, chat and screen sharing capabilities make video calling almost as simple and seamless as meeting in person. Check-in with your teammates, make time for small talk and even enjoy a Friday catchup together — Webex Calling helps keep your team a team, even when they’re not physically together.

Cisco Webex Calling collaboration on screen whiteboard

Collaboration tools built-in

Webex Calling doesn’t just facilitate communication, it fosters collaboration. After all, sometimes it’s easier to demonstrate by showing.

That’s why with the Webex Calling app, users are able to upload and share files with each other, comment and discuss, and even annotate each other's work. There’s also the option to whiteboard as a team. Users are able to create a shared whiteboard and draw out their ideas collaboratively. Changes save automatically and any invited user can edit and add to the whiteboard.

Cisco Webex Calling cybersecurity

Security you can trust

Relying on internet services and personal devices for essential business communication can inevitably cause security headaches for any enterprise. But security and privacy are the underpinnings of Webex Calling — running through every part of the product design and delivery approach.

All Webex services have secure default settings right out of the box, enabling your team to start collaborating freely without having to worry about configurations.

Cisco Webex Calling integrating into software

Integration as standard

Webex Calling integrates seamlessly with the majority of industry-leading apps, meaning your teams can collaborate without interrupting their workflow.

By integrating Webex Calling into the productivity apps that you work with every day, your team can schedule, host and join video conferences right from within these apps themselves.

Alternatively, thanks to Webex Teams integrations and bots, those apps can be pulled through into your Webex Calling workflow, allowing your team to access everything from one single place.

Could your remote teams work better with Webex Calling?

Boasting the widest array of communication and collaboration tools in the industry, Webex Calling can unlock the true remote working capabilities of your team. What’s more, thanks to simplified purchasing options and enhanced deployment flexibility, integrating Webex Calling into your communication strategy is simpler than it sounds.

As the Channel Islands’ provider of choice for CISCO and Webex, JT delivers collaboration solutions for every type of business requirement. 

For a demonstration of Webex Calling’s capabilities or to enquire about how to implement it within your business, get in touch today.

Enquire now >



Cybersecurity Awareness: DDoS attacks rise sharply with increased ferocity, sophistication and volume in 2020

Author:
David Salisbury
Product Portfolio Manager - Security

The overwhelming shift to remote or home working coupled with an increase in reliance on Cloud services and online platforms during 2020 has resulted in a significant increase in volume-based DDoS attacks of strength and severity.

This has left many local businesses reassessing their cybersecurity strategies. Major DDoS mitigation vendors such as Kaspersky, Neustar, Netscout, Cloud flare, century link, Radware, Arbour are all reporting between a 200-575% increase in the number and size (‘attack volume’) of attacks in 2020.

What is a DDoS attack?

A DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service attack) attack, a type of cybersecurity attack, is a malicious attempt to make an online service, website or platform unavailable. Cyber-criminals achieve this by overwhelming the target (including its server, service, website or internal network) with high volumes of traffic from multiple sources.

Volume-based attacks

These are the most common DDoS attacks. These attacks are measured in bits per second (bps). Hackers are able to utilise multiple sources (computers and connections from anywhere in the world) any direct huge quantities of simultaneous traffic to flood the available bandwidth on a company’s website. Genuine user traffic is unable to pass through and the attack traffic overwhelms and takes down the website, making it unresponsive.

A 5Gbps attack volume is now, astonishingly, considered a 'small attack', which is sufficient to overwhelm a customer's internet connection before it even arrives at a customer's firewall. Yet this demonstrates the proliferation of cyber-attacks in recent years and demonstrates the ever-growing need to be vigilant and prepared as a business.

Here at JT, we are also seeing a significant increase in attacks on our protected customers. We have also been able to identify that many of these attacks are reportedly explicitly targeted at customers remote access solutions such as Citrix and VPNs. This approach is a direct result of attackers knowing these platforms are critical to our customers' business continuity response to COVID-19 with home workers that could easily be held to ransom.

Many traditional firewalls find themselves quickly redundant when faced with attacks in excess of 15Gbps (a now frequent volume), which will overwhelm a customer's internet connection before it even reaches their firewall.

How can businesses in the Channel Islands protect against this growing cyber-threat?

JT's tried and tested DDoS Mitigation Service has been successfully blocking attacks vastly more volume-intensive. This 'always-on' DDoS Mitigation Service provides the quickest time to protection possible and can easily be added to an existing customers IP feed without the need for extra equipment or changing IP address. They are spotting and blocking attacks on a network level before they can overwhelm a customer's dedicated internet connection.

Find out more >

Cybersecurity Consultancy

Cybersecurity consultancy

Not sure where to begin with your cybersecurity strategy? Or looking to enhance the strength of your existing cybersecurity posture against cyber-threats?

We also offer businesses in the Channel Islands a Cybersecurity Consultancy Service where our dedicated, expert team will assess your business’s network and specific cybersecurity needs – from a one-off piece of consultancy advice to a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) service. Our consultants will sit down with you to understand your priorities and agree how we can cost-effectively deliver them.

Find out more >



JT SOC Services

Author:
Jon Collinson
Head of Product Development

Global cybersecurity spending reached $124billion (£98.8billion) in 2019, and that cost is going to continue to grow as homeworking increases in the wake of Covid-19. Striking a balance between having enough security in-house vs the budget is going to continue to get harder. Instead, be smarter with your budget by partnering with cost-effective, scalable yet highly effective, SOC service provider.

Why partner for your corporate cybersecurity?

It can be challenging for large enterprises to maintain a team of cyber-experts in all areas of cybersecurity from pen testing to compliance, and it can be impossible for mediums size organisations to achieve it. Cybersecurity experts need constant training to be able to respond to new and emerging attacks quickly. By working with a Cybersecurity partner, industry-leading experts are available 24x7x365 to support you with their experience.

 

SIEM and SOCaaS

What is SIEM?

SIEM services aim to increase your team's real-time security vision.
Every computer, network switch, firewall, and program produces a log file recording details of its activity. These log files are what a cybersecurity investigator looks at when there is a cyber breach. Unfortunately, most devices don't keep these logs very long and are often unreviewed, so the opportunity for early detection is lost.

Collecting these logs and correlating them can identify attacks and data leakage. This is done by using a 'Security Information Event Management' (SIEM). Without SIEM implementation, it's difficult to know how your security is performing and to pinpoint attacks.

What is SOCaaS?

SOCaaS — or Security Operations Center as a Service — is a way of outsourcing the typical role of a SOC. It's essentially the management and operations to ensure your cybersecurity systems are delivering the correct protection, and reacting when there is an incident.

Outsourcing SOC, rather than as an internal department is similar to the difference between simply installing a security camera, or monitoring it 24x7x365.

 

The benefits of outsourced SIEM and SOCaaS

Industry compliance made easy

Whether your business adheres to NIST, CIS Top 20, ISO or is yet to adopt a framework, establishing strong cybersecurity and achieving regulatory compliance is made easier with SIEM centralised logging, event correlation and incident investigation.

Stronger security, backed by the experts

SOCaaS take the pressure of real-time security from in-house; passing responsibility to experienced, third-party professionals. There's no need to hire or train internal staff, purchase or maintain equipment, and you can always scale if and when your needs change.

Lower costs in the long-term

Despite being an “always-on” service, outsourcing SIEM and SOCaaS substantially reduce the cost of cybersecurity. In fact, compared to on-premise security teams, companies can significantly save each year on “soft costs” such as maintenance and growth.

Couple these savings with the introduction of a team of experts, the ability to grow your cybersecurity position and remain compliant, and a proactive approach to security, and the move to a cloud-based cybersecurity model becomes an easy decision.

 

Strong cybersecurity backed with: JT Sentinel SOC As a Service (SOCaaS)

Last year, Microsoft released their cloud-based platform, which allows organisations using Office 365 to collect and correlate these logs cost-efficiently. There is still a need for a Security Operation Centre to review and act 24x7x365 on these security alerts. However, this can massively reduce the costs involved in having a high-quality SIEM solution.

JT has partnered with ITC, global SOC provider and Microsoft Azure Sentinel experts to offer customers a highly skilled 24x7x365 Security Operations centre supported by the JT cybersecurity experts on the ground.

JT Sentinel SOCaaS provides a comprehensive approach to data collection, threat detection, incident investigation and rapid response. Using cloud-native SIEM technology; Microsoft Azure Sentinel, the service is designed to tackle current and emerging cyber-threats by combining advanced machine learning and artificial intelligence with our team’s vast expertise and insight.

We automate the collection and analysis of data, detect and investigate potential threats or network anomalies, and help your business respond, taking the necessary steps to ensure any identified event does not happen again.

Most importantly, we offer 24x7x365 management detection and response to give you confidence in your cybersecurity position.

To find out more visit: Azure Sentinel Managed Service

Or, get in touch with our Business Solutions Team below:

In partnership with ITC Secure, JT provides cyber threat advisory and managed cybersecurity services. These help organisations identify, understand and control their security risks. ITC has over two decades of experience delivering cybersecurity solutions to organisations in over 180 countries. At the heart of ITC’s cyber services is a London based, 24x7x35, Security Operations Centre (SOC). From this centre, ITC’s teams deliver high-quality, managed security services to help organisations manage the growing complexity of cyber-threats and securely support their digital transformation. The network includes an international group of senior security specialists, each of whom has held high office in either government or military and intelligence services. This capability clearly sets us apart from our competitors in cybersecurity and strategic business development.

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JT support for National Trust conservation

A team of volunteers from JT have joined others reconnecting with their island’s natural beauty last week swapping their desks for a day of volunteering for the National Trust in Jersey.  The team helped maintain bird hides and reed beds in St Ouen.

Six members of JT’s new sustainability team supported the Trust with habitat restoration and enhancement of the bird hides and reeds at Les Mielles de Morville. It’s part of JT’s commitment to our local environment and community and our desire to help support the wellbeing of islanders.

Jon Parkes, Lands Manager for the National Trust for Jersey, said: “Like everyone, the Trust has had an unusual year with plenty of challenges, but we are lucky enough to work with lots of corporate partners and groups. This year has seen the countryside, including National Trust sites, busier than ever, as people rediscovered the island they knew and discovered parts they never knew existed. We are delighted that people are reconnecting with nature and really valuing what we have here in Jersey. Support for the Trust from local businesses like JT is really meaningful. Especially in difficult times like these, when we all need to work together for the benefit of our community and island.”

The National Trust is continuing with its busy programme of conservation and management work at its sites across the island.

Tom Noel, JT’s Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability said: “JT is actively pursuing our new strategy which puts our planet, our people and our community at the heart of everything we do. It’s not only about reducing carbon emissions, it’s also about how our people are embracing sustainability, coming up with their own ideas for green initiatives and supporting local organisations such as the National Trust. Seeing our volunteers so passionate on such a worthwhile project like this, demonstrates their genuine commitment to making a real difference. These projects are great for team building, exposing people to new experiences and really helping to keep our environment at the forefront of all our minds, helping to maintain and protect our island for future generations – plus, it’s something we really enjoyed.”