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Which vendors still support on-premises UC infrastructure?
Not all organizations can migrate UC to the cloud. For those unable to migrate, a few vendors continue to support UC infrastructure on premises.
Cloud-based unified communications is everywhere, but it's not for everyone. For a variety of business and security reasons, companies might require all UC to be on premises. The question is: When cloud isn't an option, what on-premises UC infrastructure choices are available?
You won't find any options from cloud-only companies, such as 8x8 Inc., RingCentral and Vonage, so cross them off your list. Instead, look at legacy vendors with roots in on-premises telephony that have expanded into UC over the years.
Fortunately, at least two long-standing communications vendors consider on-premises UC infrastructure as a strategic option for customers. Between Avaya and Mitel, most enterprise customers should be able to find what they need for an on-premises UC platform. Better yet, these vendors also support hybrid and cloud-only models. So, your company has a path to the cloud when the opportunity arises.
Avaya has the benefit of being spun off AT&T and Lucent. In addition, Avaya picked up many of Nortel's telephony and PBX assets when the firm closed. Avaya OneCloud is a UC platform that has multiple on-premises options. One option that might suffice as an on-premises deployment is a private cloud option. Generally, cloud implies shared resources, and on premises means private. A private cloud deployment may provide the level of privacy your company requires.
Mitel has also been around a long time and has picked up significant on-premises PBX and UC technology -- most recently, by way of its acquisition of ShoreTel. Like Avaya, Mitel has a range of telephony and UC options that cover small, medium and large business needs with its MiCloud, MiCollab and MiVoice lines.
Mitel also recognizes that some companies may want an on-premises UC infrastructure. For these on-site needs, Mitel recommends a consultation with the company.
Keep in mind that you can always build your own version of hybrid cloud by purchasing your own telephony and UC hardware and hosting the gear at a service provider location. While not a common option, it might work for some companies.
