January 2024

Lancashire, UK – 2024 What is a managed services provider? A managed service or solution provider (MSP) is a company such as Evolve that specialises in the management of IT infrastructure and systems. Fully managed services encompass a suite of comprehensive solutions tailored to the diverse needs of the hospitality sector. These services include the demand for secure and robust connectivity solutions designed to establish reliable and high-speed internet connectivity for both their guests and their internal operations. The hospitality industry has witnessed a revolution in network management with the introduction of SD-WAN technology. With the intelligent optimisation of network traffic, SD-WAN improves security, dependability, and performance in many locations. It makes it possible for important apps to be prioritised and integrated seamlessly, guaranteeing visitors as well as employees an optimal and consistent digital experience. EvolveWAN, an SD-WAN solution powered by Mako Networks that guarantees your company is always 100% PCI-compliant, is part of Evolve’s complete managed solution. The PCI DSS requirements should be followed by any company that processes credit cards. Companies that violate these regulations could be fined up to $10,000 per month. For hospitality organisations, fully managed services have huge innovative benefits. They are essential in improving the entire customer experience since they provide end-to-end connectivity, customised wi-fi access via guest wi-fi, and enhanced network security and performance through SD-WAN. These services guarantee that the changing demands of modern-day tourists are met, providing an effective digital experience during their visit, which raises customer satisfaction and loyalty. Guest Wi-Fi solutions that relate to analytics offer data-driven insights, which is another significant benefit of fully managed solutions like Evolve’s. With the help of EvolveODM, Evolve’s Guest Wi-Fi solution, each owner has access to a customised dashboard that gives them important consumer information for a more tailored product and experience. Businesses utilising Evolve’s fully managed solution can benefit from their network operations centre, which is dedicated to ensuring your business’s operations are always running effectively, 24 x 7 x 365. Evolve’s team works proactively to minimise downtime and resolve issues before the business is even aware. Embracing fully managed services is not merely an upgrade but a strategic move to position hospitality at the forefront of innovation and excellence. End About Evolve Business Group and Evolve Evolve Business Group is an independently owned company that specialises in providing end-to-end IT and managed network solutions to a range of businesses. Evolve is helping businesses to reduce costs and simplify the management of services and give business owners and their teams more time to do what they do best. Founded in 2005, it has worked with a variety of clients across different industries around the world, building a team of highly experienced specialists to help create effective and efficient packages using any combination of different offerings. It keeps a range of cross-sector networks protected and connected. @evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn

@evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn Lancashire, UK – 2023 Fuel forecourts are undergoing a period of significant transformation, with the rise of EV charging and the retail landscape of fuel forecourts evolving. With the rise of electric vehicles (EVs), the landscape of these traditional refuelling stations has changed dramatically. One notable change is the increase in dwell time as individuals spend more time at forecourts due to the introduction of EV charging stations. This shift has brought new opportunities and challenges, particularly in terms of the demand for increased bandwidth to support these changes. The integration of EV charging stations at fuel forecourts has significantly increased the amount of time customers are spending on site. On average, for a typical electric car, it takes just under 8 hours (empty to full) to charge with a 7 kw charging point. Due to this, most drivers will top up their chargers rather than wait. As a result of this, more customers are using fuel forecourts to charge their EV vehicles. For many electric cars, you can add up to 100 miles in 35 minutes with a rapid charger. The statistics demonstrate the increase in dwell time at the forecourt. This leads to an era of digital transformation for fuel forecourts. Not so long ago, fuel was the sole reason for visiting a fuel forecourt; today, this has dropped to a 50/50 split between fuel and non-fuel retail. In some cases, service stations are becoming as much of a destination as a pit stop. Digital transformation reports suggest that in the future we will see a significant increase in the retail and leisure presence at forecourts as people begin to spend more time on the premises. Because of the increase in dwell time and EV at fuel forecourts, there is an increasing need for enhanced bandwidth. Greater bandwidth not only supports these technological aspects of the forecourt, but it also supports the customer experience, transaction speeds, data processing for EV charging, and managing multiple users. Forecourts without adequate bandwidth face significant challenges such as slow transactions, connectivity issues, and potential customer dissatisfaction. EvolveISP, Evolve’s connectivity solution, can help aid the transition to increased bandwidth. EvolveISP provides business-grade, seamless connectivity that promises to minimise downtime and provide high-speed internet access. In conclusion, the convergence of EV charging, increased dwell time, and the demand for heightened bandwidth represent a pivotal moment in the evolution of fuel forecourts. Embracing these changes and investing in technology and infrastructure will not only address the current challenges and opportunities but also pave the way for a more efficient, customer-centric forecourt experience in the future. About Evolve Business Group and Evolve Evolve Business Group is an independently owned company that specialises in providing end-to-end IT and managed network solutions to a range of businesses. Evolve Managed Network solutions are helping businesses to reduce costs and simplify the management of services and give business owners and their teams more time to do what they do best. Founded in 2005, it has worked with a variety of clients across different industries around the world, building a team of highly experienced specialists to help create effective and efficient packages using any combination of different offerings. It keeps a range of cross-sector networks protected and connected. Explore Evolve’s website to find out more about how their Managed Network Solutions can help your business stay secure.

Lancashire, UK – 2023 FTTP and Ethernet both differ in many ways, lets start by defining each.  What is FTTP? FTTP is the technology that employs fibre cables straight to the premises and is the foundation of future connectivity and broadband. High-speed connectivity can be directly delivered from the exchange to your company location via FTTP, which makes use of fibre-optic cables. With up to 1 GB of download bandwidth and 114 MB of upload capacity, FTTP ensures lightning-fast data transfers and uninterrupted business operations. It is very quick and simple to order FTTP using our Nexus Portal. The FTTP network is expanding quickly; at the moment, 52% of the UK is connected. Compared to conventional copper-based broadband, it has lower latency, is less prone to failure, and is more reliable. With the use of shared broadband technology, FTTP provides consumers with a fast, dependable, and reasonably priced connection. What is Ethernet? Since Ethernet was first created with businesses in mind, it offers dedicated broadband services with synchronous speeds and guaranteed bandwidth. Frequently referred to as a leased line, fibre Ethernet provides uncontested high-speed access with speeds ranging from 10Mbps to 10Gbps. Ethernet also has significantly better availability and is available nationwide. So which is best for your business? Because you are sharing bandwidth with others, FTTP is frequently less expensive than Ethernet. However, this comes at the expense of losing the guaranteed maximum speeds that come with an Ethernet (leased line) connection. While FTTP is just as stable as a fiber-based Ethernet connection, it’s not a accessible in terms of its availability. Though there is a lot of effort being put towards increasing its availability, it is not yet nationwide.  When broken down into sectors, we can see that FTTP will best suit retail businesses, hospitality such as pubs and residential. Ethernet would be most suitable for businesses with higher data demand such as multi-site businesses and healthcare. Evolve are able to equip your business with the right solution and the right level of connectivity that your business needs.  Evolve Managed Network With a variety of dependable and effective carrier partners around the UK, Evolve can assist your company in making the transition to Full Fibre via FTTP or Leased Line. This means that Evolve is not limited to the Openreach’s network. With initiatives like Digital Greenwich Connect and the Liverpool City Region project, among others, ITS Technology one of Evolve’s connectivity partners is laying the groundwork for a more fully fibered nation. End About Evolve Business Group and Evolve Evolve Business Group is an independently owned company that specialises in providing end-to-end IT and managed network solutions to a range of businesses. Evolve Managed Network solutions are helping businesses to reduce costs and simplify the management of services and give business owners and their teams more time to do what they do best. Founded in 2005, it has worked with a variety of clients across different industries around the world, building a team of highly experienced specialists to help create effective and efficient packages using any combination of different offerings. It keeps a range of cross-sector networks protected and connected. Explore Evolve’s website to find out more about how their Managed Network Solutions can help your business stay secure. @evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn

Lancashire, UK – 2023 Software-defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) such as EvolveWAN technology can significantly enhance the security measures and success of franchise network infrastructure. Staying secure in the world is currently imperative. This blog will outline how cybersecurity practices can intersect with SD-WAN implementation. Sure, Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) technology can significantly enhance the security measures within a franchise coffee shop’s network infrastructure. Here’s how cybersecurity practices can intersect with SD-WAN implementation: Secure Connectivity: By using encrypted tunnels to transmit data across various locations or franchise branches, SD-WAN systems offer secure communication. Sensitive data is kept safe in transit thanks to encrypted communication. Segmentation and Isolation: Network segmentation is made possible by SD-WAN, which divides traffic into multiple categories by establishing virtual barriers. Potential risks are kept from propagating throughout the network by this segregation. To reduce security threats, franchise coffee shops might divide up POS transactions, guest Wi-Fi, and administrative duties. Centralised Security Policies: Security policies can be centrally monitored and enforced throughout the network with SD-WAN. This entails implementing uniform security protocols, including intrusion prevention, content filtering, and firewall regulations, to guarantee consistent protection throughout all franchise locations. Dynamic Path Selection for Security: Depending on the state of the network, SD-WAN technology dynamically chooses the safest and most effective routes for data traffic. This entails directing traffic via encrypted tunnels or secure VPNs to maximise security without sacrificing efficiency. Improved visibility and monitoring: A lot of SD-WAN solutions have powerful reporting and monitoring features. Owners of franchise coffee shops can see more clearly into network activity, which helps them identify irregularities and any security risks. Resilience and redundancy: By offering redundancy through several connection alternatives (e.g., MPLS, internet, and LTE), SD-WAN improves network resiliency. Traffic can be immediately redirected in a more secure way in the event of a security attack or outage on one link, reducing disruption and security risks. Integration with Security Services: Integration with third-party security appliances or services is a feature of many SD-WAN solutions. Through this connection, extra security features like sandboxing, anti-malware, and intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS) can be implemented straight into the SD-WAN infrastructure. Scalability and adaptability: Franchise coffee shops can modify their security protocols in response to changing requirements because of the scalability and flexibility of SD-WAN. Security standards are simply expanded to match network changes, whether new sites are opened, or activities increase. Mako Networks powers Evolve’s SD-WAN solution; Mako’s security gateway is the only one that can offer Level 1 Certified PCI Compliance. Because of our added service wrap, Evolve is the sole platinum partner for Mako. As part of Evolve’s service wrap, you will receive proactive monitoring and support 24/7, 24/7, 365 days of the year. Our network operations centre is fully manned, multilingual, and equipped with real humans to guarantee that your business is running smoothly at all times. By combining robust cybersecurity practices with SD-WAN technology, franchises such as coffee shops, food-to-go restaurants, and others can fortify their network infrastructure, ensuring connectivity, data protection, and streamlined operations across multiple sites while effectively managing potential security threats.  About Evolve Business Group and Evolve Evolve Business Group is an independently owned company that specialises in providing end-to-end IT and managed network solutions to a range of businesses. Evolve Managed Network solutions are helping businesses to reduce costs and simplify the management of services and give business owners and their teams more time to do what they do best. Founded in 2005, it has worked with a variety of clients across different industries around the world, building a team of highly experienced specialists to help create effective and efficient packages using any combination of different offerings. It keeps a range of cross-sector networks protected and connected. Explore Evolve’s website to find out more about how their Managed Network Solutions can help your business stay secure. @evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn

Evolve announce strategic partnership with Mint Technology.   Lancashire, UK – 2023   Evolve is thrilled to share news of its latest dynamic partnership with Mint Technology, a distinguished managed service provider founded in 2015. The Mint Technology team, led by key figures Jon Dunn and Damon Smith, boasts an impressive collective experience of over 30 years in the IT and telecom sectors. Specialising in a range of managed services encompassing IT, phone systems, mobiles, connectivity, data, and more, Mint Technology is dedicated to allowing businesses the freedom to concentrate on their core competencies. Both Evolve and Mint share a common focus on the ascent of SD-WAN in 2024, recognising its potential to enhance business efficiency. During this collaboration, Mint Technology will be at the forefront of delivering Evolve’s comprehensive managed SD-WAN solution to its customers. The prospect of integrating a fully managed SD-WAN offering has Mint Technology brimming with enthusiasm, anticipating manifold advantages for both the company and its customers. Looking ahead to 2024, Mint is actively working on expanding its IT services to both new and existing customers, with plans to establish a new office in the East Midlands. Presently, Mint’s business verticals encompass manufacturing and transportation. For those keen on exploring fresh business possibilities and becoming part of Evolve’s community of like-minded partners, reaching out to Evolve today is the first step. About Evolve Business Group and Evolve Evolve Business Group is an independently owned company that specialises in providing end-to-end IT and managed network solutions to a range of businesses. Evolve Managed Network solutions are helping businesses to reduce costs and simplify the management of services and give business owners and their teams more time to do what they do best. Founded in 2005, it has worked with a variety of clients across different industries around the world, building a team of highly experienced specialists to help create effective and efficient packages using any combination of different offerings. It keeps a range of cross-sector networks protected and connected. Explore Evolve’s website to find out more about how their Managed Network Solutions can help your business stay secure. @evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn