April 2024

Evolve will be releasing Vision, their host monitoring platform, at the Forecourt Event today, April 29, at the NEC in Birmingham. Vision uses the capabilities of the EvolveWAN device to monitor the whole network of your company. Vision presents your business with a clear view of your entire network, including all third-party devices that pass through the SD-WAN device. The platform provides complete visibility through a single dashboard. It is supported by Evolve’s 24/7/365 Network Operations Centre and has been created by Evolve’s in-house Development Team. This latest software boasts a plethora of advantages for your business, including streamlined operations, increased revenue and customer satisfaction. Sometimes, it can be difficult to visualise how a platform such as this may benefit your business Well, envision this scenario… At 5 a.m. on a Wednesday, Vision automatically detects an issue with connectivity to your business’ loyalty platform. The Vision platform instantly raises a ticket in the Evolve system and alerts the Evolve Network Operations Centre. A member of Evolve’s 24/7 support team immediately calls your business’s service desk, providing a description of the problem and helping to resolve it. Your business’s service desk then speaks to the third-party provider, who resolves the issue within minutes, comfortably ahead of your business opening for the day. Should your business’ loyalty cards have been down during the peak breakfast rush, it would have led to customer dissatisfaction. Thanks to Vision, this scenario has been avoided. Later that month, your business meets with a third-party service provider for a series of routine reviews. As a result of Vision’s reporting capabilities, you can present a bespoke report that shows the uptime (and downtime) of those vendors’ platforms. Together with the third-party provider, you can identify and drive improvements through Vision. Join us at the Forecourt show from the 29th April to May 1st at stand J39 for a demo of the platform. Contact Evolve at 03333 247 247 or info@evolvebg.co.uk. @evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn

With increasing demand for reliable business connectivity, it’s important that businesses are choosing the right managed network solution for them. Here at Evolve, we offer advanced network solutions to digitally transform your business. SD-WAN is one of our key services, and in this blog post we will be discussing how SD-WAN is the better option for business connectivity. Is SD-WAN Better Than MPLS?In contrast to MPLS, SD-WAN is a far better option for contemporary networking requirements. Its cost-effectiveness, attained by combining a variety of less costly internet connections, such as broadband, stands in contrast to MPLS’s higher costs. Organisations can simply adjust to changing bandwidth requirements and scale networks without requiring laborious hardware upgrades thanks to SD-WAN’s flexibility and scalability. Enhanced network efficiency and streamlined administration are achieved by the implementation of dynamic traffic routing, application performance optimisation, and centralised management. When combined with improved cloud service support and speedy deployment and configuration, SD-WAN becomes an even more flexible and agile option for enterprises looking to maximise their wide-area network performance. The advantages of SD-WAN in terms of cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and responsiveness to contemporary network demands are pushing its wider acceptance, although MPLS is still essential in scenarios requiring rigorous quality of service. To balance performance and cost, a lot of companies are choosing a hybrid strategy that incorporates SD-WAN with already-existing MPLS configurations. SD-WAN and VPN Despite having different main purposes, SD-WAN and VPN are essential components of contemporary network infrastructures. Wide-area network optimisation and management, dynamic traffic direction, application prioritisation, and centralised control are all areas in which SD-WAN shines. Conversely, virtual private network (VPN) technology focuses on creating safe, encrypted connections across the internet, guaranteeing the privacy of data and providing remote access to private networks. These technologies function well together, particularly when considering remote work and the growing reliance on cloud services. The capacity of SD-WAN to improve VPN connection performance adds to a safe, effective, and well-managed network infrastructure. With this integration, organisations can meet the changing demands of today’s distributed and networked digital environments while also obtaining excellent network functionality and strong data security. In conclusion, SD-WAN is the better option for businesses that rely heavily on remote working locations and cloud-based applications. For modern businesses, SD-WAN provides enhanced productivity and optimisations for digital businesses. To learn more about our SD-WAN services, contact Evolve’s team today. @evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn

Guest Wi-Fi refers to a separate wireless network provided by businesses specifically for visitors and customers to access the internet without using their personal mobile data while on the premises. This network is typically segregated from the internal corporate network used by employees and may have different security settings and access controls. There are many benefits to having guest Wi-Fi set up for your business, which we will be discussing below. Is Guest Wi-Fi A Good Idea?Yes! Setting up guest Wi-Fi yourself or through a provider such as Evolve is a great idea for several reasons, the main one being security. Having a separate and secure network connection for your guests means that your business’s data is being protected. It isolates guest devices from your primary network and therefore reduces the risk of unauthorised access to sensitive data. Having a separate network connection for your guests will lead to optimal performance being maintained; guests having access to a dedicated network won’t impact the bandwidth available to your internal operations, therefore ensuring your business is always running smoothly. Why Use Guest Wi-Fi? One of the key reasons to use guest Wi-Fi is for privacy and compliance. A separate network ensures that guests will not have access to your internal resources, files, or sensitive data, reducing the risk of unintentional breaches and ensuring compliance with privacy regulations. Evolve’s Guest Wi-Fi solution is Level 1 PCI-compliant, ensuring your data is always protected. Additionally, with guest Wi-Fi such as EvolveODM, your business has access to controlling the network by implementing authentication methods such as guest access keys. There’s also a chance to improve your customer retention rate with guest Wi-Fi, as visitors will appreciate high speed connection whilst they’re on your premises. In today’s world, internet access is expected, so free Wi-Fi makes your company stand out and is very convenient for your guests. Moreover, EvolveODM provides your business with marketing tools. An easy-to-use portal allows you to personalise a landing page for your guests with a customisable interface and offers. The platform also allows you to gather marketing data, customer demographics and behaviours in order to create a bespoke Guest Wi-Fi portal for your guests. For more information about our guest Wi-Fi services, feel free to contact the team at Evolve any time. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have. @evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn

In today’s ever-evolving digital landscape, the networking needs of businesses are constantly changing and growing. Organisations today rely heavily on cloud-based applications, remote workforces, and distributed branch offices located up and down the country, or even opposite sides of the world. With the way technology is advancing, the limitations of traditional Wide Area Networks (WANs) are becoming more apparent. Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) has emerged as a new disruptive technology that aims to tackle what traditional WAN can’t do, in turn revolutionising the way businesses connect and manage their networks. Businesses looking to make informed decisions about their network strategies should know and understand the differences between SD-WAN and traditional WAN architectures. In this blog post, we will be discussing the several differences between SD-WAN and traditional WAN solutions, highlighting the key benefits and addressing the connectivity needs of modern and evolving businesses. The key differences between traditional WAN and SD-WAN are in terms of network management and optimisation, see below for more information. Traditional WANBelow is an outline of what traditional WAN solutions offer Hardware-Centric: Significantly depends on specialised hardware appliances for connectivity and routing. Static Configuration: Manual configuration of network policies can take a long time to adjust. Restricted Flexibility: It can be difficult to scale and adjust to changing network requirements. Higher Costs: Uses pricey dedicated lines, like Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS), frequently. Centralised Control: handled by a central data centre on average. SD-WANSee below for an outline of the benefits of SD-WAN solutions. Software-Defined: Places a strong emphasis on virtualisation and software-based solutions for network management and control. Dynamic Configuration: Enables automated, real-time modifications to network regulations in response to parameters like latency and bandwidth. Scalability: Easily adjusts to evolving needs, allowing for agility and scalability. Cost Savings: May lessen dependency on pricey dedicated lines by combining several less expensive internet connections. Centralised Management System: Provides a centralised interface for network configuration and monitoring, giving you more visibility and control. PCI Certified: Evolve’s SD-WAN solution is Level 1 PCI Certified. In conclusion, SD-WAN is a more adaptable, economical, and dynamic wide-area networking solution than standard WAN. It makes use of software-defined concepts to lower dependency on pricey hardware, boost agility, and optimise performance. This is especially helpful as businesses need more and more reliable, secure, and flexible connectivity- especially with cloud services and remote work settings. For more information about SD-WAN solutions, contact Evolve today. @evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn

Evolve Appoints Stuart Milroy as Head of Technical Delivery. Lancashire, UK – 2023 Evolve, a leading supplier of managed network solutions and IT services, announced today that it has expanded its executive team. Stuart Milroy has been appointed as Head of Technical Delivery by Evolve as part of a long-term effort to improve operations and service delivery. Stuart is an accomplished IT specialist who has worked in the field for over 30 years. Prior positions held include Senior IT Project Manager at Maintel and Intrinsic Technology, Head of Project at Ensign Communications Ltd., and Head of Project Management and Professional Services at Adept4 ltd. Alan Stephenson-Brown, CEO at Evolve Business Group, said: “We’re thrilled to bring Stuart into our organisation. Throughout his career, Stuart has consistently demonstrated exemplary leadership, strategic foresight, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. His ability to navigate complex projects, mentor teams, and drive results has earned him a great reputation in the industry. “Stuart brings with him a deep understanding of IT technical delivery, encompassing various domains such as networking, telephony, cloud computing, and WAN. His proficiency in these areas will be instrumental as we continue to innovate and expand our technical capabilities to meet the evolving needs of our customers. I’m confident his contributions will be invaluable as we continue to grow as an organisation.” Stuart’s expertise extends beyond project management to encompass financial forecasting, project validation, and effective resource management. Stuart added: “Evolve has a stellar reputation for unrivalled customer service and I’m looking forward to joining the team. My immediate focus will be on the customer experience and project governance, and how I can contribute to elevating the level of service Evolve provides even further.” Stuart’s involvement is a critical turning point in Evolve’s attempts to coordinate and unify project teams. A more unified and efficient approach to projects on the networking and IT sides of the company will be made possible by his vast experience in IT service and project delivery, as well as his demonstrated track record in leadership roles.   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. Discover more about Paul View Paul’s LinkedIn Profile @evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn

Business connectivity is seen as the backbone of all digital organisations. All modern businesses need high speed connection that facilitates communication, collaboration, and data exchange across a diverse range of platforms and networks. Essentially, business connectivity encompasses the infrastructure and solutions, and technologies that enable seamless information sharing across vast distances. Business connectivity is crucial when it comes to connecting employees, customers, partners, and devices in an increasingly digital ecosystem. Whether it’s enabling remote work or facilitating e-commerce transactions, robust connectivity is essential for driving productivity, innovation, and growth in today’s competitive marketplace. WANS and LANSModern organisations rely heavily on business connectivity, which includes a wide range of technologies and tactics that enable smooth data flow and communication. Internally, it entails setting up strong Wide Area Networks (WANs) and Local Area Networks (LANs) that enable staff members and departments to work together effectively. Businesses depend on external internet connectivity for their online activities, and on cloud connectivity for remote storage and applications. With the development of remote work, employees may now operate easily from different locations thanks to connectivity that extends to secure virtual private networks (VPNs) and remote access solutions. The flexibility and effectiveness of corporate operations are further improved via mobile connection and unified communications. Business connectivity goes beyond the walls of an organisation to include supply chain integration, which facilitates partner contact and guarantees efficient operations. Security is a top priority, and to protect sensitive data, firewalls and encryption are in place. The Importance of Business Connectivity To put it simply, business connectivity is essential to modern businesses’ agility, collaboration, and digital transformation because it allows them to prosper in a linked and dynamic corporate environment. Below we’ve outlined the importance of proper business connectivity and how this can enhance your businesses performance. Facilitates communication between employees and partners Supports remote working It enables digital transformation, which allows businesses to leverage merging technologies such as IoT (Internet of Things), AI (Artificial Intelligence) and cloud computing. Enhances customer experience Ensures business continuity in case of cyber attacks or network outages. Cloud based backup systems help businesses mitigate the risk of such events. To conclude, business connectivity is crucial to the growth, competitiveness, and overall success of organisations across industries, serving as a catalyst for innovation, collaboration, and digital transformation for modern enterprises. For more information about business connectivity and managed network solutions to help enhance your connectivity, contact Evolve team today. @evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn

Software-Defined Wide-Area Networking, or SD-WAN such as EvolveWAN, is a technology that makes managing wide-area networks (WANs) easier and more efficient. To connect branch offices, data centres, and other remote locations, traditional WANs sometimes rely on pricey and complicated gear. Conversely, SD-WAN uses virtualisation and software to offer a more adaptable and affordable solution. In this blog post, we will be discussing the main goals and advantages of SD-WAN, and how this innovative technology can help transform your business by enhancing network performance. 1. Enhanced Network EfficiencyThrough the utilisation of numerous internet connections at once, SD-WAN enables businesses to maximise traffic flow and enhance network performance. In real time, it can determine the most efficient way for traffic routing depending on factors like bandwidth availability and latency. 2. Cost SavingsOrganisations can cut costs related to traditional WAN infrastructure by utilising less expensive internet connections in conjunction with MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) or other connectivity solutions. 3. Increased AgilityWith SD-WAN, administrators can quickly establish and modify network policies thanks to its centralised control and administration platform. Businesses that need to scale their networks and swiftly adjust to new requirements need to have this agility. 4. Maximised SecurityBuilt-in security features like encryption and firewall capabilities are frequently included in SD-WAN solutions, which help to secure data transferred over the network. This is particularly crucial as businesses connect to the internet and depend more and more on cloud services. Evolve’s SD-WAN solution, EvolveWAN is Level 1 PCI Certified meaning your business is always secure. 5. Centralised Management SystemSD-WAN solutions offer a centralised management interface, allowing administrators to monitor and control the entire network from a single location. This simplifies network management and troubleshooting. Overall, SD-WAN is a transformative technology that offers a multitude of benefits and applications in the realm of networking and connectivity. SD-WAN is used to address the challenges associated with traditional WANs, providing a more flexible and efficient solution for connecting and managing geographically dispersed networks. SD-WAN effectively enhances network performance and reliability as well as simplifying management, reducing costs, and providing flexibility to adapt to evolving businesses. If you’re looking to achieve greater efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness in today’s digital landscape then SD-WAN is the solution for you. To learn more about our SD-WAN technology and how we can help your business digitally transform, contact Evolve’s team today. @evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn

Lancashire, UK – 2024 Some of Evolve’s competitors take an airline approach to their service offering: it’s like booking a flight and finding a great price, only to find out the price didn’t include luggage, boarding passes, food, or a seat. That’s just not how Evolve work. Evolve offer a complete, bespoke service, which includes everything you would expect with no surprise fees. Welcome to your one-stop shop. Evolve is a firm believer in adopting an agnostic strategy to develop a solution for your company that will maximise its potential and address any issues that may crop up. During the first meetings between Evolve and your business, your team will be presented with a variety of different options designed to achieve the best outcome. From that point on you’ll benefit from… Design consultancy This element of Evolve’s offering is often billed separately or outsourced. Evolve treat it as a complimentary service carried out during the planning phase. Thanks to their extensive skill set, industry knowledge, and experience, their engineers can design a custom plan for any situation. Established third-party relationships The Evolve team has spent more than 10 years cultivating strategic partnerships with third parties, and is trusted to place its SD-WAN device in their data centres. This enables remote communication through our devices, and means if a problem arises Evolve can promptly alert the customer and all relevant parties. Unrivalled expertise Every team member at Evolve is highly skilled, knowledgeable in every field – including PCI compliance – and equipped to make sure your individual solution is planned meticulously, handled effectively, and carried out with pace. Strong vertical understanding Evolve understands that managing complex networks across different sectors can be a daunting task. The team of experts has the cross-sector knowledge and skills to provide fully managed network solutions, so you can trust to handle the complexities of your network, and enjoy the freedom to focus on running your business and achieving your goals. To on-boarding and beyond Evolve’s elevated service level doesn’t stop once planning is completed. Evolve’s customers enjoy ongoing support and services that exceed expectations… Speed of Deployment One of Evolve’s core principles is pace; they don’t sit on the sidelines. Always two steps ahead and work tirelessly to ensure maximum speed of deployment. Evolve has invested in a 5000-square-foot warehouse where the team stages, configures, and deploys with pace. This way, they can keep up with the dynamic nature of markets, so when they go fast, Evolve go faster. In-House Field Engineers Businesses that operate on the same scale as Evolve often bring in outside field engineers to handle any on-site work. Evolve, on the other hand, employs in-house field engineers who are committed to making sure the assignment is completed effectively, and won’t leave site until the job is done to the high standard Evolve strive for. Transformation Management Evolve’s scalable solutions ensure Evolve can adapt to your business’s changing needs and continue to support your growth. In-house development Businesses that operate on the same scale as Evolve often bring in outside field engineers to handle any on-site work. Evolve, on the other hand, employs in-house field engineers who are committed to making sure the assignment is completed effectively, and won’t leave site until the job is done to the high standard Evolve strive for. Dedication to the customer Everyone at Evolve wants to make a difference, and that starts with exceptional customer service. It’s something we excel at, and Evolve have the stats to back it up: · 69% of our staff are employed in customer service roles. · 84% of tickets resolved within 24hrs. · The average call wait time is just nine seconds. We’re in the business of taking the pain out of connectivity, and that means offering a complete, bespoke and transparent service. Evolve are not an airline, but if they were, they would offer all the benefits of flying first class and never leaving you wondering if your seat is part of the price. To find out how you can save money, gain a competitive edge and transform your business through industry-leading technology, give the team a call today on 03333 247 247. 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 customers 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

Lancashire, UK – 2024 In a few weeks, Evolve will be exhibiting at the Forecourt Show at the NEC Birmingham from April 29th until May 1st. The Forecourt Show is an opportunity for all of the leading individuals within the Forecourt industry to come together and share ideas and innovations. At the event, there will be over 25000+ visitors and 1500+ exhibitors across 3 days. Innovation has been the key focus for the past few days. The show brings together leading suppliers and distributors across a variety of fuel types, vehicle care, and convenience retail. Since there has been drastic growth in the Forecourt, retail, and convenience sectors, the Forecourt Show is the best place to discover new ideas, innovations, solutions, and products for your site.  Throughout the event, there will be a series of free seminars at the show. Your free pass gives you access to all of the events, including the National Convenience Show. Evolve will be exhibiting at the show alongside their partners, Mako Networks. Evolve and Mako began working together back in 2012, and Evolve became Mako’s first platinum partner in 2020. So, what can Evolve do for forecourts?  EvolveISPISP solution: A scalable, secure, business-grade connection that is customised for your company is offered by EvolveISP. Evolve is aware of the constantly shifting nature of the digital world and the rising need for bandwidth brought on by the development of technologies like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. EvolveWANSD-WAN: Forecourt retailers depend on Evolve’s SD-WAN solution because it offers complete Level 1 PCI certification and guarantees the security of all card payments and company data. Evolve understands how important it is to keep your business running smoothly, and that’s why their solution has 4G failover, which means that if your device loses its primary connection, it will instantly switch to a secondary connection (4G/5G), which won’t affect your connection. EvolveODM To safeguard both parties, Evolve’s Guest Wi-Fi solution enables your visitors to connect to a different Wi-Fi network from the company’s main network. Your customers may simply access online deals, e-receipts, applications, loyalty programmes, and more if you provide guest Wi-Fi. VisionVision, Evolve’s newest innovation, will be unveiled at the Forecourt Show. Using the capabilities of Evolve’s SD-WAN solution, Vision is a host monitoring platform that gives organisations a single “pane of glass” view of their network, including loyalty programmes, petrol pumps, and various customer-facing devices. Businesses can now receive notifications when there is a problem with their entire network instead of just a specific device, which completely transforms how they view their network. Come along to the Forecourt Show and discuss with Evolve how they can revolutionise your retail business. Our stand is J39. For more information, contact Evolve today at 03333 247 247 or by email at info@evolvebg.co.uk. 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 customers 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