Author name: Georgia Mather

sd-wan to sase

From SD-WAN to SASE – how WAN is evolving

The digital transformation journey for many businesses has been marked by the need to adapt their Wide Area Networks (WAN) to meet increasing demands for performance, flexibility and security. Traditional WAN architectures have struggled to keep up with the dynamic needs of modern enterprises, leading to the rise of Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) and the more recent Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) model. This blog explores the evolution from SD-WAN to SASE, highlighting how WAN is transforming to support the needs of contemporary businesses. The Rise of SD-WAN   What is SD-WAN? Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) is a technology that revolutionised the way businesses manage their WANs. SD-WAN uses software to control the network connections, applications, and services between enterprise locations, data centres, and cloud environments. Key Benefits of SD-WAN Optimised performance Cost efficiency Simplified management Scalability The Emergence of SASE Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), pronounced “sassy,” is a transformative architecture that converges networking and security services into a single, cloud-delivered service model. SASE extends the capabilities of SD-WAN by integrating comprehensive security functions, creating a unified solution that addresses both connectivity and security needs. Key Benefits of SASE Integrated security Unified management Cloud-native architecture Enhanced user experience Evolution Driven by Changing Needs The evolution from SD-WAN to SASE is driven by the changing needs of businesses in an increasingly digital world. As organisations adopt more cloud services and remote work becomes the norm, the need for integrated security and efficient connectivity has become paramount. Traditional WAN and even SD-WAN solutions, while beneficial, often require additional security measures to fully protect modern networks. The Convergence of Networking and Security SASE represents the convergence of networking and security into a single, cloud-native service. This convergence simplifies the architecture, reduces complexity, and ensures that security is built into the network rather than being an afterthought. By combining SD-WAN with advanced security functions, SASE addresses the limitations of standalone solutions and offers a more cohesive and effective approach. Preparing for the future Implementing SASE helps future-proof the network by providing a scalable, flexible, and secure solution that can adapt to evolving business needs. As new threats emerge and technology continues to advance, SASE’s integrated approach ensures that businesses can maintain robust security while delivering high-performance connectivity. The evolution from SD-WAN to SASE marks a significant shift in how businesses manage their WANs. While SD-WAN brought about substantial improvements in network performance and cost efficiency, SASE takes it a step further by integrating comprehensive security into the network fabric. This evolution reflects the growing importance of security in a cloud-centric, remote-work-enabled world. By embracing SASE, organisations can achieve a more resilient, scalable, and secure network infrastructure that meets the demands of today’s digital landscape. 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

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The Delay of the PSTN Switch-Off

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) switch-off has been a significant transition within the telecommunications industry, aiming to move from traditional copper-based networks to modern IP-based networks. Recently, the switch-off has been delayed by a further two years due to various technical, regulatory, and market readiness factors. The PSTN has been the backbone of global telecommunications for over a century, providing reliable voice communication. However, technological advancements have rendered PSTN outdated compared to the capabilities of Internet Protocol (IP) networks. The planned switch-off and migration to IP networks promise enhanced services, lower maintenance costs, and increased flexibility. The additional two-year delay in the PSTN switch-off reflects the complexity of the transition, addresses unresolved issues, and ensures a smoother migration process. This delay aims to mitigate risks associated with network reliability, customer adaptation, and regulatory compliance. There are many reasons for the delay, including technical challenges, regulatory and compliance factors, market and customer readiness, and business continuity. Businesses both benefit and suffer from this delay in different ways. Firstly, it offers them more time to comprehend the shift and move to the best IP-based alternative. Secondly, it prolongs the time that their current infrastructure is available. However, as the process is still ongoing and now is a crucial time to make the shift to the future of connection, companies still need to be ready for the eventual switch-off. Due to the considerable risk involved with using outdated equipment, maintaining analogue services is quite expensive. In a further update, Openreach stated that they anticipate the migration to proceed at a rapid rate and that they would still be ending current WLR contracts for Internet service providers by the end of December 2025. (LINK) For more information about Business Connectivity and the reliable solutions we offer here at Evolve BG, please visit our site. @evolvebg Visit Evolve’s LinkedIn

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Fully Managed Network Services Restoring Convenience to EG Group.

Download PDF Version Evolve’s SD-WAN Enables EG Group to streamline Global Network Management EG Group is a leading independent fuel station and convenience retailer with operations in over 6,000 sites across 10 countries. As a global organisation, EG Group requires a robust and reliable network infrastructure to support its business operations. To achieve this, EG Group relies on Evolve, a UK-based managed service provider, as one of their key global suppliers. The Solution Evolve’s partnerships with over 60 ISPs worldwide enable EG Group to simplify their network management by placing communication orders with one company, without the need to deal with individual in-country ISPs for troubleshooting or billing. Evolve’s SD-WAN delivers a single view of EG Group’s global network, enabling easy management and deployment of network service integration for payments and loyalty across all their business sectors, such as fuel, food-to-go, and more. Evolve’s SD-WAN solution has enabled EG Group to achieve several benefits, including: Streamlined network management, reducing complexity and improving efficiency. Single point of contact for communication orders, troubleshooting, and billing. A single view of their global network, enabling EG Group to simplify management and troubleshooting. Reliable and robust network infrastructure, supporting their business operations across multiple countries. The Conclusion Evolve’s SD-WAN solution has enabled EG Group to streamline its global network management and achieve its business objectives. With a reliable and robust network infrastructure in place, EG Group is well-positioned to continue its growth and expansion in the highly competitive fuel and convenience retail market. Evolve’s partnerships with over 60 ISPs worldwide and their SD-WAN solution demonstrate their commitment to delivering exceptional customer service and support to their customers. Kevin Patterson Chief Technology Officer ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ “We’re delighted with the ongoing results. Not only are they reactive, but thanks to their proactive attitude, difficulties are frequently fixed before we are even aware of a potential problem. The people at Evolve are dependable and genuinely interested in supporting our business. We view the team at Evolve as an extension of our company, being able to rely on them has been crucial to our success. We see them as unparalleled in terms of their expertise and approach to customer service.”

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Payment world pay

How Evolve’s global connectivity is powering the World’s Payments

The global economy is undergoing enormous shifts, and increasingly, enterprises around the world need to tread a fine line between cost-cutting and ensuring operational efficiencies. Businesses handling payments in vast volumes, like Fuel, Hotel and Retail enterprises are now realising the benefits of outsourcing payment processing and security demands to Managed Service Providers. But in a fiercely crowded market, it can be difficult to cut through the noise to find the right partner for your unique business needs. Evolve is monumentally different to other Managed Service Providers in the market for three key reasons: · With more than 20 years of experience in helping companies achieve PCI compliance, nobody can match Evolve’s level of experience with PCI. Evolve is an SD-WAN global Platinum Partner for Mako Networks, which is certified to PCI DSS Level 1, the strongest payment data security standard in the world. · Evolve spans the gap between IT companies and payment aggregators. Nobody expects IT companies to be payment experts or vice versa. That’s where Evolve comes in, with its PCI compliance and payment processing expertise, it’s been connecting the two industries for years, solving payment problems for IT companies and helping payment companies expand and strengthen their network connections. · Evolve’s unrivalled ability to manage third-party data centre hardware and software integrations and migrations, its reputation for protecting data assets and data and the trust placed in the team by data centre owners around the world. Evolve has links and access to two of the world’s biggest payment aggregators, hundreds of banks and payment providers worldwide. It knows what it takes to route payments to where they need to get to, and how to protect them end-to-end. Evolve has everything in place to connect your business to any payment provider you want to use. What’s more, it is trusted by more than 60 gateways, platforms and hosts around the world to work directly within their data centres, handling intricate lease lines and physical hardware installations, and connecting their payments to where they need to get. No other Managed Service Provider can offer this combination of capabilities. Another reason Evolve stands head and shoulders above the competition is the trust placed in it, not just by data centres, but by device manufacturers who want to be sure that their products are distributed only by credible and respected brands. That’s why Evolve was chosen by network management company Mako to offer the only PCI DSS Level 1-certified SD Wan device in the world. Why is that important? Because it provides an extra layer of security for businesses carrying out card payments. Why Evolve’s SD-WAN strengths are unrivalled: · Software: Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) is a transformative technology, revolutionising the way enterprises manage and optimise their network infrastructure. Before SD-WAN emerged, businesses would typically use traditional Wide Area Networking (WAN) architectures. With the implementation of cloud-based applications, the increase in remote working trends, and the increasing need for reliable and high-performing connections, traditional WANs are often limited in their scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. · SD-WAN overcomes these challenges by leveraging software-defined principles to enhance the management, security, and performance of WAN connections, enhancing network connectivity to intelligently direct traffic across the WAN. SD-WAN can choose the most suitable path for data transmission, considering factors such as latency, bandwidth, and application requirements, prioritising critical applications over less important ones to optimise performance. · SD-WAN also offers a centralised management system, allowing control of devices, network policies, and configurations that can be managed and implemented across the entire network, simply by administration.Evolve combines Mako’s SD-WAN technology with an enhanced service and support package, supporting broadband and LTE connections with dynamic routing for optimised network traffic. This enables each of its customers’ sites to connect directly to the SD-WAN kit at each third-party data centre, keeping operations smooth and secure, while cutting out any complicated routing that could slow down processes. Evolve’s carrier relationships help reduce downtime, too, and all this is backed up by a proactive 24/7/365 multilingual support desk team. By adding the PCI-certified Mako solution to a third party’s data centre, Evolve can extend its SD-WAN into its business. This is a new, faster and more secure way for businesses to manage connections between their different locations, such as offices, data centres, and remote workers. Evolve’s SD-WAN’s strengths alone make it an industry leader, but combined with its data centre integration expertise and payment connectivity coverage, it stands out as the only MSP that can offer enterprise-level payment-accepting businesses everything they’re looking for. Vision – total visibility over your entire network Another way Evolve’s capabilities can help drive increased revenue for your business is through its proprietary Vision Host Monitoring Platform. Vision gives 360-degree visibility of an entire network, including all third-party devices that pass through the SD-WAN device, through a single dashboard, and is supported by our 24/7 Network Operations Centre (NOC). Vision uses the capabilities of the EvolveWAN device to monitor the whole network of your company. Here’s how Vision works in practice: Let’s say your Hospitality business operates a loyalty card programme. Vision can automatically detect an issue with connectivity to your business loyalty platform. The Vision platform instantly raises a ticket in the Evolve system and alerts the Evolve NOC. A member of Evolve’s 24/7 support team in the NOC 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, avoiding issues at the peak breakfast rush and a lot of unhappy customers. What’s more, Vision’s reporting capabilities can generate bespoke reports showing performance, uptime and downtime stats of vendors’ platforms for you and your third-party provider. Ultimately, businesses that use Vision benefit from streamlined operations, increased revenue and customer satisfaction. All of this is backed up by a friendly, 24/7 multilingual support team that is on hand to help with

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PCI 4.0

PCI DSS 4.0 is Here – What You Need to Do to Stay Compliant

If your business takes card payments, chances are you’re familiar with PCI DSS. But if you’re handling compliance processes by yourself, you may not be aware of recent updates, and what it means for your business. Here, Evolve takes you through what’s new in PCI DSS, and how we can help you navigate an easy path to compliance. PCI compliance refers to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), which applies to any company that takes card payments. It’s a set of security standards designed to ensure all companies that accept, process, store, or transmit card information securely and protect cardholder information from theft, hacking, data breaches and other security threats. Failing to comply with PCI standards can result in hefty fines, damage to reputation, and even legal consequences. Whether you’re a large corporation or a small business, it’s important to take PCI compliance seriously. So, what do you need to do to become – and stay – compliant? PCI DSS is applied to organisations based on the number and type of card transactions they make each year. PCI DSS Level 1 ensures the highest level of security for businesses that store, transmit, or process credit card data. A Level 1 merchant is defined as processing at least 1 million JCB card transactions, 2.5 million American Express transactions, or 6 million Visa, Mastercard and Discover transactions per year. Following an on-site audit, PCI Level 1 merchants and service providers must obtain an annual Compliance Report from a Qualified Security Assessor (QSA) or Internal Security Assessor (ISA) to comply with PCI DSS. But merchants have an extra layer of responsibility when it comes to PCI compliance; they are responsible for ensuring their cards, payments, and internet service providers (ISPs) are compliant to ensure the security of their cardholder environments against data breaches. The latest PCI DSS version 4.0 became mandatory on 1 April 2024. The previous version, PCI DSS 3.2.1. was retired on 31 March 2024, so all card-accepting organisations need to be compliant with PCI DSS 4.0 from now on. Version 4.0 has been launched to account for the massive changes in technology, cybersecurity and the way payments are made over the past few years. You only need to look at how COVID-19 accelerated the shift to contactless payments and how e-commerce changed the way people pay. Around the world, millions of brick-and-mortar or cash-only businesses had to go online and accept cards virtually overnight. Changes that are mandatory as of 1 April 2024 include:· Companies must define and document the scope of their cardholder data environment annually and after any significant changes are made.· Any files companies use to create their network infrastructure must be secured.· Companies must have documented requirements that are shared between their organisation and any third-party service providers they have relationships with.But 51 new requirements will be mandatory from April 1 2025. Here, we’ve identified the ones likely to require more work or significant changes to your card acceptance infrastructure.· It will no longer be acceptable to use disk or partition level encryption for any encrypted data that companies store.· Stored hashes of PANs will need to be cryptographically keyed hashes, and companies will be required to produce an inventory of all the cryptography used to protect cardholder data. Companies will also be required to perform an annual risk assessment of all their uses of cryptography.· Any JavaScript in web payment pages must be actively managed and must respond to any unauthorised changes.· Companies will be required to use technology designed to detect and prevent phishing attacks.· Multifactor authentication will be required for all users who can access the cardholder data environment, not just those who have remote or administrative access.· Companies must maintain an inventory of hardware and software, but from 1 April 2025, they must also conduct risk assessments of any assets approaching their end-of-life and replace them where appropriate. Let Evolve manage your PCI DSS 4.0 compliance Traditionally, ensuring PCI compliance is the responsibility of the business. Companies must undergo frequent internal and external security assessments by authorised independent audit institutions to obtain PCI DSS Level 1 certification, including detailed on-site audits every year. Achieving and maintaining PCI DSS compliance can involve enormous operational and technical investments, especially for businesses that don’t have payment infrastructures as part of their core operations. For a business operating in multiple sites, like Fuel Forecourts or Retailers, it can be a logistical nightmare to assess every POS terminal or gateway and the processes that accept card payments. With so many reports, audits and administrative burdens to handle, many companies will be concerned about the amount of money and time it will take to ensure compliance. But there is an easier, cheaper and more efficient way to get PCI-compliant – letting Evolve do the work for you. Founded in 2005 and serving more than 9,500 sites globally in the Retail, Hospitality and Fuel Forecourt industries, Evolve is a fully Managed Service Provider (MSP) operating in 12 countries, offering customers reliable, secure and Level 1-certified PCI DSS SD-WAN solutions. SD-WAN stands for Software-Defined Wide Area Network, a type of networking technology that enables businesses to manage the connections between their different locations, such as offices, data centres, and remote workers. The only PCI DSS Level 1-certified PCI-compliant SD Wan device in the world is Mako’s SD Wan device. As a Mako platinum partner, Evolve provides customised SD-WAN solutions with PCI Level 1 certification for payment security. By combining Mako’s devices with Evolve’s friendly, knowledgeable and multilingual 24/7 support team, you can be assured that your call will always be answered by someone within two minutes. Also, instead of slogging through the 240-question assessment document, for every location, IP address and terminal to get PCI-certified, Evolve will answer them for you. Of those 240 questions, 210 of them – or 90% – are answered by Evolve’s PCI compliance capabilities, so its customers don’t have to worry about them. The team can also guide you on the

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Wigan Youth Zone

Evolve have been officially unveiled as patrons for Wigan Youth Zone.

Evolve is delighted to have been officially unveiled as the latest Silver Patron of Wigan Youth Zone, supporting their initiatives and the amazing work that goes on there.   For the last year, Evolve has been collaborating with Wigan Youth Zone to be in readiness for the official patronage. Evolve has visited Wigan Youth Zone on multiple occasions over the past year, introducing new team members to the incredible work done at the youth facility. In addition, Evolve attended the Youth Zone’s inaugural business breakfast and will be attending its first business brunch in a few weeks. At Evolve’s quarterly business all-hands meeting, the Wigan Youth Zone team joined Evolve at their Wigan offices to deliver a profile piece. In the heart of the town, Wigan Youth Zone is a purpose-built, cutting-edge youth facility that opened its doors in 2013. It gives young people in the community the chance to make new friends, experience new things, pick up new skills, and get the help they require to realise their full potential. According to statistics, Wigan’s youth have among the lowest rates of physical activity in the nation; over 20% of them are obese, and a startling proportion of them reside in homes with adults who may be abusing drugs or have mental health issues. Seven days a week, the Wigan Youth Zone offers young people a secure space, access to positive adult role models, focused assistance for those in need, chances for professional and personal growth, and generously subsidised wholesome meals. Since the charity’s amazing work depends on donations from local businesses, Evolve, a Wigan-based company, was eager to help. Starting in July with Tough Mudder, Evolve plans to participate in fundraising activities throughout 2024 to generate £6,000 for the Wigan Youth Zone. Any money that the team raises will be matched by Evolve. Evolve has also promised to donate eight hours of their time to the youth facility as mentors and volunteers. Evolve has declared that it is now a member of The 5% Club, an employer-led organisation advocating for more access to “earn and learn” job opportunities and skills training. The goal of the 5% Club is to assist all companies, including its members, in expanding the quantity, calibre, and variety of apprenticeships offered in the UK. Alan Stephenson-Brown, CEO at Evolve Business Group, said: “Nominating Wigan Youth Zone as our charity of the year is a great way for us to support Wigan and Leigh’s young people, helping them to fulfil their potential, raise their aspirations, and prepare for adulthood. This is a mutually beneficial partnership; in the UK, 44% of people prioritise meaningful work over a high salary. Being able to show a positive impact through our support is not only important for existing staff, but it will also support our 5% Club pledge in recruiting apprentices.” Lynsey Heyes, Head of Fundraising at Wigan Youth Zone, added: “We offer hundreds of activities to more than 5,000 members, seven days a week, all year round. But we can’t continue to offer this service without support from throughout the community, whether that be a generous investment from local businesses or donations of time by our volunteers. We are incredibly thankful to the Evolve team for their generous support, which is an investment in the future of Wigan’s next generation.” A recent independent evaluation reported that every £1 invested in Wigan Youth Zone returns a social value of £2.19, and 81% of those who access the charity’s services feel better prepared for the future. Evolve hopes to make a positive impact on the future of Wigan’s young people. Go to the following website to find out more about the incredible job that Wigan Youth Zone does: https://www.wiganyouthzone.org/support-us/our-patrons/ To donate to Evolve’s fundraising endeavours, follow the link here: https://www.justgiving.com/team/evolve-mudders To learn more about Evolve, Visit their website here: https://www.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

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Wayleave

Navigating Complex Deployments: Evolve’s Expertise in Wayleave Agreements

In the intricate world of network installations, securing wayleave agreements is often a critical yet challenging step. Evolve, a specialist in navigating complex deployments across various industries, excels in this domain. Evolve’s team’s expertise in carrying out complex site deliveries, securing wayleave agreements, and building relationships in challenging locations such as shopping centres and train stations sets us apart from the competition. Seamless Communication and Project Management At Evolve, they understand the importance of seamless communication in facilitating successful deployments. Evolve’s dedicated Wayleave team liaises effectively with management companies, landlords, Transport for London (TFL), and carriers to ensure that all necessary permissions are obtained smoothly. Utilising an advanced project management tool, Evolve’s team maintains end-to-end project visibility and offers customers a single point of contact for the overall deployment. This approach not only streamlines the process but also ensures that Evolve’s customers are always informed about the progress of their projects. In-House Expertise and On-Site Effectiveness One of the key factors that distinguishes Evolve from other service providers is Evolve’s employment of in-house field engineers. These professionals are committed to on-site effectiveness, ensuring that each installation is executed with precision and efficiency. Their expertise and hands-on approach contribute significantly to the successful deployment of networks, especially in complex environments. Proven Track Record and National Reach Evolve boasts a successful track record of deploying nationally spread networks for multi-site brands. Evolve’s extensive experience in delivering managed solutions to complex sites speaks volumes about Evolve’s capability and reliability. We view Wayleave acceptance as a legal document between a Managed Network Provider and the occupier of land, granting rights to install networking equipment upon, over, or under the land. Impressive Wayleave Agreements Portfolio To date, Evolve has secured access to over 650,000 wayleaves across Local Authorities, Housing Associations, and Private Landlords in London through Evolve’s fibre providers. This extensive network of agreements ensures that we have the necessary permissions in place for a wide range of sites. Specifically, for London train stations, we currently have 19% of the required wayleaves in place. For London shopping centres, Evolve’s pre-existing agreements cover 25% of the needed wayleaves. This impressive portfolio highlights Evolve’s capability in navigating the complexities of wayleave agreements and ensuring successful deployments. Expertise in Complex Environments Evolve’s expertise is particularly evident in managing installations in the complex environments. We have already achieved a significant number of relevant wayleave agreements that positively impact the pace of network transformation for such clients. By focusing on effective relationship building with key influencers within complex site deployments, such as building and maintenance management, we ensure smooth and efficient project execution. Comprehensive Delivery and Transparency Taking complete ownership of the end-to-end delivery journey, Evolve implements a clear communication platform to ensure complete project transparency with customers. This commitment to transparency and thorough communication ensures that all stakeholders are aligned and informed throughout the project lifecycle. Strategic Partnerships and Easier Access Evolve’s strategic partnerships with ISP providers further enhance Evolve’s ability to navigate complex deployments. Through these partnerships, we have secured wayleave agreements with all 32 Borough councils, facilitating easier access to some of the most challenging and complex sites around the UK. This lucrative set of agreements allows for simpler entry into difficult areas, ensuring that Evolve’s customers can benefit from seamless network installations. Conclusion Evolve’s dedication to excellence in securing wayleave agreements and managing complex deployments is evident in Evolve’s extensive portfolio and proven track record. By leveraging Evolve’s expertise, in-house capabilities, and strategic partnerships, we ensure that each project is executed with precision and efficiency. Whether it’s navigating the complexities of London’s train stations or securing permissions in shopping centres, Evolve is your trusted partner in delivering successful network installations. 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

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alternative networks

Alternative Networks | Evolve

In the ever-changing landscape of telecommunications, providing reliable and seamless service to customers is paramount to the success of a business. Traditional networks have long been the backbone of connectivity, but with the increase in alternative networks and carrier partners, there emerges a new realm of possibilities to enhance service delivery. These Alternative Networks not only offer increased reliability but also bring forth improved commercials, speed of deployment and the ability to influence better service provision.  Enhanced Reliability  Alternative networks offer a diverse infrastructure that complements traditional networks, thereby enhancing reliability. By leveraging multiple networks, Managed Network Providers such as Evolve can mitigate the risk of downtime caused by outages or network congestion. For the customer, this translates to uninterrupted connectivity, especially in critical situations where reliable communication is indispensable. Whether it’s businesses relying on seamless operations or individuals depending on constant connectivity, enhanced reliability ensures that customers can stay connected without disruptions. Improved Commercials  Partnerships with alternative networks provide improved commercials for both carriers and customers. Businesses such as Evolve can work with alternative networks to introduce innovative pricing models or flexible packages tailored to specific customer needs. This not only fosters healthy competition within the market but also ensures that the customer has access to affordable yet high-quality services. Speed of Deployment  One of the significant advantages of alternative networks is the expedited deployment of infrastructure. Unlike traditional networks, which may face bureaucratic hurdles or extensive regulatory processes, alternative networks often operate with more agility and flexibility. This enables quicker deployment of new technologies and expansion of coverage areas, ultimately benefiting customers by providing faster access to advanced services. Whether it’s rolling out 5G networks or extending coverage to underserved regions, expedited deployment ensures that customers can reap the benefits of technological advancements without undue delays. Improved Service  By collaborating with alternative networks, Evolve gains significant influence over service improvement initiatives. These partnerships allow carriers to provide valuable feedback and insights to alternative network providers, driving enhancements in network performance, coverage, and customer experience. Additionally, carriers can leverage Evolve’s expertise and resources to co-develop solutions that address specific challenges or pain points faced by customers. This close-working, collaborative approach fosters innovation and continuous improvement, ultimately leading to better overall service for customers. Evolve partnering with a variety of alternative networks across the globe presents a pivotal shift in the telecom industry, offering a plethora of benefits for the customer, from enhanced reliability to improved commercials. 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

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Freightlink

Supporting Freightlink’s business scalability with IT Support from Evolve.

Download PDF Version Freightlink Ferry and Tunnel Ticketing Agent Freightlink is a leading Freight Ferry and Tunnel Ticket agent. They provide more than 1000 routes in over 50 countries for couriers, hauliers, manufacturers and many other businesses of various sizes. Evolve and Freightlink have established a valuable partnership, with Freightlink having been a loyal customer for over 10 years. In recent times, Evolve conducted an infrastructure review of Freightlink’s current IT setup. Evolve recognised the business’s growth in the past few years and the necessity for scalability and remote work capabilities across the business. The key challenge at hand was to identify the optimal IT solution to meet Freightlink’s evolving needs. The Solution As a result of the long-standing relationship between Evolve and Freightlink, Evolve’s IT department already has a vast understanding of the business and its needs for IT set-ups. Both businesses began to collaborate closely to find the optimal solution for scalability and remote working capabilities that would also work for the future of the business. After an in-depth analysis, EvolveIT presented two viable options, which included: The first option was to perform an on-site physical server upgrade, which involved enhancing their existing physical server infrastructure. The second option was to opt for a more cloud-based solution and migrate to a cloud-based setup. The goal for Evolve was to identify the most suitable IT solution that aligned with Freightlink’s growth trajectory. The Outcome After working with Pace to find the perfect solution for Freightlink, Evolve determined that a cloud-based solution was the best choice for the customer. Evolve proceeded to implement a Microsoft Azure server and an M365 Intune environment, which brought several benefits to the customer. Microsoft Azure provides robust security features, including safeguarding data and applications. As a result of the cloud-based solution, Freightlink benefited from advanced, seamless, and quick scalability. The customer also benefits from remote accessibility; with the power of Azure and M365 Intune, employees can work from multiple locations, which allows them to embrace flexibility. A further advantage of the cloud-based solution is reduced maintenance; cloud solutions minimise the need for on-site server maintenance. Evolve’s IT Support solution is built on security; it is at the heart of everything we do, so ensuring Freightlink’s whole IT infrastructure was secure was paramount to the success of this project. Overall, this transition to a cloud-based solution ensures a more efficient and adaptable IT infrastructure for Feightlink. Since the project concluded, IT Support has seen a reduction in tickets being logged by the organisation, seeing tickets logged each month reduce by 33%

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Speed of deployment

Speed of Deployment | Evolve

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, the speed of deployment can have a lasting impact on a company’s competitive edge. Businesses strive to deploy equipment with pace to stay ahead of the curve; however, achieving rapid speed of deployment is not merely about working faster; it requires a strategic approach and the right resources in place. Evolve employs a host of strategies to consistently resolve tasks with pace.  In-House Engineers & Deployment One of Evolve’s strongest assets is our in-house engineers and in-house deployment process. Unlike external contractors or third-party vendors, in-house engineers possess a deep understanding of the organisation’s infrastructure, technology and business goals. There are several ways in which Evolve’s in-house engineers aid significant speed of deployment for example Evolve has immediate access to expertise, and our engineers know the technology and the solution like the back of their hand. They are always readily available to tackle challenges and provide solutions promptly.  Pre-staged, configured, tested and deployed from Wigan HQ Centralising the deployment process at Evolve’s Warehouse offers a variety of benefits about efficiency, consistency, and quality control. By pre-staging, configuring, testing and deploying devices from a central hub, businesses such as Evolve can streamline the deployment workflow and minimise logistical complexities.  Less than 1% of devices are DOA Achieving a low rate of devices that are dead on arrival (DOA) devices is crucial for maintaining customer satisfaction and minimising disruption to operations. A DOA device not only incurs additional costs for replacement but also tarnishes the company’s reputation and erodes customer trust. By implementing rigorous quality assurance measures, companies can ensure that most devices deployed are fully functional and ready for use upon arrival.  In today’s competitive business environment, speed of deployment is a critical factor in maintaining a competitive edge and meeting customer expectations. By leveraging in-house engineers and centralising deployment processes, businesses can accelerate deployment timelines while maintaining quality and reliability.  Contact Evolve today to unleash your businesses potential through network technologies.    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

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