Phone System Services -Willowbrook, IL 60527

Whether you need a legacy phone system maintained, or an entirely new communications system for multiple offices, Andromeda Technology Solutions is the answer you have been looking for. As our expertise also includes complete data network solutions, you can rest assured that we can fully integrate a communications system that will best leverage your existing or future IT infrastructure.

In many cases, your telephone system is the first thing people will experience when dealing with your business.

• Does it show your company in a good light?
• Is it set up so your clients have a good experience?
• Does it help maximize employee productivity?

Let us show you how a phone system should be set up!

Experience the simplicity of having an experienced company to handle all aspects of your communication systems, letting you focus on running your business.

Contact us or fill out the Request form on this page now to ask us to contact you!

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Hybrid PBX and IP-based Phone Systems

We support a host of major phone systems—from Avaya, NEC, Panasonic to Toshiba— and are a certified Panasonic dealer for both a traditional PBX system, as well as a true IP-based VoIP system. The beauty of these systems lies in their very extensive feature set (over 800 features) and their mix-and-match capabilities. Each system can mix analog, digital and IP phone sets to match almost any application. Also, each system has extensive functionality built-in for incorporating branch offices, work-at-home employees and other remote workers.

We spend a great deal of time understanding all your requirements, so we can select the system and functions that are exactly what you need.

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The Phones Become the Network

If you are considering an IP-based telephone system, it is important to understand these systems are more data systems than phone systems. Unlike a traditional PBX system, a VoIP system puts a significant burden on your data network, and requires specific equipment and configuration to ensure everything is running properly.

Many traditional telephone service companies lack the skills to properly install and maintain a VoIP system. Andromeda Technology Solutions excels in all aspects of voice and data, and will ensure you get the system that is right for you.

Whether Cloud-based, Hosted/virtual PBX, or completely on-premises, we have the knowledge AND experience to guide you and implement your voice communication system to perfection.

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Replacement of Legacy Phone Systems

We have many years of experience upgrading/replacing legacy phones systems from: ComDial, Nortel, Toshiba/Mitel, and Samsung just to name a few. If you would like to experience service from a truly customer-focused organization, call us when you are ready to replace and upgrade your existing legacy telephone system.

			KX-TA KX-NCP KX-TDA KS-TDE
			IP Office Definity Magix Legend Partner
			Aspire Elite IPK I-Series DS/DSX

AndroPedia Tech Library

As part of our service, it is important to keep our client-partners well informed on Telephone system developments, news, and best practices. Here is just a sampling of typical items from our AndroPedia^SM library archive:

Last month we brought you the first portion of a three part blog series dedicated to enhanced phone features and what they can do to enhance your business. If you missed it, please check it out here. As we mentioned in our first article, your phone system can and should do a whole lot more than simply ring. There are many features that can make your day to day simpler as well as more productive. Today we area going to focus solely on hunt groups and their functionalities.

Phone Features: Hunt Groups

A Hunt Group is a collection of users, typically users handling similar types of calls, e.g. a sales department. An incoming caller wishing to speak to Sales can ring one number but any number of extensions assigned to that Hunt Group can answer the call.

There are several styles of Hunt Group and each phone system has different options. For the purpose of these examples we are going to use an Avaya IP Office phone system and the phone features available. If you would like to learn more about the different Hunt Groups available on your specific phone system, feel free to reach an Andromeda rep at (815) 836-0030.

• Sequential

  One extension at a time rings sequentially always starting at the top of the list.

• Collective

  All extensions in the Hunt Group ring simultaneously.

• Rotary

  Start with the extension in the list immediately following the extension that answered the last Hunt Group call.

• Longest Waiting

  Start with the extension that has been free for the longest time.

There are more extensive features available as well such as “Assign Call On Agent Alert” that allow for overflow or after hours call forwarding features such as night service/out of service modes. If you would like to learn more about these specific features or want to discuss how they can fit into your daily operations don’t hesitate to reach us. Feel free to fill out a contact us form or give us a quick call.

The post Enhanced Phone Features For Enhanced Business Part 2 (3 Part Series) appeared first on Andromeda Technology Solutions.

Surely you’ve heard of the increasing threats of cyber criminals. Breaches are occurring so frequently now, it’s difficult to keep up. By now you’ve heard about the increasing threat of cyber criminals. Between trojan horses, phishing scams, malicious links in emails, and ransomware, it’s progressing in every IT field. With phone scams, the telephone category is no different.

You can’t trust the news: billion dollar companies are not the only one at risk. In fact, sometimes smaller companies have a higher risk of being targeted. most cyber criminals consider the small to midsize market a goldmine. This is the result of lower security protocols and focuses from the small to midsize business owner. The “It won’t happen to me” mentality is your worst enemy.

Business owners are getting savvier and more aware. In turn, cyber criminals are turning to other technologies such as phones, to attack your business.

We would like to share a few examples of different phone-based scams, along with tips on how to avoid them.

The “Can You Hear Me” Phone Scam:

These phone scams spread between business owners and consumers where a criminal will call you simply to get you to say “yes”. What happens is they record your voice and use this one simple word to unlawfully sign you up for services and approve purchases.
The Better Business Bureau even released an alert and warning to the public regarding this scam. They outline a few different tactics that scammers utilize to get the audio desired. Questions asked might include:

• Are you the homeowner?
• Are you over 18?
• Do you pay the household bills?
• Do you own a home computer?

Calls can come from several different sources, or at least claim to. Common ones include security companies, cruise lines or sometimes even from the government.

You may be wondering how you can possibly identify these scammers and protect yourself.

Some helpful tips to follow:

• Don’t answer calls from numbers you do not recognize. You can always leave it for voicemail and if it’s truly that important, they will leave a message.
• Never give out personally identifiable information over the phone if you aren’t sure of who is calling you and the purpose of the phone call.
• If you believe you have fallen for a phone scam like this, reach out to your bank and credit card companies to flag your accounts. Check your account daily for any activity and be alert.

The “Vishing” Phone Scam:

“Vishing” is a play on the email technique “phishing”, which you are probably already aware of. This technique is quite similar to the email version where a scammer calls you and attempts to grab personal information by claiming they are from a reputable source or business you already engage with.

For example, have you ever gotten an email from your bank claiming that your account has been compromised? The email then prompts you to click a link and login to confirm your account details or restore credibility and looks something like this:

Criminals apply this same technique to the phone.

One of the most popular applications of this scam is connected to the IRS. Your phone rings and they even have the ability to make the caller ID read IRS or some government-related contact. When you pick up the phone you may hear a recording informing you that you are under investigation, or that the IRS has located discrepancies in your taxes. They may ask for specific information to confirm your identity before connecting you to an agent such as:

• Social security information
• Birth date
• Address information
• And more . . .

Again, there are a few ways you can spot these calls and prevent yourself from falling victim to these types of phone scams.

First, never call a phone number presented to you in an email or over the phone. If your bank calls you, call them back on their official number off their website or business card. The same applies to credit card companies or the IRS.

Second, credit card companies and government agencies typically refer to you by your full name. If you receive a call and the recording or person on the other line uses anything but your full name, proceed with caution.

Third, there is no reason any credit company or even the IRS would call you direct and request information like credit card numbers, routing numbers or social security information. If someone calls you and asks for this, hang up and call their official number (for credit/bank – call the number on the back of your card). If this was a legitimate call the official reps will have knowledge of it, otherwise report the call.

Remember these tips and it will dramatically increase your chances of remaining safe. Feel free to reach our team if you have any questions.

Also – check out this database provided by the BBB where you can track local and national scam trends to stay alert and prepared. After all, the best defense is continued education when it comes to cybercrime and phone scams.

The post Common Phone Scam Prevention appeared first on Andromeda Technology Solutions.

If you haven't yet heard of a malware strain called 'Predator the Thief', it's something that belongs on your radar.

It first emerged as a threat in July of 2018, when it was used in conjunction with an extensive phishing campaign.

In its original incarnation, it proved more than capable of stealing passwords, browser data, user names and the contents of cryptocurrency wallets. In addition, it was able to access the infected victim's webcam and take pictures with it, sending everything to a command and control server.

Unfortunately, the group behind the malware has been busy updating it. It's recently been spotted in the wild with a new set of enhanced capabilities that make it more difficult for antivirus programs to detect its presence.

In addition to that, the hackers have upped their game on the phishing campaign front. This included adding new documents to use as lures to hook the victim into inadvertently installing the malicious code.

The new and improved version of the malware was discovered by Fortiguard Labs, and apparently version 3.3.4 was released on Christmas Eve, 2019.

Although there's no clear indication as to who is behind the code, a forensic analysis reveals it to be Russian in origin. Fortiguard's researchers reached this conclusion based on the fact that the malware is specifically designed not to operate in Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine or Uzbekistan. Those are countries that Russian hackers tend not to target as a rule.

In terms of minimizing the threat that Predator the Thief poses, Fortiguard's researchers recommend ensuring that macros are disabled by default and that all software (including OS software) is fully patched and up to date. These are, of course, sensible precautions to take when protecting against any threat, so it makes for good advice in general. Stay on your guard. It's dangerous out there.

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