Looking For A Zoom-Alternative?
Zoom is a major target for cybercriminals right now.
Are you looking for another option to hold video meetings and keep your team connected? There is a long list of options to choose from when you need to have a video meeting with your staff. Are you sure you've been using the right one so far?
Why Should You Consider An Alternative To Zoom?
Zoom has become widely popular throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, both for professional purposes as well as social ones. Unfortunately, when technology becomes this popular this quickly, it attracts attention from cybercriminals looking to exploit unaware, new users. This uptick in activity has led to several ongoing security concerns:
- Zoom-Bombing: Users have been reporting an increased rate of something called "Zoom-bombing," which occurs when someone intrudes on your meeting to cause disruptions or eavesdrop on your conversation.
- Stolen Credentials: Cyber risk assessment firm Cyble has discovered more than half a million stolen Zoom credentials sold on the Dark Web for almost nothing. The stolen info included usernames, passwords, meeting IDs, and host keys.
If you're using Zoom and you're worried about your cybersecurity, it's not too late to change. You can expect to be working remotely for the foreseeable future, so you would be smart to take your time and choose the right video meeting platform.
Consider Your Options
It's not too late to change - you can expect to be working remotely for the foreseeable future, so you would be smart to take your time and choose the right video meeting platform.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a chat-based workspace that brings people together to collaborate, communicate, and share content. It offers a flexible environment that makes everything visible, integrated, and accessible to your staff.
- Price: Microsoft is currently offering a free 6-month trial of Microsoft Office 365 E1, including Microsoft Teams, in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
- Capacity: Teams allows up to 250 people in a meeting and up to 10,000 spectating a live event. At max, this allows up to 4 hours.
- Benefits: Using Teams means you'll have access to the full integrated benefits of Microsoft 365, making it that much easier to work seamlessly between other Office-based apps (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
8x8 Video Meetings
8x8 is another business communications platform, with the usual softphone capabilities, as well as a video meeting solution.
- Price: In response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic and the increased need for remote meeting capabilities, 8x8 has released a free, stand-alone version of their video meeting platform.
- Capacity: 8x8 Video Meetings offers unlimited meetings, unlimited minutes, and dial-in capabilities with toll-free numbers for free.
- Benefits: One-click, no downloads (with WebRTC-compatible browsers like Chrome), making it simple to connect with contacts that haven't used 8x8 Video Meetings before.
Dialpad
Dialpad is a full communications platform, complete with VoIP capabilities and a video conference solution, UberConference.
- Price: While the plans range from $20 - $30 per month and user, UberConference is now being offered free to users during the pandemic. Furthermore, their 45-minute limit on meetings was increased to a max of five hours.
- Capacity: The standard meeting capacity on the smallest plan was 10, but in light of the pandemic, it has been increased to 50 participants.
- Benefits: As with RingCentral Powered By Zoom, Dialpad offers VoIP options in addition to video conferencing, all of which are free for two months during the pandemic.
Need Help Deciding?
It's OK if you're still not sure which option is right for you. Alltek Services will help you figure out which video meeting solution is right for your business. We'll assess your organization's needs and match them with the solution that will work best for your purposes.
Like this article? Check out the following blogs to learn more:
Maintaining Cybersecurity While Working From Home
How To Keep Your Staff Productive During The Coronavirus Pandemic