Communications In the Cloud Blog

When Tony Di Benedetto joined S-NET, he was excited to leave a rigid corporate system behind. He enjoys having the freedom to find creative solutions to unusual challenges and prioritize client needs over well-established processes. During evenings and weekends, he always makes time for his family, and enjoys road biking and salsa dancing. Read on to get to know him.

Most business leaders have ambitious new client acquisition initiatives. But what about your existing customers? Whether you are a one-person-shop, have a handful of account managers or manage a large-scale call center, there are tools that you can use to improve your customer’s experience and, as a result, your bottom line.

In October, S-NET joined forces with SkyTalk and brought founder, Wes Pace on board as VP of Business Development. In his new role, Wes is responsible for ensuring a smooth transition for all SkyTalk clients and partners to S-NET’s services, expanding the S-NET partner program, as well as pursuing large enterprise opportunities. Read on to get to know him better.

2019 was a transformative year for S-NET that enabled us to grow our team, introduce new services, and bring many new clients and partners on board with our acquisition of SkyTalk Plus. Read CEO, Alex Fayn’s thoughts on the main strategues that helped us be successful this year.

Opening a restaurant is risky business, whether you are a part of a well-known franchise or decided to strike out on your own. Below are the 4 technique that our most successful clients used to boost their average ticket value, increase the number of orders, attract more customers, and build thriving businesses.

S-NET’s Technology Consultant, Jeremy Farmby comes alive when he can talk to business leaders about their challenges, goals and aspirations. He takes the time to get to know organizations and offers technology solutions that allow them to operate optimally. In his free time, he spends time with his 9 month old son and tries to hit the gym often. Can you guess which musical is his favorite movie and why?

An office move is very exciting, but it can also be a stressful, expensive and time consuming process. Conducting business as usual – even though nothing is usual – is challenging. The good news is, your VoIP provider can bring order to the chaos and ensure that your transition is as seamless as possible. Here’s how.

S-NET’s Client Technology Advisor, Alan Cook likes good movies, unique pets and great technology that helps businesses grow and thrive. Alan is excited about the opportunity to get to know his clients and provide them with customized technology solutions. Read on to get to know him better and find out what kind of pet Elliot is.

In today’s competitive market, being a business leader is an increasingly demanding job. S-NET CEO Alex Fayn  knows all too well how it feels to burn the candle at both ends. Read how he learned to manage his work more efficiently to be more present in both of his roles as a business manager and father.

Last Friday the S-NET Team spent the day at the zoo! It was a retreat filled with learning, epiphanies, bonding, games, animal encounters and lots of team building fun. This week we got back to the office energized and ready to implement all the lessons we learned. This is a look back at the amazing day of activities we had.

S-NET’s Field Network Engineer, Joey Casillas likes to keep his mind busy, both in the office and after hours. The ability to learn and grow each day is his favorite part of his job and he loves getting his hands on the newest technologies. In his free time, he loves solving riddles, playing the drums and reading Lord of the Rings. Can you guess which musical piece he listens to at least once a week?

As outdated as they may be, fax machines continue to be a persistent fixture in a large number of businesses. But the costs of analog faxing are becoming much too expensive. With modern technology at your fingertips at a fraction of the cost, all these expenses are a waste of company resources. Learn why your business needs to ditch analog faxing for a more cost-effective alternative.

Gina Garcia has been an indispensable member of S-NET’s team since 2014. When asked what she enjoys most about her work, Gina highlights the family atmosphere and camaraderie without hesitation and is proud of her 5 year tenure at the company. She was excited to visit Hong Kong last month and can’t wait to organize more trips abroad. Read on to get to know her better.

To help organizations take advantage of all the functionalities available in VoIP and efficiently merge them into their ever-growing software ecosystem, telecommunications providers have developed integrations that allow users to easily move from one tool to another and synchronize their data between platforms. A VoIP integration can be so seamless and intuitive, that you may have used one already without even realizing. Read about a few of our best-selling VoIP integrations.

The idea of managing a remote staff makes many employers uncomfortable. But embracing that your team will be spending at least part of their work hours at home or in a coffee shop is a crucial step in keeping up with your changing role as a business owner or manager. Below are a few tips I have learned about managing a remote workforce.

We know that many of our clients rely on Microsoft Teams to collaborate with colleagues at other offices, remote workers, as well as clients, vendors and partners. Now our VoIP phone system easily integrates with Microsoft Teams, allowing you to communicate…

S-NET’s Senior Technology Consultant, Tim Cotter has big plans to leave a significant footprint and is excited to be on a team of ‘goofballs’ tasked with taking S-NET to the next level. Learn more about Tim and how he and the engineering team onboarded one of his favorite new clients in the same week their old phone system stopped working.

The S-NET Connect desktop softphone application enables you to make business calls straight from your desktop computer, keeping you connected when working remotely and enabling you to work more efficiently when used in conjunction with your desk phone. Easily place calls to external numbers such as clients, partners or vendors by using the software’s built-in dialpad.

Our networking portfolio is growing! We are excited to announce a new Wireless Broadband service that is designed to provide our clients with fast, reliable solutions for primary and backup connections. With flexible deployment options and predictable monthly charges, Wireless Broadband was designed to give businesses the bandwidth boost they need to support contemporary cloud-based and communication applications.

S-NET’s resident funny guy, Mersim Kosovrasti always gravitates toward tasks that allow him to interact with people and build relationships. He enjoys working with with clients who find technology challenging so that he can ensure that their transition to a new service is smooth. After a tough day of installs, Mersim enjoys walking his dog, Lola, and stays active with judo and soccer. Read on to get to know him better.

It seems like every day there is a new technology feature released to meet a real-life business need. But while we techies are excited about innovation, businesses are not always as enthusiastic about the prospect of new technology adoption. Here are a few tips I have learned along the way to help clients get over their fear and embrace technology.

The S-NET Connect desktop application enables you to make business calls from your computer when working remotely and boosts your productivity at the office. With a wide range of features and an intuitive graphic interface, S-NET Connect makes keeping in touch with colleagues, clients and partners easy. Here are the most efficient ways to make calls from S-NET Connect.

Call Forwarding is one of the most beneficial, yet underutilized features of VoIP. Forwarding calls ensures that no important conversation slips through the cracks and keeps your team productive on-the-go. Call Forwarding can be customized to meet the unique needs of your business, whether you need a handful of rules or a complex sequence.

S-NET’s Procurement Manager, Julia Fayn works hard to provide clients with quality circuits and advanced SLAs at an affordable price. She is excited to delve deeper into a fast-paced communications industry and enjoys learning about cutting-edge technologies. Julia makes sure to live her life to the fullest, both in- and outside of the office, and enjoys traveling, ice skating, walking her dog, going to the movies and reading. Read on to get to know her better.

You know that your SD-WAN solution gives you full visibility into the traffic running on your network. But did you know that combining SD-WAN with a built-in NGFW gives you full control over all applications and web traffic running on your internet connections? Find out how you can use SD-WAN + NGFW to prioritize business-essential applications and manage user access to websites.

S-NET’s Support Desk Manager, Jeff Ard works tirelessly to ensure that all client calls, questions and requests are addressed in a timely manner. He oversees S-NET’s Technical Support Team and continuously thinks about new ways to improve his staff’s work. Jeff…

VoIP is quickly becoming the dominant platform for phone communications, and for good reason. But not all VoIP solutions and providers are created equal. Going with the wrong vendor can create challenges that outweigh the benefits of switching to cloud communications. So, with all the vendors out there, how do you determine which one is right for you?

Don’t be surprised if you run into S-NET’s Technology Consultant, George Fetcho at a metal concert one of these weekends. During the week, he is managing S-NET’s channel partner program, helping businesses large and small find the right technical solutions for their teams. Read on to find out why he considers S-NET’s position on the market unique in the industry.

When our users give us feedback, we listen. Here at S-NET, we take all client notes seriously and our engineers work diligently to develop the features modern teams need. From SMS/text messaging capabilities and interface personalization to new CRM integrations and call center features, v5.2 is a dramatically enriched version of its predecessors.

One of the original founders of S-NET, Eugene Likhovid, found his passion for technology while building PCs during his teenage years. He spend a chunk of his career in IT leadership positions at Fortune 500 companies, and now spearheads S-NET’s long-term technology vision. Eugene oversees the company’s robust cloud infrastructure and works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that S-NET clients receive the quality service they expect. Read on to learn what challenges S-NET faced throughout the years and which accomplishments he is most proud of.

With our first successful acquisition, several new service launches and an exponentially growing team, 2018 was S-NET’s best year yet. We overhauled our entire VoIP infrastructure to ensure our clients continue receiving exceptional service, and we have upgraded all server clusters to offer more more cutting-edge features, better reporting tools, integrations with cloud storage and scalability. CTO, Eugene Likhovid, reflects on the amazing progress we have made and the ambitious goals set for next year. Read on to see what’s in store for 2019.

In 2018 S-NET commissioned a survey of IT and business leaders to better understand how cloud-based business communications are being used as a strategic organizational tool. We collected numerous responses across a variety of industries that rely heavily on phone systems…

2018 was an incredibly fast-paced year for the S-NET Team. But no matter how hectic things can get, it is important to take the time to celebrate our accomplishments, count our blessings and give thanks to all those who have been there supporting us along the way. S-NET CEO, Alex Fayn reflects on the things he is most grateful for.

Our customers know that when they have a question, they can count on George Gazdacka to jump in and help. S-NET’s Client Technology Advisor relies on his extensive industry experience to ensure that clients make the most of the technology they are paying for. In his free time, George enjoys playing and coaching softball and basketball. He is aiming to visit every major league ballpark with his kids, and he is already down to the last 8!

The prospect of switching to a cloud phone system is exciting for many businesses. But most companies are either overwhelmed by the process or underestimate the complexity involved. Creating a phone cloud migration plan will help you anticipate potential problems that may arise and determine every step ahead of time.

Last week gave us the opportunity to get out of the office and play a little during the annual S-NET Team Appreciation Party. It served as an excellent reminder to stop once in a while, reflect on the last few months and celebrate all the amazing progress we’ve made.

A modernized version of its predecessors, S-NET Connect 5.1 offers the same reliable softphone capabilities and intuitive business communications tools as before, but now with a brand new interface designed to maximize efficiency and user experience. Read on to find out what’s new.

S-NET Director of Operations, Jim Cronin has been in the telecommunications industry for over 30 years and now oversees the deployment of all of S-NET’s cloud communications services. He loves the adrenaline rush of a busy office and likes to make complex installations look easy. In his free time Jim enjoys watching hockey and baseball. Can you guess which teams are his favorite?

Customer service representatives are your first line of defense against client attrition. Optimizing your call center operations so your agents can perform at their best and client requests are handled in timely manner is vital. So what can you do to improve call center efficiency?

One of the youngest members of the Tech Team, Kirill Likhovid is fast becoming S-NET’s cloud security specialist. With a range of large projects under his belt, he is excited about the chance to delve deeper into wireless technology. Kirill’s favorite pastime is playing or watching soccer. Can you guess which team is his favorite?

Growth and success are always a reason for celebration, but if you are running an expanding business, you know that at times progress can feel more chaotic than joyful. If your communications and networking are failing to keep up with your growth, it may be time to consider a technology upgrade.

Desk phones have become a fixture in the American workplace, and with the business needs they continue to meet, they will not be replaced any time soon. But when you start to feel tied to your chair to do your work or have to make difficult choices between equally important tasks, it may be time to rethink your relationship with your phone.

S-NET’s conscientious Project Manager, Rob Meersman, followed his passion for helping people and transitioned from a Sales role to supporting clients throughout the onboarding process. As a closet food critic, Rob enjoys cooking and grilling, and is always on the lookout for unique restaurants and specialty markets. Read on to get to know him better.

Any technical outage puts a significant dent in your organization’s productivity, costing you thousands of dollars. Although some disasters and outages cannot be prevented, it is critically important to shield your company and get services back up and running ASAP. Read on for 5 tips to help you plan ahead and minimize the effects of outages on your voice communications and business.

Mike Hensgen joined the S-NET team to work for an organization more closely aligned with his values. He deeply enjoys learning about his clients’ unique business challenges and proposes simple, creative technical solutions to help companies grow and thrive.

If your small business has expanded to multiple locations, chances are that your staff relies on lower bandwidth internet access to connect to business critical applications and databases. You or your IT staff may be struggling to keep all the different…

Alex Fayn founded S-NET Communications in 2006 with the mission to provide companies large and small with quality customer service and cutting-edge cloud communication solutions. He is a problem-solver at heart, loves being the hero and has grown S-NET into a…

Most businesses like yours rely on VoIP phone systems, cloud data storage, video conferencing and a host of online multimedia collaboration tools to drive efficiency and communicate. But with the ever-increasing bandwidth needs of these applications, finding the right internet connections…

Tuesday, May 15th 2018 was a memorable day in our company’s history: S-NET acquired Strategic Telecommunications to expand our footprint and empower a wider range of clients with the cloud-based business solutions they need to grow and thrive. The transition will…

Office 365 SharePoint workflow automations developed for our team’s unique needs have completely revolutionized how we do business here at S-NET. This customized solution helped streamline our processes from Sales and Customer Onboarding to Billing and Technical Support. We are very…

SharePoint wizard Dmitri Plotnikov completely transformed S-NET’s operations with his customized workflow management automations. Compelled by his impressive work, we are now rolling out an Office 365 SharePoint Migration and Development offering to our clients. When Dmitri is not revolutionizing businesses…

We have heard from many of our clients that maintaining healthy connections, opening and pushing trouble-tickets toward resolution and managing ISPs can easily turn into a full time job, putting a significant burden on IT departments and organizational resources. We are…

Most contact center managers know that sophisticated call center software can help them measure performance metrics or track agents down to the minute. But few know that they can increase employee engagement and reduce call center turnover with the same technology….

At one point in time, S-NET’s SD-WAN guru used to pride himself in playing 9 different musical instruments. Now he spends his days troubleshooting complex customer issues, maintaining and upgrading S-NET’s core infrastructure, and evaluating, testing and deploying new technologies. Read…

Many new S-NET clients know Jorge as their primary point of contact during the onboarding process. Our fast evolving Project Coordinator has a passion for efficiency, cares deeply about fulfilling promises, and spends much of his free time dancing the Bachata….

In the last several years we have seen a major shift in the data center. Reliance on IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) providers like Azure, AWS (Amazon Web Services) or Google Cloud has become more widespread than ever. The limited lifespan,…

Although a heightened awareness of cybersecurity is becoming the new norm, many companies are struggling to secure their data in the face of increasingly sophisticated threats like phishing scams, ransomware, malware and botnets. According to the ITRC, the number of data…

Winter is here. If you live in an area that experiences snow storms, chances are that these disruptions adversely affect your organization’s efficiency at least a few days of the year. Adopting a technology-driven approach keeps your team connected and can go a long way in safeguarding your business from the damaging effects of unexpected downtime.

If you’ve ever called our technical support team with a question, you probably talked with Ron Mangune, our superstar Technical Support Engineer. Ron works out of S-NET’s Manila office, and doesn’t let the tropical paradise of the Philippine islands distract him…

With the growing number of business apps eating through bandwidth at an unprecedented rate, protecting vital UC (Unified Communications) tools can easily turn into a hefty challenge for most network administrators. SD-WAN offers a simple, elegant solution that provides reliable network…

Wrapping up an SD-WAN channel event a couple of weeks ago with S-Net’s closest partners, I reflected on how rapidly the market for cloud based technologies is changing, and the enormous impact of customers on the direction of its growth. It is hard to believe that the SD-WAN technology that barely earned its place in IT in 2015 has now matured into a solution ready for a major shift toward enterprises unifying their networks on their own terms. With their wide range of locations, connection types and business needs, companies seem to increasingly invest in SD-WAN as a service managed by carrier-agnostic providers with a wide portfolio of offerings.

Samira started at S-NET in 2016, when she transitioned from the manufacturing industry into a fast-paced, hi-tech environment. Read on to find out what makes her tick. What is your educational background? I earned my Bachelor of Science and Master of…

By Alex Fayn, Co-Founder & CEO I have seen first-hand how improving collaboration across a business and changing how employees relate to their workplace can accelerate business growth. According to a white paper by UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, making collaboration an…

For teamwork to be effective in a mobile era, businesses need to change their practices and adopt new technologies that enable employees to collaborate efficiently from anywhere and any device. Here at S-NET we have always believed in the transformative power…

Here at S-NET 2017 has been our best year yet. Our hard work was rewarded with dramatic growth as we widened our product portfolio, upgraded our infrastructure, onboarded numerous new clients, initiated exciting collaborations, and expanded our team. These are the 5 things we have done that contributed most to our success.

In the last few decades, phone systems have become ubiquitous and indispensable to conducting business. While voice communications requirements may differ significantly from organization to organization, it is impossible to ensure streamlined internal collaboration and efficient customer relations without one. And…

S-NET’s very own VoIP Engineer, Greg Winiarski received his bachelor’s degree in Network Technology from DePaul University, and served as a Manager and Lead Technician at a start-up computer and mobile device repair store before joining S-NET’s team in May of…

As you may have heard – and probably experienced – Comcast’s internet service saw a massive nationwide outage on Monday starting at 12pm CST. While service was restored after 90 minutes, Down Detector, a website monitoring outages, received as many as…

There’s no denying it: MPLS networks are on their way out – they just can’t keep up with the changes in the way we do business today. They are expensive, time consuming and complicated to install, and most importantly, they do…

September has been a great month here at S-Net Communications, with exciting collaborations and new product launches on the horizon. But the clear highlight of the month was our participation in the Vistage Executive Summit of Chicago as a Silver Sponsor…

S-Net Partners with SD-WAN Innovator, Versa Networks, to Provide a Comprehensive Cloud Solution for Easily Manageable, Secure and High-Quality Voice and Data Communications. Characterized by scattered office locations and a more dispersed workforce than ever before, modern enterprises and SMBs face…

Poor telecommunication systems are going to kill your business. Ask any business owner and they’ll tell you how crucial communication is to their processes and ultimately, their success. It’s a foundation from which all other integrated pieces and people function out…

In 2016, companies continue looking to the Cloud to streamline their communication efforts. With incredible functionality, resourcefulness, and many other benefits, workers and consumers dream for modern tools and services that can make their lives easier. Cloud communication systems are one…

Creating a solid team in any call center environment can be a major task on supervisors & upper management. One of the biggest challenges on the rise for many companies is turnover ratios & the high cost of attrition. When faced…

What do you know about net neutrality? It is an issue that has been in the headlines lately, as well as something that our policymakers in Washington have debated back and forth via the Federal Communications Commission.   Net neutrality is…

Fiber internet is a type of technology dependent on fiber optics. Current statistics show that more than 10 million homes across the country use fiber optic internet. Instead of traditional copper coaxial cables, fiber internet uses fiberglass cables containing three parts:…

Maintaining good internet service can be difficult depending on where you live. In particular, those in rural areas often struggle to establish and keep good internet service. Dropped signals, slow uploading, and other problems are common. However, certain improvements in technology,…

Today’s businesses rely increasingly on high speed internet. Online shopping and other services are fast, convenient, and usually reliable. As with all new technology, however, there have been challenges. Business owners and their customers are now commonly the victims of spyware,…

Data breaches can cost companies millions of dollars, as well as drive customers right out the door and to a competitor. It is very important to invest in personnel and software that can mitigate the risk of becoming a victim of…

More companies than ever are starting to transition more business processes over to the cloud because of the number of benefits cloud computing provides. Here are just a few of the reasons you should consider moving your business to the cloud:…

Cloud technology makes it easier than ever for companies to work from wherever their workers are most comfortable. There really is not much difference between taking a call at home, on-the- go, or in the office if you have the right…

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services can revolutionize your business with remote access to all telecommunication services. As with any technological advancement, however, you may run into some obstacles. The following are ways to avoid 5 common VoIP problems for smooth…

When it comes to modern computing, details like the location of devices and physical components, like servers, aren’t much of a concern for average users. Offices once needed stacks of onsite servers to handle data. Today, this equipment is commonly managed…

  Maybe you’ve heard this business advice before: Meet your customers where they are. If a business owner wants to follow this wisdom and make the consumer experience as seamless as possible, that means going mobile. People are inseparable from their…

When it comes to modern business upgrades, telephone systems are often overlooked. Whether completely ignored by business owners or current systems work fine, traditional phone systems outlasted many of their office counterparts, like dial-up internet and bulky fax machines.   Voice…

The success of any business depends on communicating effectively. At S-Net, we want to use technology to keep your workforce as dynamic and relevant as possible. Let’s examine a few needs of today’s active market and discuss how S-Net can help…

Most people look forward to the future, including the technological advances to come in many career fields. At the same time, many dread the technological future because it means our products and systems will become obsolete. New systems already come out…

Businesses change with every technology advancement, usually multiple times in a decade. As an employee or owner, you might see changes in the types of goods you produce and how they are delivered, how payroll is managed, or how coworkers are…

As technologically advanced as our world is, some terms are still new and scary to many employees, especially those who work in large companies. Yet today’s businesses need to stay abreast of technology if they expect to survive. Technology infiltrates every…

Listed below we have compiled a short list of the most beneficial features of fiber optic internet connectivity. These benefits can make a drastic improvement to the infrastructure of your organization immediately. The 6 most important benefits of Fiber: 1.) Speed-…

S-Net Communications has streamlined its website to create a more user-friendly experience and enhance its visual appeal. Using high-resolution images to display their main product set, visitors to the new website can instantly get a visual idea of what products &…

S-Net Communications, Chicago’s leader in fiber Internet and cloud phone systems, has recently expanded its internal sales team to service more customers in the Chicago metro area.  Concentrating on working with customers both directly and through negotiated partnerships with reputable IT…

Fiber optic internet has become the gold standard for high-quality, fast data transmission capable of supporting a wide range of bandwidth-intense business tools, such as VoIP, video conferencing or cloud storage applications. Yet many companies are still wary of investing in…