Microsoft Lync – Pros and Cons Explained for Businesses

Implementing a strong BYOD strategy is becoming an increasingly pressing challenge for businesses.

Today’s employees expect to be ready to use their own device for work, regardless of whether or not their IT department has authorized it. In fact, a third of smartphone owners use their device at work behind the back of their IT department.

Part of the explanation behind staff preference for using their own devices at work is that they feel more productive buying their own apps. As an example, the preferred VoIP app, Skype, is the fifth most downloaded free app globally on Google Play. However, can investing in enterprise-wide Universal Communications (UC) applications enable staff to further increase productivity while keeping information safer and more secure?

Sign in to Microsoft Lync

Microsoft retired its Office Communications Server (OCS) software system with the release of Lync in December 2010. This software system merges individual tools like video conferencing and instant messaging into a server-side platform, creating a BYOD solution that is easy to install and manage. as cheaper in many circumstances.

Benefits of Microsoft Lync

Lync offers some key advantages over OCS, specifically:

– Seamless software integration – Switching between using IM or document sharing and VoIP has never been easier

and seamless

– Better bandwidth management -With OCS an infinite number of users can be active on your network in an equivalent time, consuming bandwidth and deteriorating quality. Lync allows network administrators to allocate bandwidth, limit users, and even split audio and video streams across each WAN and the Internet at the same time, limiting bandwidth impact.

– Cheaper than other solutions – Although the prices for the complete Lync package are $245 per user, it can still be cheaper than its main rivals.

– Enables workplace communication on the go – In terms of BYOD, Lync provides the perfect answer for businesses that would love to have great management of their application portfolio while still allowing staff to work flexibly on your own devices.

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Disadvantages of Microsoft Lync

Despite Lync’s key advantages, it still has some drawbacks:

Higher overall bandwidth usage: You may have more bandwidth allocation management, however, due to Lync’s higher technical needs, you will consume a large amount of overall bandwidth.

Fostering Adoption: By now, many of your staff will be used to operating with applications like Skype to fulfill their communication desires. Encouraging them to ditch what they have already installed on their device in favor of MS Lync can be difficult, although with enough preparation and consultation it should be simple enough.

Ensure productivity gains: Lync is supposed to increase productivity by providing staff with a universal communications platform, even when they’re on the go. However, this level of communication can be distracting rather than helpful, especially when staff feel they have to see all communication on the go.

Microsoft Lync is, of course, just one answer to universal communication needs and one part of a gigantic BYOD puzzle. If you are curious about enabling BYOD for your business, there are several companies on the market to help you on your way.