Many businesses are being encouraged to migrate their Cisco Unified Communication Manager over to cloud-based Webex Calling. Why? The CUCM system is known for being a fine-tuned enterprise workhorse and not all administrators are eager to make the change. However, Webex Calling tempts users with a bevy of cloud-related features, including cost savings, cloud-security, and scaleability.
How do you determine which communication platform is the best for your organization? Let's explore the Pros and Cons.
Migrating to Webex Calling can bring about many improvements, particularly in how an organization manages and utilizes its communication infrastructure and keeps its systems current. Yes, making the leap from on-premises to the cloud might feel like a big step for seasoned UC engineers, but Cisco's track record for security speaks for itself. The Webex Calling platform not only meets enterprise requirements but also offers some compelling advantages worth considering.
Organizations seeking a robust, adaptable communication solution will find significant advantages in Webex Calling's cloud-based architecture. The platform offers global coverage with unlimited scalability, making it simple to roll out across multiple sites. By transitioning to the cloud, businesses also eliminate costs associated with hardware procurement, power consumption, physical space, and ongoing administration, which can dramatically reduce infrastructure-related expenses.
The economic advantages extend beyond immediate hardware savings. Webex Calling removes the need for expensive private WAN or IPSEC VPN infrastructures. Plus, the platform is perpetually updated, meaning organizations always have the latest features without the traditional burden of capital-intensive hardware server refreshes and upgraded licensing.
Cisco is known for security, and it is no different from Webex Calling. The platform incorporates comprehensive security measures, including transport layer security, advanced encryption, and integrated intrusion detection. It meets rigorous regulatory standards such as ISO27001:2013 and NIST800-5, with automatic security updates providing continuous protection. The system's fault-tolerant, geo-redundant architecture ensures reliability, while built-in anti-malware and fraud-detection mechanisms offer additional peace of mind.
Webex Calling users can seamlessly transition between calling, messaging, and meeting functionalities within a single integrated environment. The application includes several out-of-the-box call center features such as advanced routing options, call queues with callback capabilities, and sophisticated supervisor controls like barge-in and takeover functionality.
The platform's tightly integrated with other Cisco products, particularly Webex Contact Center, making it easier for users to administer through the Cisco Control Hub.
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Despite the benefits, Webex Calling struggles to match Cisco Unified Communications Manager's (CUCM) comprehensive feature set and customization control.
For instance, the platform does not support Call Admission Control (CAC), which is crucial for managing bandwidth usage and maintaining call quality. Organizations will find the customization of service classes significantly reduced, with notable limitations in dial rules and URI dialing.
The process of switching over systems has several hiccups to overcome. Voicemail integration, for one, presents a major hurdle, as there's no direct method to migrate existing voicemail messages or call handlers from premise-based solutions like Cisco Unity Connection. Similarly, on-premise call recording solutions become incompatible, with organizations required to transition to a cloud-based Dubber integration.
Device management becomes more complex with Webex Calling. Unlike CUCM, the platform does not offer device grouping, meaning administrators must configure each device individually. PSTN connectivity adds another layer of complexity, requiring a phased approach where PSTN access remains controlled by CUCM until all legacy devices are migrated.
This is a big one. The solution's reliability is directly tied to internet connectivity and requires a stable, high-speed connection. Organizations in less urban areas with limited internet infrastructure may experience significant call quality issues and need to rethink if the cloud is the right fit.
Not every Cisco phone is compatible with the cloud platform. Only Cisco 7800 and 8800 series IP phones are supported, and these must run firmware version 14.1 or later, resulting in the wasteful elimination of unusable phones.
Webex Calling imposes strict constraints on dial plans. The platform uses a fixed extension length, forcing organizations to redesign existing numbering schemes. Enterprise seven-digit numbering becomes incompatible, requiring comprehensive changes to dialing habits and communication protocols.
While Webex Calling offers modern cloud-based communication capabilities, these limitations don't mean it's perfect for everyone. Despite the robust features, many enterprise customers are reluctant to move away from their on-premise system. This reluctance stems from several factors: substantial investments in existing CUCM infrastructure, concerns about data security and compliance in cloud environments, potential disruptions to business operations during migration, and the complexity of transitioning customized setups.
Additionally, organizations with specialized integrations or unique requirements may worry about losing the granular control and customization options that on-premises CUCM provides. Even the IT staff themselves who have invested years into certification and training on the Cisco systems, contribute to the hesitation.
While these concerns are valid, the benefits Cisco is dangling with the Webex Calling platform cannot be ignored, and new features are continuously being rolled out. Cisco seems to be rapidly keeping pace with the world's evolving communication needs and ensuring they put their best foot forward, and into the cloud, with Webex Calling.
