Whitepapers

Taking the Trouble out of Troubleshooting

During all stages of the lifecycle of an IP Communication (IPC) system, a critical success factor is a properly implemented and executed problem management strategy. Integrating troubleshooting strategies which eliminate or minimize end user impact remains a pivotal component to ensure the successful completion of daily projects and tasks required to optimize the total benefits of an IPC environment.

This whitepaper will explore the effectiveness of troubleshooting to enable a comprehensive problem management approach which ensures issues are reported, identified, resolved, and verified without impacting end users during business hours. It will also discuss the conundrum faced by an industry that continues its over-reliance on end users during the problem management process. The positive outcomes for following the “three C” principles will be true customer satisfaction, substantial cost savings, and a framework for comprehensive problem management – all built upon the foundation of a truly integrated IPC approach.

Implementing ITIL to Optimize Your IP Telephony Investment
Straddling the Divide between IPT and IT:Implementing ITIL to Optimize Your IP Telephony Investment CAPITALIZING ON BEST PRACTICES FOR SUCCESSFUL UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS PROJECTS

The recent momentum of Unified Communications (UC) and the disruptive enabling technology of IP Telephony have created a convergence between Voice Engineering and IT departments that is unprecedented - even since the advent of computer telephony integration. However, despite rapid and significant advances within these technologies, many enterprises, even the early adopters, have not fully embraced the alignment of these two worlds.

This white paper will provide an overview of ITIL while translating the differences, synergies and unique benefits from traditional PDIOO approaches. Finally, this paper will discuss the tangible benefits that organizations achieve when they commit to incorporating ITIL as part of their IP Telephony strategy to better align business and IT.

2008 Deployment Best Practices
Enable the successful execution and completion of IPT Deployment projects through a standardized set of processes and methodologies based upon Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) standards.

VoIP Security: It’s more than Data Security
Gary Audin - Delphi, Inc. & Richard Whitehead, CTO - Clarus Systems, Inc.

VoIP and IP Telephony technologies are replacing the traditional legacy form of digital voice communications. It has taken decades to produce the reliability, stability and security the old TDM networks provide. VoIP and IPT are still young and maturing, so it will take a while for the IP-based technologies to equal current TDM technologies. For example, there are new wrinkles in security; the underlying data network and IT devices already experience many security problems. VoIP and IPT technology changes the way servers work as well as introducing new endpoints, such as IP phones and gateways.

Case Studies

NextiraOne Mexico
Clarus Systems® Delivers Solution to Manage the Complexities of Deploying and Scaling an Enterprise IP Telephony Practice

“The ClarusIPC product extends an awareness to both our clients and to Cisco Systems that we are committed to and focused on consistently achieving the highest standards for our deployment and support practices. We have seen a direct impact in generating more sales and Clarus plays a critical role in allowing us to now focus key resources on scaling our organization and competencies around Cisco’s IP Telephony solution.”
Virgilio Puente, Executive Director, IP Communications - NextiraOne

IBM Global
ClarusIPC Helps Manage the Complexities of Deploying and Scaling an Enterprise IP Telephony Practice.

“ClarusIPC has provided IBM with a way to pro-actively identify phones that have issues forwarding to voicemail. Their technology has given us visibility into the IPT environment.”
Daniel Lin, IP Convergence Architect, Global Services - IBM Canada

Menlo College
ClarusIPC® Operations Helps Manage the Complexities of Deploying and Scaling an Institution’s IP Telephony Environment.

“ClarusIPC has enabled Menlo College to fully realize and manage the benefits of our IPT deployment. Pro-active nightly health checks keep administrative IP phones functioning properly. Campus phones are used round-the-clock so the ability to resolve issues with minimal user impact is very important to us. Now with ClarusIPC, there is increased visibility into and satisfaction with the campus IP environment.”
Blair Simmons, Director of Information Technology - Menlo College

MSN Communications
Clarus Systems® Delivers Solution to Manage the Complexities of Deploying and Scaling an Enterprise IP Telephony Practice.

“There is no doubt that ClarusIPC has helped us achieve more sales. More importantly, it lets all those that we work with know that we have the highest standards that are applied consistently when it comes to our deployment and support practices. This includes our partners at Cisco Systems, who see that we are continuing to scale our organization via people and technology. It is critical that we continue to do a great job for Cisco customers as we grow.”
Ron Guernsey, Executive Director, IP Communications - MSN

Datasheets

Corporate Overview
Headquartered in Redwood City, CA, Clarus Systems, Inc. answers the demands of the market by providing enterprises, systems integrators and managed service providers with scaleable IP Communications solutions that maximize ongoing operations and ensure increased end user confidence and efficiency. Established as an authority in IP Communications since 2005, Clarus Systems solutions validate all aspects of a communications environment are operating as expected, ensuring system availability and performance by combining automated, end user testing and management applications with strategic services.

Transformation Services
Validating IP Communication Deployments & Upgrades.

In today’s global marketplace, you rely on your IP telephony environment to unite employees who work remotely, in a branch, or at the office headquarters by providing seamless, effective communications. Whether at the time of deployment, during an upgrade, or through an operational review, validating these environments to function properly and meet user expectations is critical.

That’s no simple task since the demands of day-to-day operations make it difficult to devote the time and proper resources needed to ensure a network was configured as designed. By combining best practices with deep deployment experience, Clarus Systems can be a valuable extension to any communications project team.

ClarusIPC® Plus+ 2.4
Clarus Systems' capabilities have come full circle with the latest version of their flagship application, ClarusIPC Plus+, which delivers strategic solutions for efficient management of IP communications at each stage of the lifecycle. This new version extends the company's integrated pillar approach to empowering Unified Communications by offering system validation through troubleshooting and diagnostics, business intelligence for detailed reporting and analytics, and performance management to define thresholds for optimized voice performance including server health, gateway capacity, media resources and device registration.

The two key differentiators of this release include the business intelligence and performance management capabilities that are integrated with the traditional platform. ClarusIPC Plus+ 2.4 presents seamless monitoring and analytics in a totally redesigned, interactive user interface and dashboard including service and performance alerts tied to relevant views which provide analysis and visualization of traffic patterns across the IP-enabled environment.

Performance Management
Accessible through a web-based, interactive dashboard, the latest version of the ClarusIPC Plus+ solution integrates performance management capabilities that create real-world "What-if" scenarios to predict capacity issues before they have a chance to impact end users. By monitoring KPI's such as server health, gateway capacity, media resources and device registration, you consistently maintain the ability to estimate future bandwidth needs.

Voice Monitor
Voice Monitor allows users to efficiently monitor voice quality, call volume, service availability, and security conditions through the use of a sophisticated rules and policy engine. The application is designed to allow you to monitor Call Detail Records (CDR) and Call Management Records (CMR) using a rules-based template of custom-defined policies to set alerts and monitor system availability including:

Poor voice quality;
Call setup failures;
Suspicious or fraudulent calls; and
Calls of long duration or to specific destinations.

ClarusIPC® 2.3
Diagnose | Troubleshoot | Certify
Enterprise networks are going through massive change, and the convergence of voice and data including Communication deployments, upgrades, transformations and ongoing management remain a top priority. According industry analysts at Aberdeen Group, 61% are planning for Communications in the next two years. In order to get the most from their Unified Communications investment at the time of deployment and beyond, enterprises must leverage both active testing and configuration analysis techniques to certify and validate that environments are configured as designed.

Partner Collaboration: SI & MSP Focus
What does it cost your customer if...

IP phones don’t work properly on Monday morning?
the entire CUCM system fails and the backup system is not configured properly?
a stock broker can’t call out to make a multi-million dollar sale?
the CEO’s calls and private voicemail messages are being forwarded to an inappropriate phone number or voicemail box?
a Call Center representative can’t receive orders because their DID is not working properly?

As a System Integrator or Managed Service Provider, you strive to instill a high degree of confidence in the IP Telephony environments you deploy and operate, so your customers don’t have to play the ‘what if’ game. By partnering with Clarus Systems, you can exceed customer expectations of voice Service Level Agreements while standardizing repeatable services that create operating efficiencies. DIFFERENTIATE YOURSELF with INTEGRATED VOICE SERVICE MANAGEMENT from Clarus Systems.