Overview:

To understand the need for UC and collaboration, it’s important to look at the characteristics and trends of the distributed enterprise.

Within this volume, Nemertes will look at the evolution and future of branch locations. We also will explore optimization and branch-management tools that help organizations maximize their network capacities. Many UC applications, including voice over IP, videoconferencing and telepresence, require increased bandwidth, and have unique Quality of Service (QoS) concerns. We will explore when it makes sense to use a third party to address some or all of branch-network management.

Author(s): Katherine Trost, Research Analyst

Keywords: Branch Office, Optimization Tools, Virtual Business, Virtual Worker, Virtual Workplace, Outsourcing, Branch Management, Teleworker, Teleworking Policies, Enterprise Applications

Vendors mentioned: BlueCoat, Cisco, Citrix, Juniper, Riverbed, F5

Table of Contents:

1 INTRODUCTION......................................................................................
2 BUILDING OUT THE BRANCH...................................................................
2.1 Defining the Branch.............................................................................
2.2 Branch-Office Trends ..........................................................................
2.2.1 Characteristics and Growth .............................................................
2.2.2 Budgeting At the Branch .................................................................
3 OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE-MANAGING THE BRANCH .................................
3.1.1 Internal Optimization Tools .............................................................
3.1.2 Branch-Office Management .............................................................
3.1.3 Outsourced Branch Management.....................................................
4 THE VIRTUAL NATURE OF BUSINESS.......................................................
4.1.1 Virtual Numbers................................................................................
4.1.2 Providing Tools to Maximize Productivity..........................................
4.1.3 Teleworking Policies ........................................................................
5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..............................................
6 METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................
6.1 Timeframe............................................................................................
6.2 Participants .........................................................................................
6.2.1 By Industry.......................................................................................
6.2.2 By Size..............................................................................................
6.2.3 By Region.........................................................................................
6.2.4 By IT Culture ....................................................................................

Clients - Read this Benchmark: Unified Communications and Collaboration - Branch-Office Trends

Nemertes benchmarks are available to clients only. If you're not a client and would like to receive a copy of the benchmark, please contact us.