No Zoom? No Problem!
This year, virtual communication has become more critical than ever. In a situation where meeting one-on-one is complicated, everyone has turned to technology to keep relationships —professional or personal— alive.
There is no denying that Zoom has been one of the most popular options. However, it’s not the only video conferencing platform out there that you can use. Many others offer excellent service and different benefits to help you stay connected with your team and clients.
Here are some video conferencing platform alternatives that could be a good fit for your independent insurance agency.
RingCentral
Part of the great things about RingCentral is that it’s browser-based and requires no download. You can have up to 200 users online simultaneously with HD audio and video with recording capabilities. It also offers many features like desktop, application screen sharing, real-time file sharing, instant messaging app, and whiteboarding. It even lets you create separate meeting rooms for breakout sessions during a long meeting or webinar. It’s a perfect tool for daily team collaboration.
UberConference
Another no-download video conferencing and chat platform here to save the day! You can set passwords for your meetings, but you also leave them pin-free for public access, if needed. Its analytics capabilities allow you to measure meeting duration, screen shares, and the number of participants while integrating with various applications, including Google calendar and Outlook. It offers HD video, call recording, international dial-in access, and more. It even allows you to set up custom hold music in case you need to take another call.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams allows you to replicate the in-office experience in an online setting. You can easily transition from chat to video and make group calls as well as receive them. You can reach anyone outside your network as anyone can connect to a Teams meeting, even if they don’t have a Microsoft account. Teams also enables you to set up custom backgrounds, which is excellent when your real environment is not precisely business-ready.
Cisco Webex
One of the best qualities of Webex is its free plan. It includes notes, unlimited chat messaging, virtual backgrounds, meeting locks and password protected rooms, desktop and mobile screen sharing, and more. It’s available for up to 100 simultaneous meeting participants and a maximum of 50 minutes per session.
Cybersecurity Tips for Safe Virtual Meetings
Regardless of the platform you choose, it is critical that you follow cybersecurity best practices for the benefit of your business. Here are some tips to help improve the security and privacy of your virtual meetings:
- Avoid sharing sensitive information during virtual meetings.
- If there’s a built-in video recording feature within the platform of your choice, block others from recording. Be mindful that your call could still be recorded with other devices or applications, so share only necessary information.
- Protect your meetings with a strong password.
- Don’t use your personal ID to create a virtual conferencing account.
- Always use the waiting room feature so you can have control over who joins your virtual meeting.
- Remove or block anyone that joins using an unrecognizable identity.
- Only allow the host to have access to screen sharing capabilities.
- Never share your meeting link on social media or public forums.