Calix, a telecommunications company that provides technology to support broadband services, has upgraded SmartBiz, an integrated managed service, with enhanced cybersecurity capabilities.
SmartBiz is a purpose-built solution to enable broadband service providers (BSPs) to better serve small and medium-sized businesses. According to Calix, SmartBiz’s new security capabilities include increased network protection with user-specific authentication and content restrictions.
Calix said that with SmartBiz, Calix-partnered BSPs can offer solutions to SMBs such as secure connectivity and business productivity applications. In addition, they can leverage the same end-to-end platform they use for residential markets to service their SMB subscribers.
The expanded security options will enable BSPs to engage with SMBs in industries such as retail, hospitality, and professional services that require advanced security features, Calix said.
The advanced security capabilities enable BSPs to: (per Calix)
- Small business owners can manage and isolate wired and wireless point of sale (POS) devices on the same systems they use to run their business. They can also apply security policies based on the network type, specifying different policies for primary network users, staff, POS, and even customers.
- New network-specific content filtering in SmartBiz gives BSPs more flexibility to protect small businesses and their customers from malicious content and cybersecurity threats.
- Enable secure staff onboarding without changing passwords. Small business owners can manage staff accounts easily when they join or leave the business. They can also apply network access hours and content restrictions to staff networks.
- Expanded security for mesh Wi-Fi. Small business owners can now rely on added encryption between gateways and satellites. Information previously vulnerable to hackers is now encrypted for more secure connections throughout small business networks.
SmartBiz is composed of SmartBizWorx productivity software and the CommandWorx mobile app. CommandWorx is integrated with Calix Wi-Fi systems and Calix Support Cloud to enable self-service access to SmartBiz and its features. SMBs can monitor and manage SmartBiz from anywhere with one application.
Michael Weening, president and chief executive officer at Calix, said the company built SmartBiz for SMBs because our customers identified that enterprise solutions do not scale down to meet the "needs of this market segment.”
“Enterprise solutions are too complex and costly. They frustrate the business owner, who lacks the IT staff to handle the complexity of running them. With SmartBiz, the BSP can provide small and medium businesses with a comprehensive solution that is fully managed while protecting the business, employees, and their customers from cyberthreats. At the same time, the BSP can offer wireless redundancy and an intuitive management experience for the business owner. Additionally, SmartBiz opens opportunities for the broadband provider to securely extend their SmartTown Wi-Fi coverage to downtown.”
