Cloud SBC – Microsoft Teams

A Cloud SBC or Session Border Controller is often described as a “firewall for VoIP”. These are used at the “borders” between different networks to make sure data is transferred correctly between them, as well as providing a layer of security and protection from attacks and breaches. SBCs were traditionally located on-premise, but increasingly are cloud-hosted, allowing a much higher level of flexibility and reliability together with lower up-front costs.

Switch Telecom Cloud SBC

If your business is using Microsoft Teams as an internal communication tool and you wish to use the Microsoft 365 Phone System functionality to make and receive phone calls from within Microsoft Teams, you can connect your Microsoft 365 Phone System to the Switch Telecom network with the Switch Cloud SBC.

Direct Routing on the Teams platform will allow you to connect to a Switch Telecom VoIP SIP Trunk. This means being able to take advantage of lower call rates, more flexibility, and better support.

Direct Routing is seen as extremely attractive by a variety of businesses as it gives them the true flexibility of choosing their own telephony provider, all the while retaining a verified integration with the Teams platform.

Direct Routing works by connecting the Microsoft 365 Phone System to the Switch Telecom network using two key elements: a Switch Telecom Cloud SBC (Session Border Controller) and a Switch Telecom VoIP SIP Trunk.

Please note that Microsoft treats the “Microsoft 365 Phone System” functionality as an optional add-on feature (even for license categories that include Microsoft Teams). By way of example, if you are using “Microsoft 365 Business Standard” licenses, you would need to supplement these with “Microsoft Teams Phone Standard” add-on licenses. An applicable license is required for every user that wishes to make and/or receive calls from within Microsoft Teams.