Accounting – Multi Office/Tele-working Case Study

Hendershot, Reed and Burckhardt, PC. – Falcon client since 1990

HRB serviced the northern VA area for over 25 years from just one office in Manassas. With constant long-term growth and changes within the accounting industry, HRB needed to open a new office in Warrenton VA. HRB also had senior partners and key auditors that needed to work off site. The Warrenton office opened with traditional telephone technology, which worked for HRB while they were getting the new office off the ground, but was inadequate for
communication between offices and remote workers. To accommodate these requirements HRB needed to rethink their communications and data architecture. The goal was to design and implement an integrated data and VOIP network while maintaining the highest level of security.

Challenges

• High cost of calls between offices - Intra Lata long distance charges
• Growing cell phone usage and bills
• No solution for the teleworkers for voice or data needs
• Two receptionists needed
• No centralized Voice Mail platform
• Inability to transfer calls between offices
• Limited capability and inadequate security of existing wide area network
• No true VPN capabilities

Solution

• Re-engineered Wide Area Network (WAN) for offices
• VOIP Networking of the offices
• Connection Type for Internet – VERIZON DSL.
• Connection Type for Voice – Verizon B1 POTS Lines
• Telecom Equipment VOICE – Vertical FXII - VOIP Enabled , VOIP Extensions
• Additional equipment – VOIP Extensions & UPS (Battery Backup)
• Roll out – 45 days

Benefits

• Zero cost to call between offices and teleworkers
• Centralized Voice Mail Platform
• Single point for receptionist
• Managed network between the offices with VPN through the public internet
• Shared network for Voice and Data between offices
• Fixed Monthly Cost
• The ability to install an extension from the main telephone system in Manassas to the senior partner homes, as well as, the ability to keep a senior auditor by deploying a VOIP extension in their new home in North Carolina.
• True Wide Area Network with much higher levels of security