Unite Everyone with One Unified Communication Tool

Blaine Kahle : Dec 1, 2025 8:00:00 AM

1 min read

Unite Everyone with One Unified Communication Tool

TL;DR

Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS) lets businesses replace expensive, rigid on‑premise phone systems with flexible, cloud-based tools that scale as they grow.
Modern internet connectivity and widely used internet-based calling tools make legacy phone hardware increasingly unnecessary and costly.
A well-chosen UCaaS platform can improve reliability, security, and features while reducing long‑term capital spend on phone systems.

Great communication starts with the right tools. Unified Communication as a Service (UcaaS) is not a new concept nor is it a niche market, its market size was valued at USD $66.42 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow from USD $78.15 billion in 2026 to USD $276.9 billion by 2034 according to Fortune Business Insights.The cloud has become the preferred way of staying ahead of rapidly changing needs and increasingly sophisticated demands of customers. Businesses are finding that sticking with their legacy communication tools are becoming increasingly risky, with higher cost and liabilities.

So why invest an average of $878 per user in on-premise hardware if you don’t really need it? Don’t, here's why:

Your business-grade Internet connection is now plenty fast and reliable to trust it with your phone calls, and you can always have calls forward to mobile phones if needed.
You’re probably already using Internet-based voice: Do you Skype, WebEx, Wifi-call, FaceTime, Discord, Mumble, or TeamSpeak?
It's scalable: 2 users or 500, UCaaS scales to fit you without any big cash forklifts.
You can have a handset on your desk if you prefer, or you can go fully digital using only your computer and/or mobile apps.
If you have multiple offices, all your calls between them are still part of the same virtual phone system, and thus are free (no long distance charges!)

What's the best solution to fit your business? Our R&D team has invested countless hours and resources on this very topic, and we have landed on 8x8. 8x8 is the leader in cloud communication, providing scalable solutions for SMB's to help consolidate and unify a wide array of communication and collaboration services onto a single platform.

Here are some of the other key reasons Five Niners chose 8x8:

8x8’s SLA guarantees 99.99% service availability.
Calls are secure. 8x8 is HIPAA compliant and will sign a BAA, and has met several other major security standards.
Scalability for businesses from 1 - 1000

Why should your phone system features only improve every 5 or 7 years, when you spend tens or hundreds of thousands on a new phone system? It’s all software; with 8x8 you’re getting free feature enhancements regularly.

Ready to make the switch? If Five Nines is your Managed IT Services provider ask your account manager! If not, learn more about 8x8, here!

Still debating if you should upgrade to a cloud based option? Five Nines can help you decide

Frequently asked questions

What is UCaaS and why does it matter for my business?

UCaaS (Unified Communication as a Service) is a cloud-based model that delivers phone, messaging, video, and other communication tools over the internet instead of through on-premise hardware. It matters because it gives you more flexibility, easier scaling, and regular feature updates without major capital investments.

Why move away from on-premise phone systems?

On-premise systems require significant upfront hardware costs, ongoing maintenance, and periodic forklift upgrades every few years. In contrast, UCaaS relies on internet connectivity you likely already have, reduces the need for physical equipment, and turns large capital expenses into predictable operating costs.

Is my internet connection really reliable enough for cloud phone service?

For most business-grade connections today, bandwidth and reliability are sufficient to handle high-quality voice calls. Many solutions also support call forwarding to mobile devices and other failover options to keep you reachable if there is ever a local internet issue.

Will UCaaS work if I have multiple offices or remote staff?

Yes. Cloud-based communication platforms are designed to unify multiple locations and remote employees into a single virtual phone system. Internal calls between sites are treated as on-network, which can help eliminate long-distance charges and simplify how teams connect.

What are the security and compliance considerations with UCaaS?

Many leading UCaaS providers offer strong security controls, encryption, and compliance support for frameworks like HIPAA or other industry standards. When evaluating options, look for documented uptime commitments, security certifications, and a clear stance on how they protect call data and user information.