BT adds Zoom Meetings to its digital workplace portfolio

BT has today announced the addition of Zoom Meetings to its video collaboration managed services portfolio, following a carrier agreement between BT and Zoom Video Communications.

BT's service will now feature end-to-end experience monitoring and enhanced security, as well as expanded connectivity including internet, global SIP, PSTN or MPLS.

The agreement means BT becomes the first global provider to offer a fully managed Zoom Meetings service featuring a choice of connectivity and integration with its global voice network, according to BT.

"We're keeping it simple for customers, helping them create secure and productive digital workplaces for their people, wherever they are," says BT global portfolio director Andrew Small.

"Our new managed service allows global enterprises, typically with complex network and IT infrastructure, to consume Zoom Meetings in a simple, consistent and secure way with optimised experiences for their people around the world.

BT also offers security options such as encrypting communications, protecting customers' user IDs, secure, private and resilient MPLS connectivity, dedicated network gateways and user adoption programmes, which educate users on security best practice.

The agreement also enables BT to offer Zoom Rooms, Zoom's extendable software-based conference room system.

"We chose BT as a global managed service partner because it's a trusted and established leader in the world market with in-depth enterprise voice, video, security, cloud and networking expertise," says Zoom chief revenue officer Ryan Azus.

"Our new agreement will help large enterprises fully experience the benefits Zoom Meetings, Zoom Phone and Zoom Rooms offer. This partnership will also expand Zoom's global footprint and enterprise sales capabilities."

The agreement comes a month after BT Security announced an overhaul to its security vendor ecosystem, shaking-up its roster of key partners that it will work with in the future in a move seen as the company's largest-ever appraisal of its security suppliers.

BT said the decision to review their security partner base was driven by the recognition that many customers find it challenging to navigate today's complex security landscape, as well as customers' desire to have a 'leaner set of partners'.

"Our new security partner ecosystem showcases the benefits of BT Security as a managed security services provider (MSSP)," said BT Security managing director Kevin Brown.

"We're able to use our deep experience and insight of the security ecosystem to help our customers navigate what can be an incredibly confusing market.

"We're also ensuring that BT Security customers will benefit from working with the best suppliers from across the security industry.

As its new 'critical partners', BT chose McAfee, Palo Alto Networks and Fortinet.