Microsoft Teams (formerly Lync)

Microsoft Teams — Unified Communications in Microsoft 365

Microsoft Lync has evolved into Microsoft Teams, the leading platform for chat, video meetings, calling, and collaboration. PTG deploys and manages Teams for Triangle-area businesses, replacing legacy communication tools with a modern unified platform.

Video Meetings • Chat • Calling • File Sharing • Managed by PTG

Modern Communications

One Platform for All Business Communication

Video Conferencing

HD video meetings with screen sharing, recording, transcription, and virtual backgrounds. Microsoft Teams supports meetings of up to 1,000 participants with enterprise-grade security and reliability. PTG configures meeting policies, recording storage, and compliance settings for Triangle-area businesses that need professional video conferencing without third-party tools.

Persistent Chat & Channels

Organize conversations by team, project, or topic with persistent chat channels that maintain history and context. Threaded conversations reduce email volume and keep discussions organized. PTG sets up team structures, channels, and permissions that align with your organizational structure and workflows.

Teams Phone System

Replace your traditional phone system with Microsoft Teams Phone. Make and receive calls from your business number on any device — desktop, laptop, or mobile. PTG handles number porting, call routing configuration, auto-attendants, and call queues for businesses across Raleigh-Durham that want to consolidate communications into a single platform.

FAQ

Microsoft Teams Questions Answered

What happened to Lync and Skype for Business?

Microsoft Lync was rebranded as Skype for Business, which has since been replaced by Microsoft Teams. Teams incorporates all the capabilities of its predecessors plus modern collaboration features. PTG helps organizations still running Skype for Business migrate to Teams.

Can Teams replace our phone system?

Yes. Microsoft Teams Phone System provides full PBX functionality including call routing, voicemail, auto-attendants, and call queues. PTG handles the migration from your existing phone system to Teams Phone for businesses across the Triangle. Call 919-348-4912 to discuss your phone system requirements.

Is Teams included with Microsoft 365?

Yes. Microsoft Teams is included with all Microsoft 365 Business and Enterprise plans at no additional cost. Teams Phone System capabilities require specific plan tiers or add-on licenses that PTG can provision and manage.

Modernize Your Business Communications

Contact PTG to deploy Microsoft Teams and unify your organization's communication and collaboration.

Petronella Technology Group • 5540 Centerview Dr., Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606

Why Choose Petronella Technology Group

Petronella Technology Group has been a trusted IT and cybersecurity partner for businesses across Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex, and the Research Triangle since 2002. Led by CEO Craig Petronella, a Licensed Digital Forensic Examiner, CMMC Certified Registered Practitioner, and MIT-certified professional in cybersecurity, AI, blockchain, and compliance, PTG brings deep expertise to every engagement.

With BBB accreditation since 2003 and more than 2,500 businesses served, PTG has the experience and track record to deliver results. Craig Petronella is an Amazon number-one best-selling author of books including "How HIPAA Can Crush Your Medical Practice," "How Hackers Can Crush Your Law Firm," and "The Ultimate Guide To CMMC." He has been featured on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and WRAL, and serves as an expert witness for law firms in cybercrime and compliance cases.

PTG holds certifications including CCNA, MCNS, Microsoft Cloud Essentials, and specializes in CMMC 2.0, NIST 800-171/172/173, HIPAA, FTC Safeguards, SOC 2 Type II, PCI DSS, GDPR, CCPA, and ISO 27001 compliance. Our forensic specialties include endpoint and networking cybercrime investigation, data breach forensics, ransomware analysis, data exfiltration investigation, cryptocurrency and blockchain analysis, and SIM swap fraud investigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of moving to the cloud for small businesses?
Cloud computing offers small businesses numerous advantages including reduced capital expenditure on hardware, scalable resources that grow with your business, improved disaster recovery and business continuity, anytime-anywhere access for remote and hybrid workforces, automatic software updates and patches, and enterprise-grade security features. PTG helps businesses in Raleigh, Durham, and the Research Triangle evaluate cloud options, plan migrations, and manage cloud environments to maximize these benefits while minimizing risk, disruption, and unexpected costs during the transition to cloud-based infrastructure.
How does PTG ensure cloud security for business data?
PTG implements multiple layers of cloud security including data encryption in transit and at rest, multi-factor authentication, identity and access management, network segmentation, continuous monitoring and logging, and regular security assessments. We follow the shared responsibility model, ensuring that customer-side security configurations are properly maintained even when using major cloud platforms. Our cloud security approach aligns with frameworks like NIST, SOC 2, and HIPAA to ensure that cloud-hosted data meets all applicable compliance requirements and industry best practices for data protection.
What cloud platforms does PTG support?
PTG supports all major cloud platforms including Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and private cloud environments hosted in our secure data center facilities. We also support cloud-based productivity suites including Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Our cloud architects help organizations choose the right platform based on their specific requirements for performance, compliance, cost, and integration with existing systems. We also design and implement hybrid cloud architectures that combine on-premises and cloud resources for optimal flexibility, performance, and cost efficiency.
How long does a typical cloud migration take?
Cloud migration timelines depend on the complexity of your current environment, the volume of data being transferred, and the number of applications being migrated. A simple migration of email and file storage to Microsoft 365 can be completed in two to four weeks. More complex migrations involving line-of-business applications, databases, and custom configurations may take two to six months to complete properly. PTG follows a structured migration methodology that includes assessment, planning, pilot testing, migration execution, and post-migration optimization to minimize downtime and risk throughout the process.
What happens to our data if we need to switch cloud providers?
Data portability is an important consideration in any cloud strategy. PTG helps organizations maintain data portability by using standard data formats, avoiding vendor lock-in where possible, and maintaining comprehensive backups independent of any single cloud provider. If you need to switch providers, PTG manages the entire migration process including data transfer, application reconfiguration, testing, and validation. We also ensure that data is properly removed from the previous provider in accordance with your data retention policies, privacy requirements, and any applicable regulatory obligations.

PTG Cloud Services and Strategy

Cloud computing has transformed how businesses operate, but migrating to the cloud without a clear strategy can lead to security gaps, unexpected costs, and operational disruptions. PTG takes a strategic approach to cloud services, starting with a thorough evaluation of your current environment, business requirements, compliance obligations, and growth plans. We help organizations determine which workloads are best suited for public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid architectures, ensuring that your cloud strategy aligns with both your technical needs and business objectives.

Our cloud migration services follow a proven methodology that minimizes risk and downtime during the transition. We begin with a detailed inventory and dependency mapping of your current systems, followed by a pilot migration of non-critical workloads to validate our approach. Production migrations are carefully scheduled and executed with rollback plans in place. Post-migration, we optimize your cloud environment for performance, security, and cost efficiency, ensuring that you realize the full benefits of cloud computing without wasting resources on oversized or underutilized cloud instances.

Security is paramount in any cloud deployment. PTG implements comprehensive cloud security controls including identity and access management with multi-factor authentication, data encryption at rest and in transit, network security groups and firewall rules, continuous monitoring and threat detection, and compliance controls mapped to your regulatory requirements. We also conduct regular cloud security assessments to identify misconfigurations and vulnerabilities that could expose your data, staying ahead of the evolving threat landscape that targets cloud environments.

Beyond migration and security, PTG provides ongoing cloud management and optimization services. Cloud environments require continuous attention to maintain security, optimize costs, and adapt to changing business needs. Our cloud management team monitors performance, manages updates and patches, optimizes resource allocation, and provides regular reporting on usage, costs, and security posture. We help organizations take advantage of new cloud capabilities as they become available, ensuring that your cloud investment continues to deliver maximum value as technology and your business evolve over time.

Our Approach to Cybersecurity

At Petronella Technology Group, cybersecurity is not just about installing antivirus software or setting up a firewall. We take a comprehensive, layered approach to security that addresses people, processes, and technology. Our methodology is built on industry-standard frameworks including NIST Cybersecurity Framework, CIS Controls, and MITRE ATT&CK, ensuring that your security program is aligned with the same standards used by Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Every engagement begins with a thorough assessment of your current security posture, followed by a prioritized remediation roadmap that addresses your most critical risks first.

Our security operations team provides continuous monitoring through our Security Information and Event Management platform, which correlates events across your entire environment to detect threats in real time. When a potential threat is identified, our analysts investigate and respond immediately, often containing threats before they can cause damage. This proactive approach dramatically reduces the risk of successful cyberattacks and provides the rapid response capability that is essential in today's threat landscape.

We believe that employee awareness is one of the most important layers of defense. Human error remains the leading cause of data breaches, and no amount of technology can fully compensate for untrained employees. PTG provides comprehensive security awareness training programs that educate your team about phishing, social engineering, password security, data handling, and incident reporting. Our training programs include simulated phishing campaigns that test employee readiness and identify areas where additional education is needed, helping organizations build a strong security culture from the ground up.

Beyond prevention, PTG prepares organizations for the reality that breaches can occur despite the best defenses. Our incident response planning services help businesses develop, document, and test response procedures so that when an incident does occur, your team knows exactly what to do. From tabletop exercises to full incident simulations, we ensure that your organization is prepared to respond quickly and effectively, minimizing damage, preserving evidence, and meeting all regulatory notification requirements within required timeframes.

Additional Questions and Answers

What are the most common cybersecurity threats facing businesses today?
The most common cybersecurity threats include ransomware attacks, phishing and social engineering, business email compromise, insider threats, and supply chain attacks. Ransomware alone costs businesses billions of dollars annually, with the average ransom demand exceeding two hundred thousand dollars. Phishing remains the primary attack vector, responsible for over ninety percent of successful breaches. PTG helps businesses in Raleigh, Durham, and the Research Triangle defend against all of these threats through layered security controls, employee training, and continuous monitoring provided by our managed security operations center.
How often should a business conduct cybersecurity assessments?
Best practices recommend conducting comprehensive cybersecurity assessments at least annually, with vulnerability scans performed quarterly or monthly. Businesses in regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, and government contracting may need more frequent assessments to maintain compliance with frameworks like HIPAA, PCI DSS, CMMC, and SOC 2. PTG provides ongoing security assessment services that help organizations identify and remediate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by threat actors, using industry-standard tools and methodologies aligned with NIST Cybersecurity Framework guidelines.
What is the difference between a vulnerability assessment and penetration testing?
A vulnerability assessment systematically scans your network, systems, and applications to identify known security weaknesses and misconfigurations. A penetration test goes further by actively attempting to exploit those vulnerabilities to determine the real-world impact of a breach. Both are essential components of a mature cybersecurity program. PTG offers both services, providing detailed reports with prioritized remediation recommendations tailored to your specific environment and risk profile. Our penetration testing team uses the same techniques as real-world attackers to give you an accurate picture of your security posture.
How can small businesses afford enterprise-grade cybersecurity?
Small and mid-sized businesses can achieve enterprise-grade security through managed security service providers like PTG. Rather than hiring a full in-house security team costing hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, businesses can leverage PTG's expertise, tools, and twenty-four-seven monitoring at a fraction of the cost. Our managed security packages are designed specifically for SMBs in the Research Triangle, providing comprehensive protection including endpoint detection and response, SIEM monitoring, email security, and compliance management at predictable monthly costs that fit small business budgets.
What should a business do immediately after discovering a data breach?
Upon discovering a data breach, businesses should immediately activate their incident response plan, isolate affected systems to prevent further data loss, preserve all evidence for forensic analysis, notify legal counsel, and begin documenting the timeline of events. Depending on the type of data compromised, regulatory notification requirements under HIPAA, state breach notification laws, or other frameworks may apply with strict deadlines. PTG provides incident response services and digital forensics to help businesses contain breaches, investigate root causes, fulfill all notification obligations, and implement measures to prevent future incidents.

Ready to Get Started?

Contact Petronella Technology Group today for a free consultation. Serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and the Research Triangle since 2002.

919-348-4912 Schedule a Free Consultation

5540 Centerview Dr., Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27606