Ahead of the November election, voters overwhelmingly express the importance of several items related to voting access and the outcome of the election. Wide majorities of voters say it is very or somewhat important that: People who are qualified to vote are able to cast a ballot (98%) and that people who try to intimidate or threaten voters at polling places are stopped (96%). People who are not legally qualified to vote are prevented from doing so (89%). It is clear who won after all votes are counted (98%) and that the outcome of the presidential race is known within a day or two (92%). And while sizable majorities of supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump both view these objectives as important, they tend to differ in how confident they are that each will happen. Ballot access and voter intimidation Nearly all Harris and Trump supporters (99% each) say it’s at least somewhat important that people who are legally qualified and want to vote are able to cast a ballot, while nearly as many say that it’s important that people who try to intimidate or threaten voters at polling places are stopped. About nine-in-ten among each candidate’s supporters are also very or somewhat confident that eligible voters who want to cast a ballot will be able to do so. Harris’ supporters are slightly more likely than Trump’s to express confidence that people trying to intimidate voters will be stopped (73% of Harris supporters vs. 64% of Trump supporters are at least somewhat confident). A clear winner and timely outcome Harris (99%) and Trump (98%) supporters are nearly unanimous in their belief that it’s at least somewhat important that it be clear who won the election after all votes are counted, with about nine-in-ten in each group saying this is very important. But Trump supporters are much less likely than Harris supporters to express confidence that it will be clear who won. While 58% of Trump supporters are very or somewhat confident it will be clear who won after all votes are counted, a much larger majority of Harris supporters (85%) are confident the result will be clear. Large majorities of both Trump (95%) and Harris (89%) supporters say it is important that Americans know who won the race within days of Election Day. However, Trump supporters are more likely than Harris supporters to say this is very important (75% vs. 60%). Harris supporters (69%) are more likely than Trump supporters (59%) to express confidence that the winner will be promptly known, although about four-in-ten each are only somewhat confident that this will happen. Ensuring only eligible citizens cast ballots Nearly identical majorities of all voters say it is very or somewhat important to stop noncitizens from voting (90%) and to prevent people who are not qualified to vote from doing so (89%). While large shares of both Harris and Trump supporters view the prevention of ineligible voters from casting ballots as at least somewhat important, Trump supporters are more likely to say this is very important. Harris supporters are far more confident than Trump supporters that people who are not legally qualified to vote will be prevented from voting.  Harris supporters (87%) overwhelmingly express confidence that people who are not qualified to vote will be prevented from doing so, with 52% saying they’re very confident in this. Harris supporters express similar confidence that noncitizens will not be able to vote. By contrast, just 35% of Trump supporters are confident that noncitizens will be stopped from voting, while 30% say the same of blocking voting access for all those not legally qualified to vote. How voters’ views today compare with opinions in 2020 Citizens casting ballots As was the case in 2020, there is close agreement on the importance of eligible Americans who want to vote being able to cast a ballot. But 2024 Harris supporters (89%) are more likely than 2020 Biden supporters (77%) to say they are at least somewhat confident this will happen. Trump supporters’ confidence on this item has changed little compared with four years ago. Timeliness of the outcome Voters today (92%) are more likely than voters in 2020 (82%) to say it’s important that Americans know the result of the presidential election quickly. This shift is concentrated among Democratic candidate supporters. Today, 89% of Harris supporters say it is very (60%) or somewhat (29%) important that this happens. That’s up from the 73% of Biden voters who said this was at least somewhat important in 2020. But both Harris and Trump supporters are more likely to express confidence that this will happen than Biden and Trump supporters were in 2020. While 69% of Harris supporters are at least somewhat confident that Americans will know the election results within a couple of days, 59% of Trump supporters are. This compares with about half of Biden and Trump supporters in 2020. source

Customized responses Dhaval Gajjar, CTO of SaaS text marketing platform Textdrip, agrees that these two types of gen AI implementation require different strategies. For example, successful use of AI tools, which tend to be easier to deploy, hinges on user training, says Gajjar, also CEO of Pranshtech, a website and mobile app development firm. “Standardization by vendor should go along with guidelines and best practices for their effective use,” he says, echoing recommendations from MIT CISR. Solutions like AI-driven fraud detection or predictive analytics systems are more complex, he adds. “For my part, any AI solution would require a structured and formal approach to the launch,” Gajjar adds. “It will therefore take cross-functional collaboration to deliver this value in scale, with rigorous testing and clear governance.” source

You don’t want to waste peoples’ time, and you certainly don’t want to waste your own. With a cold call script, sticking to the fundamentals is a good idea, especially early on. Here are seven efficient and effective scripts you can use to get started. Plug in your company’s information, tweak the script so that it sounds natural for your reps, and then pick up the phone. 1. Cold call script for B2B sales Rep: Hi, this is [NAME] with [COMPANY], is [CONTACT] available? Contact: What do you want? Rep: Do you have two minutes to talk about how to improve your customer service with an upgraded CRM? Contact: Not really… Rep: No problem, I totally understand. Can I send you a quick email with a rundown of how our CRM increases first call resolution rates by 50% within the first month? This script is useful because it contains the core elements that any cold call needs to get off the ground — a transparent welcome, a quick statement of intent, and empathy throughout. The customer knows almost instantly what’s going on in the call, so when they say they’re not interested, the rep respects the decision and redirects to an email signup offer. Notice that the script sneaks in another benefit to the customer as they pitch the email option — a 50% increase in first call resolution is attention-grabbing for someone running a call center. It increases customer satisfaction, decreases call queue times, and creates wider profit margins without having to hire a single new agent. Say the person doesn’t believe the sales claim of 50% reduction — perfect. They’ll be primed to engage with the email, where your company’s case is laid out in as many words as you like. In the mean-time, your rep is already making more calls. Lead nurturing is part of B2B sales, and with this script, some fraction of contacts will enter the top of your sales funnel. 2. Script for B2C sales Rep: Hi, is this [CONTACT]? Contact: Yes, who’s calling? Rep: Hi [CONTACT], this is [NAME] from [COMPANY]. How are you doing today? Contact: Fine. Why are you calling? Rep: I’m calling because we’ve just launched our new VoIP phone service that I believe could be of interest to you. It’s designed to provide the same quality of calls you get with any major cell service at a much cheaper rate. Contact: I don’t really need that. Rep: I understand. Would you be open to hearing a bit more about how our [PRODUCT NAME] works and enables teams to collaborate compared to your current setup? This script continues on with the pattern of intro-context-empathy, but subtly steers the conversation away from price and towards improved collaboration. In this case, the caller already knows that the service could be cheaper, so offering the idea of employee enablement fit could provide another reason to stay on the call. If the customer bites on this, there are already two strong reasons why they might want to close the sale. And if not, reps should note the outcome of the interaction in the CRM software, and move on to the next contact. Keep the rhythm going, there are many calls to make. Consider using an outbound dialer to win the numbers game that is B2C cold outreach. 3. Cold intro script for qualifying leads Rep: Hi [CONTACT], this is [NAME] from [COMPANY]. How are you today? Contact: I’m fine. How can I help you? Rep: I’m reaching out because we specialize in helping businesses increase their customer satisfaction rates by using our CRM. Can I ask you a few questions to see if our solution might be a good fit for you? Contact: Actually, I’m quite satisfied with our current system. Rep: Oh that’s great! Can you tell me a little bit about what you like about it? This script might read like a sales script, but it’s actually designed to qualify leads. For example, if the contact hears about the CRM and isn’t interested at all, it’s a sign that they could be the wrong fit — especially if they respond by saying that they don’t have anything to do with CRMs. However, since the contact in this example indicated CRM knowledge, this tells the rep that they could be both a decision-maker and a quality lead for the future. The redirect after the objection is similarly well done. Instead of being disappointed by a lead that says they’re not interested, the rep redirects the conversation to acknowledge the contact’s answer in a positive way while also giving the floor right back to them. This makes the contact feel respected and also gives the rep a chance to gather important information about what other CRMs are doing well and how their customers feel about them. 4. Cold call script to pitch a product or service Rep: Hi, this is [NAME] from [COMPANY], I’m calling to talk to you about our new [PRODUCT] package that increases employee efficiency and customer satisfaction. Contact: No thanks. Rep: Right, nobody likes getting a cold call. May I ask you one question before we go? Contact: Sure… Rep: Do you absolutely love your current [PRODUCT], or does it work just good enough? This script is a good example of how to deal with an uninterested customer. It establishes intent right off the bat so the customer knows what’s going on, and it also gives them a mini sales pitch in the first sentence. When they indicate their lack of interest, the rep takes it in stride before asking for permission to make one more request. When the contact grants it, they ask a question that moves the conversation into the realm of feelings, which may give the rep a chance to engage in emotional selling techniques. This is often a more fruitful strategy than trying to win people over with sterile data about tech specs, features, costs etc. Worst case scenario, they’ll walk away with valuable information

In a simulation of Mars, a space rover is testing a control system with an unusual inspiration: insect brains. The software was created by Opteran, a startup based in the UK. But the idea originated from research on bugs. Scientists at the University of Sheffield had been studying the brains of insects. They discovered remarkable neurological efficiency. A honeybee’s brain, for instance, only contains about 1 million neurons. A human brain, by contrast, has around 86 billion. But the bee mind’s tiny size belies its impressive power. It’s capable of complex navigation, obstacle avoidance, and communication. It also functions with formidable energy efficiency. The researchers believed robots could also benefit from these qualities. They decided to reverse-engineer the brain algorithms into software for autonomous machines. They call the concept “Natural Intelligence.” In 2019, they founded Opteran to commercialise the research. The startup soon identified space as an ideal environment for the tech. The software harnesses over a decade of research into animal and insect vision. Credit: Opteran Natural intelligence in space Today’s space rovers are often ponderous machines. It can take them minutes to map their surroundings from multiple cameras before each movement. Opteran’s system promises to cut this down to milliseconds. “It is uniquely able to operate with the lowest size, weight, and at ultra-low power,” David Rajan, the startup’s CEO and co-founder, told TNW. Named Opteran Mind, the software offers zero-latency visual depth perception. After installation, vehicles can continuously navigate without the need for extensive data or training. The tech also minimises power consumption and eliminates heavy tools, such as gimbal-based pan-tilt cameras. As a result, rovers could drive further and at higher speeds without human intervention. These capabilities caught the eye of Airbus Defence and Space. The company is now testing the software in rovers at the Airbus Mars Yard, a simulated Martian environment. The European Space Agency (ESA) and the UK Space Agency are supporting the project. After the initial tests, their focus will shift to deployment and commercialisation. For Opteran, however, space is just one frontier on the roadmap. “We aim to integrate an Opteran Mind into every machine, underground in mines, on the ground, in the air, and off-world,” Rajan said, “allowing them to operate as efficiently and as freely as natural creatures.”   source

It was a typical conversation with a client when the question came up: “What’s the average security spend for organizations like ours?” I’ve heard variations of this query countless times. Knowing this was coming, I responded, “On average, most organizations spend around 3-6% of their IT budget on security.” “Great, we’re at 3%,” the client replied, satisfied with their position. But I wasn’t finished. “Yes, but your IT spend is significantly lower than the industry average for companies of your size. So, in reality, your 3% is like spending 1.5% in a more typical organization. Security spend as a percentage of IT budget is meaningless without understanding your overall IT investment.” Silence. This is a common scenario: A client reaches for benchmarks and metrics without fully grasping the larger context. They assume that as long as they’re hitting a “normal” percentage, they’re in good shape. But benchmarks, while useful in certain cases, are often misleading when taken out of context. The dangers of misusing benchmarks In a similar conversation, we discussed the allocation of resources between maintaining day-to-day IT operations and fostering innovation. I told the client that most IT organizations, particularly mature ones, typically operate on a 60/40 split — 60% maintaining current systems and 40% driving innovation. Their response? “We’re at 40/60.” That’s when I pointed out that they’d just gone through a significant digital transformation. Their current focus on innovation made sense — right now. But I cautioned them that as their systems stabilized, that ratio would likely flip to the standard 60/40, as they focused more on refining and optimizing what they had built. So, if they defined 40/60 as success, when they inevitably flipped to 60/40, would that indicate failure? (Spoiler: No. Just a cycle.) These exchanges highlight a key issue: While benchmarks can provide helpful reference points, relying on them without context can lead to poor decision-making and misplaced confidence. The allure of the benchmark: Why companies ask In the fast-paced, high-pressure world of IT management, leaders are often asked to justify their decisions, spending, and strategic priorities to the business side of the organization. Executives and boards want hard data, and benchmarks offer an easy way to provide seemingly objective metrics. But here’s the challenge: Business leaders tend to look for quick comparisons. They want to know whether they’re spending too much or too little on IT and how they stack up against competitors. Under pressure, IT leaders often reach for the same easy comparisons — benchmarks that tell them how their spending or innovation stacks up. The problem is those benchmarks often don’t take the unique characteristics of the company into account. Whether it’s security spending or operations/innovation splits, generic benchmarks ignore the broader strategic context. Understanding why context matters Let’s break down why using benchmarks without considering the context can be misleading, starting with the example of security spending. It’s easy to say that 3-6% of an IT budget should be allocated to security. But what does that percentage actually represent? A company with a robust IT budget, with mature systems, cloud architecture, and automation, will likely be spending 3-6% on advanced security measures, including threat detection, real-time monitoring, and vulnerability management. But what if your IT budget is comparatively small? Your 3% spend on security might mean you can afford only basic firewall protection, patching systems, and outdated monitoring tools. In this case, the 3% benchmark means little because you’re not comparing apples to apples. The organization with a bigger IT budget can do far more with their security spend — even at the same percentage — because their overall IT investment is higher. Therefore, simply hitting the “right” percentage isn’t enough to ensure proper security posture. A broader view: Benchmarking for innovation and operations Similarly, in the case of IT innovation versus operational spending, a 60/40 split is a useful benchmark, but only for organizations that are in a stable, mature phase of their technology life cycle. For a company that just went through a digital transformation, like the client in my example, the ratio is going to skew toward innovation — likely closer to 40/60 or even 30/70. That’s not a problem because the organization is focused on building new capabilities. The issue arises when the leadership sees this 40/60 ratio and assumes they’re either behind or ahead of the industry based on a benchmark without understanding their unique situation. Inevitably, as the company stabilizes and refine its new systems, the balance will shift. Operations will require more resources, and the ratio will move toward the traditional 60/40. It’s a natural, cyclical process. How to use benchmarks effectively While benchmarks can be helpful, the key is to use them intelligently. Here are some guiding principles for ensuring that benchmarks are a tool for insight, rather than a distraction: Understand the strategic context: Before you reach for benchmarks, ask yourself: What phase is my organization in? Are you in the midst of a transformation, or are you operating in a steady-state environment? This will dramatically change how relevant any given benchmark is to you. Analyze your specific needs: Don’t just compare percentages — understand what’s behind the numbers. If you’re looking at security spend, don’t just aim for 3-6%. Instead, ask what capabilities your company needs to defend against its specific threats, and then calculate how much investment those capabilities require. Avoid one-size-fits-all comparisons: A company that’s undergoing rapid growth will spend more on innovation than a legacy company trying to maintain aging systems. Benchmarks for one organization may be completely meaningless for another. Use benchmarks to inform, not dictate: The best way to leverage benchmarks is as a tool to inform your decision-making. They should not dictate your strategy. Understand the “why” behind the numbers, and don’t be afraid to move away from the benchmark if your situation demands it. When benchmarks should be ignored Finally, there are times when benchmarks simply don’t matter. When facing business pressures to meet specific benchmarks, ask yourself: Is this number

By Phillip Bantz ( October 31, 2024, 6:15 PM EDT) — While working at the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division as a trial attorney and, later, deputy chief of the Counterespionage Section from 2007 to 2015, Deborah Curtis had trouble convincing federal agents and prosecutors to pursue criminal cases against companies suspected of violating U.S. export regulations…. Law360 is on it, so you are, too. A Law360 subscription puts you at the center of fast-moving legal issues, trends and developments so you can act with speed and confidence. Over 200 articles are published daily across more than 60 topics, industries, practice areas and jurisdictions. A Law360 subscription includes features such as Daily newsletters Expert analysis Mobile app Advanced search Judge information Real-time alerts 450K+ searchable archived articles And more! Experience Law360 today with a free 7-day trial. source

Microsoft Threat Intelligence has uncovered a new attack campaign by Russian threat actor Midnight Blizzard, targeting thousands of users across over 100 organizations. The attack leverages spear-phishing emails with RDP configuration files, allowing attackers to connect to and potentially compromise the targeted systems. The attack campaign targeted thousands of users in higher education, defense, non-governmental organizations, and government agencies. Dozens of countries have been impacted, particularly in the U.K., Europe, Australia, and Japan, which is consistent with previous Midnight Blizzard phishing campaigns. Phishing emails contained RDP configuration file In the latest Midnight Blizzard attack campaign, victims received highly targeted emails that used social engineering lures relating to Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and the concept of Zero Trust. According to Microsoft Threat Intelligence, the emails were sent using email addresses belonging to legitimate organizations, gathered by the threat actor during previous compromises. All emails contained a RDP configuration file, signed with a free LetsEncrypt certificate, that included several sensitive settings. When a user opened the file, an RDP connection would be established to an attacker-controlled system. The configuration of the established RDP connection would then allow the threat actor to collect information about the targeted system, such as files and folders, connected network drives, peripherals including printers, microphones, and smart cards. It would also enable the collection of clipboard data, web authentication using Windows Hello, passkeys and security keys, and even Point-of-Sale devices. Such a connection might also allow the threat actor to install malware on the targeted system or on mapped network share(s). Malicious remote connection. Image: Microsoft The outbound RDP connections were established to domains created to trick the target into believing they were AWS domains. Amazon, working with the Ukrainian CERT-UA on fighting the threat, immediately initiated the process of seizing affected domains to disrupt the operation. Meanwhile, Microsoft directly notified impacted customers that have been targeted or compromised. Must-read security coverage Midnight Blizzard has targeted various sectors in recent years According to a joint cybersecurity advisory, Midnight Blizzard, as well as threat actors APT29, Cozy Bear, and the Dukes, are associated with the Russian Federation Foreign Intelligence Service. Since at least 2021, Midnight Blizzard has routinely targeted U.S., European, and global entities in the Defense, Technology, and Finance sectors, pursuing cyberespionage purposes and enabling further cyber operations, including in support of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. SEE: How to Create an Effective Cybersecurity Awareness Program (TechRepublic Premium) In January 2024, the group targeted Microsoft and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, gaining access to email boxes of several employees. Following the incident, Microsoft stated that the cybercriminals were initially targeting email accounts for information related to Midnight Blizzard itself. Then, in March 2024, the threat actor reportedly adapted its tactics to target more cloud environments. According to Microsoft, Midnight Blizzard is one of the stealthiest cyberattackers. As a separate Microsoft report noted, the group had previously disabled the organization’s Endpoint Detection and Response solutions after a system reboot. They then waited quietly for a month for computers to reboot and took advantage of vulnerable computers that had not been patched. The threat actor is also highly technical, as it has been observed deploying MagicWeb, a malicious DLL placed on Active directory Federated Services servers to stay persistent and steal information. The tool also allows the Midnight Blizzard to generate tokens that allow it to bypass AD FS policies and sign in as any user. How to protect against Midnight Blizzard Several actions can be taken to protect from this threat: Outbound RDP connections to external or public networks should be forbidden or restricted. RDP files should be blocked from email clients or webmail. RDP files should be blocked from being executed by users. Multi-factor authentication must be enabled where possible. Phishing-resistant authentication methods should be deployed, such as using FIDO tokens. SMS-based MFA should not be used, as it may be bypassed by SIM-jacking attacks. Conditional Access Authentication Strength must be implemented to require phishing-resistant authentication. Additionally, Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) must be deployed to detect and block suspicious activity. Organizations should also consider deploying antiphishing and antivirus solutions to help detect and block the threat. Disclosure: I work for Trend Micro, but the views expressed in this article are mine. source

By Tom Lotshaw ( October 31, 2024, 1:30 PM EDT) — An accountability arm of the International Finance Corp. is encouraging it to bolster its methods to identify and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from financed projects, saying its current approaches are not fully up to date and limit its effectiveness in addressing global warming…. Law360 is on it, so you are, too. A Law360 subscription puts you at the center of fast-moving legal issues, trends and developments so you can act with speed and confidence. Over 200 articles are published daily across more than 60 topics, industries, practice areas and jurisdictions. A Law360 subscription includes features such as Daily newsletters Expert analysis Mobile app Advanced search Judge information Real-time alerts 450K+ searchable archived articles And more! Experience Law360 today with a free 7-day trial. source

A fixed VoIP number is directly associated with a physical address unlike a non-fixed VoIP number, which is tied to a user instead. Getting a fixed VoIP number generally costs more than a non-fixed number. That’s because your VoIP provider must verify your address and comply with local regulations. While the cost varies depending on your provider and package, you’ll likely pay a higher monthly rate for fixed VoIP services. When you can quickly get a non-fixed number that costs less and does much the same thing, why would you choose a fixed number? Let’s dig in. Six advantages with fixed VoIP 1. Increased trust Fixed VoIP is tied to a known location and significantly boosts your credibility for that reason. Criminals and sketchy businesses wouldn’t do that. Only someone that expects to be held accountable is going to make calls from a known location that’s been verified by a VoIP phone service provider. This is particularly critical when dealing with sectors where trust isn’t just a virtue but a necessity, like banking and financial services. Companies in those sectors often block non-fixed VoIP numbers for security or regulatory reasons. Fixed VoIP supports more accurate caller identification by associating each number with a specific, registered address. This makes it easier for clients and partners to confirm the origin of calls, reducing the chances of impersonation or spoofing caller ID — both are common fraud tactics. For potential clients, the physical tie of fixed VoIP to a specific location reinforces a company’s credibility. It signals that the business is established and accountable, which is especially reassuring in regulated industries where compliance, transparency, and security are critical. This added level of trust can enhance customer confidence, making them more likely to engage with a company they see as reliable and secure. 2. Enhanced security Anchoring fixed VoIP numbers to physical addresses makes it easier for callers to trace VoIP calls. It also makes calling more secure by warding off security threats and data breaches. If your business handles sensitive or confidential information, this kind of VoIP security isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a must-have. Non-fixed VoIP numbers can be accessed from any internet connection, increasing the risk of unauthorized access. Their mobility makes them more susceptible to hacking, especially if users connect over unsecured networks, like airports and coffee shops. With fixed VoIP, you don’t really open the door to these potential attacks. The fixed geographical location simplifies identity verification for fixed numbers and is much harder for scammers to exploit. 3. Simplified compliance Dealing with compliance issues can take up a lot of time. Fixed VoIP numbers make it easier to comply with various levels of regulation. Their fixed nature fits perfectly into frameworks that mandate reliable location data for emergency services and other legal requirements. This is especially useful when working with heavily regulated industries and where compliance with emergency services and legal requirements is non-negotiable. The ability to quickly meet these regulatory demands reduces the administrative burden on your team. It ensures you can serve clients without running into legal challenges, particularly those in sectors with strict compliance standards. 4. Professional image A fixed number conveys the idea of stability and establishment, which is critical for cultivating a professional image. Whether you are calling from a fixed or non-fixed number is captured in the call details records of a phone system and presented to users. The initial impression created by this information is encouraging (especially compared to just showing up as UNKNOWN or RESTRICTED), but it also helps build market authority and trust with clients or partners. It signals to the market that you’re not just a temporary setup but a serious, dedicated operation with a long-term vision. It may seem like I am overegging this, but getting a fixed line is a concrete way to show people that you are a real business that’s accountable. That matters. 5. Increased administrator control Fixed numbers give you more control over your caller ID and CNAM database updates. That means you can ensure that every outbound call you make accurately reflects your brand. That’s another key part of maintaining a professional image and ensuring your brand consistently aligns with your company values and core messaging. Non-fixed VoIP numbers often lack the same level of control and customization as fixed VoIP numbers. This used to be more true than it is today, where modern cloud PBX and business phone systems give administrators centralized control of fixed and non-fixed numbers. But there are usually other capabilities bundled into the service. Features like virtual meetings, online fax, and third-party integrations can easily mess up caller ID presentation and create call management issues. 6. Reliable emergency services In emergencies, every second counts and the ability to quickly locate the caller can be life-saving. A fixed VoIP number gives precise location information, which is mission-critical when lives are at stake. This accuracy ensures emergency response teams can be dispatched swiftly and efficiently to the caller’s location. With non-fixed VoIP, there is no location information to go on, which is going to delay the emergency response. Four drawbacks with fixed VoIP If it’s up to me, I am going to select a non-fixed VoIP number unless I absolutely need to get a fixed one. That’s because there are some significant drawbacks with fixed VoIP, and many of the benefits I outlined above aren’t as important when you are running remote companies and online businesses. 1. Higher costs A fixed VoIP number costs more than a non-fixed one. First, there are increased setup costs because your provider has to verify the physical address linked to your number. This verification isn’t just a formality. It’s a crucial step that ensures the credibility and reliability of your business communication. And vendors don’t do this for free. Monthly subscription rates tend to be higher for fixed VoIP numbers. That’s due to their premium features like enhanced security and the ability to easily integrate with local emergency services. If your business operations