‍ In August 2005, during Hurricane Katrina in the US, emergency responders and national leaders struggled to react effectively due to incompatible military communication systems. Similar issues were observed during NATO’s 2023 Coalition Warrior Interoperability Exercise, where senior military and civilian leaders identified the operational challenges posed by incompatible military communication systems among allied forces.

‍ In November 2024, a ransomware attack on Blue Yonder, a supply chain software provider for Starbucks, disrupted the company's scheduling and payment systems across its 11,000 North American stores. Managers were forced to revert to pen and paper to track employee hours and process payroll. Implementing out of band communication solutions can mitigate such risks for enterprises by providing secure, independent channels for coordination during crises.

‍ IBM reports that effective communication during cyber attacks and IT incidents can significantly reduce resolution time and enhance incident management. For instance, companies can use out-of-band management (OOBM) solutions to access a secure, dedicated network infrastructure for seamless collaboration. Secure collaboration tools focused on OOBM are necessary to help employees, customers, and leaders stay on the same page.

‍ Critical IT incidents demand swift and reliable communication. Yet, conventional communication channels often rely on the same infrastructure under attack. This vulnerability was starkly illustrated by the 2024 CrowdStrike incident, where a faulty software upgrade triggered a global IT outage, costing businesses an estimated $5.4 billion. The incident exposed a critical flaw: relying on "in band" communication for incident response.

‍ Communication systems are the backbone of defense operations, keeping decision-makers and personnel connected to ensure missions run smoothly and don't fall apart. According to the second annual State of Military Communications study, 97% of military personnel experience connectivity loss at some point.

As we step into the new year, we’re excited to introduce updates that enhance your workspace security, increase team productivity, and make the work of Rocket.Chat admins easier and more streamlined. Let’s dive into the latest updates that will help you stay organized and connected like never before.

‍‍ Public services and innovation in government are entering a new era of speed and satisfaction, thanks to the power of AI. A good example of this transformation is the tax chatbot by the Internal Revenue Service, which assists taxpayers with filing their tax returns. Since its implementation, it has led to a 30% reduction in calls to the IRS helpline.

‍ In December 2022, Rackspace Technology, a managed cloud services provider, experienced a ransomware attack that locked hosted Microsoft Exchange accounts for 30,000 customers. While the company quickly made decisive changes post-incident and advised customers to migrate to Microsoft 365, the breach could have been prevented with thorough planning and emergency management.

‍ Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has dramatically surged in growth, especially in business and workplace communication. The need for affordable, efficient, and scalable communication drives this growth. The rise in remote work has also made traditional phone systems obsolete, expensive, and rigid. G2 reports suggest that 24% of software buyers still have POTS (plain old telephone service), compared to 36% who invested in VoIP.

‍ Did you know that Estonia’s e-Government initiative helped save the country about 2% of its GDP annually? Such successful digital transformation in government initiatives helped reduce bureaucratic processes, streamline services, and more. Unfortunately, many countries still face challenges with outdated government software and digital systems. These put taxpayers at risk, which impedes service delivery, citizen trust, and transparency.