Now comes the moment of truth. Are you ready to replace your old PBX telephone system for Internet Protocol telephony (IPT) system that could take your business into the next decade?

respond competitively to the demands of both customers and partners. But the best way to make the switch is to develop a detailed battle plan, for both the short and long term.

A method called "planning, design, implementation, operations and optimization," sometimes known as PDIO, is a widely accepted procedure that typically ensures the smoothest, most efficient path to IPT deployment. By following the PDIO methodology, you can ensure that your converged network solutions will be successful and cost-effective throughout their life cycle.

Note: You will want to work with a consultant, a reseller or an IPT equipment vendor who is familiar with this process. Be sure, however, that your implementation partner is trained and certified as a solution provider by the manufacturer of the IPT equipment.

Here is an outline of the four steps to follow.

1. Planning

In the first PDIO stage, you will conduct an infrastructure assessment to ensure that your network will support IPT applications, that new applications will be compatible with existing systems/devices, and that your new IPT system will perform as planned. As you perform your assessment, you should:

• Make sure to include all network elements in the plan, including hardware, software, IPT security, IP addressing, links and cabling, power and existing network services.

• Analyze your legacy PBX data and current network utilization to understand potential performance issues and requirements.

With proper planning, you will vastly speed up your PBX-to-IPT conversion, slash the risk of IPT application downtime, boost the resiliency of the network, identify the resources you'll need for successful implementation, and align the IPT network with your business requirements.

2. Design

Once the assessment is done, you'll move on to IPT network design. You may already have a certain design in mind. However, you should consider several different design alternatives before making a decision. During the design planning process, keep in mind such critical factors as:

• Security, redundancy, scalability and integration with existing Information Technology systems.

• The number of phones needed and the features you want, including dial plans, voice mail, auto attendant, unified messaging, emergency services and so on.

• Local-area network/wide-area network design and integration, Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory integration and analog phone/fax/modem integration requirements.

By considering these factors, you'll help ensure that your ultimate design accommodates all users' requirements, provides end-to-end Quality of Service and reduces management costs.

3. Implementation

An implementation plan is vital in the PDIO process, because it helps ensure that your deployment delivers all its desired functionality. It also helps to minimize migration issues, streamline the deployment process, reduce telephony service disruptions, and ensure that all the critical elements are in proper working order.

This plan should include any associated network staging and ready-for-use plans. Acceptance testing also is necessary for a smooth implementation. Please note, though, that the time devoted to acceptance testing must be reasonable — not so long as to delay migration, but not so short as to risk missing issues.

4. Operations and Optimization

Finally, it's time to undertake the last two PDIO stages: operations and optimization planning.

Operations planning protects your networking investment and provides your staff with the ability to avoid problems, expedite problem-solving, and maximize your network's usefulness. Optimization planning helps your network deliver the best possible performance, decreasing network issues, and reducing long-term costs.

The PDIO process will simplify network expansion, ensure the quality of the network and its applications, focus staffing and training needs, facilitate problem-solving and lower the total cost of ownership.