As more organisations make the transition to Microsoft Teams for communication and collaboration, they often encounter an unexpected challenge: their existing intercom and paging systems no longer integrate with the new platform. UC Advanced spoke to Radboud Heinink, Managing Director at CyberTwice to understand the issues and remedies that are available for MSPs to assist their customers.
The issue is more common than you think. Many businesses discover that their SIP video intercoms, IP paging systems, or even SIP-enabled cameras have become disconnected from their Teams environment, creating unforeseen security concerns. In some cases, clients turn to costly solutions to maintain control over their security equipment, complicating what should have been a straightforward upgrade.
With Cybergate, users can receive video intercom calls directly in Teams, on most devices: desktop, mobile, or desk phone, and enjoy live, two-way, video and audio for visitor verification. This is especially beneficial for businesses with high visitor traffic, as it ensures that intercom calls can be answered without relying solely on a “live” receptionist. Cybergate allows users to remotely open doors from their Teams UI and communicate with IP Speakers and IP Paging Adapters.
Real Use Cases
Recently, at a local school, the IT technician faced unexpected challenges after migrating the communication system to Microsoft Teams. The school had just invested in a new range of SIP video intercoms to control access to their buildings. However, once Teams became the standard platform, they discovered the intercoms could no longer integrate directly.
To keep things running, they were forced to purchase expensive third-party hardware to bridge the gap, which added unnecessary complexity and an unbudgeted maintenance cost. In the end, they switched to CyberGate, which allowed them to connect their existing SIP intercoms directly to MS Teams without any extra hardware or software. Had they chosen CyberGate from the start, they would have avoided the extra expenses and hassle altogether.
Another customer CyberGate recently helped was at a logistics warehouse. The staff were struggling with managing the main gate whilst staying on top of their daily work. Delivery drivers often had to wait unnecessarily long before someone could walk to the intercom panel to grant access. With CyberGate, the site manager configured the SIP video intercom and IP Speakers to connect directly to Microsoft Teams. Now, whenever someone rings the intercom at the gate, the call pops up in the Teams app – whether on desktop or mobile. Relevant staff can speak directly to the visitor and remotely open the gate without leaving their desk. In addition, urgent announcements can be broadcast instantly to all warehouse zones through IP Speakers, simply from Teams.
Incident Responses
Cybergate has been very useful in cases of incidents. The AI sensor powered IP Camera’s connect and stream instantly to Teams, enabling users to gather evidence and report on the incident, as all triggered events can be recorded and analysed afterwards. CyberGate is the only transactable solution available on Microsoft AppSource and Azure Marketplace for this use case.
CyberTwice will launch the Digital Assistant in a few months. With the digital assistant on intercoms, an AI-powered receptionist can automatically greet visitors and start a conversation through Microsoft Teams. It identifies the visitor, collects relevant information, and forwards the request to the right Teams user or department. Staff can then choose to speak, see, or open the door – all from within Teams. It’s a smart, scalable way to handle access control without needing someone physically present, and reduces workload on front-desk employees while improving visitor experience and response time.
Offering more than Peace of Mind
CyberGate is an Azure based SaaS solution that seamlessly connects SIP-based intercoms, paging systems and camera’s directly to Microsoft Teams. MSPs and ISPs will be able to:
- Extend Teams functionality for their customers:
Help customers extend the use of Microsoft Teams beyond meetings and chat, into physical infrastructure like SIP intercoms, IP paging and surveillance systems. - Eliminate hardware complexity:
No need for Session Border Controllers, on-prem gateways, or third-party VoIP integrations. Everything runs as a native cloud-based solution within Microsoft Azure. - Offer fully cloud-managed access control & communication:
Remotely deploy, manage, and troubleshoot connected SIP devices – from door intercoms to paging systems – using a centralised management portal. - Upsell new services:
Bundle CyberGate with Microsoft 365 licenses and Teams deployments, and offer a complete, modern workplace solution that includes physical access, security, and emergency communication. - Expand into verticals with security/compliance needs:
CyberGate opens doors (literally and figuratively) in sectors like education, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, and public safety – markets that rely on access control and paging.
Radboud Heinink, Managing Director at CyberTwice, has additional advice for MSPs
It depends on where the customer is in their digital journey. For organisations already using Microsoft Teams alongside an existing intercom, paging, or IP camera system, the next step is to assess integration gaps and replace legacy components with a Teams-native solution like CyberGate.
If the customer is still considering Microsoft Teams as their UCC platform of choice, MSPs can step in early by performing a systems audit and advising on how to integrate SIP-based devices directly into Teams. This not only avoids future rework but maximises ROI on their Microsoft investments. By guiding this transition, MSPs help ensure streamlined communication, improved access control, and a safer environment for both employees and visitors.
