Comprehensive Microsoft Teams Solutions

Microsoft Teams Consulting Services

EPC Group offers expert Microsoft Teams consulting for deployment, governance, security, and adoption. We tailor Teams for various sectors, including:

• Healthcare (HIPAA)
• Education (FERPA)
• Enterprise clients

Our governance frameworks help prevent Teams sprawl and ensure compliance with audit requirements. With Microsoft experience since 1997, we specialize in Teams Phone, Copilot integration, and compliance architecture.

Key facts

• Services: Teams deployment, governance, security, training, Teams Phone, Copilot integration, and 24/7 support.
• Industry coverage: Healthcare (HIPAA), education (FERPA), government (FedRAMP), financial services (SOC 2), enterprise.
• Teams Phone pricing: Standard $8/user/mo · Domestic Plan $15/user/mo (3,000 minutes included).
• EPC Group: Microsoft consulting since 1997. 11,000+ enterprise engagements.
• Microsoft Solutions Partner — core designations.
• Contact: (888) 381-9725 · contact@epcgroup.net

Teams Deployment and Migration

EPC Group manages Teams deployments from small businesses to Fortune 500 enterprises. Our deployment services include:

• Greenfield deployment — new Teams tenant configuration from scratch. User provisioning, policies, and app catalog setup.
• Migration from Skype for Business — phased migration with hybrid mode, coexistence policies, and zero-downtime cutover.
• Tenant-to-tenant migration — move Teams data, channels, and chat history during mergers and acquisitions.
• Teams Rooms deployment — Surface Hub, Teams Rooms on Windows, and Poly/Logitech hardware configuration.
• Windows Autopilot — zero-touch provisioning for Teams-certified devices.

Teams Governance Framework

Without governance, Teams sprawls. EPC Group implements governance frameworks that give IT control without slowing down users.

Our governance frameworks cover:

• Team creation policies — restrict who can create teams. Add approval workflows for enterprise environments.
• Naming conventions — enforce consistent team names using Azure AD naming policies.
• Lifecycle management — set expiration policies (90/180/365 days). Archive inactive teams automatically.
• External sharing controls — manage guest access and external federation by domain.
• Guest access policies — require MFA for guests. Apply Conditional Access for guest devices.
• Retention settings — apply Purview retention policies to Teams messages and files.
• Copilot governance — control which users can access Teams Copilot and what data it can reference.

Teams Security and Compliance

EPC Group configures Teams security to satisfy HIPAA, SOC 2, FedRAMP, and CMMC requirements.

• Conditional Access — require compliant or managed devices before accessing Teams.
• DLP policies — block PHI, PII, or financial data from being shared in Teams chats or channels.
• Communication Compliance — monitor Teams messages for regulatory violations.
• Information Barriers — prevent communication between defined user groups (required for financial services and regulated government).
• Legal hold and eDiscovery — preserve Teams messages for litigation holds via Microsoft Purview.
• Sensitivity labels — apply classification labels to Teams and restrict guest access by label.

Teams Phone System

Teams Phone replaces traditional PBX and PSTN systems. EPC Group designs and deploys Teams Phone for enterprise voice requirements.

• Teams Phone Standard — $8/user/month. Outbound calling via Microsoft Calling Plans.
• Teams Phone with Calling Plan Domestic — $15/user/month. Includes 3,000 outbound minutes per user per month.
• Operator Connect — keep your existing carrier (BT, Verizon, Lumen) while integrating natively with Teams.
• Direct Routing — connect any SIP-compatible carrier to Teams via a certified Session Border Controller.

Teams Copilot and AI Integration

Copilot for Teams summarizes meetings, generates action items, and answers questions about your Teams conversations. EPC Group deploys Teams Copilot with:

• Copilot for Microsoft 365 license deployment ($30/user/month add-on).
• Data governance prerequisites — sensitivity labels and Purview DLP before Copilot go-live.
• Meeting transcript retention policy configuration.
• User training and adoption programs to maximize Copilot usage rates.

Teams for Industry

Healthcare

• HIPAA-compliant Teams configuration: BAA with Microsoft, PHI-safe channel policies, DLP for PHI.
• Teams for clinical communications: secure messaging, virtual visits, and care coordination.
• Walkie Talkie app for frontline healthcare workers on managed mobile devices.

Education

• Teams for Education: virtual classrooms, Assignments, Class Notebook, and Learning Accelerators.
• FERPA-compliant configuration: student data policies, supervised chat, and parent communication.
• Faculty and student Teams governance with age-appropriate access controls.

Enterprise

• Large-scale Teams deployments for 10,000+ users with phased rollout and change management.
• Hybrid work configuration: Teams Rooms, hotdesking, and remote-first meeting equity policies.
• Microsoft 365 Copilot governance layered on top of existing Teams deployment.

EPC Group Credentials

• Founded 1997. Microsoft consulting since 1997. 11,000+ enterprise engagements.
• Microsoft Solutions Partner — core designations (fewer than 200 partners globally).
• Microsoft Gold Partner (2000–2022) (oldest continuous in North America).
• Compliance: HIPAA, SOC 2, FedRAMP, CMMC, FERPA, GDPR.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Microsoft Teams consulting include?

EPC Group provides comprehensive services for the Teams stack. Our offerings include:

• Deployment or migration
• Governance framework design
• Security and compliance configuration
• Teams Phone system setup
• Copilot integration
• User training
• 24/7 managed support

We specifically configure Teams for regulated industries such as healthcare, education, and government.

How long does a Teams deployment take?

Small Teams deployments, which involve fewer than 500 users and do not include Teams Phone, typically take 4 to 6 weeks.

Mid-size deployments, covering 500 to 5,000 users and including Teams Phone, generally require 8 to 12 weeks.

Enterprise deployments, for over 5,000 users with multi-site support, Copilot, and compliance, usually take 12 to 20 weeks. These projects involve a phased rollout and change management.

Can EPC Group migrate from Skype for Business to Teams?

EPC Group assists in migrating Skype for Business Online and on-premises Skype deployments to Teams. We establish coexistence mode with the following options:

• Islands
• SfBOnly
• TeamsOnly

Our team oversees the cutover process to guarantee a smooth transition without disruption.

Skype for Business Online was retired in 2021. Any remaining on-premises Skype deployments should migrate now.

Is Teams HIPAA-compliant?

Teams can be set up to meet HIPAA compliance. Microsoft offers a BAA for Teams. However, achieving HIPAA compliance needs careful configuration. This includes:

• DLP policies for PHI
• Appropriate retention settings
• Conditional Access for managed devices
• Restricted guest access

EPC Group configures Teams for healthcare clients to meet HIPAA requirements.

What does Teams Phone cost?

Teams Phone Standard costs $8 per user each month for outbound calling.

Teams Phone with Calling Plan Domestic is $15 per user each month. It provides 3,000 outbound minutes per user.

Operator Connect and Direct Routing utilize your current carrier without any extra Microsoft license fees. Please note that hardware, such as Teams Rooms and headsets, is an additional cost.

How does Copilot work in Teams?

Copilot for Teams summarizes meeting transcripts, lists action items, and answers questions about meeting content.

To use Copilot for Microsoft 365, you must have the add-on. It costs $30 per user per month, in addition to the E3 or E5 plan. You also need to enable meeting transcription.

EPC Group sets up the necessary governance requirements before Copilot is activated. This includes:

• Sensitivity labels
• DLP policies

Schedule a Teams Consultation

Talk to an EPC Group Teams architect about your deployment, migration, or governance project. Call (888) 381-9725 or request a 30-minute discovery call.