VoIP Security - How Secure Are Your Calls ?
By: sacha Tarkovsky
The move to Voice over Internet Protocol (or VoIP) has grown in popularity so to have the security issues that surround VoIP systems. Security issues are now a major concern of companies thinking about changing to a VoIP system.
Vunerability to attack
VoIP is internet based and this creates the problem of being open to all the attacks that are associated with this method of communication.
It opens up the telephone network to attacks from hackers, who could infiltrate and listen to phone conversations and steal confidential data, and Spammers have the opportunity to target a system with denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. Before making the move to VoIP, companies need to thoroughly acquaint themselves with the security issues surrounding this new technology and plan protection in advance.
VoIP networks are vulnerable to exactly the same security risks as traditional IP data networks and voIP security needs to be at the same level to secure a VoIP system.
Protecting VoIP Systems
It is recommended that organizations should adopt a multi layer comprehensive security strategy. The network can be segmented into secure zones protected by layers of firewall, intrusion prevention should be added, as well as other layers of security.
Although there is no such thing as a secure IP network, a company can secure the network itself by putting in place layers of security to protect telephones, conversations, computers, and servers.
Set up specific personnel for authentication (encryption), control access (passwords and firewalls), encrypt data sent for privacy, and finally, employ call software to establish a trail of calls of employees and create internal accountability.
Don't forget internal Security
A loophole in security that many companies ignore is internal traffic flowing over a VoIP system.
It is critical this is addressed as well. An increasing number of workers use voIP to communicate with company staff from wireless phones or soft phones and this creates a security problem internally.
It is a sensible precaution to encrypt voIP traffic moving internally over a corporate network to prevent attacks from insiders.
Beware of this loophole in security
The use of desktop-based soft phones to make and receive VOIP-based telephone calls can create a hole in firewall security that of course can be exploited by unscrupulous employees. The best way to address this problem as we have said, is to restrict access to the network.
In addition, make sure all inbound VOIP traffic that flows through a firewall is routed through a gateway server, thus eliminating a direct connection to the Internet and all the security issues this entails.
Peace of Mind With VoIP System.
Many corporate users are discouraged from using VoIP systems as they feel they are not secure however, this is like saying it is not safe to use a computer on the internet.
Securing VoIP systems is like securing any IP network. Just as you would look to set up protection on your PC including virus software, firewalls etc so you need to protect a VoIP system in a similar fashion. VoIP can and is secure, providing adequate steps are taken.
Security is a network issue as well
Security is not a server issue it's a network issue and companies can achieve peace of mind by placing security measures in place to make their VoIP system just as they do an IP network.
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