When it comes to VoIP phone systems, the most common issue among IT executives is security. Questions about the safety of VoIP often arise, and we will teach you how to keep your SIP-based phone system private in this article.
VoIP phone systems may pose security concerns, despite the cost reductions and several features. Business executives must be confident that their cloud-based phone system is secure.
A foolproof phone system does not exist. Every day, new security flaws get discovered, making security a shifting target. Whatever the case may be, you must harden your phone system.
What is VoIP and Why is it Beneficial to Your Company?
Instead of utilizing traditional phone lines, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology allows users to make and receive calls via the internet. VoIP, often known as an internet phone system, transforms the sound of your voice into a digital signal that can get transferred over the internet like any other data.
Many entrepreneurs, startups, and small firms utilize VoIP services since they usually come with more features and are less expensive than traditional business phone services. Since they provide more functions than just calling, internet business phone systems are good business phones. Caller ID, call forwarding, call management, voicemail, call waiting, conferencing, video conversations, and other capabilities are available with these services. Unlike a traditional phone system, you will not have to pay anything for these functions.
Why is VoIP Security Important for Businesses?
Every business requires a high level of security. It makes no difference if you work for a huge corporation or a small firm. A failure of your phone system would be nothing short of disastrous.
VoIP is no exception. VoIP’s lower prices entice a company owner. But, when left alone, an attacker would love to take advantage of your VoIP network.
However, VoIP security has been stronger over time. Even after two decades of penetration testing, it has held up. Even though the type of security threats continues to develop, VoIP service providers are highly safe.
So, here are the three main security features you should look for when choosing a VoIP provider:
Multi-Factor Authentication
Like other internet applications, VoIP equipment and software are vulnerable to viruses, worms, and malware. Softphones use a PDA and PC application to communicate. As a result, a malicious code attack is possible.
Like many network devices you can manage via a web interface, VoIP phones have a default password that you should change for better security. The phone’s default login is generally admin/admin, and you should change it the first time you log in.
Default credentials can usually be obtained with a quick Google search and seldom use a strong password, even though these differ by model and manufacturer.
Applying the same standards to both desk phones and the online interface if your company has a credential management policy is a good idea. A good credential management policy, which includes expiration and complexity criteria, is essential for successful security credential management. It’s also great to encourage staff to change their passwords regularly.
Some providers offer their users multi-factor authentication, which allows you to check that all users have successfully enabled the functionality on the web dashboard.
Geo-Fencing and Disabled International Calling
On the internet, some will commit tax fraud in the form of using VoIP systems to make international calls that would dump costs on your account. It is terrible enough to have your system or network hacked but racking up charges for calls you are unaware of adds salt to the injury. Geo-fencing also works on network firewalls and email servers to block connections to countries with a high risk of hacking.
Encryption of Phone Calls
VoIP calls work through wireless networks. The sound quality of the calls improves, and the VoIP experience as well in the process. WiFi networks, however, are a soft target for skilled hackers. WiFi hotspots in public places are particularly susceptible.
It’s called ‘vishing‘ when a caller pretends to be from a reliable agency and requests personal information. These criminals typically have data about you, which helps their ‘credibility.’ As a result, you may feel more comfortable disclosing personal data. If you are not careful, you risk losing important data, embarrassment, or even identity theft of any person involved in the call.
Voice packets within AVX Cloud are encoded in SRTP (Secure Real-Time Protocol) when the call starts, and someone starts speaking. It protects against packet sniffing by ensuring encryption, message authentication, integrity, and replay protection. Overall, VoIP conversations are safer and more secure than calls made over a traditional phone network, and they have crystal-clear audio quality.
Why Should Your Business Use VoIP?
Switching to VoIP has several advantages. Let us look at them one by one.
Cost
The idea of investing money in VoIP for business switching turns many company owners off at first. However, most studies suggest that moving to VoIP will save you money, regardless of the significance of the company.
The savings for small and mid-sized enterprises can be as high as 45 percent. Larger businesses could anticipate even larger savings.
Long-distance and international phone calls are also cheaper for businesses that use VoIP.
For those businesses that still use fax services, VoIP phone systems enable separate lines for faxing, eliminating the need to buy or operate a fax machine.
Scalability
The one denominator among companies is the constant ups and downs. When business is slow, it is critical to consider cost-cutting and labor-saving measures.
And when things are going well and your company is expanding rapidly, you will need a system that can keep up. Without being complex, using VoIP for your plan allows you to grow and cut back precisely how and when you need to.
Outstanding Features
Businesses of any size can use a VoIP system. Voicemail to email, auto attendant, phone forwarding, and conference calls are just a few of the services available to your staff.
VoIP systems can help in improving staff productivity. Not to mention, VoIP through AVX Cloud is also simple to teach to an organization and integrate a whole new system.
Convenience
It is easy to add and change features to your VoIP system. It is also simple to use. You will discover that your VoIP system works well wherever you go, whether at work or on the road.
It is not difficult to train your staff, and it will not take up a lot of time. Your system may be up and operating in a matter of hours. It’s as simple as dialing a phone number.
The next thing to do now is educating them on how to use the VOIP system’s different capabilities. The transition would be easier once you know the capabilities of the system.
Choosing a Safe VoIP Service Provider
Your VoIP system’s security gets determined by its installation and adherence to security protocols.
Check to see if it complies with security regulations, just like any other provider. These will differ depending on your industry and demands. Asking your provider the following questions is the best approach to start your investigation:
- Do you have any required accreditations?
- Are there any third-party software or tools that you utilize?
- How do you handle security breaches?
- How do you train and retrain your employees?
- Do you provide call encryption using TLS and SRTP?
Accreditations
After you have answered the given questions, look into your specific VoIP needs. The following are the most necessary certificates or accreditations to remember:
HIPAA Compliance
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires healthcare providers to keep patient information safe. Their phone systems, including voicemail and call records, are likewise subject to these laws. You must set VoIP servers to ensure patient privacy.
ISO/IEC 20071
This international standard defines how companies analyze and respond to security risks. It denotes that the company has put in place stringent information security procedures.
PCI Compliance
If you take credit cards, you must comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) if you accept credit cards. Updates to the operating system are required, as are secured VLANs. Penetration testing against your organization’s IP addresses is also needed. Payment data security is a given in e-commerce. You risk increased transaction costs and fines if your VoIP solution isn’t PCI-compliant.
SOC 2 Compliance
The Service Organization Control (SOC) compliance is a set of procedures that ensures consumer confidence. Five areas are flexible, unlike other standards: privacy, security, availability, and data integrity. Many respected SaaS firms and cloud-based services meet SOC 2 compliance.
AVX Cloud is the Full-Featured VoIP Business Phone System for You
All employees, contractors, and others must agree on the procedures and policies regarding security. All parties must understand and abide by particular security procedures to prevent any liabilities.
Providing excellent service to a growing number of clients, AVX Cloud is a business phone system supplier headquartered in New Jersey. AVX Cloud provides your company with a top-notch phone system, so you do not have to bother with any of the complexities of implementing VoIP. They provide entirely cloud-based solutions, eliminating the need for equipment maintenance and costs and providing the highest level of security.
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