Over the past few years VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) has become a growing trend for most businesses due to its advantages regarding costs, speed, and flexibility. Companies have adopted VoIP when conducting interviews or holding online conferences. Regardless of its efficiency, however, VoIP is still susceptible to security breaches and data theft. An attacker can record business conversations and have them decrypted to obtain crucial business or personal information. Read on to find out more about precautions you can take to protect your VoIP system from unwanted audiences.
Encryptions and Passwords
In most cases your VoIP system might not be using any encryption to protect the conversation from prying eyes and ears. It is prudent to set up encryption that will ensure privacy and repel third parties from eavesdropping on your calls. An attacker would have to break encryptions in order to listen in.
Keep in mind that strong passwords will decrease the risk of the call being intercepted. Once you start using VoIP, immediately change the default password to a strong one. For security purposes, if you’re an administrator you should never use default passwords.
Review your Hosted Services
Many VoIP service applications run on commercial server operating systems from an external party. Ask the host provider about which services are enabled and which are disabled. You should only enable the ones you need. Treat this with the same care as you would normally devote to encryptions and password security.
VoIP Firewalls and Security Layers
Deploying a firewall specially designed for VoIP traffic can help protect your system. The firewall limits types of traffic and closes the session once the call disconnects, therefore shutting down the gates to possible abuses. It also identifies unusual calling patterns and watches out for signs of attack.
But using a firewall alone is not enough. Applying security layers around the server is a way to improve authentication and add protection when users exchange messages. Consider adding endpoint security as an additional layer for authorization by blocking devices until they pass security checks.
Implement Strict Security with Users
Security matters in the workplace, and employees shouldn’t take it lightly. Establish ground rules when using VoIP. Assign each user with appropriate access in a restrictive manner, depending on their needs. Ask users to report any abnormal signs of threats. Also, be on the lookout for strange activities within your VoIP system and try to familiarize users with the techniques data thieves use to attack VoIP connections.
Concerned about your VoIP security status? Get in touch with us and see how we can help.