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Sending voice communications over the data connection by way of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a great way to streamline operations and reduce the cost of this important business function. At the same time, it can open the business up to specific risks that are often overlooked in propaganda supporting the move to VoIP. Voice peering, however, can directly address these risks to ensure VoIP can deliver on its intended benefits.

A recent press release featured a warning from On Hold Company’s CEO Bryan Wilson. He stressed that unexpected problems with service can occur when companies drop their landline phone service in favor of VoIP. Understanding the reliability and security issues is critical to a successful VoIP deployment and long-term operation.

What kind of problems can the small business experience when using VoIP? Poor call quality is one, if the connection is not sound (no pun intended) and traffic is not properly managed across the network. The connection can also be vulnerable to hacking and if a problem occurs with the IP PBX (News - Alert), the server or the power connection, the business can lose the ability to make and receive calls.

VoIP providers promise a stellar experience, but they aren’t regulated to the same standards as the traditional telephone service. If a provider goes out of business, the company served can be left holding a dead line. It’s not just doomsday warnings – it can happen. Norvergence closed its doors without notice in 2004 and left customers without Internet or phone service. These customers had been lured in with the promise of one solution for one low price. While that’s not a red flag as a rule, it can take the place of due diligence when vetting a vendor and lead to bad decisions.

To help avoid such a situation, business owners need to do their homework and pay attention to call quality, security and the availability of backup systems when a power outage occurs. If a vendor is connected to the Voice Peering Fabric (VPF), they leverage an economical traffic exchange environment that allows for direct connections so as to avoid public telephone networks, the public Internet and any other unnecessary relays or delays.

Voice peering directly affects the total VoIP experience by protecting the business or the user from Denial of Service (DoS) attacks or an intentional flooding of what seems like legitimate requests to overwhelm the hardware and software responsible for supporting the telephone service. It also protects against Phreaking or hackers stealing user credentials to intercept the service and let the user pay for it.

VoIP users can also be vulnerable to Vishing (News - Alert) or the VoIP version of phishing, and Man-in-the-Middle attacks where VoIP calls are hacked and rerouted to another server. Call tampering results in poor call quality and spam via audio messaging are both added risks associated with VoIP use. When voice peering is put in place, however, these risks are thwarted and the user can experience the benefits promised with a VoIP connection.