VoIP has proven its resilience over the last decade. Having evolved with the Internet since its inception, VoIP has only gotten better and more efficient with time, helping businesses to communicate more effectively and for a lot less money. Yet despite all the good things that come with VoIP, some IT executives are becoming more aware of the possible security risks associated with VoIP implementation.
The concerns stem from companies that have offered their workforces the ability to work remotely. When VoIP is managed and centralized from one location, security is not at the top of the list of concerns, but a spread-out workforce means that IT execs need to do some checking on vulnerabilities.
“People may want to be able to change settings on the phone from home, but that needs to be secured. That’s the next generation that’s coming,” said Ned Zecevic, vice-president of information systems at Canaccord, according to Canadian IT News. “In that case, you need to talk more about security and make sure your network is set up to handle it. And you have to make sure if you’re at home and have Wi-Fi on, to make sure it’s hidden, that no one can see those kinds of things.”
VoIP is especially susceptible to fraud because of its inherent relationship to high-speed Internet connections. The Internet offers hackers both an easier point of entry than a traditional landline-based phone as well as the possibility to sell more minutes.
While protection from VoIP fraud has improved significantly through the years, hackers are still at large and they are constantly coming up with new schemes and angles to break-in and wreak havoc. That is why it is up to businesses and enterprises to protect their VoIP borders in addition to their data networks.
Businesses should ensure all manufacturer default passwords for system administration are changed promptly, using lengthy and complex alphanumeric passwords. In addition to secure passwords, organizations should set and enforce standards for complex passwords for voice message mailboxes. Require periodic password resets for these mailboxes. Regularly check for default passwords in end-user mailboxes. If there are old employee logins, they should be removed immediately.
VoIP is a complex technology and this complexity can lead to all types of vulnerabilities. But taking the proper precautions and using a few simple solutions will ensure that VoIP security is easy to monitor so that businesses can continue using it for all of its afforded benefits.