You’ve taken the leap – you’ve implemented VoIP as your communication strategy because you’ve heard and believed in the benefits it can provide. But there’s one challenge that still needs your attention – security. VoIP monitoring is a critical step to ensure you get the most value out of the implementation, protect your investments and keep your network running as it should.
The reality is that VoIP is a gateway into your network. It’s also a magnet for fraudulent activity when it isn’t managed effectively. For instance, did you know hackers target VoIP? The main goal is generally to gain control of the VoIP network or simply illegal access in order to get around tolls charges and take advantage of free long distance service.
Such hacking isn’t generally about just free perks. In many a case, the hackers sell the access they gained through illegal means and reap all of the profits with none of the cost. It’s the perfect money-making opportunity, especially when it takes a little while to be discovered. Hackers get comfortable with one hack, while looking for others. Without VoIP monitoring, companies don’t know about it until they receive an out of control bill and ask the provider to investigate.
Even if you’ve taken the precautions against hacking, you’re still relying on the public Internet to route your calling traffic. This always makes it less secure than the traditional landline simply because the traffic is not encrypted. It can also affect the quality of the voice call when the allotted bandwidth isn’t enough to support the traffic across the voice network or the connection isn’t reliable enough to ensure consistency.
VoIP is a technology that often requires updates and upgrades when new advancements and capabilities are available. This often means patching the VoIP system. For many a provider, this is done through patching through the endpoints. When this isn’t done correctly or without enhanced security, it makes the endpoint the perfect target for hackers. As they’re already looking for a way in, the goal should be to layer security at vulnerable points so as to prevent successful attacks.
The point is, VoIP is not a perfect technology as it’s constantly improving. As such, it needs the same attention as any other dynamic technology you rely on to keep your business running. Fortunately, you don’t have to know the ins and outs of VoIP to protect your connection, your network and your bottom line. VoIP monitoring can help do that for you, keeping track of your network and connections and alerting you each time something does go wrong.
Edited by Rory J. Thompson