Secure Your VoIP System from Cyber Threats
What type of communication system do you have for your business?
I asked, because most businesses of any size in modern times have transitioned to the Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). This tech allows employees to use their voice calls without any internet connection.
It’s usually a good decision because using VoIP brings many advantages to a business.
VoIP’s advantages include lower operating costs, greater convenience than traditional services, higher accessibility, increased scalability, and multitasking ability. It also includes features for teams of any size, is wholly portable, and provides better voice quality.
But VoIP systems are not without limits and the top downside of VoIP is cyberattacks.
The upside is that a business’s VoIP system can be secured from hackers. And if you’ve already done this in your business, there is still time to lock it down.
Read on to discover the most common threats to your network and tips on preventing them.
The Need for VoIP Protection
VoIP systems need a stable Internet connection to work efficiently. Sadly, their dependency on the web exposes them to several security problems.
Here are some of the most common ones:
Security Issue #1. Denial of Service
A standard threat for VoIP environments is the Denial of Service (DoS), a class of attacks seeking to bring down a machine or network, rendering it unavailable for any use.
When this occurs legitimate users of VoIP technology may find themselves unable to access their information systems and devices. And that call centers can lag behind, in call quality, uptime and latency.
Security Issue #2. War Dialling
War dialing is an attack that used the company’s private branch exchange (PBX) to scan for other telephone networks. This allows hackers to dial numbers and connect to modems and other extensions.
Security Issue #3. Toll Fraud
Toll fraud is a threat that involves calls to outside lines from a business’s current system.
Hackers, for example, will call expensive international numbers in hopes of running up toll charges to your company.
Security Issue #4. Phishing
A common threat is when criminals send fake messages to deceive the victims into providing sensitive data. The unwitting victims often share passwords, internal IP networks, and other such data.
Security Issue #5. Malware
It’s a cybersecurity threat in which attackers remotely install malicious software through email or phone. A network delivers a file or code with the aim of infecting, stealing, or probing a system’s data.
After infecting the system with malware, VoIP hackers can enter your network and access sensitive business information.
Security Issue #6. Call Interception
The call interception attacker intercepts the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) used to establish, maintain, and terminate real-time voice and video sessions over unsecured networks.
One insidious attack type, call interception, leads the target to a different line hosted by the offender, potentially giving them access to sensitive data, audio, and video.
6 Tips for Boosting VoIP Security
Considering the number of threats that attackers subject VoIP systems to, it’s highly recommended that you overcome your VoIP security as soon as possible.
So, here are 6 great tips to kick you off.
Tip #1. Set Up a Firewall
All VoIP networks should implement secure firewalls. Make sure your VoIP software and hardware firewalls scan the information being transmitted and received and that it is secure.
Improves Security Against Hacks: If spam or a threat comes your way, the firewall will detect it, not allow control over it, and keep your system shielded from the attack.
A decent firewall will let the data packets you send go through unimpeded.
Tip #2. Use Strong Passwords
Your VoIP system is no different from any other software or platform you use for handling sensitive information. For this reason, it should be protected by strong passwords that are regularly updated.
Use combinations of at least 12 characters—the more, the better—with numbers, upper and lowercase letters, and special symbols. For maximum protection, use passwords that are a series of random characters.
You must ensure that a password is provided when you set up your VoIP system. Otherwise, you will probably forget it.
Keep in mind that some VoIP phones ship with default passwords, which can sometimes be found online. Therefore, you should change yours as soon as possible.
Try to update your passwords every three months if possible.
Tip #3. Restrict Calling
Most VoIP attacks occur because of toll fraud. Thus if your business is local, there is no reason for the international call option to be active. This keeps you secure and out of receiving costly bills that you weren’t even responsible for generating.
You can ask your VoIP service to block 1-900 numbers to prevent toll fraud.
Tip #4. Encourage Your Team to Report Suspicious Behaviour
Half or even more VoIP attacks occur due to human error caused by negligence. To avoid this, you must make sure you train your team to recognize and report unusual behavior on the network and to manage their passwords correctly so as not to compromise the security of the company’s systems.
They should also report ghost calls and missing voicemails when they are received. Staff should also not keep voicemails for long.
However, cybersecurity training during onboarding sometimes doesn’t cut it. Therefore, you need to perform periodic training to secure your VoIP.
Tip #5. Deactivate Web Interface Use
If possible, you should disable the web interface being used for your VoIP system.
Why?
Picking up a phone at the desktop computer creates a vulnerability attackers can exploit. That’s all it takes when a single phone user falls prey — if the whole system is vulnerable, the door is open for an outside party.
As a consequence, all your data can be stolen in text form. So, unless you really, really have to use the web interface, make sure to lock it down super-tight.
Tip #6. Use a VPN for Remote Workers
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are perfect software that creates an encrypted traffic tunnel irrespective of your employee’s location.
You can create such a network for your remote staff to prevent data leaks and breaches. The bright side is that this service doesn’t affect the quality of calls.
How to Choose a Secure VoIP Provider
Choosing an appropriate and secure VoIP provider is crucial to protecting your business communications. A trusted supplier must provide strong security features such as end-to-end security, multi-factor validation and regular security updates.
You must check that their affiliates comply with health standards and certificates required to avoid misuse of your data. You should also check their reputation, uptime guarantees, and customer support responsiveness.
A good provider not only focuses on call quality and reliability but also puts money and effort into implementing advanced security protocols. With this selection, VoIP partner secures your business from risks associated with cyber threats, rendering secure & seamless communication.
Evaluate Security Features and Protocols
Look for a provider that uses robust security protocols (SRTP encryption, TLS, and multi-factor authentication). These features keep your VoIP calls and data safe from interception, unauthorized access and cyberattacks.
Check Compliance and Certifications
If your industry requires compliance with HIPAA, GDPR, or PCI-DSS, ensure that the VoIP provider complies with those standards. Certifications highlight their commitment to safety and compliance with cybersecurity best practices.
Review Provider’s Reputation and Support
Check information on provider’s uptime, services reliability, and support. A reputable VoIP provider should have round-the-clock customer support, quick tickets and resolution time, and few customers having poor feedback about service quality and security.
This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.
