How to Keep Away from VoIP Security Threats: A Quick Guide

VoIP phone systems are becoming exceptionally popular in the current business world for the ease and savings they offer in business communication. The benefits of these phone systems have been propagated everywhere making traditional telephony nearly redundant. Though VoIP has significantly simplified and upgraded the way business communication takes place today, it brings along with it, critical security concerns for organizations.

Security is a continual concern that comes with any phone system as the cost of data breaches increases by the day. According to IBM the global average cost of a data breach in 2019 was USD 3.92 million. Whatever the size of your organization, a breach of data through your VoIP service can be devastating

5 Major VoIP Security Threats

Few industries are as vulnerable to cyberattacks as the healthcare, finance, or the energy industries. It is crucial to identify and understand the different VoIP security issues that could affect your industry before you can fight them. Here are 5 primary threats your company could be facing.

Denial of Service Attack

This attack shuts down the VoIP network making it inaccessible to the users. The attack takes place when an intruder floods the target with traffic or by sending information that triggers a crash. Denial of Service attacks often target sites or services hosted on high-profile web servers such as banks or credit card payment gateways and are mostly motivated by revenge, blackmail, or activism.

War Dialling

Through war dialling, hackers use various kinds of technologies to automatically dial several phone numbers to find weak spots in an IT security architecture. This security breach allows hackers to use war dialling software to look for unprotected modems.

Toll Fraud

Through toll fraud, hackers get access to your phone systems to make calls to an outside line and can dial expensive international numbers that lead to exorbitant toll charges.

Phishing

This is one of the most popular cybercrimes in which the hacker poses as a legitimate institution to persuade individuals into providing sensitive data like personally identifiable information, banking, and credit card details, and passwords.

Call Interception

Through call interception, attackers can use unsecured networks to intercept calls and as a result, get access to live calls or even video calls on your VoIP system.

4 VoIP Security Practices to Avert Hacking

Vulnerabilities in your wholesale VoIP carrier service can be expensive and excessively damaging to your business. Bringing awareness and taking proactive steps towards shoring up your defenses can prevent your business from becoming a victim of cyberattacks.

Here are 4 best VoIP security practices to prevent your phone systems from getting hacked

Implement a Strong Password Policy

It is crucial to secure your VoIP phone systems with strong passwords to protect your business against cyberattacks. Using a combination of letters, numbers, and non-alphanumeric can help. You can also add an extra layer of protection through two-factor authentication.

Monitor Your Call Logs  

Call logs are not just important for sales purposes. By examining your call logs you can determine unusual calling trends. Businesses can set up a dashboard using a call analytics feature to monitor call volume on a weekly and monthly basis.

Set up a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

With the help of VPNs, you can encrypt all traffic regardless of where your employee works. VPN providers like Sophos and Cisco use endpoint filtering to block your employees’ network from accessing sites that could download malware. This reduces the risk of personnel accidentally visiting a website that compromises your phone system security.

Choose the Right VoIP Provider

A weak VoIP provider can make it easier for attackers to hack into your phone systems and get access to sensitive information. The right VoIP provider would:

• Communicate their commitments towards the network’s security and the countermeasures they have in place
• Explain how to convey vulnerabilities that you encounter
• Provide a plan of action if a hack takes place
• Have accreditations that demonstrate the service provider is updated on security

VoIP Hacks Can Be Prevented

Though wholesale VoIP services are more reliable and advanced than traditional telephony, you need extra security features to guarantee that your phone system is secured as everything is stored in the cloud. The smallest security hole can expose your data to attackers, who can misuse sensitive information against your business and customers.

BridgeVoice Pluto’s inbound VoIP service allows businesses to build, customize, launch, and manage comprehensive VoIP solutions with ease. It provides several important features that include voicemail, conference calling, automated greetings, and call logs that help businesses save on high infrastructural costs.

Harshita Kapoor

Harshita is a Content Writer at Panamax. Inc. MBA in HR & Marketing, she found her calling in Content Writing. In a short span of 2 years, she has explored writing in different styles of content like Coffee table books, website content and for media. In her time of leisure, she finds happiness in binge watching classics & practicing yoga.