Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is changing the way small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) communicate. That’s why many SMBs are now switching to this affordable yet feature-rich phone system. But before you decide to invest, make sure your VoIP distributor is a reputable one.

Highly trained technical support

A good VoIP distributor will provide some technical support before and after the sale. But a great VoIP distributor will offer highly skilled, well-trained, and certified support. Make sure your distributor’s IT team has been trained on the latest advances in VoIP technology, and has obtained the appropriate certifications.

Provisioning capabilities

Provisioning means providing service to the user. This includes configuring the hardware and software so they work properly. Ask your potential distributor how many stations and ports they have available, and whether or not they offer custom provisioning packages.

API services

Check whether your VoIP distributor offers advanced Application Program Interface (API) services. An API is a set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software applications that specify how software components should interact. It helps streamline your ordering process and ensures your hardware will arrive correctly provisioned on your service platform.

Training programs

Before committing to any VoIP distributor, be sure to check their educational resources. How often do they offer webinars on new products? Do they provide training and educational materials on their websites and product portals? And check whether your VoIP distributor is willing to create custom training materials for you and your customers.

A VoIP distributor that offers a complete suite of telephony services helps you overcome your business's phone service obstacles and lets you better serve your customers. For more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

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Eavesdropping has recently been making headlines, but this form of cyberattack has been around for years. Cybercriminals have been listening in on VoIP phone calls since the tech was introduced to the market, and they show no sign of stopping their malicious activities anytime soon. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to combat VoIP eavesdroppers.

Change the default configurations

Using your VoIP phones without changing the default configurations can be the worst mistake you can make. Doing so means bad guys can search vendor documentation for things like default usernames and passwords. Depending on your VoIP solution, you should have the option of changing the default configurations on your VoIP handsets. Otherwise, you should come up with a manual process to change default configurations before rolling phones out to your staff.

Get updates from your handset vendor

In 2015, Cisco detected vulnerabilities in their VoIP phones that enabled attackers to listen in on phone conversations. Cisco quickly issued security alerts, but if they hadn’t, several companies would have fallen victim to VoIP eavesdropping. The lesson here is you must regularly monitor advisories from your hardware vendor or work with an IT provider that does so for you. Without proper monitoring, you won’t know how susceptible your corporate VoIP phones are to being eavesdropped.

Update session border controllers

Another way to combat VoIP eavesdropping is to constantly update your session border controllers (SBCs). By doing so, you’ll be updating your VoIP’s antivirus software, so your systems are better protected from constantly evolving cyberthreats. Routine SBC updates are essential for securing SIP trunking as well as responding to new threats.

Encrypt VoIP calls

If you work in a regulated industry like healthcare or finance, encrypting VoIP calls is essential to staying compliant. Work with your VoIP provider and auditors to determine the best encryption options for your communications infrastructure. Many cloud VoIP providers offer call encryption guidelines, and some even offer it as a premium service.

Build a hardened VoIP network

Make sure your VoIP network includes:

• IP private branch exchange (PBX) using minimal services, so that the hardware can only power the PBX software
• Firewalls with access control lists set to include call control information
• Lightweight Directory Access Protocol lookup, and signaling and management protocol
  Reinforced endpoint security with authentication at the endpoint level

To effectively combat VoIP eavesdropping, businesses need to take a holistic approach. This includes policies, deployment, and security practices that will keep malicious agents out of your network. Feel free to contact us for further information on how to protect your business.

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Now that VoIP is becoming the common means of collaboration among SMBs, it’s time to start securing your networks from threats against them. Without a thorough knowledge of how VoIP works, companies cannot easily perceive their vulnerability to attacks. Read on for tips to protect your web-based communication devices and services.

Since the majority of VoIP services involve live communications, people might think that it’s safer than stored data, which can be stolen at any time. What companies don’t realize is that valuable information moves across VoIP networks the same way sensitive documents are shared via email. In some cases, internet-based calls are more vulnerable to fraud, identity theft, eavesdropping, intentional disruption of service, and even financial loss.

24/7 monitoring

VoIP security breaches usually take place outside operating hours. Attackers make phone calls using private accounts or access call records with confidential information on the sly. Contracting outsourced IT vendors to monitor network traffic for any abnormalities is the best way to avoid these security breaches.

VoIP firewalls

Firewalls specifically designed for IP-based telephony curb the types of traffic that are allowed into your network. They ensure that every connection is properly terminated at the end of a session and identify suspicious calling patterns. Virtually every VoIP vendor provides these protocols, but you should always consult with your IT services provider as to how these protocols will be managed within your organization.

Encryption tools

Due to lack of encryption, VoIP systems can be easily broken into by even inexperienced hackers, who can download and deploy tools to eavesdrop or intercept your calls. Some services claim to have built-in encryption, but companies still need to be vigilant and investigate how effective they are.

Using encryption ensures that even if hackers successfully download individual audio or video, they still can’t decode the file unless they have a separate decryption key.

Virtual private network

Virtual private networks or VPNs create a secure connection between two points, as if they are occupying the same closed network. It’s like building a secret tunnel between you and the call receiver. Aside from encryption, establishing a VPN can help overcome complications involving Session Initiation Protocol trunking, a recommended VoIP feature.

Password protection

Using passwords to authenticate your access to private information is not as secure as it once was. Hackers can easily find or guess a password and use it for cyberattacks. This is why protecting the passwords themselves is a great layer of protection against threats.

Employees should be instructed never to give any compromising information during a VoIP call, as eavesdropping is one of the easiest and most common cyberattacks against VoIP networks.

VoIP is as important as any of your other network security considerations. It requires a unique combination of protection measures, and we’d love to give you advice on these. Give us a call today to get started.

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Is your company losing money because of bad communication? Don’t suffer in silence! Read on to discover how unified communications (UC) can save your business.

Companies in the United States and the United Kingdom have lost a total of $37 billion because of poor communication, according to The Holmes Report, the voice of the global public relations industry. The report added that the losses are caused mainly by employee misunderstanding, resulting in errors of omission and misinformation. 

Poor communication is definitely bad for business, more so if it is caused by disruptions in technology. Unsent emails, lost calls, and internet outages can leave clients and employees confused and disoriented. This, in turn, can disrupt the normal operations and daily activities of a company. 

Reliable technology

To prevent communication hiccups from happening, organizations must utilize reliable technology services so employees can remain productive and connected. This is where UC solutions come in. 

UC is a platform that centralizes disparate communication methods to streamline how you connect with clients and employees. It combines several tools like the phone, voicemail, email, fax, instant messaging, and video conferencing into a single system so they can all work together. 

With UC, you can receive phone calls through a computer, forward them to a mobile phone, and organize call, email, and SMS histories by recipient rather than viewing each separately. As long as the messages travel through the internet, UC can organize them. 

By doing so, everyone involved in the business process  — from bosses and employees to vendors, customers, and other business associates or partners — can get the same information and communicate effectively.

Bigger scope

Most UC systems turn to VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol to power their voice component. This uses the internet to make voice calls, the same way that laptops, computers, and internet-connected devices do. While VoIP services may have some UC features, the latter is wider in scope and unites everything into a single interface. 

Since UC puts everything under one roof, this brings down costs and makes employees more efficient and productive. They can telecommute, hold meetings, and talk to clients wherever they are without wasting time and energy in traffic. This results in better customer service and more profits.    

If you want to learn more about UC and how it can help your business, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We are ready to serve you!

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