No matter how big or small your business is, you need to ensure that all your sensitive information and data remain secure. There are many types of business technology. One such technology is VoIP or Voice over IP. This refers to the way calls will be made over the internet instead of using a traditional telephone wire or line.
VoIP is extremely convenient, especially for the businessman who is constantly on the go. They will be able to make calls using the internet, from any place they will be at the time. However, accompanying all the conveniences of VoIP, many have also spotted some possible problems with this communication tool.
VoIP: Risks to Security and How to Work Around Them
1 – Denial-of-Service Attacks
Attackers use this strategy to send phony and bogus user requests in the hopes of using up all the bandwidth of your resource. The overloaded resource will not be able to support all the requests and will shut down when it is overburdened.
The effect of this will be on the quality of the calls. The phones themselves will not shut down, however, the audio quality of the calls will greatly be affected. This deteriorates the customer experience that your callers and customers will have with you.
What You Can Do:
One effective way to stop a denial-of-service attack is to separate data from voice communications. You may also use a VPN to encrypt all the data securely. While these may seem like expensive steps to take, they will enable your business operations to continue running smoothly.
2 – Service Theft
Security breaches have happened in the past and cybercriminals are getting more and more creative with the way they steal information. The same can happen with VoIP services. Hackers can break into your phone system, steal confidential and sensitive information, and leave you to pay the price.
What You Can Do:
To prevent any billing information and other sensitive data from being stolen, it pays to regularly update your passwords and make them strong each time you change them. Updating your software to all the latest versions will also help prevent this type of breach.
3 – Man in the Middle Attacks
These are attacks that usually take more time and effort to pull off. Hackers may spend months doing research on how an organization’s phone system works before they start hacking. These attacks are also referred to as phishing scams, where employees or clients are misled into entering sensitive information and passwords into a fake system.
What You Can Do:
Warn your employees and customers about this type of scheme and tell them that they should not input their information without making sure that the website is legitimate.
Conclusion
While there are many threats to security out there, keeping a watchful eye on anything that seems out of the ordinary will help you catch hackers and thieves before they are able to pull off their scam. Also, finding the right technology and VoIP software will help you prevent cyberattacks.
Looking for an IT consulting service to help you set everything up correctly? We’re here to help! Get in touch with us today to schedule a free consultation.