The Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) market is growing robustly. In seeking VoIP services, though, many business owners have questions — often about VoIP security.
Future Market Insights predicts the corporate consumer segment of the market will grow to 204.8 billion subscribers by 2020, accounting for US $86.20 billion in revenue.
So, is VoIP secure? In evaluating business VoIP service providers, corporate consumers must consider many factors. For reassurance about the strength of VoIP services security, ClarityTel recommends posing these five easy questions to the potential provider’s sales team.
Is VoIP Secure?
1. “How does your VoIP service protect against a Denial of Service (DoS) attack?”
A DoS attack floods hacked computers with data requests, and it isn’t pretty. A reliable VoIP service provider will use firewalls, redundant servers, and rigorous monitoring to prevent their servers from such an attack.
2. “How do you test for vulnerabilities?”
One reason to select a hosted VoIP phone system solution is to have someone else monitoring security. Find a service provider that has its own in-house security team that does research and is current on the latest security specialist reports. Confirm also that the VOIP firmware and software will be regularly updated.
3. “How does the provider comply with regulatory guidelines?”
VoIP service providers should be using accredited and authenticated security certificates for their VPN gateways. A business owner might ask for the trusted certificate authority before making a purchasing decision.
The provider ought to also be using strong encryption algorithms approved by regulatory authorities. Be sure to check the VoIP service provider’s compliance with guidelines in your specific industry vertical as well.
4. “How will you minimize downtime in the event of a system failure?”
Regrettably, there are issues that can cause system problems — such as severe weather, unexpected influx of traffic, or hacker attacks. What you need to know is what the VoIP service provider is doing now to be ready to get you back to business as quickly as possible (without sacrificing security). Redundant servers and consistent network upgrades are among the attributes your provider should be talking about.
5. “Are there additional security measures in place?”
The service provider should be thinking proactively about vulnerabilities and evaluating risks. Keep the service provider on its toes by demanding ongoing attention to system availability and reliability.
VoIP technologies are always evolving. So too are the security threats. VoIP business phone systems can help businesses reduce costs and increase efficiency, yet select a provider who stays abreast of the latest in security and keeps your business phone system safe.