In today’s digital age, technological advancement is happening at a fast pace. New technological innovations are shaping how we live in our day-to-day life. With technological advancement, it brings security concerns as well.
Voice over Internet Protocol is such an evolution of technology that has emerged to substitute traditional phone lines by providing numerous benefits such as cost saving, flexibility, scalability, and advanced features.
However, like other technologies, it is also vulnerable to security threats. VoIP security is really significant to protect your sensitive data and personal information. But, how can you secure data in a VoIP system?
Worry no more, this article will cover everything about VoIP security and how you can safeguard your calls in today’s digital age. You will learn the basic term, what VoIP is to best practices to implement VoIP security. So, read till the end to know everything about VoIP security.
What is VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a voice communication system that utilizes Internet connectivity to transmit your voice. Sometimes it is called IP telephony, internet calling, or voice-over network.
VoIP technology allows you to make and receive phone calls using a broadband internet connection instead of a traditional telephone line. In VoIP calling, human voice signals are converted to digital data that can be transmitted over the Internet.
Unlike traditional phone systems, modern VoIP allows users to make and receive calls without limiting their physical location. A user can connect with another user with just an internet connection, no matter if they are entirely located in the opposite part of the world. WhatsApp, Skype, and Viber are some popular examples of VoIP apps.
Why is VoIP Security Important?
There are many reasons why VoIP security is important. Firstly, it protects your sensitive information from unauthorized access, giving you confidentiality in your voice communication. You can communicate confidently, knowing your data is being protected and there is no risk of data breaching.
Furthermore, Voice over Internet Protocol security protects against cyber attacks like Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, preventing downtime. You don’t need to worry about cyber security threats like phishing, spyware, password attacks, and brute force attacks.
Common VoIP Security Threats
Voice over Internet Protocol offers numerous advantages, but it also carries some security threats. Hackers and cybercriminals hack the virtual phone system to access information and calls. Here are some common VoIP security risks you need to be aware of.
Eavesdropping
Eavesdropping is the act of secretly listening to the conversation of others without their permission. In eavesdropping, hackers steal information by taking advantage of an unsecured internet connection in which traffic is not encrypted. If you use open and weak VoIP networks, you are more likely to be caught in eavesdropping.
Eavesdropping can result in great financial loss for businesses as cyber attackers can access the company’s sensitive data and passwords. They can use the data to sell it to third parties without letting the company know that their data is being stolen.
Identity Theft
In the VoIP system, identity theft happens when an unauthorized person steals your personal information to commit fraud. There are several forms of identity theft such as social security identity theft, medical identity theft, and child identity theft but the most common one is financial identity theft.
Identity thieves use the information of other people to destroy and damage their credit ratings. They try to pay their bills with the owed information. Victims of identity theft won’t know until they receive messages or calls from creditors related to their credit scores.
Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks on VoIP Networks
Denial of Service attackers attempt to make the VoIP system inaccessible by overfilling it with traffic and requests. The attacker makes the system’s normal functioning unstable so that the user can’t access the system.
Normally, there are two types of DoS attacks, one is buffer flow attacks and the other one is flood attacks. Buffer flow attacks consume all the available memory to make the system slow, and flood attacks fill the server with an overwhelming amount of packets, both resulting in the denial of service.
Malware and Phishing Attacks
Malware and phishing attacks are one of the biggest threats to the security of VoIP networks. Malware is a software program that damages and gives access to an unauthorized user, decreases the quality of the internet, and consumes the network bandwidth. It will result in making it easier for hackers to access your call and important information.
Phishing, also known as Vishing, attempts to steal users’ data by leading them to a set of actions. The scammer acts as a trusted entity to trick users to open an email or text message, then leading them to click a malicious link. This way a scammer lead you to install malware or virus, making the system reveal sensitive information.
Strategies for VoIP Security
VoIP has some security threats, but you don’t need to worry about it because you can control and minimize the risks by implementing different strategies. If you just follow some simple strategy, you are less likely to be the victim of security threats. Some of the strategies to get the utmost Voice over Internet Protocol security are given below.
Encryption
Encrypting VoIP calls is the best way to secure your sensitive information. Encryption protects your data by transforming voice data into an unreadable format. So, your calls and information are secured from unauthorized users. Hackers can’t use the encrypted data even if they manage to access the calls.
You can use encryption tools like Zimmermann Real-Time Protocol (ZRTP) and Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol (SRTP) to encrypt your VoIP calls.
Implementing Strong Authentication Mechanisms
You can implement strong authentication mechanisms in your VoIP to safeguard the system. Strong authentication is a technique to incorporate two independent factors to verify someone’s identity and access. If both of the factors are not met or true, you can’t access the system, assuring extreme safety.
You can use one-time passwords (OTPs), in which verification codes are sent to your phone system before logging in. You also can add security questions as an additional authentication factor.
Network Segmentation and Traffic Monitoring
Network segmentation divides a network into multiple subnets, in which each network acts as its own small network. This helps network security personnel prevent unauthorized users from accessing personal and company valuable information. It also helps to boost performance, improve monitoring, and mainly enhance security.
Traffic monitoring is another way to enhance VoIP security. You can study the incoming and outgoing traffic of the VoIP network to track network problems and use the information to improve quality and security. There are many traffic monitoring tools available to help you do it such as SolarWinds, NetFlow, and ThousandEyes.
Regular Software Updates and Patch Management
Regularly updating the VoIP system ensures your system is aligned with the latest security patches. Your system is less likely to corrupt or get hacked if you apply updates to drivers and softwares. A system that is well-managed with up-to-date patches provides high security and works better.
VoIP Security Best Practices
To get top-notch VoIP security you need to follow some best practices including, choosing a reputable VoIP service provider, implementing usage policies, and establishing a backup plan to recover lost data. These practices ensure your VoIP system does not get hacked and provide seamless communication. By following the given practices, you can get exceptional Voice over Internet Protocol security.
Choosing reputable VoIP service providers: There are numerous VoIP service providers in the market. You must choose a reputable provider that provides the latest and most robust security measures for your system. You can research different factors such as their years of experience, track record, encryption protocols, and security features.
Knowledge about VoIP security risks and precautions: You need to be aware of common security risks such as phishing, eavesdropping, spyware, call hijacking, password attacks, and brute force attacks. You must know basic ways to identify suspicious activities and use unique passwords and two-factor authentication for VoIP accounts.
Establishing VoIP usage policies within organizations: Implement Voice over-network usage policies within your organization like password requirements, guidelines for accessing VoIP services, and rules for managing sensitive information within VoIP calls. Regularly communicate these policies with your employees to ensure everyone is following the policies.
Backing up and disaster recovery planning for VoIP systems: Data is significant for every organization and protecting it is equally important. So, you must set up backup plans to help restore your system in case of loss and system failure. Make a disaster recovery plan that includes steps to quickly recover VoIP data.
Conclusion
In conclusion, VoIP security is a prominent measure to safeguard your personal data and company details. Eavesdropping, identity theft, denial of service attacks, and malware and phishing attacks are the common security threats in VoIP systems you need to be aware of.
If you follow some fundamental strategies, you can defend the potential security risks and get outstanding security. You can implement encryption, strong authentication mechanisms, and network segmentation, and regularly update the system to ensure excellent security.