VOIP Security – Do It Yourself

VOIP is a great technology. Many internet experts say that it has the potential to kill even the large telecoms, close the gap in the third world’s communications, and even bring international business to a new day.

Predictions are that as early as 2009, VOIP will be the standard form of telecommunications. Providers are coming on board on a regular basis, and the subscriber base continues to grow.

What aren’t being hyped when it comes to VOIP are the security threats that are looming on the horizon.

VOIP, like all other data networks is susceptible to the usual attacks – viruses, spam, phishing, hacking attempts, DoS attacks, lost and stolen data, toll fraud, and eavesdropping. The security risks go on and on.

The difference is that the VOIP industry has not been aggressive at protecting itself. Instead of waiting for others to step up the security, here are a few suggestions for getting started today:

1. Restrict all VOIP data to one Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN)
2. Monitor and track traffic patterns on your VOIP network
3. Lock down your VOIP servers
4. Use multiple layers of encryption
5. Build redundancy into VOIP networks
6. Put your equipment behind firewalls
7. Update patches regularly
8. Keep your network away from the Internet

There are more security measures that can be take for VOIP, but these are a good start. Eventually the industry will take on the security itself. Until that day, VOIP consumers have to be prepared themselves.