How to Protect Your VoIP from Hackers?

The internet is as deadly as it is powerful. It allows technologies like VoIP to operate. But it also leaves businesses vulnerable to attack. Any system that is connected to the internet is susceptible to cyber assaults, and this is true for VoIP.

Small and medium-sized businesses have a tendency to rely on the same network for both internet traffic and VoIP. This allows them to save money. But it also gives hackers plenty of opportunities to infiltrate your system.

Cyber-attacks will vary. DDOS attacks are some of the most common. Designed to cripple your SIP Protocol, they can shut your entire system down, thus preventing you from making or receiving calls. Hackers can also use ID spoofing to gain vital information related to your business operations.

Along with toll fraud, cyber assaults are no joke. As a budding entrepreneur that wishes to take advantage of all the benefits VoIP has to offer, you are encouraged to make network security your top priority, using methods such as the following to protect your system from invasion:

Passwords

Most people make use of their IP phones, routers, switches and the like without changing the default passwords. They do this because it is more convenient. No one wants to remember a long and complicated password.

They want to know that they can access their system by simply typing ‘Admin’. However, that leaves your system vulnerable to attack because anyone can bypass your security by simply Googling default passwords.

Believe it or not, all the default passwords are available for everyone to see on the internet. By failing to create a strong password, you are basically leaving the door to your VoIP system wide open for any hacker to enter.

Encryption

If a hacker cannot infiltrate your system, they will simply intercept your VoIP calls during transmission, stealing the information they want and exposing your business to considerable harm.

This is why every IT expert you meet encourages business owners to ensure that their VoIP calls are sufficiently encrypted. This isn’t difficult. Most devices you encounter today have mechanisms that will encrypt your transmissions with the simple click of a button.

In most cases, you do not require the services of an IT expert to engage the security systems that are already present within your hardware and software.

VPN

Virtual Private Networks can provide an extra layer of encryption. Not only do they hide you from prying eyes but will also keep your connections to remote workers secure by creating a safe passage in a public network through which data can be transmitted securely.

Testing

Don’t leave anything to chance. Don’t assume that your system is secure simply because you have engaged all the necessary encryption tools. Find IT professionals that can test your network to identify any backdoors and vulnerabilities you might have missed.

It is so much easier to deploy countermeasures against potential attacks if you know your system’s weaknesses.

Training

As a business owner, your employees are the biggest threat to your VoIP System’s security. All the firewalls in the world won’t make a difference if your workers keep losing their passwords and downloading malware to their computers.

Organise a training session that can teach them all they need to know about VoIP security and the part they can play in making sure that hackers do not gain access to your system.

Need help? At voiper, we value your security and provide the best VoIP experience. Simply reach out to any of our trusted agents and get the help you need today!