Is VoIP Secure?

Businesses thinking about moving over to VoIP are hesitant for several reasons. One of the biggest reasons, however, is concerns about whether or not VoIP is secure. Businesses make and receive confidential phone calls all the time, with bank details among some of the sensitive data users share. It’s no wonder potential users want to know VoIP is secure by moving over a VoIP telephone system.

So, is VoIP secure? Yes, VoIP can be secure. In fact, VoIP can be more secure than traditional telephony. However, depending upon your provider’s set up and your own, some VoIP calls may be more secure than others.

In the right business setup, VoIP is at least as secure as traditional telephony. As I said, it may be more so. However, how secure your VoIP system and VoIP calls are depends on several factors. In this blog post, I’m going to explain how you can make sure your VoIP telephone system is secure and therefore protect your business and its data.

Is Your VoIP Telephone System Secure?

The security of your VoIP telephone system really comes down to how its set up. If your VoIP telephone system has been set up with security in mind, it’s likely more secure than a traditional telephone system would be. On the other hand, if your provider hasn’t put any thought into security, your system may not be as secure as you’d like.

To ascertain whether your VoIP telephone system is secure or not, there are several things to consider.

What Security Protocols Does Your Provider Have In Place?

If you are using a cloud-based telephone system, security starts with your provider. That’s why we need to consider what, if any, security protocols your provider has in place.

Unfortunately, some VoIP providers do not put any suitable security protocols in place. This could leave your data at risk, as there’s no security in place to prevent hackers from stealing and using it.

To ensure some semblance of security, you need to choose a provider that takes security seriously. A provider that actively ensures the security of its software and cloud platforms. This is particularly important with VoIP systems that will be used by businesses. While choosing a provider with adequate security protocols won’t ensure your system and calls are secure, it’s a starting point.

Is Your Own Network Secure?

The security protocols that your provider have in place only go so far towards ensuring a VoIP system and VoIP calls are secure. You must ensure that your own network is secure if you want your VoIP solutions to be safe from hackers.

Your VoIP telephone system will harness the power of your network to make and receive calls. If your network isn’t secure, your VoIP calls won’t be either. Even using a secure provider will mean nothing if your own network isn’t protected sufficiently. Fortunately, a good VoIP provider will help you to ensure that your network is as secure as possible as they set up your VoIP telephone system for you.

Here are a few quick pointers for network security:

  • Ensure any data you send is encrypted
  • Ensure only authorised personnel can see and use the physical elements of your network
  • Put a robust user security plan into place that your team abides by
  • Regularly check for firmware updates on devices making and receiving calls

VoIP providers will often help you to make sure your network security is watertight. However, sometimes this service can incur an extra charge and you may wish to ensure the security of your network without help from your provider.

Jack Mitchell

Jack Mitchell has been the Operations manager at telecoms and MSP Optionbox for more than 4 years. He has played a crucial role in the company, from marketing to helpdesk, and ensures that the IT requirements of over 300 clients are continuously met. With his innate passion for technology and troubleshooting and a particular interest in Apple products, Jack now delivers the most comprehensive tech guides to make your life easier. You can connect with Jack on LinkedIn.

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