News & Updates

  • VoIP Security has to be layered

VoIP Security: Use a layered approach to ensure it

Nowadays the Private Security Industry in South Africa is thriving. Homeowners and Businesses alike are signing up for sophisticated systems to protect their assets.  Most people are taking a layered approach to their security, such as electric fences, CCTV solutions and armed response. Similarly to the Security Industry, the deployment of VoIP solutions has also greatly increased. Unfortunately, some of the key factors that make VoIP so attractive have also become it’s Achilles heel. VoIP allows for flexibility and accessibility and as such can expose it to misuse by criminal elements.  It is for this reason that it has become increasingly important to consider VoIP security to prevent financial losses.

Imagine you are at a restaurant; a stranger walks up to your table, grabs your mobile phone and starts making calls all over the world. After a few minutes, they put your phone back down on the table and walk away. Not only has a complete stranger depleted your airtime; you’ll also have to pay for the calls that they have made. This scenario might seem exaggerated as it’s highly unlikely anyone would just sit back and let this happen. However, in reality with VoIP and other related Internet-based services, it’s a common occurrence. As much as we are security conscious in other aspects of our lives, VoIP and network security it’s often overlooked. The consequence of this oversight could have serious financial implications.

A Layered approach to VoIP Security is Essential

Just like you treat your home or business’s physical security VoIP security needs a layered approach.  Here are a few suggestions we would recommend implementing to assist in mitigating against a VoIP security breach:

  • Securing your network and restrict access to the LAN (network) from the internet. This involves strict Firewall rules which will deny unauthorised traffic from entering your network. Furthermore, ensure that the destination NAT (dstnat)  is very strict. Also, ensure that common ports are not used if you have remote access to your VoIP devices.
  • Services such as API, FTP, ssh, telnet, HTTP and winbox should be customised not to be accessible via their traditional ports. If not in use disable them. In addition, it’s advisable not to use traditional ports like 80, 22, 23 and so forth. These ports are easily identifiable and have well-known usernames and passwords.
  • We would strongly advise that you read the following forums if you run MikroTik within your network: Forum 1, Forum 2 and Forum 3. Most importantly, ensure that you are running the latest MikroTik firmware, older versions have a number of vulnerabilities.
  • Disable SIP ALG on your router or modem. This setting not only affects SIP signalling which can cause issues such as one-way voice. It also makes a VoIP device easily identifiable from the internet. If a VoIP device responds to a port scan it makes it easier to identify on the internet. This is how perpetrators can identify the type of device on-site and how easy they can compromise it.

Ensure that your PBX is secure if you don’t have a Switch Telecom Hosted Switchboard

  • First and foremost, change all default login passwords on your PBX and handsets. If your network is being breached, a customised login password will prevent or delay access to the PBX
  • Customise the inbuilt Firewall of your PBX if possible.
  • Make sure that you are aware of any vulnerabilities your onsite PBX might have.
  • If you do not need remote extensions, ensure that the PBX does not allow remote extension registration. It is also possible to grant certain network access to the PBX to prevent unauthorised access from unwanted networks.
  • Customise outbound rules. If your PBX allows for it then implement pin dialling.
  • If possible disable IP Calling on your handsets. This will prevent the phone from responding to port scans which will ensure that the devices are not accessible on the internet.
  • And lastly, change the Local SIP Port to any random port. Changing the local SIP port from the traditional 5060-5063 ports makes the phone inaccessible to port scans.

Your VoIP Provider should offer innovative security measures to help protect against Security Breaches

A specialist VoIP provider will set up credit limits on client accounts. They should also properly maintain security patches. Most importantly, the VoIP provider should speedily identify and combat any untoward activity. Switch Telecom has developed and implemented an Auto-Provisioning system for phone setup. Apart from saving time and minimising onsite support, the system secures phones through the implementation of various security settings. The auto-provisioning system is able to provision most Yealink and Grandstream phone models.
Further to Auto-Provisioning, Switch Telecom offers various other innovative ways to ensure the security of your VoIP Solution. Call barring options, IP access control lists, custom outbound rules (only on the Switch Telecom Hosted Switchboard), tight credit management, authorised account contacts are just some of the ways we layer the security of our solutions.

VoIP Security is a Team Effort

Even though Switch Telecom continues to make advances in ensuring VoIP security on all its solutions, a layered approach is essential. And it’s for this reason that all stakeholders should ensure the security of their devices and networks in order to safeguard against security breaches.

Our team of experts are always on hand to assist with advice when it comes to your VoIP security. Feel free to Contact us to discuss.

July 5th, 2019|Latest News|

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

News and updates

Your VoIP Service and the Festive Season

Your VoIP service is going to save you a lot of money during the festive season. Using your VoIP service to contact friends and family. Calling internationally can be cheaper than calling them on a local mobile number. (This obviously depends on the destination you’re calling). There are also numerous ways to stay connected to your customers without being tied to an office desk. This means you can relax and unwind with the knowledge that your customers can still [...]

December 3rd, 2022|Categories: Latest News|

Mobile VoIP Softphone – The Smart Choice

What is a Mobile VoIP Softphone? A mobile VoIP softphone or softphone is an application that mimics the functionality of a physical desktop phone. The software can be used on your desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. The softphone is a cloud-based application linked to a “real” telephone number. This means your mobile VoIP softphone is a completely accessible landline or switchboard extension; just on your cellphone. Softphones are a great choice for businesses in need of fluid communications that function [...]

November 11th, 2022|Categories: Latest News|

Loadshedding and your VoIP Solution

It seems that load shedding isn’t going away any time soon.  So, what do you do when the power is out and you still need to make and receive calls? When electricity is load shed, many communication methods, such as the internet, computers, and telephones are left without power. Even though load shedding is taking place throughout South Africa your clients, friends and family might be on a different schedule. This means that you could be missing their calls. This [...]

May 14th, 2022|Categories: Latest News|

Port for Free – 100% Discount on the Once Off Charges

Port your existing geographic or non-geographic number to Switch now and save up to 50% on your current call charges without the inconvenience of changing your number. Porting allows you the freedom to change from your current service provider to a more cost-effective Switch Telecom VoIP Solution. 100% Discount on the once-off porting charges for ports activated in the month of March 2022. Quick, easy and non-disruptive. Applies to Geographic and Non-Geographic landline numbers. Offer valid until the 31st of [...]

February 28th, 2022|Categories: Latest News|

Toll-Free and Non-Geographic Numbers Should No Longer Hold Businesses Hostage

Excessive pricing from the country’s incumbent provider of 0800, 0861 and 0860 numbers will see call centres, large corporates and other businesses porting these numbers come 07 March 2022. That’s according to Shannon Swanepoel, Managing Director of independent telecoms firm Switch Telecom, as the ICASA-stipulated date from when companies will be able to port their well-advertised and much-valued 0800, 0860 and 0861 numbers, draws near. “We expect significant porting in favour of more agile and transparent operators without complicated and [...]

February 28th, 2022|Categories: Latest News|

Porting of Non-Geographic Numbers

Porting of non-geographic numbers is finally a reality. In a General Notice issued by ICASA on the 15th of December 2021, the Chairperson, Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng, announced that the Number Portability Regulations in Government Gazette No. 41949 dated 01 October 2018 will come into effect on 07 March 2022. Mobile and geographic number portability have had a major impact on the consumer. And now, porting of non-geographic numbers will further positively impact the market. Consumers and businesses will now be [...]

January 13th, 2022|Categories: Latest News|

VoIP Rollout: SEESA, Intelys and Switch

BackgroundOur Client: SEESA (PTY) LTD offers a wide range of consulting services which include Skills Development, BEE Consulting, Labour Law and outsourced HR functions to over 36000 clients nationwide, across multiple industries. SEESA conducts a large portion of their business telephonically and is exceedingly reliant on their communication system. They have a staff complement of over 900 people based in 19 different branches across South Africa.Our Partner: Intelys Technology Africa is a Networking and Security Specialist, offering full-spectrum network services [...]

November 18th, 2021|Categories: Latest News|

Telephony deployment simplified with Switch Telecom’s Auto-provisioning system

The demand for cloud telephony services is at an all-time high. VoIP services and Hosted PBX solutions are becoming increasingly popular with small and large enterprises. There is a much lower barrier to entry in comparison to traditional PBX and telephony solutions. VoIP rollouts are usually easier and turnaround times are usually much quicker. Being in the cloud affords hosted PBX telephony solutions the flexibility that a physical telephony solution can't.  Adding and removing extensions is quick and easy. Routine [...]

October 6th, 2021|Categories: Latest News|

Our VoIP Softphone is Now Available

Switch Telecom has launched its very own browser-based VoIP Softphone. It's compatible with most internet browsers and is ideal for desktop use. The solution is free of charge for all Switch Telecom Hosted Switchboard clients. The VoIP Softphone Features When using the Softphone a user can make and receive calls via the easy-to-use interface. They can put callers on hold and they can also do attended and unattended transfers. Users are also able to conference up to 3 calls. This [...]

August 30th, 2021|Categories: Latest News|

Title

Go to Top