The security of a VoIP system is really important and it is something that you have to keep an eye on constantly. Performing regular security audits may seem like a lot of work, maybe even a waste of time, but not doing so can put your business at risk.
VoIP scams, DDoS attacks, and Vishing schemes are just a few of the many security threats out there. In this article, we will talk about nine threats of this type and offer you strategies to deal with them. The best thing you can do for the longevity of your business is to educate yourself about potential security threats, so keep reading!
The 9 most common security threats and how to fix them
1. DDoS attacks
A DDoS, or Distributed Denial of Service, attack occurs when cybercriminals intentionally flood a server with data and use up all of its bandwidth. When all the server’s bandwidth is exhausted, VoIP activities and all Internet activity in general stops. These types of interruptions can seriously affect the daily operation of a company, and also its income.
Unfortunately, DDoS attacks are becoming more common. The equipment used to carry out a DDoS attack is becoming more advanced, making it cheaper and faster for cybercriminals to carry out these attacks. In fact, 70 percent of companies surveyed by Corero said they are victims of approximately 20-50 DDoS attacks per month. And according to security company Cloudflare, a successful DDoS attack costs a company around $100,000 per hour. So what can you do to successfully combat these attacks when they occur? Read on to find out.
How to fix this
First of all, it is important to identify DDoS attacks as early as possible. The sooner you identify the problem, the sooner you can start fixing it. To be prepared, we recommend hiring a DDoS expert at your company, whose responsibility it will be to take action in the event of an attack.
Once the attack begins, there are several steps you can take to mitigate the damage:
- Reserve Bandwidth: While keeping a reserve of bandwidth for emergency situations is unlikely to stop a DDoS attack, it can buy you the time you’ll need to contact security experts.
- Contact your ISP: Typically, your ISP (Internet Service Provider) is responsible for the security of your network connection and will have staff available who can help you mitigate the damage of a DDoS attack. Calling your ISP and telling them what’s going on should be a priority.
- Contact a DDoS specialist: Since DDoS attacks are so complex, you will need the help of an expert to get things back under control. It is recommended that you contact a DDoS specialist before experiencing an attack, so that you can quickly ask for help when necessary.
2. Call manipulation
Call tampering occurs when cybercriminals disrupt ongoing calls, either by sending large amounts of data along the call path or by delaying data transmission between callers. Both methods result in choppy calls and long periods of silence, which can be a serious problem for companies that do business over the phone.
How to fix this
Again, the first step should be to contact your ISP and tell them about the situation. You should also come up with a plan to protect your calls. One measure you can take is to improve authentication and encryption. All voice streams in and out of your call center must be encrypted, and IP phones must have authentication codes outside of business hours. These are general security good practices and will help you drastically reduce call tampering incidents in your call center.
3. Firewall or VoIP network firewall
Firewalls are usually a good thing. However, in the case of VoIP technology, only the most up-to-date firewall systems support VoIP protocols. Older firewalls will not recognize VoIP activities and may block some of the main features of your call center.
How to fix this
It’s very easy: make sure you have a modern firewall system. A good firewall will increase security, rather than weaken it.
4.Vishing
Simply put, vishing is phishing, but for VoIP. In the same way that email phishing scams seek to obtain sensitive information from victims through links in emails, VoIP vishing scams seek to obtain that information through voicemail messages.
How to fix this
The best method for protecting yourself from vishing scams is to verify all incoming call requests, even if they seem as though they’re coming from within your organization. Furthermore, your agents should be coached to never disclose sensitive information to anyone without the expressed consent of their supervisor.
5. VoIP scam
A VoIP scam occurs when cybercriminals hack into your VoIP system and use your services without permission. Scammers often use a strategy whereby they artificially generate a large volume of international calls to premium rate numbers and then collect money from these rates. This scam can be very expensive and often happens right under your nose.
How to fix this
There are several ways to protect yourself from potential VoIP scams. Below we list some of them.
- Offers international calling services only to those customers who request it
- Implement spending limits with time limits for your international calling plans
- Track calls made outside of business hours and investigate when necessary
- Sign shared responsibility contracts with your customers to mitigate the consequences in the event of a VoIP scam
6. Malware and viruses
Malware and viruses are a permanent threat to all network systems, and VoIP systems are no exception. They are especially harmful, because they allow cybercriminals to gain access to your entire system. By gaining this kind of full access, criminals can steal sensitive information, consume network bandwidth, and lower the quality of your calls relatively easily.
How to fix this
The key to preventing malware and virus attacks is to be proactive: develop a plan for routine security audits, implement security protocols throughout your company, and take steps to ensure that your employees comply with company-wide security measures. By being diligent about protecting your business against security threats, you’ll be able to successfully avoid the damage that malware and viruses typically cause.
7. VOMIT
Although it has a funny name, Voice over misconfigured Internet telephones, or VOMIT, is a serious security threat to VoIP phone systems. Hackers use this method to eavesdrop on and extract voice packets directly from ongoing calls, thus gaining access to sensitive information such as call origin, usernames, passwords, and financial data.
How to fix this
To address this issue, you should seriously consider using a VoIP service provider that automatically encrypts incoming and outgoing calls.
8.SPIT
Another security threat that has a funny name (spit, spit in English) but is very serious is SPIT, which stands for Spam over IP Telephony. Simply put, SPIT is the VoIP equivalent of junk email or spam. SPIT scams send out pre-recorded voice messages and/or robocalls en masse with the goal of tricking unsuspecting people who answer and listen to these voice messages. If you are unfortunate enough to fall victim to one of these scams, you can end up paying very high rates for international calls, which the scammers reroute for profit.
How to fix this
While there is no way to completely prevent SPIT attacks, having a quality VoIP service provider that takes security seriously is a good start.
9. Outdated systems
If you don’t regularly update your VoIP system software, you can expose yourself to a number of security threats. Many administrators don’t update cloud-based VoIP systems because traditional analog phone systems didn’t need these types of security updates. It’s an understandable oversight, but one that can hurt your business over time.
How to fix this
The solution here is pretty straightforward: make sure your VoIP software is always up to date! To do this you can simply ask one of your administrators to carry out regular system audits, or address this issue in your company’s quarterly reviews. Regardless of which method you choose to keep your VoIP systems up to date, make sure you do it all the time. The most important for VoIP network security is to be consistent.