Dos and dont's using a VoIP phone system

VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol technology has been redefining business communication over the last few years. By helping businesses reduce their phone bills while delivering a flexible solution, it’s becoming the default business phone for many businesses. If you’re considering switching to VoIP, you should also be aware of the need for VoIP security.

When you consider its minimal costs, you’ll realise that VoIP offers several advantages to businesses. It’s user-friendly, easier to deploy, comes with business tools, is suited for remote work and is highly scalable. If you’ve any concerns about VoIP security, this article will explain the dos and don’ts to ensure that you have a safe, secure and worry-free VoIP experience.

When selecting your VoIP provider:

If you’re comparing various VoIP providers, these are the most important factors you should keep in mind for VoIP security.

Do: Conduct adequate research

If you’re stepping into the world of VoIP, the first thing to do is research providers. Remember that you need a provider who meets your requirements in terms of price, security, technology, ease of use, features and customer support, to name a few.

Do: Negotiate for security features

You can set up a meeting to negotiate security features into your contract. Ideally, what you need is a shared security model that adds greater protection to the service.

Don't: Rely on what the provider tells you

The VoIP provider might share details about their security features. But don’t take their word for it. Ask to see the system at work, which will reveal how robust the security features are or whether they have frequent bugs. You can also search online for customer reviews connected to VoIP security.

When implementing VoIP security:

By now you might have chosen a VoIP provider and be in the process of implementing it. Since it’s a new technology for you – and especially considering it’s for business use – keep the following factors in mind.

Do: Use encrypted VoIP services

Nobody wants their sensitive business communication to be accessed by an unauthorised third party. The solution is end-to-end encryption. Businesses should look for services that support Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol (SRTP) or Transport Layer Security (TLS).

Do: Have a dedicated LAN and firewall

The way most offices are set up, there will be a mix of cloud-based software and traditional desk phones. There will be additional connections for workstations and printers. While setting up the network, make sure that you have a dedicated voice LAN (local area network) for your VoIP service and that it’s protected behind a firewall.

Don't: Leave your VoIP outside the firewall

Your VoIP should be behind a formidable firewall. Even if the service provider guarantees you VoIP security, it’s a good idea to limit access with a customised firewall.

VoIP service management

The way you use technology will play a huge part in how secure it is. This is more true for cloud-based applications. Keep these factors in mind to ensure that your usage doesn’t pose any threat to VoIP security.

Do: Change your default passwords

You have to change the security credentials that come with your VoIP handsets. This will make it more difficult for hackers to gain entry into your network.

Do: Track your usage

Tracking your usage helps you detect a problem before it becomes a security risk. If you notice your phone usage in places where you don’t have employees or if you get higher bills, it’s safe to assume that someone else has access to your system.

Do: Enable strong authentication

Easy-to-guess security credentials and one-layer authentication will pose risks to your VoIP security. Like with all other kinds of technology, you need strong authentication for VoIP system access.

Don't: Have unnecessary security permissions

Enabling too many features that you don’t need will increase security risks. There’s no need to give general permissions to your employees. They should not need permission for any feature that’s not directly related to their business use.

Chalkboard: A VoIP provider you can rely on

Worried about VoIP security? Switch to Chalkboard, which does all the heavy lifting for you. When you download this second line for work, you can focus on growing your business, improving collaboration and increasing customer satisfaction without having to think about VoIP security.

Your team can share their numbers without making the system vulnerable. You can organise your contacts and send broadcast SMS to amplify your marketing and customer engagement. With messaging, your business gets to use conversational marketing to acquire and retain customers.

Auto-reply enables you to send pre-written messages to missed calls. All these features are at an affordable cost suitable for small businesses and startups.

Download Chalkboard and try it now. Along with exceptional VoIP security, there’s a world of business tools awaiting you.