https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/blog-post/protecting-pbx-from-cyber-attacks
Safeguarding Your VoIP Phone System with Cloud Heroes
When we think of cybercrime and the many threats that face business, we mainly think about networks, servers, data and so on. Rarely do we think about PBX or VoIP systems.
That can be quite an oversight!
Business phones can be as vulnerable as any other connected system but doesn’t get anywhere near the same attention.
Unless you work with Cloud Heroes that is.
Protecting your VoIP systems
Working with Cloud Heroes to provide your business communications means your phones are as secure as your network.
We use the same multi-layered, defence in depth approach to business communications that we do for your hosted desktop, hosted apps or cloud backup systems.
That means your VoIP systems are as protected as anything can be.
Plus, you get dedicated support from our expert team, just in case.
We don’t go into detail about what those defences are here on our blog but we’ll be happy to share how we protect you once you’re a customer.
Suffice to say, you’re as secure as it’s possible to be!
Securing VoIP phone systems
If you’re not a Cloud Heroes customer or you want to take your own precautions, here’s a high level overview of how to protect your phone systems from external threats.
- Implement strong authentication mechanisms
Use complex passwords to mitigate the risk of unauthorised access.
Consider implementing two-factor authentication (2FA) or multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security.
- Keep software and firmware updated
Regularly update VoIP software, applications, and firmware to patch known vulnerabilities and strengthen system defences.
Enable automatic updates where possible to ensure timely deployment of security patches.
- Encrypt VoIP traffic
Encrypt both voice and signalling data transmitted over the network using protocols like Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP) and Transport Layer Security (TLS).
Encryption helps prevent eavesdropping and unauthorised interception of sensitive information.
- Implement network segmentation
Segregate VoIP traffic from other data traffic using network segmentation.
By isolating VoIP systems, you can limit the scope of potential attacks and prevent lateral movement by cybercriminals.
- Deploy intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS)
Install IDPS solutions to monitor VoIP traffic and detect anomalous behaviour indicative of potential security breaches.
IDPS can proactively block or mitigate threats in real-time, bolstering your defence against cyber attacks.
- Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing
Perform comprehensive security audits and penetration tests to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in your VoIP infrastructure.
Regular assessments help uncover potential risks before they can be exploited by malicious actors.
- Educate users on security best practices
Provide ongoing training and awareness programs to educate staff about common VoIP security threats and phishing scams.
Encourage vigilance and emphasise the importance of reporting suspicious activity or unauthorized access promptly.
- Enable session border controllers (SBCs)
Deploy Session Border Controllers to regulate and secure VoIP sessions at the network perimeter.
SBCs offer features such as access control, encryption, and protocol validation to safeguard against malicious attacks.
- Establish robust disaster recovery and incident response plans
Develop comprehensive disaster recovery and incident response plans tailored specifically to address potential VoIP security breaches.
Outline clear procedures for mitigating and recovering from security incidents to minimise disruption.
- Monitor and analyse system logs:
Implement logging mechanisms to record and analyse events across the VoIP infrastructure.
Regularly review system logs to identify suspicious activities, unauthorized access attempts, and potential security breaches.
By adopting a proactive approach to securing your VoIP phone systems and implementing these essential strategies, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to cyber attacks.
Or you could skip all that and let Cloud Heroes provide secure VoIP and keep your network safe!