Are VoIP phones secure? Why VoIP is the Lock (or Key) to Your Business Security

The world we live in today looks very different than it did 30 or 15 years ago. Let’s be honest, it looks different than it did only 5 minutes ago! Things are moving at the speed of light which means, our ability to adapt and change must as well.  

As a business, there are things you need to think about today that were never on your radar before. The way we used to do business has evolved requiring us to think differently about how things are done from hiring, to managing and creating culture.  

The same is true for the phone systems you deploy and the security they provide. Welcome to VoIP.   

What is VoIP?

VoIP stands for voice over internet protocol. Simply said, VoIP is a way of sharing information over the internet. This same technology can be used with your phone system. Instead of physical phone lines, these systems work over the internet providing a seamless and smooth user experience. Even better, VoIP systems are typically more cost-effective than analog alternatives.¹  

To be clear, VoIP is more than a phone call, it’s a collection of data. And since the information is being shared online, it becomes digital.  

And just like any piece of digital data, it can be intercepted if the right security protocols aren’t in place.  

Learn more about VoIP services 

Why You Need Phone Security

You hire company XYZ to provide a VoIP phone system for your law firm. They provide you with a phone and you opt to manage things through your network and internet provider. While you’re new to VoIP technology, you feel confident it will meet your business needs. 

Three months later you open up a bill showing outbound calls to an international phone number raking up some hefty charges.  

After taking some cleansing, deep breaths thanks to the yoga class you took that morning, you call your phone provider. After visiting with them, they inform you that you’ve been a victim of toll fraud and unfortunately are now responsible for paying that hefty bill. 

Not satisfied with that answer, you then call your internet provider. After being on hold for 15 minutes, they inform you that data was shared over the open internet and a program update needed to be done to your phone, but was never done by your IT department.  

You’re confused, and rightly so. You never made those calls, nor did any of your employees. You thought your phone was secure.  

“How did this happen?” you ask the customer service representative.  

A security breach. 

Security is one of those things you probably don’t give much thought to. The old adage “no news is good news” can provide a false sense of security bliss. While that may work in other scenarios, having the awareness of the phone solutions in place for your business’ security is best. Even more important is partnering with a provider that can ensure continuous and seamless security so you don’t have to worry about it.  

Security is something to be proactive and informed about so that you can operate your business with confidence. 

Security provides a sense of safety, and when that trust is breached, the domino effect is far reaching from impacting the quality of your inbound and outbound calls, creating more work for you, and ultimately, affecting your business’ reputation.  

When you know the risks, you can adjust properly, before something happens. That starts by finding a phone solution that works to protect your business’ reputation.  

Security is something to be proactive and informed about so that you can operate your business with confidence. 

How is VoIP secure?

Security is as complex as a seven-layer dip at a party. Complex is good when it comes to keeping your data secure and not so good when it comes to trying to problem solve this complex equation without the help of a professional.  

There are many variances and nuances with the VoIP services available. Here are some questions to ask for optimal security using VoIP technology with your phone system:

What are my industry’s specific security protocols?

• The type of service you’ll want to invest in will depend on the type of needs your business has and your industry-specific security protocols.
• These vary from industry to industry so start with this question when considering VoIP.  

Do I prefer to work with a provider who manages my services or would I prefer to manage the service myself?

• Provider managed and operated dedicated hardware  
  • Managed by one provider who offers and installs the router, modem and phone.
  • Data never touches the open internet as it’s hosted on the provider’s system.
  • Most secure VoIP option.
  • Any updates to the equipment or programs are handled by the provider. Your hardware, network and data are all managed by your provider which means you have their high security levels protecting your data. 
• Customer managed and operated data network 
  • Managed by multiple parties, including yourself, phone provider and internet provider. 
  • More of an a la cart option where you can compare and contrast with several vendors vs. one dedicated provider. 
  • Phone is provided but your IT department is responsible for making any updates to the equipment, hardware or programs.  

How will I be receiving, sending or sharing data? 

• This is the most common way to deliver VoIP services but requires you work with a service provider that can secure those services.
• Depending on your business' firewall rules, this may require configuration of LAN equipment for communication between products via a private IP

• Hosted by a service provider
• Most secure way to transfer data as no other traffic is on that wire except between you and your provider
• Private Network connection from Midco core to the physical phone at your location

While you may or may not have given much thought to which internet you’re sending or sharing information on, knowing the difference and how it impacts your business data can make all the difference with your security. Keep reading to see how Midco does VoIP security.  

What specific security measures should I be checking?

You don’t know what you don’t know, which can make it a bit challenging when it comes to understanding what security related questions to ask. Start with a few questions from the following list to get you started:  

• How are the load balancers set up to check and mitigate the traffic on my servers?
• Does this service provide account locking according to CPNI compliances?
• How is the firewall set up to block unauthorized access?
• How often does your service check for fraudulent activity?
• Does this service check for known hacker IP addresses? How often?
• Would my data be shared over the open internet or a private connection?
• Will I have access to a https portal to manage my VoIP settings and preferences?
• Who controls the device firmware? How often are updates made to the firmware to provide end of life security?  
• How does your software ensure equipment and programs are up to date with security standards?
• Do you have secure and unique passwords for each user with Softphone and Comportal access?

This is not an exhaustive list of security questions to ask when using VoIP technology with your phone system. The type of questions to ask and level of security you’ll need partly depends on the security standards and protocols put in place by your industry. Working with those is important in determining what other supportive services you’ll want and need to best protect your data. 

VoIP Security with Midco

We understand the importance of having confidence in the security measures taken with your business because we see what can happen when they aren’t. 

There’s nothing more heartbreaking than seeing the look of disbelief, frustration and worry on a customer’s face when they learn a security breach has happened. They’re experiencing overwhelm and concern knowing they now have to pick up the pieces of rebuilding their market reputation. 

If you own small to mid-sized businesses, or have products with a higher complexity, we highly recommend connecting with us to find a business phone solution to meet your security needs. We do things differently to help protect you, like:

• Turning off web services access on phones with OTT
• Requiring phones are behind a router with a private IP
• Supporting separate VLAN for phones in coordination with you or your IT vendor

Midco wants to partner with you to not only have your phone system function better, but provide peace of mind for you, your business and customers.  

As a business, you have a responsibility to provide security and safety for your sensitive information. By understanding your own and industry security standards, matched with Midco’s services, you now hold the keys to your business’ security.  

The security of all data being sent, shared or received is not 100% guaranteed. While measures are put in place that follow industry standards, breaches can happen due to the nature of technology and circumstances outside of Midco or your businesses control. Midco ensures the safety and security of your data to the extent available based upon security protocols and the latest technology available. 

1 Forbes: Is VoIP Secure? Q22022