Mitigating VoIP Security Risks: A Comprehensive Guide

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), a technology that enables you to make and receive calls using a broadband internet connection instead of a traditional analog phone line, has revolutionized the way both individuals and businesses communicate.

Rather than being tied to a single device in one place like a desk phone at the office, VoIP lets you make and receive calls on multiple devices anywhere as long as you have a reliable connection to the internet. This means you don’t have to worry about paying extra for international calls or dedicated lines as you onboard new users and scale your operations. 

While this cost-effective and scalable alternative is increasing in popularity, so are concerns over its security. 

Below we will explore the differences between VoIP and landlines in terms of security and various types of VoIP security issues. Then we’ll delve into best practices to mitigate these security issues and provide tips and recommendations for choosing a secure VoIP provider. 

Why VoIP Security Matters

VoIP security is important for protecting VoIP systems from attacks that allow hackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive communication data. 

Using a secure VoIP system like Podium which has encryption and network security measures in place and is regularly updated and patched can help keep your data safe while allowing you to reap all the benefits of VoIP, from simplified communications to time savings. 

If you want to see the impact of Podium on your business, start a free trial today.

VoIP vs. Landline Phones: Which one is safer?

VoIP is generally more secure than landline phones, although it depends on the service provider.

Calls made using landline phones are routed through the public switched telephone network (PSTN), which is not encrypted and makes them more vulnerable to interception than VoIP calls which are transmitted over the internet and usually encrypted. VoIP also offers security features that landline phones do not, like authentication protocols, to help individuals and businesses mitigate security risks. 

In addition to being more secure, VoIP systems are also typically cheaper because they don’t require you to maintain telephone wiring or install and add lines as you onboard new users. 

Landline phones, on the other hand, tend to be more reliable than VoIP systems, especially in areas with poor or unstable internet connectivity. They’re also more likely to remain functional or be faster to recover in the event of a power outage or natural disaster.  

Learn more about the differences between VoIP and landline phones here. 

6 Types of VoIP Security Issues

The security risks associated with VoIP are similar to the risks associated with any internet application. Take a closer look at them below. 

1. Spam Over Internet Technology (SPIT)

Also known as voice or VoIP spam (VAM), spam over internet technology is like a hybrid of telemarketing and email spamming and involves attackers making and sending unsolicited calls and voicemails. Because SPIT attackers can use a wide array of tools already available on the internet, VoIP enables attackers to make larger volumes of unsolicited calls than traditional telemarketing. 

2. Eavesdropping

This type of attack involves unauthorized individuals intercepting and eavesdropping on VoIP calls. In this case, the hacker’s goal is to exploit vulnerabilities in the communication channel to gain access to sensitive conversations involving personal or business information.

3. Call Tampering

Call tampering involves hackers trying to disrupt calls that VoIP users are currently making. To do so, hackers can send a large amount of data along the same path being used for the call to make the quality unstable. They can also delay the delivery of data packets between VoIP callers, which makes the communication harder to understand or results in long periods of silence.

4. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks

DDoS attacks involve overwhelming a server and other infrastructure with an excessive volume of traffic to disrupt the availability of VoIP services. This can result in people being unable to make or receive calls. In 2021, several VoIP companies were the target of a series of ransom DDoS attacks around the globe.

5. Malware and Viruses

Like any application connected to the internet, VoIP devices and networks are vulnerable to malware attacks and viruses. If malicious software or a virus infiltrates a VoIP system, it can disrupt services or steal sensitive information. 

6. Caller ID Spoofing 

Attackers can manipulate caller ID information to impersonate legitimate VoIP callers to gain unauthorized access to confidential information. For example, an attacker could use a bogus caller ID in a VoIP call so that the receiver believes it’s coming from a bank or another known and trusted source. The receiver may then be tricked into disclosing personal information like their account number or social security number. 

VoIP Security Best Practices

While there are risks when using VoIP services, you can follow the best practices below to help mitigate those risks and stay secure. 

• Encrypt voice traffic and data: To protect the confidentiality and integrity of VoIP communications, encrypt both signaling and media traffic using TLS and SRTP respectively. 
• Deploy firewalls and intrusion detection systems: Use firewalls and IDS solutions to monitor and filter voice traffic and detect and prevent any unauthorized access or malicious activity.
• Segment and isolate voice traffic from other data traffic: Segment your network to isolate VoIP traffic from other data traffic to limit the impact of security breaches that occur.
• Implement strong authentication measures: Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and other strong authentication mechanisms to limit access to the VoIP system. You should also restrict access based on roles and responsibilities.
• Delete sensitive voicemail messages: To reduce the risk of sensitive voicemails being compromised, delete them as soon as users have listened to them. 
• Monitor and log network activities: Monitoring and logging network and system activities can help you detect any unusual patterns or potential threats and respond to them faster.
• Keep VoIP software up-to-date: Regularly update your VoIP software to ensure the latest security patches have been applied. 

Some of these best practices may be implemented by your VoIP provider already. Let’s cover some tips for choosing a secure provider below. 

How to Choose a Secure VoIP Provider

Use the following evaluation criteria to choose a VoIP provider that aligns with your organization’s security requirements. 

1. High-Level Encryption

Look for a VoIP service provider that employs high-level encryption for data in transit and at rest. This process involves converting data from calls into a highly encoded data set that can only be decoded with a description key. That means that even if the data is intercepted, it will be unreadable to any unauthorized users. 

2. Authentication and Access Controls

Another indicator of a secure VoIP provider is if it offers authentication and access controls, like two-factor authentication, multi-factor authentication, or single sign-on. These features help ensure that only the right people have access to your VoIP system.

3. Compliance and Certifications

If a VoIP provider is certified or compliant with security and privacy standards like SOC 2, PCI DSS, and GDPR, then that means they adhere to strict regulations for handling, securing, and storing data. That’s third-party assurance that the VoIP provider is secure.

4. Network Infrastructure and Data Centers

Another characteristic of a secure VoIP provider is having multiple servers within a data center and multiple data centers in different locations. This provides redundancy of service so that if one server or data center goes down, then another can take over. 

If you’re a small business, find our recommendations for the best VoIP service providers here. 

4 Most Secure VoIP Providers

Below are reputable VoIP service providers known for their strong security measures.

1. Podium

Podium is an all-in-one communication solution that offers a VoIP system for small businesses. It follows industry standards and best practices for data security, including encryption of data in transit and at rest, security monitoring and logging, enterprise-class endpoint detection and response solutions, continuous integration and deployment, application security testing and scans, incident response, security awareness training, and secure development lifecycle. Podium’s security policies and practices also align with the ISO risk framework, and all customer data is hosted in data centers that support SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HITRUST.

2. RingCentral 

RingCentral is a well-known VoIP service provider that offers unified communication and collaboration solutions. RingCentral offers a range of security features, including encryption protocols, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and role-based access controls. It is also compliant with global standards for security and privacy, including SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and HITRUST.

3. Nextiva 

Nextiva is another reputable VoIP provider that places a strong emphasis on security. They offer end-to-end encryption for calls and messages and advanced security features like intrusion detection and prevention and firewall protection. Located across North America, their data centers have some of the highest security protocols, including multi-factor authentication for entry, biometric security scanners, bullet-resistant glass, 24x7x365 security, and video surveillance, and are SSAE 16 and PCI DSS certified and SOC II compliant.

4. Vonage 

Vonage is known for its cloud-based communication solutions, including VoIP services. It implements a wide range of administrative, technical, and security measures to keep its customer data safe, including encryption, firewalls, anti-malware, vulnerability management, account and access management, and more. It also maintains compliance and certifications across its product lines, including ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, SOC, HITRUST, CSA STAR, and GDPR.

All-in-One Solution With Podium VoIP System

VoIP offers a wide range of benefits, including affordability and scalability. To reap these benefits, your organization must choose a VoIP service provider that can manage risks and implement security measures to protect your sensitive communication data.

Podium is not just a secure VoIP service provider — it’s an all-in-solution for your communication needs. With Podium you can route all calls to the same inbox as texts, social media messages, and other channels so you never miss a call again.

If you’re looking to scale your communication infrastructure while keeping your data secure, learn more about Podium. 

FAQs

Q: What attacks are VoIP most vulnerable to?

A: VoIP systems are most vulnerable to spam over internet technology, call interception, call tampering, DDoS attacks, fraud, and malware/viruses. They can be protected against these cyber threats using a range of security measures and best practices, including encryption, network segmentation, and authentication. 

Q: What is VoIP encryption?

A: Since a VoIP phone call is a collection of data that’s being transferred online, it can be intercepted. VoIP encryption helps to mitigate that risk by scrambling voice data using mathematical algorithms to make it unreadable to unauthorized users. That means that, if intercepted, sensitive data like the names of callers, phone numbers, and message content would be unreadable.

Q: What is a VPN?

A: A virtual private network (VPN) uses encryption protocols to funnel all your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a remote server owned by a VPN provider. It can be used for VoIP traffic as well to ensure your calls are private and more secure.

Q: What is a Virtual Phone System?

A: A virtual phone system is a cloud-based phone system that can handle incoming and outgoing business phone calls, voicemail messages, text messages, and more. While powered by VoIP, it offers fewer features. 

Q: What is a VoIP phone number?

A: A VoIP number is similar to a traditional landline number—but it’s not location-specific and isn’t limited to calling.