VoIP

{LANG_NAVORIGIN} Architecture VoIP

Voice over IP Security
With an understanding of VoIP technology and its benefits in place, let's consider the security ramifications. In the process of saving money and increasing efficiency, two crucial portions of any infrastructure, voice and data, were combined. Suddenly, an IT staff is not responsible for securing only standard servers (database, mail, web), workstations and routers. As if these data security concerns weren't enough, VoIP servers acting as gateways, special routers, phones, new protocols and operating systems are now thrown into the mix. The burden of voice and telecommunications security has been shifted from the carrier to the IT team. It has moved from an obscure PSTN, to an IP network every cracker is familiar with. Let's examine the risks and how you can mitigate them.

By Matthew Tanase, 03/15/2004

Firewall-Friendly VoIP Secure Gateway and VoIP Security Issues
IP telephony services using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technologies have rapidly spread over the last several years. However, interoperation of an IP-PBX (Private Branch eXchange) service and a consumer IP telephony service has not yet been achieved. This is because typical intranets are protected by firewalls and IP telephony protocols are not firewall-friendly because, among other reasons, they use UDP (User Datagram Protocol)-based protocols. In this paper, we explain the technologies of the VoIP Secure Gateway, which makes IP telephony protocols firewall-friendly and enables an enterprise IP-PBX service to interoperate with a consumer IP telephony service through a firewall. Also, we look at other security problems that need to be solved in order to expand IP telephony services in the future.

By Fukuyama, Fujimoto, and Takenaka, 02/23/2004

VoIP Security Challenges
With most major telecommunications carriers currently in the process of readying voice-over-IP (VoIP) services for mass deployment, it's clear that IP telephony is finally headed for prime time. However, the promise of mass VoIP consumption also increases the risk for widespread security violations, spawning a new sense of urgency to plug potential security holes now before hackers wreak havoc on corporate voice networks.

By Steve Bakke, 02/23/2004