In 2019 the cloud is everywhere. It seems everywhere you look, yet another business is incorporating the cloud into its portfolio of products and services. From CRM tools to accounting software, everything is cloud-based in the business world.
Yet even as the advantages of using the cloud grows, many business owners have concerns about it. In an age where data breaches make headlines almost every day, how can you be sure of security? How can you control your data when you don’t know where it is or who can access it?
The Growth of Cloud Services
The cloud has come a long way since its inception. Early adopters reaped the benefits but they also suffered the pitfalls of using untested technology. With the growing popularity of cloud-based services, providers have made significant improvements in privacy and security.
When the cloud started becoming popular, businesses jumped on the bandwagon without regard for data security. Vendors also focused more on selling features and lower prices. Why should a vendor invest in strong security practices when clients don’t even ask for it?
The industry has grown and matured quite a bit since then. Consider the following statistic in the telecom industry. By 2018, 50% of IT departments stopped buying new on-premise infrastructure. Experts predict the number will rise to nearly 90% by 2021. Almost all new investment is in cloud-based solutions, especially when it comes to communication.
With such explosive growth, vendors cannot afford to be complacent towards security. Today enterprise clients expect – and demand – better protection for their sensitive data. Providers have stepped up and offered a myriad of defensive security tools.
But what can you do to make sure your phone systems are secure?
The Right Vendor is Key
When it comes to securing your systems, selecting the right vendor is crucial. Connect it Networks (CIN) has over 2 decades of experience in the field. Name a security issue and CIN has worked on a solution for it. CIN solutions are robust and designed according to security principles from the start. Security is not an afterthought, it is the foundation of our systems.
That experience also shows that no system is secure unless every part is. That’s why CIN partners with industry leaders (Avaya and Ruckus to name a few) to offer the most secure tools for clients. After all, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link!
Now that you’ve selected the right vendor, what else can you do? Business owners forget that vendors are only one half of the puzzle. There’s no point in locking the door when someone can get in through the window. So businesses need to employ security best practices within the organization as well
Use IP-based VPN
VoIP phones are not less secure than their traditional counterparts. However, as they are based on IP standards, they are susceptible to the same threats as other internet systems. Namely, threats like malware, Denial of Service attacks, and spam are all dangers you didn’t have before. No business stops using email because of such concerns. So why should that stop you from using VoIP?
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are one solution to the complex question of data security. Using a VPN for VoIP offers several advantages. The most important is that all your calls will travel through an encrypted tunnel. This prevents unauthorized users from eavesdropping on confidential conversations. It also protects both businesses and their users from external threats.
If you have employees accessing the VoIP phone system from home, you don’t have control over their internet connection. So how do you ensure it’s safe? A VPN is your best bet in the circumstances.
Remember that using a VPN does have drawbacks. For instance, if it’s not set up correctly, it can slow down network traffic. VoIP calls depend on low latency and jitter for audio clarity. Routing calls through an encrypted connection can render it unusable.
Choose a VPN that’s optimized for VoIP. The service should use a multi-layered approach to security. There’s no single solution for 100% secure systems. So it’s better to combine multiple layers like obfuscating servers, encryption, offering several port options, etc.
No Magic Bullet
There’s no single security measure that can protect your data completely. The trick is to make it as difficult as possible for unauthorized users to hijack your systems. That’s why experts recommend using multiple tools at once. Such an approach combined with user awareness works better than the most expensive software.
Vendors like CIN work with partners to ensure comprehensive security for clients. Select the right vendor and implement security measures to prevent fraud, data breaches, and loss of confidential data. Want to learn more? Contact us and see how our system works for yourself!