Since the invention of VoIP, the number of subscribers has been multiplying at breakneck speed. There are at least 22,000 new users each day. Today, there are 24 million VoIP users, 3 billion mobile phone users and 1.3 billion internet users. There has been a whopping 8000% surge in Internet users from 1995. And these users are increasingly embracing the revolutionary VoIP technology.

Indeed, broadband connection has dominated the market almost entirely that it left only a small percentage of users still connected on dial-up. As the figures in communication and technology applications continue to rise, we can only expect more to adopt VoIP as an advanced, cost- savings solution to local and international calls.

When Savings Do Not Justify
Telecommunication and services can make up a significant portion of businesses’ operating costs if these expenses are not kept in check. Small and medium businesses will find the deployment of VoIP to most cost effective and wise while larger companies generally opt for IP-PBX solutions that fit best into the existing infrastructure. This new solution reduces phone charges, gradually turning conventional telephony services into a thing of the past.

As with every new technology, there are also some unforseen risks involved. In VoIP, voice data can be automatically generated by a computer from pre-defined advertising messages. These generated voice data can then be easily put into IP packets and transported via the Internet to a large number of recipients, similar to spam mail. As such, it is a matter of time before we will face a voice spam problem. It’s not nice to receive automated advertising calls at 3am when you are asleep.

Another threat comes from the fact that VoIP data packets can easily be reassembled to actual conversations by anyone having these IP packets. Sniffing your IP packets is not difficult at all; at least it is easier than tapping an analog line. Very few users know the way that their IP packets travel until they reach the destination. Analyzing these routes will frighten every VoIP user. The conclusion is that confidentiality of these calls is not guaranteed at all.

How Secure Is Your Line
It is not surprising that most VoIP users are not aware of the challenges involving VoIP security. Without applying strategies to secure VoIP, companies are exposing themselves to a whole range of problems that can lead to dire consequences and inconceivable losses.

Many VoIP solutions do not support the required user authentication technologies currently. Awareness of security is crucial to organisations and employees utilising VoIP services in their day to day business operations, especially when confidential information and data is being transmitted through unsecured zones.