8 VoIP Security Threats and How to Protect Your Business

61% of businesses have already made the switch from traditional landlines to a VoIP solution. However, despite the technology’s popularity, it’s not without its security risks. So, how do you protect your and the customers’ information?

According to Multicominc, businesses typically see a 50% to 75% reduction in costs after switching to VoIP, highlighting its cost-effectiveness and security. 

However, as VoIP becomes a more frequent target for cybercriminals, it’s necessary to secure these systems. This article explores the top 8 VoIP security challenges and provides strategies for protecting your systems effectively.

Key takeaways

1. Phishing/vishing is a major cybersecurity threat, with over 2 million phishing sites recorded by Google as of 2021. To protect yourself, always verify the legitimacy of incoming calls and ensure you don’t share sensitive information without proper authorization.
2. A DDoS attack overwhelms a server, making it unavailable and potentially allowing attackers to seize control and disrupt operations, including VoIP services. To safeguard against these threats, quickly identify attacks and designate a DDoS coordinator to respond efficiently.
3. Call tampering involves hackers disrupting active calls by overloading the data path or delaying packet delivery, leading to unstable or unintelligible communication. Encrypt all voice streams and require authentication codes for IP phones during non-business hours to protect against such disruptions.
4. Malware, trojans, and viruses pose significant risks by enabling unauthorized access, consuming bandwidth, and degrading internet quality. To mitigate these threats, implement proactive measures such as regular security audits and comprehensive safety protocols.
5. Through VOMIT (Voice over Misconfigured Internet Telephones), criminals extract voice packets and sensitive information from calls. Choose a VoIP provider that offers encrypted services and a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) system, allowing secure internal and external communications.

The 8 Most Common VoIP Security Issues

VoIP security requires constant vigilance. The best step you can take for your business’s long-term safety is to educate yourself and your team about potential security vulnerabilities. Below, you’ll find the 8 common threats and strategies for coping with them.

1. Phishing/Vishing

Phishing (sometimes also called Vishing, as in VoIP phishing) attempts have plagued companies worldwide in recent years – as of 2021, Google has registered more than 2 million phishing sites. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has stated that more than 90% of all cyber attacks begin with phishing.

Typically, scammers call with numbers that appear close to those of legitimate organizations (government agencies, tax departments, banks, etc.) and leave a message about “suspicious activity” occurring on the recipient’s account. 

The victim is then directed to another call in which they are asked to “verify their identity”—meaning share sensitive company information like their employer or bank account details. It’s important to be on the lookout for sharing this type of information, as it could lead to someone using your identity.

How to Fix It 

To protect yourself from vishing scams, always verify incoming calls, even if they appear to come from within your organization. Additionally, train your agents to never share sensitive information without clear approval from their supervisor.

2. DDoS Attacks

A DDoS attack happens when criminals overwhelm a server with data and use up all of its bandwidth. By doing so, hackers can make a machine or network unavailable to its users by either temporarily or indefinitely disrupting the service. 

In the case of VoIP, that means no calls can be made or received. But that’s not all—in the worst-case scenario, the attacker can take over the server’s admin controls. 

When this happens, the attacker gains extensive access to and control over the server’s operations and configurations. This can have severe consequences:

• Data Theft and Manipulation: The attacker can access, steal, or manipulate sensitive data stored on the server, including personal information, financial details, and business-critical data.

• Further Security Breaches: With admin rights, attackers can potentially create backdoors or introduce malware, which could be used to facilitate additional attacks or sustain unauthorized access over time.

• Service Manipulation or Sabotage: The attacker can alter or shut down services, which in the case of VoIP, could mean halting all communication capabilities, potentially causing significant disruption to business operations.

• Ransom Demands: Sometimes, attackers might demand a ransom to relinquish control of the server, posing financial threats alongside operational disruptions.

70% percent of organizations surveyed by Corero said they experience 20-50 DDoS attacks monthly. Even though most of them aren’t successful, the main problem is that with powerful machines, specialized tools, and much better bandwidth than ever before, cybercriminals can now launch DDoS attacks much faster and cheaper. 

This also means that not only “big players” (such as banks, enterprises, or social media platforms) are in danger of being attacked, but businesses of all sizes and industries are at risk. 

How to Fix It

It’s pivotal to catch DDoS attacks early. The quicker you identify an issue, the faster you can address it. Start by designating a DDoS coordinator in your company, someone tasked specifically with responding to these attacks.

When an attack occurs, here are a few steps you can take to lessen the impact:

• Increase Your Bandwidth: Having extra bandwidth might not stop a DDoS attack completely, but it can give you the decisive time needed to call in cybersecurity experts.
  
• Contact Your ISP: Your Internet Service Provider plays a key role in securing your network. Inform them immediately about the attack so they can start mitigating the damage.
  
• Consult a DDoS Specialist: DDoS attacks can be complex, so it’s wise to have a professional on standby. A cybersecurity consulting firm can assist you in achieving data and process protection in your organization.
  
  Alternatively, you can make arrangements with a DDoS specialist who can assist you quickly if an attack happens.

3. Call Tampering

By call tampering, hackers attempt to disrupt the calls you are currently making. They can send a large amount of data along the same path you are using for the call, making the line unstable. Or they can delay the delivery of data packets between callers, which makes all communication incomprehensible or produces long periods of silence.

How to Fix It

Your first move should be to inform your Internet Service Provider about the situation. It’s also important to create a strategy to protect your telephony operations from such disruptions. One effective measure is to strengthen your authentication and encryption practices. 

Ensure that all voice streams to and from your call center are encrypted and that IP phones require authentication codes during non-business hours. 

4. Malware and Viruses

Malware, trojans, and viruses continue to be among the biggest threats to network system security. These harmful programs are created specifically to give criminals access to the entire system, consume the network bandwidth, or severely decrease the quality of the internet signal. 

While they can do a lot of damage by themselves, many of those malicious programs can create backdoors in the system, making it easier for hackers to eavesdrop on your calls or steal important information.

How to Fix It  

Proactive planning is essential to ward off malware and virus attacks. Start by mitigating malware risk by using insider threat management solutions to block malicious threats and advanced attacks. Develop a plan that includes regular security audits and establish comprehensive safety protocols throughout your business. Ensure that your employees adhere to these security measures consistently.

5. VOMIT

The name (or, rather, acronym) might sound a bit gross, but it relates to a serious threat to any business. Through a “Voice over Misconfigured Internet Telephones” tool, cybercriminals can take voice packets and sensitive information straight from calls. 

Not only that, but the attacker can also gain access to other useful information, such as where the call came from, which they can use later to eavesdrop on all of the calls you make.

How to Fix It  

To tackle this issue, it’s a good idea to choose a VoIP service provider that ensures encryption for all incoming and outgoing calls. A provider like CloudTalk not only secures your data through encryption but also provides you with your own Private Branch Exchange (PBX). 

This telephone system within your company acts as a private switchboard and allows your employees to call each other’s extensions and make calls to external numbers.

6. SPIT

Spam over Internet Telephony (SPIT) is a voice variant of spamming that works by sending voicemails or so-called “robocalls” several times per week. 

And with the tools the spammers have at their disposal, it’s effortless for them to send thousands of messages to different IP addresses at once or pass themselves off as genuine, local phone numbers when, in reality, they come from different countries. 

Answering such a call or listening to the voicemail may redirect the recipient to a very expensive phone number from a different country, or the messages might also contain viruses or spyware.

How to Fix It  

Although completely preventing SPIT attacks is challenging, partnering with a reputable VoIP service provider focused on security is a smart initial step. 

For instance, CloudTalk employs a modern firewall designed to detect and block spam as soon as it arrives, helping to protect your company and its clients from potential harm.

7. Man-in-the-Middle Attacks (MitM)

MitM attacks occur when a hacker intercepts and alters the communication between two parties without their knowledge. This can happen during VoIP calls, where attackers capture the data packets of a conversation and can listen in or manipulate the call data. 

How to Fix 

To guard against MitM attacks, ensure that all sensitive data transmitted over your network is encrypted using strong protocols like HTTPS or secured VoIP technologies. 

Employ Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for all remote access to encrypt data traffic, which helps prevent attackers from intercepting it. 

Additionally, implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security and keep your software and systems regularly updated to close any security vulnerabilities.

8. Unauthorized Access

Unauthorized access to VoIP systems can occur when credentials are weak or stolen. Attackers could use these to infiltrate your network, make calls, steal call data, or even conduct fraudulent activities under your company’s name. 

How to Fix

To prevent unauthorized access to your VoIP systems, start by enforcing strong, complex passwords for all user accounts. Regularly update these passwords, and consider using a password manager to store and generate them securely. Multi-factor authentication is also useful, as it requires more than just a password for access.

And finally, conduct regular audits of your access controls to ensure only authorized users have the necessary permissions. Educate your employees on the importance of security practices and the risks of sharing credentials.

What Is a VoIP Security Risk?

A VoIP security risk refers to any threat that exploits vulnerabilities in your Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system. These risks can compromise sensitive information, disrupt service, and potentially cost your business significantly in terms of money and reputation. 

Understanding these threats is especially vital for salespeople, stand-alone call centers, and organizations that rely on VoIP for their business continuity. Just imagine you’re in the middle of a sales call, and the line goes dead—or worse, confidential information gets intercepted. VoIP systems, while highly efficient, can be susceptible to various cyber crimes and threats such as hacking, eavesdropping, and Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. 

According to Verizon, 71% of all data breaches are financially motivated, and by 2025, cybercrime is estimated to cost us $10 trillion every year. These numbers underscore the importance of securing your communications platform to ensure your sales calls, client interactions, and daily operations proceed uninterrupted.

Is it secure to use VOIP?

While the variety of security risks associated with VoIP might seem daunting, the reality is that with the right precautions, VoIP can be a secure and reliable option for your business communications. 

Effective measures like data encryption ensure that even if information is intercepted, it remains indecipherable to hackers. Strong, varied passwords and regular network testing further enhance security.

VoIP system providers work hard to guarantee that the data stored and passed through their platforms is safe from any hacking attempts. They have various safety measures built into their platforms and regularly test them for any vulnerabilities. 

For example, at Cloudtalk, we secure your information using 256-bit encryption with Perfect Forward Secrecy and employ security tokens for enhanced protection. 

No passwords or credit card data are stored internally – the latter is provided directly to the payment processing company while the former is stored by Amazon AWS and Google Cloud Platform in 9 globally distributed data centers. 

Additionally, call protocols such as SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and WebRTC automatically encrypt communications, ensuring that your business conversations remain private.

Essential Security Measures for VoIP Systems

To safeguard your VoIP communications, it’s important to follow these seven key practices in security. 

• Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Create complex passwords that are difficult to guess for all VoIP devices and accounts. Consider using a password manager to generate and store these passwords securely. Update your passwords frequently to further enhance security.

• Enable Data Encryption: Most VoIP platforms offer encryption options; make sure these are enabled and configured properly to keep your calls and data secure.

• Regularly Update and Patch Systems: Keep your VoIP software and hardware up to date. Manufacturers often release patches to fix security vulnerabilities. By staying current with updates, you minimize the risks of breaches and exploits.

• Conduct Network Security Assessments: Periodically evaluate your network’s security by conducting thorough assessments. This helps identify potential vulnerabilities in your VoIP setup and allows you to address them proactively.

• Educate Your Team: Train your employees on the importance of VoIP security and best practices, such as recognizing phishing attempts and securing their devices. Regular training sessions can dramatically reduce the risk of human error leading to security breaches.

• Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Add an extra layer of security by requiring more than just a password to access VoIP systems. MFA can include something you know (a password), something you have (a security token), or something you are (biometric verification).

• Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) also comes with certain security risks. If you allow employees, contractors, and freelancers to use their personal devices, like laptops and smartphones, for work, it boosts flexibility and productivity. But it’s crucial to enforce a clear BYOD policy to regulate the use of these devices and protect your organization’s data. 

By implementing these practices, you will enhance the security of your VoIP systems and protect your business communications from common cyber threats.

Conclusion

Implementing robust security practices in your VoIP system is essential for protecting your business communications. By adopting measures such as strong password policies or enabling data encryption you safeguard your data but also build trust with your clients by demonstrating your commitment to security.

As VoIP technology continues to evolve, staying vigilant and proactive in your security practices is key to maintaining a safe and reliable communication environment for your business.