Top 10 VoIP Security Best Practices & Common Threats in 2024

Understanding VoIP Security

In this first section, we’ll discover the basics of VoIP security. They cover the importance of VoIP security in keeping business communications safe and emerging trends in this realm.

Why Does VoIP Security Matter?

As we all know, VoIP depends heavily on the Internet. This technology brings many benefits to your business. In particular, it can be cheaper than traditional phone systems. Further, it provides more features to streamline and enhance phone calls. They include voicemail to email, call routing, video conferencing, advanced call analytics, etc.

However, like websites or apps you’re using daily, VoIP systems are vulnerable to cyber threats. Many businesses today often share sensitive information over calls. This can involve client details, financial data, and other confidential info. Without robust security measures and practices, VoIP systems can be prone to attacks. Accordingly, that information is at risk of being stolen through malware or call interception.

This can first disrupt business communication. Besides, customers may lose trust in a company that has been hacked. This results in reputational damage and affects future cooperation with potential clients or partners. Worse, cyberattacks on VoIP systems can cause significant financial losses and even legal fines.

As these risks are becoming more serious and sophisticated, VoIP security increasingly matters. VoIP security, briefly speaking, refers to measures taken to protect your business information from unauthorized access, interception, or modification. These measures include data encryption, multi-factor authentication, firewalls, and more.

Future of VoIP Security

VoIP worldwide reached a staggering value of USD 29.95 billion by 2024. Also, the research has forecast that this figure will increase to USD 63.73% billion in 2031. This growth is equivalent to a CAGR of 9.9% during this projection period. With a constant rise in VoIP demands and solutions, VoIP security will draw more attention from businesses. As such, they’re more conscious of security in a growing threat landscape.

VoIP service providers, accordingly, advance their security measures to safeguard data privacy and prevent cyber threats. Some common security methods include encryption, vulnerability assessments, and multi-factor authentication (MFA). Leveraging these VoIP security best practices can foster trust and a safe communication culture for your company and clients.

The future of VoIP security looks promising not only because of this emphasis on robust security. These days, we’ve seen tech advancements integrated into VoIP phone systems and enhancing their security posture.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can analyze call data to identify unusual patterns and possible security risks. This allows for proactive measures to prevent attacks before they occur.

Cloud-based VoIP solutions are becoming a favorite option for many businesses. They can enable scalability, cost reduction, and ease of installation. Further, these solutions provide better protection and easier risk management. With these benefits, your company can update security measures faster. This keeps your company ahead of new threats.

Top 10 VoIP Security Threats

Before diving into our top 10 VoIP security best practices, you need to understand which common threats VoIP is facing today. Below are the worst threats you may encounter when using VoIP systems:

1. Phone Hacking

As the name states, phone hacking occurs when someone gains unauthorized access to a VoIP system. VoIP operates primarily on the Internet. So, threat actors can hack into this system more easily than traditional phone systems. For example, they could exploit weak passwords or outdated software. Once inside, they might listen to business conversations. They can also intercept calls, steal information, and even make unauthorized calls. This can result in high phone bills and lost data.

2. Malware, Trojans & Viruses

Malware, trojans, and viruses are major threats to VoIP security. Particularly, malware is a general term for harmful software. Trojans disguise themselves as legitimate programs. Viruses, meanwhile, attach to clean files and spread throughout your VoIP system. Despite different functions, these threats all share the same purpose. It’s to harm or exploit the system.

Malware, trojans, and viruses infect your VoIP system in many ways. They can come through email attachments or downloads. Once inside, they can cause serious damage. In particular, malware might steal sensitive data while trojans can create backdoors for hackers. Viruses, on the other hand, corrupt data and disrupt services.

3. AI-Assisted Keystroke Detection

This is an emerging VoIP security threat. It uses AI to track and analyze keystrokes. Briefly speaking, a keystroke is a basic unit of interaction between a company and a user. It can be a letter, symbol, or number you type. By learning typing patterns, keystroke detection can detect sensitive info (e.g., passwords or credit card numbers).

This threat becomes serious as AI makes it more efficient. Traditional keyloggers require manual analysis. AI, meanwhile, speeds up this process. This means threat actors can steal information more quickly and avoid detection by security systems.

4. Toll Fraud

Toll fraud involves unauthorized users making long-distance or international calls through their company’s VoIP system. These threat actors might harness weak passwords or vulnerabilities in the system. Once accessing it successfully, they can make large-charge calls without detection. This leads to significant financial loss for the company.

5. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks

A DDoS attack occurs when many computers flood your VoIP system with traffic. This overwhelms the system and makes it unavailable to users. Hackers often use networks of infected computers to launch this attack. Particularly, they send massive amounts of data to the target system. This can make the VoIP service slow down or crash. For this reason, your company can’t make or receive calls during this DDoS attack.

6. Traffic Interception

Traffic interception happens when hackers capture and analyze the data being transmitted over a VoIP network. Hackers leverage different techniques to intercept VoIP traffic. They involve exploiting vulnerabilities in the network or using tools to monitor data transmissions. By intercepting this traffic, they can listen to private conversations and gather sensitive data.

7. Vishing

Vishing stands for “Voice Phishing”. It happens when threat actors use phone calls to trick users into revealing sensitive data like passwords or financial information. They pretend to be legitimate entities like banks or tech support.

One common technique in VoIP vishing is that attackers often create a sense of urgency. They can claim there’s a problem with an account. Then, they ask for personal details, passwords, or credit card numbers. Unsuspecting victims can provide this information, thinking they’re helping.

8. Call Tampering

Call tampering refers to threat actors interfering with a VoIP call. Accordingly, they can alter, disrupt, or eavesdrop on the conversation. They even inject noise, distort voices, or even change the call content. The bad news here is: call tampering is considered hard to discover. Threat actors often use advanced techniques (like AI-powered voice synthesis or access to compromised networks) to avoid detection. This makes your business hard to identify the tampering.

9. SPIT

SPIT stands for “Spam over Internet Telephony”. It’s a type of spam targeting VoIP systems. Just like email spam, SPIT involves sending unwanted or unrequested calls to users. These calls are often automated and can be used for vishing or advertising. In some cases, SPIT is designed to trick users into giving up personal or sensitive information. SPIT is a serious VoIP security threat as it clutters VoIP systems with unnecessary and disruptive calls. This overwhelms the systems, reduces their efficiency, and wastes your company’s time.

10. VOMIT

VOMIT stands for “Voice over Misconfigured Internet Telephony.” This threat exploits poorly configured VoIP systems for cyberattacks. Therefore, when these systems aren’t set up correctly, they can be prone to threats. Once inside, attackers can insert malicious data into VoIP traffic, breach data, and disrupt business communication.

Top 10 VoIP Security Best Practices

Today, we have to admit that VoIP security threats are becoming more serious. Especially with the unexpected assistance of AI, these threats are increasingly sophisticated and hard to detect. Without proper precautions and VoIP security best practices, your VoIP system can fall victim to cybercrime. So in this section, we’ll detail the top 10 practices you should adopt to protect the system proactively.

1. Use Strong Passwords

A 2024 analysis of over 2 million compromised cloud app credentials found 123456 as the most easily breached password. Passwords are normally the first and most popular security gate for your accounts. Using weak or common passwords can pose a real, serious threat to your VoIP system. These passwords often contain simple patterns (1234abcd) and personal information (names or birthdays).

According to Bogfan Botezatu, the Director of Threat Research & Reporting at Bitdefender, strong passwords must be randomly created and stored safely in a reputable password manager. Further, they should be at least 12 characters long, complex, and unique.

Strong passwords help protect VoIP accounts from being hacked. They’re harder to guess or break as they combine upper-case letters, lower-case letters, special symbols, and numbers. For example, =y(Qd70Q”+{2. Also, using unique passwords for each account prevents a single breach from affecting multiple systems.

Strong passwords help protect VoIP accounts from being hacked. They are harder to guess or break because they include a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Unique passwords for each account prevent a single breach from affecting multiple systems. Also, they reduce the risk of disrupting business communication and accessing confidential data without permission.

Here are some tips you should consider to create strong passwords:

Avoid adding easily guessed information (e.g., names or addresses) to your passwords;
Combine random characters;
Avoid reusing passwords across different accounts;
Change passwords regularly;
Leverage password managers like Bitwarden, Dashlane, or 1Password to further foster security.

Instead of creating passwords manually, use password generators like LastPass or NordPass. These tools help you create strong passwords for your VoIP accounts automatically and quickly.

2. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Only passwords, albeit complex, can’t totally protect your VoIP accounts from cyberattacks. One 2024 report indicated that 31.1 million passwords with over 16 characters are vulnerable to threats. This highlights that strong passwords aren’t always secure, especially in the era when cybercrime is becoming serious with the support of advanced tech. For this reason, tech leaders in World Password Day 2024 advised users to complement passwords with MFA if possible.

This security best practice involves using more than one form of identification to verify your identity in the VoIP system. For example, once you’ve entered a password, the system will send you a code via email or SMS messaging for validation. This adds an extra layer of protection to your accounts. For this reason, MFA makes it much harder for hackers to gain access.

Today, various providers integrate MFA into VoIP systems as a popular means to enhance security posture. However, Bogfan Botezatu advised users against SMS-based OTPs. It’s because threat actors can hack your phone number to intercept SMS messages and steal these OTPs. He suggested receiving the code through emails instead. This can be complex yet reduce the attack surface and improve privacy.

3. Update Software Regularly

VoIP phone systems aren’t always perfect. Not to mention that VoIP security threats are ever-evolving. Accordingly, hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in your outdated system for bad purposes. Therefore, it’s crucial to upgrade the system regularly.

Frequent updates ensure that your VoIP system has the latest security features. This helps protect the system against new threats and fix any existing vulnerabilities that hackers might access.

Moreover, outdated software can slow down your VoIP system and cause compatibility issues. So, updating software often will improve performance and reliability. This, then, ensures secure and smooth communication for your business.

If you outsource VoIP system development, we advise you to choose a partner that offers regular updates. This will ensure your VoIP software remains up-to-date with the latest tech, security patches, and feature enhancements.

4. Enable Encryption

Encryption transforms data into a format that only authorized users can decipher with encryption keys. This makes the data unreadable to anyone who intercepts it. Without encryption, malicious actors can easily eavesdrop on your business conversations. Also, they can steal confidential data. This might involve client information, financial details, or strategic plans.

For this reason, the global encryption market is estimated to increase from USD 14.5 billion in 2024 to USD 40.2 billion by 2032. This reveals an annual growth rate of 16% during this forecast period. Accordingly, both large enterprises and SMBs invest in database encryption to safeguard their critical business information. Further, encryption helps your company adhere to data protection regulations like GRDP and avoid hefty fines.

Today, many VoIP providers like Vonage, RingCentral, or Nextiva offer end-to-end encryption and other advanced security protocols. All these security features protect call data and maintain privacy. Also, they can ensure compliance with your industry standards and national requirements, hence building trust with clients.

5. Set Up Firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems

Setting up firewalls and intrusion detection systems (IDS) is crucial for VoIP security. Firewalls act as a barrier between your network and potential threats. They monitor incoming and outgoing traffic, thus blocking suspicious or malicious activity. This keeps your VoIP system secure from cyberattacks and threat actors.

However, firewalls, if outdated and lacking proper management, are prone to target assets. Therefore, they should be configured with strict security rules. Also, ensure firewalls are regularly updated, audited, and monitored to identify and respond to potential threats promptly.

This helps them function effectively. In particular, allow only the necessary traffic to your VoIP network and block everything else. To do so, you should leverage whitelisting to permit trusted sources and blacklisting to prevent known threats from accessing the network. For this reason, you can reduce the risk of unauthorized access and protect your VoIP communications.

IDS, on the other hand, adds an extra layer of VoIP security. This best practice manages network traffic to detect unusual or suspicious behavior. They alert you to potential threats in real time. This allows you to respond promptly and hinder attacks before they cause damage.

In case you outsource VoIP system development, ask the outsourced company to implement security measures, including firewalls and IDS. Remember that to set up firewalls, configure them to filter traffic based on IP addresses, ports, and protocols. For IDS, choose a system that fits your network’s needs. Configure it to monitor key areas of your VoIP system.

6. Conduct Network Segmentation

Network segmentation refers to dividing your network into smaller, isolated segments. This helps separate the VoIP system from other parts of your network (e.g., data servers or employee computers).

By isolating VoIP, you create barriers between different types of traffic. Therefore, if one segment is compromised, attackers find it hard to access other parts of your network, even including VoIP infrastructure. This prevents your VoIP phone system from possible security threats.

Network segmentation, further, helps you prioritize and secure traffic. VoIP communications demand consistent, high-quality connections. By separating VoIP traffic from other data, you minimize congestion and ensure reliable communication.

To conduct network segmentation, identify and classify devices and services on your network. Then, group them based on their roles and security requirements. Leverage firewalls and VLANs (Virtual Local Area Networks) to create secure boundaries between segments.

7. Secure VoIP Endpoints

VoIP endpoints involve devices like computers, smartphones, and other equipment used to make and receive calls. These devices are often targets for hackers looking to exploit vulnerabilities.

If an endpoint is compromised, threat actors can gain access to sensitive information. This can disrupt your VoIP communications and result in severe damage to your network. So, protecting VoIP endpoints from cyber threats is one of the best security practices you need to consider.

In 2024, organizations worldwide primarily use basic anti-virus software and data loss/leak prevention (DLP) to secure endpoints. They also plan to use deception technology or honeypots in the future to safeguard your devices from any harm.

But such tech is not the only thing to think about when it comes to VoIP endpoint security. You should use strong, unique passwords for each device and change them regularly. This makes it harder for hackers to breach multiple endpoints. Further, consider frequently updating the software and firmware on all VoIP devices, using encryption, and training employees.

Don’t ignore physical security measures for your VoIP system. This means keeping your VoIP endpoints in secure locations to prevent tampering. Also, use locks and other security devices to protect them from physical access by unauthorized individuals.

8. Conduct Regular Security Audits

There’s nothing to ensure your VoIP system is always secure from cyberattacks. So, conducting regular security audits is essential for your VoIP security.

Security audits include periodic reviews and evaluations of your VoIP security measures. They help detect vulnerabilities and ensure that your security practices are effective. Then, you can take proactive action to combat emerging threats. This, therefore, mitigates the risk of security breaches and maintains the integrity of your VoIP communications. Also, audits ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations like HIPPA.

To conduct a security audit, first define the scope and assess risks. Then, use automated tools like Nessus or OpenVAS to scan for vulnerabilities in your VoIP system. You can also perform penetration tests to detect security holes. Further, review VoIP system configurations, validate encryption settings, verify access logs, and check firewall rules. Don’t forget to evaluate user behavior for potential security risks and identify training needs.

One important step in security audits is to document audit findings and develop action plans to respond to security incidents. Additionally, test and update audit processes often to reflect changes in tech and security threats.

Besides, security audits are not a single-person game. They need to involve different parties, including IT, security, and business teams. IT professionals have in-depth knowledge of the VoIP system’s infrastructure, software, and hardware. Security teams are adept at detecting and addressing security risks. Business teams, meanwhile, understand the company’s business processes, risk tolerance, and critical data. Therefore, collaborating between different teams creates a comprehensive audit for your VoIP system.

9. Monitor and Respond to Security Incidents

Monitoring and responding to security incidents is equally essential. Setting up monitoring systems enables you to identify potential breaches early. In particular, monitoring systems continuously analyze network and system logs for anomalies. They then alert you to potential security threats (e.g., unusual login attempts). This helps you take prompt action to minimize risks.

Further, you should define clear procedures and plans for responding to different types of security incidents. This involves who to contact, what actions to take, and how to resolve and recover from these incidents.

Don’t ignore regular reviews and updates to improve your incident response plan. You can test them through simulated cyberattacks to ensure the plan is effective. Also, it’s crucial to train your team on how to recognize and respond to security incidents immediately.

10. Train Employees on VoIP Security Best Practices

All the mentioned security practices can safeguard your business communication and crucial data. However, one research indicated that 68% of data breaches are attributed to the human element. So, apart from these measures, you should raise your staff’s awareness of VoIP security best practices through training.

To implement VoIP security training effectively, determine its target audience first. Then, develop training content that covers from basic security awareness to VoIP-specific security issues. This content can be common VoIP threats, the latest security practices, or how to create and manage strong, unique passwords. It all depends on what you expect employees to achieve from training.

Once you’ve decided on suitable training content, choose training delivery methods. They involve in-person training sessions, online modules, video tutorials, or attack simulations. Don’t forget the training duration and plans for upcoming training programs.

What if developing a training plan isn’t your strength? The answer is: outsourcing security training to a reliable provider. Each provider creates programs tailored to your specific needs. Some VoIP service providers like Designveloper also offer training. For example, at Designveloper, we provide customizable training programs as follows:

Secure Coding Training: Equipping developers with the expertise to produce secure code and mitigate typical vulnerabilities.
Security Awareness Training: Educating staff members on cybersecurity fundamentals, recognizing threats, and implementing best practices.
Incident Response Training: Providing IT and security teams with the skills needed to efficiently handle security incidents and breaches.
Threat Modeling Training: Guidance on conducting effective threat modeling sessions to assess and mitigate potential risks.

Consider your ultimate purpose and select a trustworthy VoIP training provider.

Conclusion

Now, you’re here, after discovering all the key aspects of VoIP security. We elaborated on its importance, common VoIP threats, and the top VoIP security best practices. To protect your VoIP communication and phone system, you should implement the best practices constantly and choose the best provider who can support your VoIP security setup. Contact Designveloper if you want more consultancy about VoIP security!