Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) delivers functionality and flexibility in one affordable digital telephony system. VoIP may boast an array of benefits but how does it compare in terms of data security?
If you are using VoIP, you are essentially using the Internet to make telephone calls. This can be troubling to some business owners who believe in the steadfast security of legacy systems. This is an incredibly common concern. In fact, many people find themselves withdrawing from online activity due to fears of hackers and viruses. Could Internet phones open your business up to a whole new world of threats?
What is Encryption?
While the dangers of the web will never go away, professionally-installed VoIP solutions do not have to be vulnerable to them. VoIP is incredibly safe, effective and trusted by companies across the globe. The key factor that makes VoIP solutions so secure is encryption.
Encryption is a time-tested method that plays an imperative role in keeping your business secure. Encrypting calls works by turning conversations into code using a highly advanced algorithm. The type of algorithm (symmetric or asymmetric) is chosen based on the company’s size and quantity of data.
The key difference is that a symmetric algorithm uses the same key for encryption and decryption while an asymmetric algorithm uses two divergent keys. Only those that have the ‘secret key’ or password can read the coded messages. Hackers would be wasting time by even trying to intercept a phone call, as the encryption would present them with a scrambled bunch of nonsense. This assures that all conversations are strictly confidential.
Why is Encryption Important?
Encryption is one of the most powerful data security features available. It is particularly valuable for organizations that collect vulnerable information about clients such as law firms and healthcare clinics.
Surprisingly, many businesses that obtain VoIP services go without this practical feature. This is likely due to the fact that they are simply unaware of it, or because their current provider does not offer it. There is also some hesitancy surrounding encryption as it known to put strain on bandwidth. Bandwidth comes at a cost and any additional convolution can be understandably off-putting. However, when the reputational and monetary price of data loss is considered, it truly is better to be safe than to save.
Best Practices When Using Encryption
Even when data is secured through encryption, there are ways in which it can be compromised. To ensure it remains safe, we recommend being attentive about key management. Key management determines how keys are stored and shared. Since keys are the only way that thieves can access your encrypted data, it is vital that they are handled with as much caution as the data itself.
It is also important to be mindful of bad habits such as leaving log in credentials in plain sight. This can give criminals the go ahead to commandeer an employee’s account and use it for all kinds of fraudulent activity.
Remember that encryption is one piece of the puzzle when it comes to securing your infrastructure. It is an eminent aspect, but it works in tandem with other efforts such as proper backup procedures and virus protection.
The fascinating science of data encryption runs deeper than what we have highlighted in this article. We hope this has provided you with a basic scope of how encryption works and why it should not be overlooked. If you have questions about how to keep your data safe, please contact us! We can help you find tailored solutions for your business.