By Sharla Sikes

VoIP security leaves something to be desired, according to police.

Sky News reports that police cannot tap VoIP calls, bringing fears that terrorists may use the services of companies like Skype and others to communicate. Voice over IP calls can’t be listened to though the call can be logged. Additionally, with VoIP companies located across the globe, a police warrant means little. British courts, however, are debating whether intercepted phone calls shall be admissible evidence at all.

Yet even if traditional phone-tapping methods won’t work with VoIP calls, a “new national e-crime unit” will work to solve the problem of monitoring VoIP calls.

Of more interest to the average VoIP user, however, is not how terrorists may use the technology, but how secure is their OWN private or business line? The “unique challenges” inherent in VoIP security aren’t insurmountable, just, well, unique.

It’s true that VoIP communications offer an additional access point for malicious hackers. Providers work to improve security, but at a user level, education and “organizational adjustment” will also ease security concerns.

“The new responsibilities for VoIP security will require education, possibly some organisational adjustment and expanded job descriptions,” says Gary Audin
of Computer Weekly. He recommends a company make sure its IT security team is prepared. That recommended preparation might include calling in an outside consultant, and working with the provider to ensure that a firewall is in place in front of the call server. Too many barriers, however, will increase interference and lower call quality.

Computer Weekly provides an in-depth look at VoIP security for IT personnel. Implementing security measures is important, but not at the cost of call quality and cost.

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