Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology empowers users to make calls from anywhere with an internet connection. It’s also packed with features that make communication clearer and more efficient — all for a fraction of the cost of traditional phone systems.
But like any technology that connects to the internet, VoIP is prone to various cybersecurity risks. That's why it's important to test you and your employees' knowledge of VoIP security best practices and address any behavior that can compromise security.
Take this quiz to see how much you know about VoIP security.
1. What is the most common VoIP security risk?
A. Malware infections
B. Misconfigured VoIP systems
C. Unauthorized access to VoIP accounts
D. VoIP phishing (vishing) attacks
Answer: D. VoIP phishing (vishing) attacks
VoIP phishing, also known as vishing, remains the top threat to business VoIP systems. It is similar to traditional phishing, a social engineering attack in which scammers send fraudulent emails purporting to be from trusted sources in order to steal personal information.
However, VoIP phishing can be more dangerous because it allows scammers to make live calls directly to victims. This makes it harder for victims to determine whether the call is legitimate or not. VoIP phishing can also be used to scam victims into buying bogus products or services.
2. What is the best way to protect your VoIP system from vishing attacks?
A. Implement solutions that make it difficult for attackers to reach VoIP users
B. Educate your users on how to detect and report vishing attacks
C. Both A and B
D. Ignore VoIP security risks and hope you don't get attacked
Answer: C. Both A and B
A multilayered approach that combines IT solutions and human vigilance can best protect your VoIP system from vishing attacks. Some tech solutions to implement include anti-spoofing controls that make it difficult for attackers to gain access to your VoIP system, thus reducing the risk of a successful vishing attack. Another critical thing to do is to enable multifactor authentication (MFA), which requires users to provide several login credentials before they can access their voicemail accounts or make calls. This can help prevent unauthorized users from accessing your VoIP system and making fraudulent calls.
On top of using anti-vishing solutions, it’s essential to educate your users on how to identify suspicious calls or emails, as well as who to contact if they think they have been targeted by a vishing attack. Train your employees to be cautious when giving out personal information over the phone and to use the call recording feature of your VoIP solution to capture any attempted vishing attacks. This can help you identify the source of the attack and provide valuable evidence for law enforcement officials.
3. What can you do to prevent unauthorized access to VoIP accounts?
A. Have a strong password policy
B. Use VoIP security solutions that require MFA
C. Only make calls from secure networks
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
It's important to implement as many security measures as you can to protect your VoIP accounts from unauthorized access. One of the most vital protections you should have is a strong password policy that neutralizes brute force attacks. You can also leverage MFA to verify users' identities before granting them access. Additionally, ensure that employees only make calls from secure networks to further reduce the risk of a cybercriminal gaining access to your VoIP system.
4. What is the best way to protect your VoIP system from malware infections?
A. Only use mobile devices to make VoIP calls
B. Implement encryption, firewalls, and intrusion prevention systems
C. Enforce perimeter security so your devices don’t get tampered with
D. Protection is unnecessary because VoIP systems are immune to malware infections
Answer: B. Implement encryption, firewalls, and intrusion prevention systems
Implementing robust encryption mechanisms helps prevent any malicious actors from accessing your system and stealing your data. You may want to consider using a virtual private network (VPN), which creates a secure tunnel between your device and the VPN server, helping to protect your data from prying eyes. Additionally, it can also mask your location and IP address, making it difficult for anyone to track your activities.
Firewalls are also crucial in protecting your VoIP system from malware infections, as they can block malicious traffic and keep your systems safe. In addition, you should make sure that you have up-to-date antivirus software installed on all of your devices.
Deploy an intrusion prevention system (IPS) as well to monitor network traffic for malicious or unauthorized activity. If the IPS detects any suspicious activity, it will automatically block the unwanted traffic.
5. How can a VoIP provider keep your systems secure?
A. They provide advanced encryption
B. They ensure that VoIP systems are configured correctly
C. They install security updates and patches as soon as possible
D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
Your VoIP provider should also be a security specialist that is able to configure systems correctly and set in place critical VoIP safeguards. At XBASE Technologies, for instance, we implement EXponentially Better™ cybersecurity measures to keep your VoIP communications safe and secure.
How well did you do on the quiz? VoIP security is a critical part of protecting your company's communications, so it's important that everyone in your organization knows how to identify and handle VoIP threats. For more information on VoIP, download our FREE eBook on VoIP now.