Communication is a crucial component of any successful business. Whether that’s communication with clients, vendors, or coworkers it’s important to have the tools, technology and infrastructure in place to make communicating seamless. VoIP services can help integrate convenient communication abilities into your company’s workflow.
What Is VoIP?
VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol is a system that allows users to make and receive calls by utilizing an internet connection. Instead of using copper lines like traditional phone lines with VoIP sound is converted from an analogue sound wave into a digital voice signal that can then be shared and routed as data.
What are the benefits of VoIP?
Switching to VoIP from traditional phone lines has several benefits for businesses such as cost, scalability, and accessibility.
Cost
VoIP services can save businesses money since it is flexible and can be scaled to match the specific demands of an individual company. Service and maintenance cost associated with VoIP are generally cheaper than landlines. Depending on the VoIP provider users have access to features such as unlimited calling minutes and a fixed flat rate for long distance calls. If you’re just adding phones to your company VoIP setup can be significantly cheaper than the cost of setting up an on-premise phone system.
Scalability
The size of a company and their tech needs can change dramatically from year to year. Small businesses can grow into a large business and larger businesses can downsize or expand into an even larger business. VoIP has the ability to match a company’s needs and workload even if the needs fluctuate over time. One can easily scale up or down the numbers of users or the features necessary to their business.
Accessibility
Work doesn’t always take place in office or in front of a computer anymore. Unlike traditional landlines that link you to a specific location VoIP has the ability to evolve with the ever-changing idea of the workplace. VoIP allows workers working remote, abroad or in different parts of the world to stay in touch. With VoIP you’re not just limited to accepting calls on your phone or even your desktop. Using a hosted business phone system and an App you’ll be able to make and receive calls on any internet capable device.
How do I keep my VoIP network secure?
Since VoIP can be used as a way for cybercriminals to access your network it’s important to keep your VoIP network secure. Cybercriminals can use what’s known as voice hacking as a way to gain access to your network. Once on the network they can steal sensitive information or use your VoIP service to make unauthorized calls. Some of the best practices for keeping your VoIP network secure are common digital hygiene practices such as using strong passwords, enabling MFA and enabling NAT.
Many VoIP phones come with default passwords, it’s best to change these passwords immediately after first receiving the device and each time the device goes through a factory reset. In today’s cybersecurity landscape strong passwords aren’t enough. Enabling multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security and will help even if you’re password is compromised. Multi-factor authentication or MFA requires a user to use two or more types of verification. NAT, Network Address Translation, is a built-in feature on routers used to assign private IP addresses to endpoints on the network. Having an IP address that’s only visible on the local area network will help prevent cybercriminals for being able to manipulate the phone remotely.
Want to talk to us about VoIP? Call us today! 877-464-9996.
