There’s a threat always looming. This is just an accepted fact of using something that is connected or exists through the internet.
Because it’s on the internet, the exposure could be coming from anywhere. The amount of transactions happening through VoIP systems is so great nowadays that it becomes a target.
Following conventional wisdom, you’d think that only those in the e-commerce industry and that otherwise, you’re safe. But that’s not true at all. Every type of business could potentially be victimized by an attack.
One of the ways that you can mitigate potential harm is by choosing a trusted virtual number provider Telnum that values its customers by implementing high-level encryption.
But obviously, keeping your system secure takes more than that. Here are a few things that you have to do up the security level of your system and reduce the potentiality of attacks:
1. Set up a strong password and activate two-factor authentication
Have you noticed how most sites nowadays (especially those dealing with sensitive information!) require you to have a strong password? That’s because it’s the easiest way to get into your account.
The same logic applies to your VoIP system. Each login credential is a potential way for someone supposedly unauthorized to infiltrate the system.
When you first get the system, you’ll normally have a default password. You should change it right away to something more secure.
At the same time, activate two-factor authentication. This would make it harder for anyone to just get in because they’ll need to know your password as well as have access to the email or device connected with your account.
2. Turn off international calling
If you’re a small business that gets customers locally, there’s no point in having it turned on anyway. Basic logic dictates that you’re not expecting anyone to call you from another country in the same way that you don’t see yourself calling anyone there.
Turning off international calling ensures that no one except those in your area would call you.
This is notorious for enterprises that have a toll-free number. Someone would constantly call you using an international number so you’d end up having to pay a lot when your phone bill comes.
If you really need international calling, we suggest that you block all area codes except for the ones you’re doing business in.
Just to make things even more secure, we suggest that you also block calls from your end to international numbers. So if anyone ever gets in or if a disgruntled employee wants their revenge, there won’t be too much damage.
3. Always install the latest updates
If you’re the type to delay installing updates, it’s time to change how you feel about it. These updates are there for a reason which includes among other things, security.
By delaying the update, you’re exposing your system to an already-known vulnerability. Anyone who knows that vulnerability can use that against you.
You should regularly check for updates and have them installed as soon as possible.
4. Customize user permissions
Not everyone on your staff does the same thing. So why should their access to the system be the same?
Therefore, their access to the system must be limited by the tasks they’re supposed to perform. For example, the marketing team doesn’t need access to sensitive customer information that your logistics department may need.
At the same time, you can grant them access to additional features that would further enhance their efficiency. How you’ll set it up will depend on your organizational structure and the tasks performed by each person or department.
5. Regularly review call logs
Call logs could provide very telling information not only of the performance of your staff but also of the potential security dangers that may be happening.
But you should do it even if you don’t think there’s anything suspicious happening. This will serve as a baseline for future references. See it this way: how would you know that something is wrong when you don’t have an idea how it was going before? It could be downright impossible.
Look at call analytics. Check for anything suspicious based on past information (your previous log reviews). Looking at macro data would allow you to easily detect where there might have been misused. Investigate all outliers and see if there’s something more to it.
If you’re not sure if the system’s been exposed, your best bet is to monitor the source. Check if your provider offers real-time monitoring so you can listen to potential sources of misuse.
Complacency is the enemy that could eventually expose your system to attacks and even bring the downfall of your enterprise. So the most important thing that you can do to keep your system secure is to be vigilant.
