Hosted VoIP SecurityVoice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone solutions are the next big thing for hotels across the globe. Not only are VoIP systems extremely affordable, they're also reliable, fully scalable, and include tons of cool features that work to the benefit of hotel staff and guests alike. Despite all of these advantages, though, there are still some hospitality businesses that are holding out on making the switch, mainly due to concerns about cloud security and their phone systems. 

If this has been the case for you, we're about to allay all of your fears. VoIP phone systems are very safe and secure -- if you follow a few simple steps. Here's a look at a few easy methods for protecting your hotel's VoIP network against all threats:

Establish Access Restrictions

Treat your VoIP system just like you would a desktop network. This is done by taking measures to set up access control lists and firewall restrictions that will only make VoIP use available to the appropriate users on an as-needed basis. In cases where you've got phones set up in guest common areas, we suggest that you establish restrictions which limit usage only to voice calls. This will secure your voice and data networks.

Set Up Firewalls and Security

When setting up and maintaining your VoIP system, it's important that you take measures to ensure that the VoIP network is entirely secure via a session initiation protocol (SIP) firewall. SIP firewalls are among the very best ways to secure your VoIP solution, and work by inspecting voice packets as they arrive into your network. From here, any suspicious traffic is filtered. The smartest course of action is to establish a dedicated IP network that is solely used for your VoIP system and to set up firewalls and limitations on the number of open ports. 

Create Strong Passwords

One of the biggest mistakes that hotels make is in the use of weak or obvious passwords. You want to make it impossible for a hacker to guess your passwords and breach your security. For the strongest possible password, we urge you to come up with a word or phrase involving 10 to 16 characters, a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, that also uses at least one number and/or special character. Don't use any words or numbers associated with your hotel, including your street name or number. Make sure to frequently update passwords for maximum security. Encourage your employees to regularly change their own access passwords. 

Stick to a Regular Call Log Auditing Schedule

A phone network, even a VoIP network, can be attacked without you ever knowing that the attack occurred. This can result in higher bills. The smartest way to manage this is to set aside the time to routinely audit your call logs to ensure that your network isn't being used without your authorization -- either by malicious hackers or even fraudulent calls made by your staff. 

Enforce Call-Forwarding Rules

Some businesses and hotels have had issues involving call-frowarding. This is because many employees enjoy the convenience of forwarding their office phone to their mobile phones or devices. Placing restrictions on call-forwarding options on your VoIP system can help prevent fraudulent calls or threats to your system's security. You can block outgoing calls to other countries and specific geographic locations to protect your business. Make sure that employees understand the rules, and enforce them to the best of your ability.

It doesn't take much effort to keep your hotel's VoIP phone system safe and secure at all times. When the experts at PhoneSuite are on your team, you can rest assured that your phone network is protected from the very start. Give us a call to set up your secure phone system today, or to discuss further security measures for your existing VoIP network.