Savvy VoIP Security
I recently had the opportunity to talk with Stephen Mank, the COO of Qovia, Inc., a provider of VoIP equipment monitoring and management tools. VoIP has become a major focus for many organizations for 2006, and VoIP security remains a hot topic.
Brent: What impact will security have on VoIP adoption?
Stephen: If properly understood and implemented, it really shouldn't have much impact. Realize that this is not just another IP application; understand how it is different, particularly with its real-time requirements; and take a multi-layered approach to solving the problem. (See chart.)
Multi-Layered VoIP Security Overview
| Layer | Use in VoIP Systems | Vulnerability | Protection |
| Application Semantics | Registration, software download, call mgmt., billing, dial plan, email, conferencing, voice mail, user identity, contacts list | SPAM, viruses, hijacking, eavesdropping, toll fraud, application specific DOS & spoofing, identity theft | Very little today. |
| Session &Transport | SIP, SCCP, RTP, MGCP, H323, CDP, AXL | Protocol specific DOS & spoofing, man-in-the-middle | SRTP, TLS, SSL |
| Data Network | IP, UDP, DHCP, DNS, TFTP, ARP, SNMP, HTTP | Network DOS & Spoofing, man-in-the-middle, etc. | Standard IPSEC procedures, Intrusion Protection |
| Physical Devices | Phones, servers and gateways | MAC spoofing, Rogue Devices | Control physical access, Rogue detection |
Source: Qovia, Inc.
Brent: Are we ready to secure VoIP? What best practices should organizations follow to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of their VoIP deployments?
Stephen: The following steps toward securing VoIP should be taken into consideration:
Physical Security
* If you have a separate VoIP network (or VLANs) make sure only phones are on it
* Include phones in your 'asset tracking' strategy. Know when new ones 'show up'!
* If you need 'phone mobility' be sure you can discriminate between valid and 'rogue' phones
Transport & Session Security
* Enable Transport Label Security (TLS) for encrypting call signaling (not supported by all call managers).
* Enable Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol (SRTP) for encrypting call streams (not supported in all phones).
* Caution: Some management and monitoring tools do not work well with encryption. Check with your vendors first!
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