Enabling Indian VoIP

Nimrod Borovsky: director (product marketing) at VocalTech

Nimrod Borovsky, director (product marketing) at VocalTech, was here in India

for the Telecom Security Conference. In his address, he outlined VoIP security

issues encountered in next-generation networks. Vocal-Tec is setting up its

first office in India shortly.

n What are the

security issues encountered in a typical VoIP set-up? Are the security solutions

the same as those used for data networks?



Yes, they are more or less the same as far as firewalls, VPN connectivity,

and network security are concerned. However, those specific to VoIP concern

tapping and monitoring calls, call security and security against frauds. Here

security breaches include avoiding charges, gathering information like account

numbers and passwords and disturbances like denial of serial numbers etc.

Traditional PSTN networks are very secure with a closed network topology. But

VoIP networks pose a couple of security issues because of multi point

connections, a cloudy and peering network, and also because of coexistence of

other services.

n Besides the

network security aspect, what are the other specific aspects of security in a

VoIP set-up?



The first is call security that involves call authentication and

authorization, and SIP (session initiation protocol), transport security and

then customer security that involves securing user details. SIP is a signaling

protocol for telephony, instant messaging, among others. It provides additional

flexibility to VoIP networks with its features and technology. Customer security

involves safely passing information and storing them in manner that is

inaccessible to unauthorized users.

n Since VoIP

still hasn’t reached a majority adoption phase in India, what are your

expectations as far as selling security solutions are concerned?



We are now directly entering India by setting up our first office, otherwise

we had operated through the Nirvan Management Group. It is India’s sheer

market size that will keep our products selling. The VoIP adoption level is

growing exceedingly fast and we wish to tap into it.

n What are the

benefits of Verint Solutions partnering with VocalTec?



VocalTech and Verint have signed an agreement, under which, we will offer VoIP
packet-based communication systems. Together we hope to meet the challenging

requirements of lawful interception in packet-based communication markets

worldwide. Both the companies have deployment experience in India specific

businesses and regulatory environments.

Radhika Bhuyan in New Delhi