Voice over IP in the Voice over IP in the EnterpriseEnterprise

What is VOIP?What is VOIP?

The use of data networks to carry The use of data networks to carry voice without a loss of sound voice without a loss of sound qualityquality

VOIP is the Future of VOIP is the Future of TelecommunicationsTelecommunications Experts predict that 97% of new Experts predict that 97% of new

phone systems installed will phone systems installed will utilize VOIPutilize VOIP

Technologies used in Technologies used in VOIPVOIP

Analog to Digital Analog to Digital ConverterConverter The core technology that makes The core technology that makes

VOIP possibleVOIP possible Accomplished with a hardware Accomplished with a hardware

device that is usually integrated device that is usually integrated into the phoneinto the phone

CompressionCompression

Compresses the voice data to Compresses the voice data to make it feasible to transfer across make it feasible to transfer across a data networka data network

No one standard is in place yetNo one standard is in place yet

User Datagram User Datagram ProtocolProtocol VOIP packets are encapsulated in VOIP packets are encapsulated in

a UDP packeta UDP packet Used because it requires much Used because it requires much

less overhead than TCPless overhead than TCP Does not guarantee delivery or Does not guarantee delivery or

sequencesequence

Real-Time Transport Real-Time Transport ProtocolProtocol Part of the UDP packet that Part of the UDP packet that

corrects sequencing errorscorrects sequencing errors

Quality of Service Quality of Service (QOS)(QOS) Makes VOIP Possible by allowing Makes VOIP Possible by allowing

acceptable sound qualityacceptable sound quality Controls the network to Controls the network to

guarantee bandwidth and reduce guarantee bandwidth and reduce latency latency

QOS TechnologiesQOS Technologies

Type of service – Part of a packet Type of service – Part of a packet header that tells a network device header that tells a network device what priority it should havewhat priority it should have

Queuing – Holds packets until they can Queuing – Holds packets until they can be forwarded onbe forwarded on

Traffic Shaping – Give priority based on Traffic Shaping – Give priority based on source, destination, or protocolsource, destination, or protocol

Congestion Avoidance – Allows the Congestion Avoidance – Allows the data to follow the most efficient pathdata to follow the most efficient path

Advantages of VOIPAdvantages of VOIP

Small companies and SOHO users can Small companies and SOHO users can utilize services such as Skype and utilize services such as Skype and Vonage to alleviate long distance billsVonage to alleviate long distance bills

Large companies use the converged Large companies use the converged voice and data networks to provide voice and data networks to provide better customer servicebetter customer service

Some consolidation of the IT and Some consolidation of the IT and Telecom departments is possibleTelecom departments is possible

Once central place for fax, e-mail, Once central place for fax, e-mail, voice mail, and pagervoice mail, and pager

Disadvantages of VOIPDisadvantages of VOIP

May require a redesign of the May require a redesign of the current networkcurrent network

May require expensive hardware May require expensive hardware replacementreplacement

Lack of qualified VOIP engineersLack of qualified VOIP engineers Proper testing tools are expensiveProper testing tools are expensive

VOIP SecurityVOIP Security

Still vulnerable to Denial of Service Still vulnerable to Denial of Service and theft of service attacksand theft of service attacks

Can inherit the vulnerabilities of Can inherit the vulnerabilities of the underlying operating systemthe underlying operating system

Past lessons learned from internet Past lessons learned from internet connected data networks can be connected data networks can be passed on to create a secure passed on to create a secure solutionsolution

ConclusionConclusion

VOIP is a emerging technology VOIP is a emerging technology that someday will replace phone that someday will replace phone systems and bring new systems and bring new possibilities to the telecom possibilities to the telecom industryindustry