Adam Smith, Esq.

VoIP: Now or Never?

InfoWorld has a cover story on whether VoIP is ready for prime-time.  It's comprehensive, and I highly recommend it for anyone considering such a move. 

Among other topics discussed is, especially for law firms, the all-important issue of security.  For example, did you know there's a "readily available" Unix tool called "Voice Over Misconfigured Internet Telphones (also known as VOMIT)"?  Forward your managing partner's calls to your competitors?  Check his/her voicemails?  It's all possible.

So why would any firm in its right mind do this?

1. The conventional PBX system is not as secure as you assume, and there's an historical track record of being able to hack into it (in other words, don't assume that the devil you know is preferable); and
2. Cisco and the other big players in this space are not naive; they have "hardened" versions of VoIP operating systems, up to and including intrusion detection.

The bottom line:  If you implement VoIP assiduously, you could increase the reliability of your network overall.  And face facts:  That day will come.

Posted by Bruce at June 8, 2004 04:23 PM | TrackBack