Secure VoIP, an Achievable Goal

An anonymous reader writes "ITO is running a comprehensive article on VoIP security issues and how one can protect against them: "VoIP creates new ways of delivering fully-featured phone services that promise big cost savings and open the way for a whole new range of multimedia communication services. After years of 'will it, won't it' speculation and unfulfilled predictions of universal adoption, Gartner is now positioning VoIP firmly on its way to the 'plateau of productivity' on its widely-respected technology hype cycle. But questions about its security and reliability persist.""

Comments

Re:I'd like to be able to hear the pin drop first.

[einhverfr]

There are several quality issues.

First, the PSTN uses 64kbps, even if the sampling is only over 4khz of spectrum. Thus it is misleading to look at the spectrum when in most cases this is entirely adequate and not where the problem is.

Secondly, VOIP runs over packet networks as a streaming service. Packet networks were never developed with voice traffic in mind, unlike the circuit switched PSTN. This means that network traffic or congestion has different effects in these two networks. With PSTN, you get a message saying that "All circuits are currently busy" while with VOIP, you get jitter on the line as packets get delayed by appreciable yet random fractions of a second. This second problem is not solvable without the development of a fully two-tiered internet (something I don't want to see happen).

Dont get me wrong-- my company offers VOIP solutions and we see it as an important technology. But it is not a replacement for a traditional TDM-based telephone connection.