Voice over IP in the Enterprise

What is VOIP? The use of data networks to carry voice without a loss of sound quality The use of data networks to carry voice without a loss of sound quality

VOIP is the Future of Telecommunications Experts predict that 97% of new phone systems installed will utilize VOIP Experts predict that 97% of new phone systems installed will utilize VOIP

Technologies used in VOIP

Analog to Digital Converter The core technology that makes VOIP possible The core technology that makes VOIP possible Accomplished with a hardware device that is usually integrated into the phone Accomplished with a hardware device that is usually integrated into the phone

Compression Compresses the voice data to make it feasible to transfer across a data network Compresses the voice data to make it feasible to transfer across a data network No one standard is in place yet No one standard is in place yet

User Datagram Protocol VOIP packets are encapsulated in a UDP packet VOIP packets are encapsulated in a UDP packet Used because it requires much less overhead than TCP Used because it requires much less overhead than TCP Does not guarantee delivery or sequence Does not guarantee delivery or sequence

Real-Time Transport Protocol Part of the UDP packet that corrects sequencing errors Part of the UDP packet that corrects sequencing errors

Quality of Service (QOS) Makes VOIP Possible by allowing acceptable sound quality Makes VOIP Possible by allowing acceptable sound quality Controls the network to guarantee bandwidth and reduce latency Controls the network to guarantee bandwidth and reduce latency

QOS Technologies Type of service – Part of a packet header that tells a network device what priority it should have Type of service – Part of a packet header that tells a network device what priority it should have Queuing – Holds packets until they can be forwarded on Queuing – Holds packets until they can be forwarded on Traffic Shaping – Give priority based on source, destination, or protocol Traffic Shaping – Give priority based on source, destination, or protocol Congestion Avoidance – Allows the data to follow the most efficient path Congestion Avoidance – Allows the data to follow the most efficient path

Advantages of VOIP Small companies and SOHO users can utilize services such as Skype and Vonage to alleviate long distance bills Small companies and SOHO users can utilize services such as Skype and Vonage to alleviate long distance bills Large companies use the converged voice and data networks to provide better customer service Large companies use the converged voice and data networks to provide better customer service Some consolidation of the IT and Telecom departments is possible Some consolidation of the IT and Telecom departments is possible Once central place for fax, , voice mail, and pager Once central place for fax, , voice mail, and pager

Disadvantages of VOIP May require a redesign of the current network May require a redesign of the current network May require expensive hardware replacement May require expensive hardware replacement Lack of qualified VOIP engineers Lack of qualified VOIP engineers Proper testing tools are expensive Proper testing tools are expensive

VOIP Security Still vulnerable to Denial of Service and theft of service attacks Still vulnerable to Denial of Service and theft of service attacks Can inherit the vulnerabilities of the underlying operating system Can inherit the vulnerabilities of the underlying operating system Past lessons learned from internet connected data networks can be passed on to create a secure solution Past lessons learned from internet connected data networks can be passed on to create a secure solution

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