5 Ways To Enhance Your Organization’s UC Security
Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) solutions are increasingly important for businesses with hybrid or remote work environments. But UCaaS benefits like flexibility and reliability also require precautions to minimize security risks. Read on to learn how your company can enhance UCaaS security.
Why does security matter?
UCaaS or UC is a cloud-based communications solution that improves collaboration and streamlines communications across channels, devices, and locations.
Without the proper security measures, sensitive information could be exposed or communications channels could be exploited by unauthorized users trying to take advantage of your employees or customers. There are a variety of possible business impacts from these types of threats, including compliance fines, leak of confidential information to competitors, loss of customers and sales, and irreparable brand reputational damage.
Fortunately, there are ways to ensure that your organization’s UC solution is secure to prevent these risks.
5 ways to enhance UC security
Beyond ensuring that your provider checks off all of the major security criteria, such as full encryption and relevant security certifications for your business, there are best practices that your organization’s administrators (admins) and users can take.
1. Role-based access controls: Admins of your UC platform can set up and manage permissions to ensure users have access to only the information or functionality needed for their specific role. For instance, specific users may be granted access to view the bill and make payments, without providing those users full admin permission to view or modify extensions, users, and call configurations.
2. Authentication security: Admins can enforce login protocols for users that are meant to keep information safe. Two such protocols are Single Sign On (SSO) with System for Cross Domain Identity Management (SCIM) and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).
SSO with SCIM enables admins to control access to the UC platform and helps them prevent unauthorized users.
2FA requires users to login with two different forms of verification, for example a password and a one time code.
3. Password updates: UC users can keep their accounts protected by changing their password regularly, choosing difficult and unique passwords each time they make an update, and not sharing their password with others. This helps prevent hackers from gaining access to their accounts.
4. Audit tools: Admins can monitor account activity by viewing logs that track modifications made by users, such as call groups, extensions, SSO and virtual receptionist changes, alongside information indicating which user made the change and when. This helps catch any suspicious or detrimental activities.
5. Analytics: Admins can review daily reports to look for anomalies, such as an unexpected increase in call volume, changes in average call durations, or additional calls placed outside of business hours. These types of insights could lead to the early detection of fraudulent activity.
Making the right choice
With the increasing amount of fraud and cyber threats in the business world today, security measures are crucial to the future health of a business. By implementing best practices, your organization’s admins and users can contribute to keeping communications more secure and reducing risks.
Our UCaaS solution, Vonage Business Communication (VBC), has a variety of safeguards in place with compliance and customer data in mind. Learn more about VBC capabilities today.
