VoIP Deployment Consulting
“What value will voice over Internet provide my company?” Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) refers to the process of transporting voice communication over Internet Protocol (IP) networks like the Internet. VoIP is somewhat of a misleading term because it implies such a restricted focus on “voice”. The term IP Telephony (IPTel) is more general.
Telephony over IP (ToIP) describes the transport of real-time text over IP networks. It differs from instant messaging in that ToIP system transmit bidirectionally One character at a time. This gives the user the feel of real-time communication, just like voice or video systems that transport streaming media over IP. ToIP is a term used to mean the transport of text over IP from a ToIP-enabled IP phone, PC-based client, or a legacy TTY device connected to a public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) gateway.
A TTY is also known as a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf(TDD).The TTY consists of a keyboard, which holds somewhere from 20 to 30 character keys, a display screen, and a modem. The letters that the TTY user types into the machine are turned into electrical signals that can travel over regular telephone lines. When the signals reach their destination (usually another TTY)They are converted back into letters, which appear on a display screen, are printed out on paper, on both.
Return On Investment in VOIP
ROI is a major selling point for the use of VoIPSome of the components of VoIP are large cost savings . There are soft and hard benefits using VoIP.
Hard benefits are more easier to sell to the management because they can be clearly defined,But soft benefits are usually harder to quantify from a business point of view.There fore most organizations focus solely on the hard cost savings but it is important to clearly differentiate between hard and soft benefits to improve the business credibility. The company will not care if it is saving five cents per minute in VoIP calls if their sales productivity is decreasing because of poor Quality .
“Getting the most from the VoIP is cost savings “
A successful VoIP implementation will be designed as a long term investment that will provide returns in capital and productivity savings and help avoid security risks.
VoIP may be an infrastructure that is already paid for if you own the IP network or are already paying an internet Service provider for Bandwidth.
Centralized call processing architecture can reduce equipment, maintenance and support cost. For example a centralized VOIP PBX can handle all clients from Multiple locations.
The use of VoIP can also result in a reduced incremental cost of existing network ownership. Existing LAN can be used for DATA and VoIP traffic.
The long distance telephone cost should decrease after a VoIP implementation. Some companies may want to keep the PSTN as a fallback Network . Many organizations will not convert to VoIP completely or all at once because of disaster recovery and business continuity .
When you run Voice and data in one network it is easier to expand and change , reduce wiring costs required for two networks and can easily incorporate wireless infrastructure.
Voip implementation can also result in quantifiable savings in several areas including the following.
Management and support savings
Enhanced mobility
Reduced site preparation time
Infrastructure convergence through the use of VoIP will make it possible to reduce the internal staff required to support and manage the two separate infrastructures.
VoIP offers enhanced mobility , which can allow many organizations to institute more flexible work environments and reduce facilities and real estate cost. This cabablity allows individuals to log in to any phone within the organization and still have their extension and applications or services they use available to them, even though they are away from their desks. For many organizations , this new capability can result in significant cost savings and even revenue growth through increased productivity.
Another new feature of VOIP is unified messaging through the integration of Voice mail , Email ,Fax while providing the ability to retrieve your messages anytime,anywhere and in anyway.Assist in the elimination of phone tag and provide better support for a remote workforce through advanced call routing that can also include integration with customer relationship Management ( CRM) systems to lookup customer information and route support calls to the appropriate technical support group.
Integrate Voice , Video and text communication in to a single application quickly and easily than a traditional PBX because VoIP can take advantage of client server architechtures , Open development platforms and well known standards to speed deployment of new application and features.
Convergence is the consolidation of different types of application traffic such as Voice, data, video on the same IP network. If convergence is done correctly, it will provide a single scalable network infrastructure that provides for all of your business communication needs, which will offer cost, time and Management savings. Although convergence is not an overnight process , it must be started in the concept planning phase of your VoIP deployment project.
Because of its relatively low bandwidth , Voice is considered the easiet first step in convergence requirements , to be followed by video and then dedicated ISDN lines that link conference rooms together for videoconfrencing.The addition of video traffic to an IP network can reduce the need for an additional video network infrastructure in support of teleconferencing , corporate training and distance learning , which provides further benefits in a converged network.
The potential downsides of a VoIP implementation must also be considered when evaluating the ROI. The business risk can be reduced when VoIP is deployed with proper planning and good management. The level of Quality and reliability are major challenges when justifying the VoIP ROI , in that you rarely have to worry about these issues with PSTN. A converged IP network that consolidates voice and data traffic in to one network that most likely also include PSTN fallback.
A complex network infrastructure upgrade may be required to have VOIP tuned to a level that provides quality levels comparable to those of PSTN calls. Good voice Quality requirements place strict requirements on the Voip network , in terms of latency , jitter and number of lost packets. This will also result in significant costs for the initial deployment of a VoIP infrastructure, in that it will also require equipment, servers, IP phones, Software, and diagnostic tools.
Voip will also requires extensive training for the IT staff and users. VoIP can be deployed successfully by adhering to established IT project principles , such as proper planning, assessment and Management .
VoIP implementation realities of ROI
For the most part , it is unlikely that a VoIP implementation will remove all the old equipments and replace it will brand new equipments . To maximize ROI , it is best to deploy VoIP in a stage approach and also integrate old equipments with VOIP enabled Soft PBX ( like asterisk , Yate , Freeswitch , callweaver etc) by adding appropriate PCI hardware ( Sangoma Modules) .
For the most part , it is unlikely that a VoIP implementation will remove all the old equipments and replace it will brand new equipments . To maximize ROI , it is best to deploy VoIP in a stage approach and also integrate old equipments with VOIP enabled Soft PBX ( like asterisk , Yate , Freeswitch , callweaver etc) by adding appropriate PCI hardware ( Sangoma Modules) . This approach will interconnect both the technology and Maximize the utilization of latest features like ( Voice mails , Voice Mails to Email , FAX to EMAIL , Call logging / recording , CRM integration with telephony , CTI integration , IVRS – interactive Voice response systems , Soft phones/IPPhones for calling ) at lower cost.
A fall back system also can be built easily with Sangoma Modules , SoftPBX , Voip and PSTN combinations which can lead 100 % business uptime.
Some VoIP ROI Quickwin Points are
Adding VoIP to planned data network upgrade
Using excess bandwidth capacity where possible for VoIP traffic
Using VoIP VPNs via IPphones or softphones for remote users
Offering latest features to traditional PBX which are available in the lastest SoftPBX.
VOIP Security testing and Analysis
Voice over IP (VoIP) networks can fall victim to the same security risks that threaten data networks, so Context always recommends thorough and rigorous security testing of any VoIP network. These tests include a reconnaissance exercise to determine which protocols are in use; examination of all types of VoIP handsets in use within the network, together with voice servers and border protection systems; network sniffing, to collect VoIP calls then replay them in an audio format; assessment of the potential to use the network for a denial of service (DoS) attack; and packet analysis to assess authentication mechanisms.
Telecom Security
Effective telecoms security is just as important to the operational health and safety of an organisation as IT security, and Context offers a range of services designed to protect against attacks on telephony networks. These include security assessment and auditing services, to help protect against attacks on telephone PBX, Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) systems. Left unsecured, these systems could be exploited by external attackers or internal staff intending to perpetrate toll fraud and the theft and resale of long distance call services. We also assess the security of voicemail systems, through which it may be possible to access confidential information.
Other services include testing the security measures that protect staff working remotely or from home; the physical security of the telecoms infrastructure; the telecom carrier's system integrity; and power supply backup facilities. We can also advise clients on voice network design, security product selection, installation and ongoing technical support.
We also offer services designed to help organisations moving to a VoIP platform, including baselining of existing resources, which helps clients understand their current use of telephony resources, and a full set of security services designed to help secure VoIP networks.