Voice networking and VoIP

Hosted and managed VoIP fundamentals

Adoption rates of hosted VoIP and managed VoIP are increasing as more companies look to reduce the costs and complexities of deploying VoIP in house. Enterprises are factoring revenue growth, enhanced productivity and communication services into ROI calculations to make a business case for hosted or managed VoIP. This guide explains the differences between hosted and managed VoIP solutions and will help you decide if outsourcing VoIP is right for your organization. Continue Reading

Hosted VoIP: Take the headache and heartache out of VoIP, Part 1

No matter what size network an enterprise is running these days, large and small alike are faced with increasing technical and financial challenges. Continue Reading

By

• SearchVoIP ANZ Staff

Voice over IPv6: Architectures for Next Generation VoIP Networks

VoIP technolgies are not immune to system failures, from hacking to jitter, and these issues can present problems for companies who depend on their network. This chapter examines some of the issues that are faced by VoIP systems, focusing on those that can be addressed by IPv6, namely scalability and end-to-end robustness. Continue Reading

By

• Daniel Minoli

VoIP models and services: Complete guide

With clear, concise explanations of existing VoIP business models and deployment methodologies, this guide will enable you to weigh the pros and cons of each based on your needs. Continue Reading

By

• SearchVoIP ANZ

Asterisk PBX solves enterprise's growing communication problem

An Asterisk-based PBX proved to be the solution to one enterprise's communications growing pains. Continue Reading

By

• Kate Dostart, Associate Editor

QoS -- What voice managers need to know

Quality of Service (QoS) technologies can be quite confusing between technical complexities and marketing jargon. In this tip, find out what voice managers need to know about QoS as it relates to VoIP. Continue Reading

By

• Tom Lancaster

VoIP models and services: Complete guide

With clear, concise explanations of existing VoIP business models and deployment methodologies, this guide will enable you to weigh the pros and cons of each based on your needs. Continue Reading

Implementing video on demand

Video on demand (VoD), in at least some of its potential service models, is perhaps the most challenging of all network applications. Implementation of VoD should be should be undertaken in three particular steps. Continue Reading

By

• Tom Nolle, Andover Intel

VoIP vulnerability threatens data

VoIP vulnerabilities have now reached a level of sophistication that allows hackers to steal, view or delete data. Continue Reading

By

• Andrew R. Hickey, News Editor

NAS appliance specifications

NAS appliances are noted for their convenience, offering dedicated internal storage that is relatively straightforward to identify and manage. The biggest issue for NAS appliances is avoiding network bottlenecks and supporting expansion without having to proliferate additional appliances across the network. The product snapshots in this chapter highlight key specifications for a cross section of major NAS appliance products. Continue Reading

Application-aware storage promises intelligence and automation

Storage professionals overbuy both performance and capacity in an effort to forestall potential storage problems. Tiered storage was one way to address this problem -- matching storage resources and costs with the value of data. Today, storage is poised to build on this notion with application-aware storage, using business policies to bring autonomy and intelligence to enterprise storage. Still, there is a great deal of confusion surrounding this technology, its capabilities and its deployment. Continue Reading

BT's SDK for do-it-yourself VoIP apps

BT's SDK takes the complexity out of VoIP application development. Continue Reading

By

• Brien Posey

How to cheat at VoIP Security

Securing a VoIP infrastructure requires planning, analysis, and detailed knowledge about the specifics of the implementation you choose to use. Continue Reading

Disaster recovery and business continuity fundamentals

The importance of disaster recovery and business continuity planning has been underscored in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Avian flu and 9/11. As important as maintaining continuous communications in a disaster is staying connected when random, fluke incidents occur. Find out how VoIP can keep your communications flowing through natural disasters, unexpected incidents or anything else that can disable your network. Continue Reading

Video networks: The fundamental structure

Video delivery, content network, IPTV, triple play -- these are just a few of the terms used today for video over broadband data networks. This concept of video networks is an increasing challenge, and like most network challenges, this one is influenced by technology, business and regulatory factors. Continue Reading

By

• Tom Nolle, Andover Intel

Understanding IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem)

IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) is an emerging architectural framework, based on SIP and IP, for offering multimedia and VoIP services, as well as fixed mobile convergence. This tip explains exactly what the architecture behind IMS. Continue Reading

By

• Robbie Harrell

Black Hat 2007: VoIP security reaches tipping point

VoIP security is as bad today as it was a couple years ago, industry experts say. But PGP creator Phil Zimmermann thinks his new Zfone software will help turn the tide. Continue Reading

By

• Bill Brenner

Cisco knocks out Avaya as IP PBX heavyweight

IP PBX adoption is rising as Cisco and Avaya square off for market dominance. Continue Reading

By

• Andrew R. Hickey, News Editor

Black Hat 2007 preview: Blue Pill under scrutiny

Among the highlights at the year's most anticipated hacker event, vulnerability researchers will challenge Joanna Rutkowska's Blue Pill concept. They'll also pick apart flaws in VoIP, NAC and Web applications. Continue Reading

By

• Bill Brenner

Beyond Asterisk -- Other open source PBXs

Asterisk is the most widely known open source PBX, but other developers are making competitive products in the unified communications market. Learn more in this tip from Gary Audin. Continue Reading

By

• Gary Audin, Delphi Inc.

VoIP services spell trouble for telcos

The rise of VoIP is paving the way for companies that haven't traditionally sold voice services to do so. Telcos slow to move will be hard pressed to keep up Continue Reading

By

• Zeus Kerravala, Vice President, Yankee Group

Justifying VoIP deployment without cost-analysis

VoIP and UC deployment ROI can be measured using non-financial metrics. Learn more about VoIP ROI in this article from Yankee Group's Zeus Kerravala. Continue Reading

By

• Zeus Kerravala, ZK Research

VoIP services spell trouble for telcos

The rise of VoIP is paving the way for companies that haven't traditionally sold voice services to do so. Risk-adverse telcos slow to move in this rapidly changing environment will be hard pressed to keep up with more agile competitors. Continue Reading

By

• Zeus Kerravala, ZK Research

Justifying VoIP deployment without cost-analysis

VoIP and unified communications deployments remain sluggish, as network managers look for ways to justify the cost of the infrastructure and system upgrades. Non-financial return on investment (ROI) metrics can be used as a way to augment the limited financial measurements available to companies to prove that the shift to VoIP does indeed have business value. Continue Reading

By

• Zeus Kerravala, ZK Research

VoIP solution centre answers users' questions

A new VoIP performance management solution center on Fluke Networks' Web site helps IT professionals to answer some of their VoIP network questions. Continue Reading

By

• Kate Dostart

Open source PBX: Risk or value?

Open source IP PBX systems like Asterisk have benefits and risks. Learn what they are and assess your readiness for the IP PBX implementation in this tip from Gary Audin. Continue Reading

By

• Gary Audin, Delphi Inc.

Black Hat Las Vegas 2007: Special news coverage

SearchSecurity.com covers all the controversy at this year's show with news, features, podcasts, interviews, exploits and more direct from Las Vegas. Continue Reading

VoIP performance testing fundamentals

This guide discusses why it is important to run regular VoIP network performance testing and some of the ways it can be done. Continue Reading

By

• SearchVoIP ANZ Staff

Unified communications infrastructure threats and defense strategies

Unified communications systems promise exciting productivity gains for workers and cost savings for businesses, but many often underestimate the security threats facing them. John Burke outlines the threats facing unified communications and how to defend against them. Continue Reading

By

• John Burke, Nemertes Research

Updating a QoS strategy for VoIP traffic

Learn how to update your QoS strategy for VoIP traffic in this tip from Tom Lancaster. Continue Reading

By

• Tom Lancaster

Unified messaging system updates company's voicemail

Installing a new unified messaging system helped one company in its daily struggles with an outdated voicemail system. Continue Reading

By

• Kate Dostart, Associate Editor

SIP fundamentals

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) will allow true interoperability, eventually enabling every IP-based device and application to communicate seamlessly with one another. This guide discusses some of the basics of SIP, including vulnerabilities, testing and hardware. Continue Reading

Instant messaging usage increase highlights need for policies

Instant messaging is a valuable business tool for some enterprises. For others, it's a security risk. Either way, a recent Burton Group report suggests that all companies should have an IM usage policy, even if they haven't deployed IM yet. Continue Reading

By

• Kate Dostart

VoIP/IP Telephony vendor security solutions

Are vendors' VoIP security features all you need, or is it prudent to buy additional security tools to lock down your network? Continue Reading

By

• Gary Audin, Delphi Inc.

Instant messaging usage increase highlights need for policies

A Burton Group report suggests that all companies should have an IM usage policy, even if they haven't deployed IM yet Continue Reading

By

• Kate Dostart, Associate Editor

VoIP performance testing fundamentals

VoIP network performance testing can mean the difference between a VoIP system working at a high level QoS and a weak system that runs so poorly customers could take their business elsewhere. This guide discusses why it is important to run regular performance testing and some of the ways it can be done. Continue Reading

By

• SearchVoIP ANZ Staff

Securing the enterprise VoIP perimeter

How to make VoIP work without sacrificing firewalls or network perimeter security. Continue Reading

By

• Gary Audin, Delphi Inc.

VoIP security testing fundamentals

Testing your VoIP security system against all the threats that exist on the network can be a full time job. This guide documents how a VoIP system can be tested and suggest some of the available tools to use -- with a focus on fuzzing tools and methods. Continue Reading

What's in a VoIP packet -- An introduction to bandwidth for VoIP

Learn what makes up a VoIP packet, how headers work, what protocols transport voice traffic over the Internet and how this traffic uses network bandwidth. Continue Reading

By

• Gary Audin, Delphi Inc.

AIIA outlines federal election wish list

The Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) has released its policy expectations for political parties in the upcoming 2007 federal election. Continue Reading

By

• Voice&Data Staff

VoIP call quality and reporting software improves QoS

Technology developed to power IPTV networks is also helping improve VoIP quality of service. Continue Reading

By

• Kate Dostart

Deploying VoIP: Five things every CIO should know

Navigating the complexity of a VoIP deployment can be overwhelming and it may seem like you need a technical degree to understand it. Here are five tips to help steer through the fog of a VoIP migration. Continue Reading

By

• Zeus Kerravala, Senior Vice President, Yankee Group

VoIP market evolves in 2007

VoIP will see market changes this year as IP PBX sales increase and market leaders shift their focus. Continue Reading

By

• Andrew R. Hickey, Senior News Writer

VoIP performance testing fundamentals

VoIP network performance testing can mean the difference between a VoIP system working at a high level QoS and a weak system that runs so poorly customers could take their business elsewhere. This guide discusses why it is important to run regular performance testing and some of the ways it can be done. Continue Reading

Avaya to merge with Silver Lake and TPG Capital

Telephony giant Avaya will be acquired by a private equity firm. Continue Reading

By

• Voice&Data Staff

Deploying VoIP: Five things every CIO should know

Navigating the complexity of a VoIP migration can be overwhelming. Here are five tips to help steer through the fog of a VoIP deployment. Continue Reading

By

• Zeus Kerravala, ZK Research

Unified communication case studies: What you need to know

Learn how others overcame the expected and the unexpected challenges of a UC deployment in our case studies. Continue Reading

By

• SearchVoIP.com editors

WAN storage guide -- Chapter 1: WAN basics

The implications of WAN connectivity have had a profound influence on networking. We look at some of the practical WAN issues, such as bandwidth, cost, latency and reliability. Continue Reading

By

• Stephen J. Bigelow, Senior Technology Editor

Check Point promises more VoIP security, fewer slowdowns

Check Point's enhanced Open Performance Architecture is designed for deeper security of technologies like VoIP without the network performance problems that often come with it. Continue Reading

By

• Bill Brenner

VoIP rush heats up cooling debate

Increased VoIP adoption is putting pressure on data centres' power and cooling requirements Continue Reading

By

• Simon Sharwood

Cisco, Nortel frontrunners in Avaya acquisition rumors

Cisco and Nortel are said to be amongst those circling the still-live body of VoIP vendor Avaya, but analysts disagree on which, and why. Continue Reading

By

• Andrew R. Hickey

The wireless future offers plenty of voice possibilities

Farpoint Group's Craig Mathias surveys the future of wireless networks and their ability to carry voice traffic. Continue Reading

By

• Craig Mathias

VoIP advice from the trenches

ITKE, or ITKnowledge Exchange, is simply a cool (and quick) way to get a response to your VoIP-related questions. Continue Reading

By

• Leigha Cardwell, TechTarget

Mitel acquires Inter-Tel, signaling more consolidation to come

Mitel acquired Inter-Tel last week, signaling a trend toward vendor consolidation in the VoIP market and creating stronger options for SMBs. Continue Reading

By

• Andrew R. Hickey

Mobile instant messaging enhances company's business processes

A mobile IM service acquired by a hosted VoIP provider encourages more companies to enhance their business processes. Continue Reading

By

• Kate Dostart, Associate Editor

Manipulating VoIP Security

This tip provides an extensive list of sites that track and document VoIP attack tools. Continue Reading

By

• Gary Audin, Delphi Inc.

VoIP security fundamentals

VoIP security is a challenge for IT staff because IP telephony brings with it not only the security problems of data networks but also new threats specific to VoIP. In this fundamentals guide, learn about network security threats and emerging IP telephony threats, and how to secure your VoIP systems and endpoints from them. Continue Reading

VoIP, unified communications adoption continue to rise

VoIP and unified communications adoption continue to rise steadily in the enterprise, according to Infonetics Research's latest report. Continue Reading

By

• Kate Dostart, Associate Editor

ISCSI TCP/IP TOE card specifications

Key specifications for a cross-section of popular iSCSI TOE cards. Continue Reading

VoIP security -- Free IP telephony fuzzing tools

Protect your organization's VoIP security with free VoIP security tools designed to test IP telephony vulnerability. Continue Reading

By

• Gary Audin, Delphi Inc.

Convergence certification provides evaluation standard

CompTIA has developed a convergence certification, designed to validate qualified convergence professionals. Continue Reading

By

• Kate Dostart, Associate Editor

Skype to the desk phone saves company a bundle

Skype on the desk phone has helped a Chicago-based furniture maker save a considerable amount of money on long-distance voice charges. Continue Reading

By

• Andrew R. Hickey, Senior News Writer

Convergence certification provides evaluation standard

Voice and data convergence are more prevalent and enterprises are looking for certified professionals to administer the combined networks -- leading CompTIA to develop its Convergence+ certification, designed to validate qualified convergence professionals. Continue Reading

By

• Kate Dostart

How is SIP winning favor over H.323?

What are the similarities, differences and major reasons between SIP and H.323. And why is one winning? Continue Reading

By

• Christian Stegh

Wireless VoIP market to grow rapidly

VoIP and Voice over Wi-Fi markets are expected to be strong in 2007 and remain so through 2012. Continue Reading

By

• Kate Dostart, Associate Editor

VoIP network monitoring improves VoIP deployment

VoIP network monitoring and pre-deployment analysis are becoming more important as VoIP application overlay becomes denser Continue Reading

By

• Kate Dostart, Associate Editor

VoIP's inherited data security problems

VoIP security problems present a challenge for voice and network staff. This article explains how to secure both your call servers and endpoints, and how best to divide this work between voice and data personnel. Continue Reading

By

• Gary Audin, Delphi Inc.

Basic VoIP network setup

Basic VoIP network setup advice. Continue Reading

By

• SearchVoIP Staff

Why is VoIP authentication essential?

VoIP authentication advice. Continue Reading

By

• SearchVoIP Staff

VoIP protocols

VoIP protocols -- the strengths and weaknesses of each. Continue Reading

By

• SearchVoIP Staff

VoiceCon Spring: A transition show for the VoIP industry

VoiceCon Spring was all about unified communications. Zeus Kerravala provides highlights of the more interesting points from the show. Continue Reading

Power over Ethernet power consumption: The hidden costs

Power over Ethernet (PoE) has many advantages in a VoIP migration, but some companies overlook the amount of power needed to run PoE for VoIP and the costs and cooling requirements that come with it. Continue Reading

By

• Andrew R. Hickey

Mobile data services development trends in 2007

Darrell Jordan-Smith takes a look at new data services architectures and development tools emerging in 2007 and the ongoing development efforts of the Java Community and others. Continue Reading

By

• Darrell Jordan-Smith

VoIP security worries are plentiful, potent

VoIP creates a new set of security issues for your network, as expert Ed Skoudis explains. Continue Reading

By

• Ed Skoudis, SANS Technology Institute

Open source IP telephony on hold?

Is open source telephony ready for your business? Read on to learn if it's the real deal. Continue Reading

By

• Amy Kucharik, TechTarget

Carrier MPLS support for VoIP

Achieving QoS for reliable voice transmissions can be the biggest challenge of deploying VoIP. Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) might be the answer! Continue Reading

By

• Robbie Harrell

Microsoft outlines software-centric VoIP, UC

Microsoft unveils its vision of a software-based VoIP system to enable unified communications. Continue Reading

By

• Andrew R. Hickey, Senior News Writer

Nortel switch release focuses on unified communications

Nortel today released two new switch series aimed at unified communications deployments. Continue Reading

By

• Andrew R. Hickey, Senior News Writer

VoIP security - problems inherited from data networking

VoIP security problems present a challenge for voice and network staff because IP telephony brings with it not only the security problems of data networks but also new, added threats specific to VoIP. In this tip, learn about the data network security threats that your voice staff must confront, how to secure both your call servers and endpoints, and how best to divide this work between voice and data personnel. Continue Reading

By

• Gary Audin, Delphi Inc.

Unified Communications to dominate VoiceCon

Unified Communications will again be a major focus of VoiceCon Spring. Continue Reading

By

• Andrew R. Hickey, Senior News Writer

Can setting up a VPN help you get around blocked VoIP ports?

Can setting up a VPN help you get around blocked VoIP ports? Continue Reading

By

• SearchVoIP Staff

Outsourced VoIP helps devastated company recover

Outsourced VoIP helped a Berkeley company keep up business as usual after a fire destroyed its offices. Continue Reading

By

• Andrew R. Hickey, Senior News Writer

Top 10 VoIP search terms

The top ten VoIP search terms and definitions. Keep tabs on the most popular VoIP terms – updated regularly. Continue Reading

By

• Leigha Cardwell, TechTarget

IP PBX: Ten reasons to switch

Should you throw out the old PBX and replace it with a new IP PBX? This tip from WindowsNetworking.com provides ten compelling reasons to do so. Continue Reading

By

• Nick Galea

What is presence?

Presence technology makes it possible to locate and identify a computing device wherever it might be, as soon as the user connects to the network. Continue Reading

By

• TechTarget ANZ staff

VoIP complexities stall implementation for SMBs

VoIP sales in the SMB market are predicted to lead revenue in the next several years, but most SMBs are confused by the number of different solutions. Continue Reading

By

• Kate Dostart, Associate Editor

Cisco VoIP managment guide: Required management tasks

Comprehensive VoIP management includes the basic network management tasks, but also includes monitoring services such as dial tone delivery, call success rates, telephony delays and impairments, as well as call quality. VoIP telephony management is categorized here. Continue Reading

By

• SearchNetworking Staff

Skype makes more enterprise inroads

Skype has teamed with FaceTime Communications to give companies more control over Skype use within the enterprise. Continue Reading

By

• Andrew R. Hickey, Senior News Writer

VoIP helps ensure disaster recovery

VoIP bolsters your disaster recovery plans and should be at the core of any well-planned disaster recovery strategy. Continue Reading

By

• Zeus Kerravala, ZK Research

VoIP helps ensure disaster recovery

VoIP bolsters your disaster recovery plans and should be at the core of any well-planned disaster recovery strategy. Continue Reading

By

• Zeus Kerravala, ZK Research

Cisco VoIP management guide: VoIP management lifecycle

VoIP lifecycle management enables enterprises to safely pursue large production deployments. The management lifecycle includes the following four elements. Continue Reading

Cisco VoIP management guide: Enterprise VoIP management solutions

Enterprise VoIP management solutions require two considerations: the scale of production environment and the need to extend support resources with a systems integrator or service provider. Continue Reading

Cisco VoIP management guide: Cisco requires proactive management

Managing Cisco VoIP solutions means network managers must rely on credible, experienced vendors to some extent. Fortunately, many vendors have emerged as trusted, viable partners that can offer an end-to-end management solution for Cisco VoIP environments. With the selection of vendors provided network managers should feel confident in successfully deploying and experiencing the value and benefits of IP telephony. Continue Reading

Cisco VoIP managment guide: Required management tasks

Comprehensive VoIP management includes the basic network management tasks, but also includes monitoring services such as dial tone delivery, call success rates, telephony delays and impairments, as well as call quality. VoIP telephony management is categorized here. Continue Reading

Cisco management guide: Selecting a VoIP solution

Selecting a VoIP solution means deciding on independent VoIP tools or a VoIP solution suite of integrated products. Continue Reading

Cisco VoIP management guide: Recommendations and summary

Enterprises now have solid choices of management solutions for their Cisco VoIP deployment. The short list for any enterprise should include Prognosis, Infovista, or Cisco. Continue Reading

Cisco management guide: Selecting a VoIP solution

Selecting a VoIP solution means deciding on independent VoIP tools or a VoIP solution suite of integrated products. Continue Reading

By

• SearchVoIP Staff

Cisco VoIP management guide: Recommendations and summary

Enterprises now have solid choices of management solutions for their Cisco VoIP deployment. The short list for any enterprise should include Prognosis, Infovista, or Cisco. Continue Reading

By

• SearchVoIP Staff

VoIP capabilities save hotel money, keep guests connected

"Rip and replace" were three words the Seaport Hotel in Boston didn't want to hear when considering VoIP capabilities. Continue Reading

By

• Andrew R. Hickey, Senior News Writer

EMC plans array-based encryption via PowerPath

EMC's next security move will be array-based encryption through PowerPath by 2008, according to internal documents obtained by SearchStorage. Continue Reading

By

• Beth Pariseau, Senior News Writer