Every year scam calls get more sophisticated, and in a time of economic downturn, this is set to get worse as they pose as government funded help and loan companies. Globally, the estimated cost of telephone fraud is £25 billion, and whilst we are cautious about not falling victim by answering one of these calls, people often forget the damage they can do to a business by piggy backing onto your system. From here they can impersonate your business to steal from your customers, disrupt the running of your business and destroy your reputation – a nightmare for any business owner.
Fortunately, there are many ways you can protect yourself and your customers.
Passwords
An obvious one but make sure you regularly change passwords and access codes for current staff and ensure they are hard to crack. Don’t forget to delete past employee’s passwords and make sure staff know not to write them down. The days of having a sticky note on your monitor with all your passwords are well and truly over!
Call Logs
Review your call logs regularly for any calls that look unusual or are out of normal hours. This early detection can make a huge difference so try to do this at least once a month but preferably weekly if possible.
Understand your system
Make sure you’re confident using your VoIP system (if you’re not already on one, it’s a good time to switch!) and understand how it can help you. From blocking premium rate numbers to restricting feature access to only certain members of staff, there is a lot you can do to make sure your phone system stays secure.
Use a firewall
A firewall will detect and prevent any unusual activity going through your network so make sure you check your firewall logs on a weekly basis to get an early warning that someone may be attempting to tamper with your system. Don’t forget to check your firewall for updates too.
Train staff in security protocols
Make sure your staff know what to look for and are aware of any blocked lines, as well as ensuring that any smartphones accessing the VoIP system are set with PIN access. If possible, limit physical access to the system in a secure comms room.
Update your VoIP devices and applications
A hacker can take over your VoIP system and make changes to your settings if your system is outdated and not running the latest updates. Make sure you assess and patch your VoIP software and firmware and update it whenever necessary to keep security levels as strong as possible. It is also worth protecting your business with Exceptional Call Reporting cover which can cover you in the event of attempted fraud up to the value of £5,000.
Get in touch
Worried that your current system isn’t as secure as it could be? At Equations, we’re specialists in helping you find the right phone system for your business. We understand that each business is unique, so all of our advice is tailored specifically to you. Give the Equations team a call today on 01237 420010 to discuss your upgrade options or to book a free review of your current system.
