Protecting IP telephony systems from intrusion

• Security is main concern for enterprises adopting IP-based telecoms platforms
• NGIPS can reduce threats over VoIP, video and web communications, and others

CYBERSECURITY solutions vendor Sourcefire Inc has announced a partnership with JCMEX Trading Sdn Bhd to deliver Next-Generation Intrusion Prevention Systems (“NGIPS”) protection over Internet Protocol (IP) telephony solutions for enterprises, small and mid-sized businesses.

Revenues for the enterprise telephony market in the Asia Pacific region are expected to grow to US$2.57 billion in 2016, from US$1.72 billion in 2009, Sourcefire said in a statement, citing a Frost & Sullivan report.

In particular, SMBs have shown an active interest in enterprise IP products that can help reduce the total cost of ownership and telecommunication bills, the company added.

“As VoIP (Voice over IP) increases in popularity, so does the potential for harm from cyber-attacks,” said Ivan Wen (pic), country manager of Sourcefire in Malaysia.

“Security is becoming the main concern for enterprises in adopting IP-based telecommunication platforms.

“Sourcefire’s NGIPS provides users with decisive threat-mitigating controls to reduce threat attack surfaces over VoIP, video and web communications, IP-based Private Branch Exchange (PBX) servers, IP traffic gateways, data networks and more,” he added.

According to Wen, JCMEX is Malaysia’s first IP telephony solutions distributor, and also Sourcefire’s first local partner in providing secured IP telephony solutions for the Malaysian market.

Established in 2000 in Malaysia, JCMEX is Asia's distributor of Digium/ Asterisk IP telephony solutions. Its clients include HP, Vietnam’s Ministry of Defence and Cebu Telecoms.

JCMex expects this partnership to increase its IP telephony solution revenue as well as boost the number of enterprises in Asia using web-based communication technology.

“This year, JCMEX is looking at a 20% of growth in IP solution revenue sales. Currently, we have over 180 resellers around the region,” said JCMEX general manager Vanita Suzanne (pic).

“The new partnership will enable JCMEX to integrate Sourcefire's context-aware NGIPS within all its IP-based telephony offerings to identify and prevent malicious attacks, i.e. voice hacking, on communications platforms that have been commonly experienced by Asia’s IP telephony users.

“The introduction of NGIPS-enabled IP telephony solution will also provide organization a peace of mind to explore other new IP telephony technologies, such as mobile applications and mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) services,” she added.