Telecom & Technology Consulting
More and more businesses are using Voice over IP (VoIP) to reduce spending, implement richer features , and ensure efficiency of their organization’s IP networks. One key aspect of VoIP is the inclusion of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), which aids in the conversion of voice to data over IP networks.
As you shop for the right provider, be on the lookout for these attributes:
Make sure you can collaborate
For SIP to work with maximum efficiency, it’s vital that your engineering team can closely collaborate with the VoIP service provider. This shouldn’t be a problem, as many providers include this option for plans with companies that have in-house, on-site networking professionals.
That said, be sure you can design a plan that accounts for your specific business needs. Plus, as you probably have aspirations to scale the business, make sure that your plan can grow accordingly.
Redundancy is a must
In the event of a failure, what kind of options does the provider have in place? In most cases you can either centralize or distribute SIP trunking. Either way, if an SIP trunk fails, outbound calls should be routed through a public telephone network gateway. Inbound traffic can typically go through any service provider.
Prepare for emergencies
For SIP to work to your greatest advantage, your provider must have a continuity and disaster recovery plan detailed in the contract. This plan should include steps to overcome outages on their premises (or servers) to assure the delivery of emergency calls.
Who owns the equipment?
Among the most important questions to ask is, “Do you own your physical delivery system?” This is essential for safe, comprehensive service. The answer must be “yes”, as providers that cobble together multiple networks simply can’t guarantee the service quality you require. That’s because it involves more time and effort to resolve issues with multiple networks, while providers with native SIP networks can resolve issues much faster.
It’s all about security
No one needs to remind you about the need for top-notch security, especially in an age when breaches can take down or permanently damage a business. So when you’re looking for the right provider, be sure they offer best-of-breed firewalls and other security elements. We recommend looking for a provider whose network uses a session border controller (SBC) device for traffic control, configuration and maximum security.
