Old school phone lines are a thing of the past; modern-day digital business communication leverages SIP trunking to connect business phone systems over the internet in a flexible, scalable, and secure manner. However, with all the benefits SIP trunking brings, it comes with a few challenges as well, and that’s where a Session Border Controller helps.
Through this blog, we are going to explore a common yet very important topic – Why having an SBC in your SIP trunking is essential.
What is SIP Trunking?
SIP Trunking is the process by which a business phone system can function using the internet connection rather than traditional phone lines. Rather than conventional telephone trunks, SIP Trunking uses VoIP technology to connect to the internet.
This means that businesses can make and receive calls over the internet using the SIP protocol. Here, SIP trunks connect the IP PBX (Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange) of the business to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) via a VoIP (Voice over IP) provider.
Example of SIP Trunking
Consider an organization that has 40 employees. So instead of installing 40 separate telephone lines, the organization uses SIP trunking so that all those calls happen over the internet connection. They only pay for the number of simultaneous call channels they need, benefiting from lower costs and more flexibility.
Why is SIP Trunking so Useful?
Switching to SIP trunking from traditional telephony is certainly a smart and strategic move because it solves the many hassles associated with conventional phone systems
Here are some of the major points highlighting why SIP trunking is a game-changer for modern businesses:
- It eliminates the requirement of wiring or circuit boxes for connectivity, as the SIP trunk is installed virtually. Reducing multiple phone lines drastically minimizes the operational cost and simplifies the entire communication setup.
- SIP trunking is software-based, which makes it easy to add or remove SIP lines in real-time based on business demand.
- It is location-independent since everything happens over the internet, which means the phone system can be operated from anywhere. So businesses with a remote workforce and having offices in different locations can make and receive calls on their office number using an SIP app on their laptops or smartphones.
- SIP trunking comes with built-in failover and redundancy options that help maintain business continuity in case your primary SIP trunk goes down.
Challenges in SIP Deployments
Like any other technology, SIP trunking comes with its own set of hurdles. Let’s take a closer look at the challenges that businesses face in the real world when adopting SIP trunking.
1. Exposure to the Internet Creates Security Risks
While the internet is the biggest strength of SIP trunking, it is also its biggest vulnerability. We know that traditional phone lines operate over closed and dedicated circuits, whereas in the case of SIP, the public internet is the foundation over which SIP trunking runs. This exposure leads all the SIP-enabled devices, PBX systems, and trunks to become potential targets for several threats, including DDoS attacks, toll fraud, spoofing, eavesdropping, and registration hijacking
Without implementing strong security measures like encryption, deploying firewalls and SBCs, and enforcing authentication mechanisms, businesses are highly likely to face losses.
2. Compatibility Issues Can Disrupt Call Flows
Though SIP is a standard, different vendors have their own versions of SIP implementation, which might not speak the same ‘language’. This means that your IP PBX from Vendor A not not work nicely with your SIP trunk from Vendor B. Various symptoms appear because of SIP incompatibility, including one-way audio, call dropping, inconsistent call flow, etc.
3. Bandwidth Dependency Creates Call Quality Issues
SIP calls utilize your existing data network, which means they share bandwidth with other online traffic, including your emails, file transfers, video calls, and streaming services. Because of this shared bandwidth, SIP calls often suffer from common internet issues, including jitter, packet loss, latency, congestion, etc.
All of the above-mentioned issues, including security threats, interoperability issues, and call quality glitches, should be addressed properly to enjoy seamless communication flow. That’s where tools like Session Border Controllers (SBCs) come into play.
What is a Session Border Controller?
Session Border Controller is a key element of modern SIP Trunking as it monitors all sessions crossing between the internal enterprise network and the external ITSP network.
An SBC is responsible for determining the routing of each session based on priority. Before understanding the importance of a Session Border Controller in SIP Trunking, you should know what this terminology means. Let me go step-by-step.
Role of SBC in SIP Trunking
Although SIP Trunking has become an important part of the modern communication system, there are certain security challenges, including communication issues, that need to be addressed. Here, an SBC plays an important role in enhancing security by preventing incoming threats such as DDoS Attacks, Premium Number Fraud, Missed Call Fraud, etc. SBC and SIP Trunking are common terminologies when we talk about an enterprise network.
Compared to a firewall, an SBC provides better control, offering policy enforcement, deep packet inspection, and security functionality. Connecting your phone system to an IP Network opens the door for several types of threats, which can be prevented with the deployment of a Session Border Controller. An SBC secures the internal network from the external world using topology hiding. Although companies adopt Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) to prevent security threats, an SBC is always a powerful addition.
SBC can fine-tune the interoperability between disparate VoIP systems and digital PBXs. The typical role of the SBC is to intercept calls from telecom providers and route them to the predetermined systems.
Based on the network usage and policies framed for the network, SBC can decide how much bandwidth is required for a particular session. An SBC can use a codec conversion feature to provide interoperability.
The SBC finds its place in both customers’ and carriers’ end for a better security setup. Usually known as eSBCs, these Session Border Controllers keep the unified communication network safe from unauthorized intrusions.
Benefits of Deploying an SBC in SIP Trunking
- Supports the internal network to implement both voice and data services.
- Optimizes the use of bandwidth and assigns the right quantity, so that both voice and data services can be delivered over the same connection.
- Provides additional flexibility in purchasing voice capacity.
- Enables flexible routing of calls to the preferred carrier — route calls to local or SIP
- Implements complete encryption of voice calls to meet security needs
- Establishes better interconnection with cellular networks so a call placed to a cellphone also rings on a desktop phone
- Grants the ability to route calls to different locations based on call volume, source of call, or other policies
Choosing the Right SBC: Key Considerations
Choose the Right Deployment
One of the primary considerations when choosing the right SBC for your organization is to choose the type of deployment that aligns with your requirements. SBCs come in three main deployment types – hardware-based, virtualized, and cloud-hosted. While each of these deployments has its own set of advantages, you need to consider your infrastructure, call volume, and IT resources before making a move.
1. Hardware-Based SBCs
As the name suggests, these SBCs are physical appliances deployed on-site, i.e, within the physical premises of the organization. These SBCs are an ideal fit for businesses or large enterprises with in-house data centers and high-security and full-control requirements.
2. Virtualized SBCs
These types of SBCs are software-based and deployed on virtual machines, offering more flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Medium-sized businesses that have internal IT teams or hybrid deployments should opt for this type.
3. Cloud-Based SBCs
These types of SBCs are hosted and managed in the cloud by third-party providers and delivered as a service, often called SBCaaS. Small to medium-sized businesses or SMBs can take advantage of cloud-hosted SBCs because these are quickly deployed and require no hardware maintenance, and are easily affordable.
Once you have clarity about which type of deployment you need, then proceed with the following questions to gain a better understanding of your suitability
What are its security capabilities?
Since the primary function of an SBC is to safeguard your VoIP network and maintain the integrity of your SIP sessions, therefore, you should look for advanced security features such as
- SIP message filtering
- DoS/DDoS protection
- TLS/SRTP encryption
- Call fraud prevention
- Two-factor authentication (2FA)
Does it perform Interoperability and SIP Normalization?
This one is extremely important if you are connecting with multiple carriers or offering services to diverse enterprise clients. Your SBC should be capable of handling protocol mismatches efficiently through SIP normalization, making sure that disparate systems can work together in coherence.
How does it handle call quality and media streams?
An SBC with the following features would be able to enhance the quality of service:
- Jitter buffer management
- Media anchoring
- Codec transcoding
- Call admission control
How does it ensure business continuity in the event of hardware or network failure?
Downtime is certainly not an option for modern businesses, especially those with mission-critical services. Therefore, look for an SBC that offers:
- 1+1 hot standby
- Automatic failover
- Geo-redundancy
How scalable is the SBC?
Whether you’re handling 100 or 100,000 concurrent calls, the SBC solution should offer the required flexibility. To ensure this, you may look for the following:
- Licensing models (pay-as-you-grow)
- Multi-tenant support (if you’re a service provider)
- High throughput without performance degradation
Does it offer reporting and analytics?
In order to manage your VoIP network efficiently, you need to quickly identify issues and optimize traffic flow. An SBC that supports real-time monitoring, alerting, and reporting features will help you do that. So, ensure that your SBCs dashboard includes the following:
- Call detail records (CDRs)
- Performance metrics
- User behavior tracking
- Fraud alerts
How easy is it to use?
Modern-day SBCs do not require you to have deep technical skills to configure, monitor, and manage them. They are equipped with intuitive user interfaces, API access, and centralized dashboards that are easy to administer.
Does it offer integration and billing support?
Select those SBCs that offer built-in billing systems and integrate with CRMs and other critical business tools.
How reliable is the vendor?
Besides the technology, the reputation of the vendor matters a lot. Check whether they offer 24/7 technical support services. Also, look for consultation services for setup and scaling.
Conclusion
Although Enterprise SBC is increasingly used in several unified communication setups, it’s ultimately your choice to deploy an SBC or not, considering the type of systems you need to connect and the security you expect.
Try REVE SBC with a Free Demo & Expert Consultation
Are you still thinking of securing and optimizing your SIP trunking environment? You can trust REVE SBC, which is a robust, carrier-grade solution designed specifically for VoIP providers, wholesale carriers, and large enterprises. Our session border controller gives you full visibility, security, and performance control over your voice traffic with these powerful features:
- Real-Time Fraud Detection
- SIP Normalization
- 1+1 Hot Standby
- CLI Management
- Call Simulation
- WebRTC Integration
You can experience REVE SBC firsthand by availing a free trial and personalized demo. Our experts will walk you through the key functionalities based on your specific network environment. Additionally, you can receive free consultation to understand the best deployment model – on-premise or cloud, and see how REVE SBC can strengthen your VoIP infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are SBCs the same as Firewalls?
No, firewalls are meant to protect general traffic, while SBCs are designed to manage and protect SIP traffic.
Are SBCs useful for small businesses?
Of course, if a small business relies heavily on SIP trunking for communication, then it can opt for cloud-based SBCs, which are easily affordable.
How are on-premise and cloud SBCs different?
On-premise SBCs require hardware and equipment installation and provide more control. On the other hand, cloud SBCs are managed by third-party vendors and offer more flexibility and scalability.
How does an SBC help if my PBX and SIP provider aren’t compatible?
SBCs normalize SIP signaling so that disparate systems can work together seamlessly.
Do SBCs help in improving the quality of calls?
SBCs enforce QoS policies, manage media paths, and prevent poor connections from degrading the voice experience, which improves call quality.
