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9 Tips for Keeping Your Telecom Department Safe

Is your company`s PBX system safe and secure? That is the question more and more businesses are asking themselves. The use of sophisticated PBX systems by a growing number of organizations provides fertile ground for hackers and those bent on committing what can result in serious toll fraud. Here are 9 quick tips that you can use immediately to help keep your PBX safe and secure. 1. Take immediate steps to secure your authorization codes on a permanent basis. Frequently remind employees of the need to keep all access codes secure and change them regularly. 2. Contact your equipment vendors and ask for any and all information on the available security systems they have in place to detect toll fraud. Your vendors should also provide information on any monitoring services available to help you quickly detect unusual PBX usage. 3. Work closely with your PBX administrator to ensure that all of the PBX security features available are in place and are being implemented on site. 4. Conduct regular and routine auditing of your telecommunication systems and bills, especially just after regular vacation months and holiday seasons. It is during these times of year that PBX toll fraud most often occurs. 5. Wherever possible, limit the number of employees who are authorized to use remote access. And, if possible, change pass codes and authorization codes when an employee permanently leaves the company. 6. NEVER transfer a call outside your PBX if you are unaware of the identity of the caller. Instruct employees that phone companies will never ask customers to be part of a ",test", - no matter how official the caller may sound. 7. Unless needed for routine business, block outgoing international calling, 809 and 900 calling capabilities. 8. Always be alert to possible PBX abuse signs. These could include repeated calls of short duration, sudden increase in 800 usage, or unexplained changes incoming, outgoing or especially after-hours calling patterns. 9. Consider out sourcing your telecom bills to a firm that will provide bill paying and audit services on an ongoing monthly basis. You`ll generally save money across the board and catch toll fraud at the time it happens. The threat of PBX fraud is real. To effectively prevent losses you need a contingency plan for keeping your PBX safe and secure. For a free 66-page PBX vulnerability and security report, visit www.telconassociates.com