VoIP Security Alliance Formed

Leading computer security and telecommunications companies said today that they are joining forces to raise awareness of threats to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology.

The new group is the first cross-industry association that is focused on VoIP security. It includes major players in the market, such as Alcatel and Avaya, VoIP newcomer Comcast, security technology vendors Qualsys and Symantec, as well as TippingPoint.
The group will research and distribute information on Internet telephony vulnerabilities and promote VoIP security tools.

For example, the VoIP Security Alliance is backing research into special security tools, including a "fuzzer" for SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), a VoIP communications protocol. The tool will be able to test SIP for weaknesses and vulnerabilities that could lead to attacks.

The group will also promote best practices for deploying VoIP, such as configuring gear and separating voice data from other data on so-called converged networks.

Membership in the VoIP Security Alliance is dominated by companies, but is open to individual researchers and university research groups, as well as to Internet telephony enthusiasts who are experts in the technology.