Asterisk creator Digium, an Internet Telephony Conference & Expo exhibitor, has teamed with IP telephony network appliance provider Ranch Networks to create the first security code for the Asterisk open-source IP telephony platform.

The code is available for download from the Digium and Ranch Networks Web sites.

“Security is potentially an issue for SIP deployments since ports need to remain open at all times in order to enable voice traffic leaving potential open doors for intruders,” said Mark Spencer, president of Digium and creator of Asterisk. “In providing this technology, we are proactively addressing the security of VoIP before it becomes a major concern, while also providing quality of service and increased scalability.”

Ranch Networks’ technology sends instructions to the firewall to open the ports on an as-needed basis. Media streams can flow from one phone to another, then close ports when the call is terminated. Instructions also are sent to the appliance, determining the amount of bandwidth needed. As calls come in, data are shrunk to allow necessary bandwidth on a protocol basis. Ranch Networks guarantees that voice is given priority over data.

“We expect this will change the mindset of large enterprises and service providers that were previously skeptical of VoIP and open-source technologies, to look more closely at the customization, flexibility and huge costs savings that a platform like Asterisk provides,” said Ram Ayyakad, founder and CEO of Ranch Networks. “We have eliminated any security and scalability issues that could be argued by proprietary vendors.”

The Ranch Networks security code has been certified through ICSA.

Digium www.digium.com
Ranch Networks www.ranchnetworks.com