Thursday, May 10, 2007

How to Secure Call Accounting Data

Call accounting software is a means of tracking, storing and analyzing telephone call transactions usually in a centralized database. The call information can be used for many reasons including cost allocation, network and traffic management, fraud prevention and trend line analysis.

Most telecom managers would agree that examining call accounting reports provides a vivid picture of the health and performance of the entire company. Telephone call records contain information that can often be of a sensitive nature. If call detail information were to fall in the wrong hands a company could be compromised.

Call detail records generally contain call source and destination, authorization codes, account codes, mailbox, credit card, banking pin numbers and many other access codes prompted by voice mail, IVR, ACD and other systems. Unsuspecting companies with open access databases and unsecured data transfers could be subject to security breaches, hacking and fraud. An entire business could be brought to its knees if call detail records (CDR) information is not properly protected.

Many corporations are adopting standards and policies to be in full compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and HTPAA regulations. Call accounting vendors are responding with solutions that incorporate secure buffer boxes that adopt Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) and Secure Shell (SSH) for authentication. This form of encryption allows companies with remote locations to transfer their sensitive CDR across the public network.

Resource Software International Ltd. (RSI) recently announced that its product portfolio including --- Shadow CMS and Revolution Web Call Accounting --- would allow companies to secure data collection. RSI offers secure data collection buffers from best in class manufactuers that interface with its software. This eliminates the need for additional expense to secure network connections to get sensitive data.

RSI is recognized as an industry leader in the field of communication management. The communication management product portfolio includes tailored integration to the most popular switching and network manufactures. RSI has been granted Nortel Developer Partner status with recognition for its core portfolio as Compatible Products. RSI is a Cisco Technology Partner, Siemens HiPath Ready Standard certified, Avaya DeveloperConnect Member, Mitel MiSN Member, Adtran Complementary Solutions Provider, ShoreTel Technology Partner, NEC Univerge Partner and Alcatel Applications Partner.