Case Studies

VoIP telephony for law firm

by Mark Rowe

A criminal law firm in the Thames Valley has sought to protect its clients and staff from the risk of phone hackers who may steal sensitive information and identities via untraceable cyber attacks on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony. Reeds Solicitors has adopted the SIP Encrypt product, from UK company VoIP.co.uk.

The solicitors deal with every type of criminal case from high-profile murders through to straight-forward road traffic offences. They have a Family Law department dealing with legal aid and private work, and most recently have opened an immigration department, for individuals and businesses.

Jan Matthews, Managing Director of Oxford-based Reeds, says: “With expansion of our services and nine offices located across the south of the country, we have seen a significant increase in the amount of confidential and sensitive information handled by employees on a daily basis. It would clearly be detrimental if some of our sensitive data fell into the hands of cyber criminals hence why we have invested in the very best telephony security, which also provides us with a cost-effective, scaleable solution to support our continued business growth.”

Like many, Reeds previously had a traditional analogue phone system. After expansion into other regions, the firm saw it could centralise their phones with VoIP to reduce costs and future proof business growth and addressing phone security.

Radon Networks, the firm’s technology partner since 2007, did a review of VoIP suppliers before recommending the telecoms supplier Voip.co.uk. Anj Latif, IT Consultant, Radon Networks, says: “Voip.co.uk were chosen based on core criteria of being cost effective in addition to offering a full Payment Card Industry compliant solution called SIP Encrypt. Reeds Solicitors now also have the ability to easily open an office anywhere in the UK without the need of installing a costly traditional phone line.”

The SIP Encrypt service is claimed to be the only solution available to offer completely secure VoIP calls. Adam Crisp, Chief Technology Officer of Voip.co.uk, says: “Increasingly, VoIP technology is being used to make and receive telephone calls via external IP networks, which must be considered open or public. The majority of VoIP traffic over the internet is unencrypted making it at risk from the possibility of eavesdropping. It is therefore vital that businesses take measures to ensure they are protected.”

Radon Networks has also installed a dedicated secure SIP ‘Safe Gateway’ from Voip.co.uk. The new telephones provide Reeds with free encrypted calls between offices; it’s also compliant with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) so that the firm can accept secure card payments over the phone from clients.

Anj Latif, IT Consultant for Radon Networks, adds: “Reeds are undoubtedly a forward thinking firm that has embraced the latest IT and telecommunications technology for the benefit of their business and clients. Upon highlighting the possible vulnerability of VoIP technology, we were immediately instructed to provide Reeds with the most secure and compliant solution available as security is of paramount importance to the firm.”

And Jan Matthews, Managing Director of Reeds Solicitors, says: “In addition to ensuring our phone system is completely compliant and safe, it was also important for us to have a unified phone system to create seamless communication between our nine different offices with a singular bill for all sites. An added bonus is a 50 per cent cost saving in the first year and beyond with the ability to quickly increase our telephone capacity should we decide to open a new office.”

Pictured left to right are Adam Crisp of Voip, Jan Matthews and Judy Matthews of Reeds, and Anj Latif of Radon.

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