Modern challenges in SIP traffic and security
Managing voice traffic in telecom networks requires operators to effectively counter fraud and optimize costs. According to the CFCA Global Fraud Loss Survey 2025, global losses from telecom fraud reached $41.82 billion. Additionally, the ENISA Threat Landscape 2025 report highlights vulnerabilities in legacy signaling protocols like SS7 and Diameter, which pose risks of unauthorized access and traffic interception.
Implications for business
For the telecommunications sector, these rising fraud rates and protocol vulnerabilities mean escalating financial losses and a decline in subscriber trust. Operators who fail to secure their SIP traffic risk increased operational costs, potential interception of sensitive customer data, and loss of competitive edge in the market.
The role of softswitches in managing LCR and profitability
A softswitch is a core infrastructure component that automates Least Cost Routing (LCR)—selecting the cheapest route for each call in real time. This reduces operational costs and helps calculate call costs using Call Detail Records (CDRs). As an example of an all-in-one solution, the DooxSwitch VoIP platform provides tools for dynamic rate management, multi-level routing, real-time billing, and fraud protection.
The importance of Caller ID authentication
A common mistake among operators is ignoring Caller ID authentication standards, which leads to number spoofing. Implementing the STIR/SHAKEN framework and the RFC 8224 standard (using the Identity header in SIP) allows verifying the authenticity of call origin. This minimizes financial losses and increases subscriber trust in incoming calls.
Recommendations
To improve security and profitability, operators are recommended to take the following measures:
- Implement a modern softswitch solution with dynamic LCR support.
- Integrate the platform with billing and CRM systems.
- Ensure support for STIR/SHAKEN and RFC 8224 standards across all network nodes.
- Set up regular traffic monitoring to detect anomalies.
Prepared by a Software Ukraine member. Original publication.