<p>In today's unifiedcommunications (UC) environment, security threats are real, significant and growing. In theintroduction to their book Hacking Exposed: Unified Communications and VoIP authors Mark Collierand David Endler explain why unifiedcommunications security issues are on the rise:</p><p>"In terms of threats, [unified communications or] UC has made many attacks easier. Attackerstarget VoIP and UC for the same reasons they attacked legacy voice -- to steal service, to harassand disrupt, to sell unwanted products and services, to steal money and information and toeavesdrop on conversations."</p><p>"Security threats may not necessarily be intrinsic to unified communications systems, but thebiggest threat to a company's security is not having the systems and safeguards in place," saysRick Puskar, senior vice president for vision and strategy with Siemens' Unify platform. "A companyleaves itself vulnerable to attack when they do not prioritize the investment in tailored securityand data protection systems."Secure unified communications component uniquely</p><p>But unified communications entail voice, video, text and visuals; eachUC component uses different architecture to communicate and each channel has its ownvulnerabilities. Mounil Patel, vice president of strategic field engagement at Mimecast -- aunified email management company based in Watertown, Mass. -- contends that voice, in particular,is a vulnerable component of UC that needs focus.UC is typically deployed as a multisite IP service thatrequires opening a wide range of ports, which creates a security risk.</p><p><a href="http://searchunifiedcommunications.techtarget.com/feature/Striving-for-secure-unified-communications">Keep reading...</a></p>