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John Gates, Elevate Communications, (617) 861-3651
New “OrcaSentry” Voice Firewall and Session Border Controller Part of New Premises-based Management Features Designed to Protect SMBs from Emerging VOIP Security Threats While Ensuring Highest Availability and Service Quality
PORTSMOUTH, NH, April 7, 2008 —Whaleback Systems™ today introduced its latest release of its CrystalBlue Voice Service featuring robust new security features and other advanced premises-based management functions. The centerpiece of this release is a new voice application firewall – OrcaSentry - that locks down an SMB’s voice network from VOIP security threats such as spam over Internet Telephony (SPIT) and Denial of Service (DoS) attacks.
This is the first security-focused release of Whaleback’s CrystalBlue Voice Service, the industry’s first premises-based managed business telephony solution built from the ground up for broadband. Crystal Blue Voice is designed to help SMBs reduce capital and operating costs while boosting productivity via “big business” IP PBX calling features.
The new premises-based management features that are incorporated in this release, which include enhanced security, voice quality management and business continuity features, extend Whaleback’s leadership position as the industry’s most advanced, secure and reliable broadband-based business telephony solution.
“IP security is a major threat to data networking services, and VoIP services similarly need to protect the integrity of the IP connection. Cutting-edge VOIP technology provides SMBs with significant opportunities to realize new productivity gains and efficiencies, but this promise is balanced with the same potential risks and threats found in the data networking world,” said Mark Galvin, President and CEO of Whaleback Systems. “This new release, anchored by the OrcaSentry Voice Firewall, leverages Whaleback’s unique premises-based managed service architecture, offering robust end-to-end security. Users are ensured protection from common security threats such as SPIT, Denial of Service attacks, call interception and the ‘spoofing’ of SIP endpoints, to name a few.”
Robust LAN/WAN Security: OrcaSentry is a dedicated voice-only proxy firewall built into Whaleback’s SMB 1500, CrystalBlue Voice service’s managed IP PBX appliance. OrcaSentry neutralizes evolving spam and network intrusion threats by terminating and regenerating all inbound voice traffic, preventing packet forwarding and public SIP call addressing.
“For each phone call, a session is established from the customer’s handset to the IP-PBX where the private IP address is translated and a new session is established directly to a secure Whaleback co-location facility. This eliminates peer-to-peer dialing with non-secure IP end-points,” said Galvin. “Everything is locked down and managed from the IP phone to its eventual hand-off to the PSTN. Our premise-based managed service architecture gives us a leg up to easily add new security capabilities and functions to address new security threats as they evolve.”
New Voice Quality Management Features: The new release features powerful call control functions - dynamic path control - that automatically re-routes calls around network trouble spot areas of degrading call quality, traversing points of congestion to establish more optimal, clearer call paths. This dynamic path control operates as part of Whaleback’s award-winning OrcaVision Voice Quality Management System, which provides total visibility into the customer’s call path as their voice traffic crosses multiple IP networks. OrcaVision is a graphical network mapping tool used to visually monitor the health and performance of these networks and provide multiple views that display call quality information by provider, by customer or by user.
OrcaVision allows Whaleback Network Operations Center (NOC) personnel to analyze call volume, traffic bottlenecks, usage patterns and call histories. The system also performs a periodic health check of every remote PBX system for its availability and operating status. A system fault that might occur on any SMB customer site can be detected within minutes. Automatic notification of system problems or service degradation is based on alarms that trigger whenever call quality thresholds are violated. Whaleback personnel immediately investigate and resolve the problem—usually before the customer is aware of the event.
Enhanced Business Continuity Features: The new release also features advanced high availability functions such as cold standby and fault tolerant (RAID storage and redundant power) configurations for Whaleback’s SMB 1500 IP PBX appliance.
The new release is available today. Existing customers will be automatically upgraded to the new security software release at no extra charge. Whaleback manages and monitors all deployments, and will upgrade all SMB 1500 IP PBXs without any need for user intervention. The high availability server, called the OrcaServer-HA, is a new premise-based hardware appliance for Whaleback’s IP-PBX software that may be optionally added for a one-time activation fee of $4,995.
About Whaleback Systems
Whaleback Systems is a Managed Service Provider (MSP) and the pioneering developer of the first business phone solution built from the ground up for broadband. Unlike traditional systems, the Whaleback CrystalBlue Voice Service is 100 percent premises-based and software-driven. It includes the only IP PBX with Key System Unit features and Road Warrior Functionality. Whaleback's all-inclusive, unlimited nationwide calling package makes the most advanced technology immediately affordable for companies that need between 5 and 1,500 phone stations. The Whaleback service is available through partnerships with channel partners and VARs. Whaleback customers include law firms, real estate agencies, financial services firms, homebuilders, restaurants, resorts, advertising and public relations agencies. Whaleback also provides its business-class, managed IP PBX service to Head of the Charles Regatta, the World’s Largest Two-Day Rowing Event.
