| There are a variety of measures you can take to | | | | often occurs.6. Wherever possible, limit the |
| insure that your PBX is safe from hackers.Listed | | | | number of employees who are authorized to use |
| below are tips you can use right now to protect | | | | remote access. And if possible, change pass |
| your business.1. Take steps to secure your | | | | codes and authorization codes when an employee |
| authorization codes on a permanent basis. Remind | | | | permanently leaves the company.7. NEVER |
| employees of the need to keep all access codes | | | | transfer a call outside your PBX if you are |
| secure and change them frequently.2. Contact | | | | unaware of the identity of the caller. Instruct |
| your equipment vendors and ask for any and all | | | | employees that phone companies will never ask |
| information on the available security systems in | | | | customers to be part of a "test" - no matter |
| place to detect toll fraud. They should also provide | | | | how official the caller may sound.8. Always be |
| information on monitoring services available to help | | | | alert to possible PBX abuse signs. These could |
| you quickly detect unusual usage.3. Work closely | | | | include repeated calls of short duration, sudden |
| with your PBX administrator to ensure that all of | | | | increase in 800 usage, or unexplained changes |
| the PBX security features available are in place | | | | incoming, outgoing or especially after-hours calling |
| and are being implemented.4. Unless needed for | | | | patterns.9. Consider out sourcing your telecom bills |
| routine business, block outgoing international calling, | | | | to a firm that will provide bill paying and audit |
| 809 and 900 calling capabilities.5. Conduct regular | | | | services on an ongoing monthly basis. You'll save |
| and routine auditing of your telecommunication | | | | money across the board and catch toll fraud at |
| systems and bills, especially just after regular | | | | the time it happens.Karen Thatcher is President |
| vacation months and holiday seasons. It is during | | | | and CEO of TelCon Associates, Inc. a 32 year old |
| these times of year that PBX toll fraud most | | | | telecom audit and bill management firm. |