In the world of IP-based telephony, protecting signaling and media, ensuring call quality, and defending against cyber threats are critical priorities. Choosing the right Session Border Controller (SBC) is not merely a technical matter—it is a strategic decision that directly impacts service reliability, operational costs, and customer satisfaction.
In this article, we will walk you through the key factors to consider when purchasing an SBC and explain how to choose the best option among available solutions, including domestic products such as the Chakavak SBC.
Why Your Network Needs an SBC
An SBC acts as a border guardian for VoIP traffic. Its primary functions include:
- Protection against SIP, DDoS and Brute Force attacks
- Encryption of signaling and media (TLS, SRTP) to prevent eavesdropping and Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks
- NAT Traversal management and compatibility between IPv4/IPv6 networks
- Protocol normalization and transcoding for codec interoperability
- Quality of Service (QoS), intelligent routing, and load balancing to maintain optimal call quality
Without an SBC, VoIP networks are exposed to a wide range of attacks and performance issues, potentially leading to customer distrust and hidden operational costs.
Before You Buy: Needs Assessment and Core Criteria
Before evaluating specific products, it is essential to clearly define your organization’s precise requirements:
- Call Volume and Scalability: Determine the current number of concurrent calls and estimate growth over the next 1–3 years. Use this data to calculate the necessary hardware capacity or license tier.
- Infrastructure Type: Decide whether your deployment will be On-Premise, Cloud, or Hybrid. Ensure the SBC supports all three deployment models.
- Required Security Level: Identify whether your organization is subject to specific national, military, or regulatory compliance standards. Look for support of TLS/SRTP, DTLS, and advanced capabilities such as Behavioral Analytics and Reputation Scoring.
- Protocol and Equipment Compatibility: Verify interoperability with internal PBXs (e.g., Asterisk, Cisco, etc.), NGN/IMS platforms and operator SIP trunks to avoid cross-vendor integration issues.
- Visibility and Monitoring: A comprehensive management dashboard, logging, and analytical reporting are essential for NOC/SOC teams.
- Operations and Support: Consider the SLA level, 24/7 availability, and options for local support or software localization, particularly in regions affected by sanctions or international restrictions.
Key Features to Include in Your Purchase Checklist
When comparing different SBC solutions, ensure the chosen product includes at least the following capabilities:
- Attack Management and Rate Limiting: Detection and mitigation of SIP Floods, Registration Storms, and other malicious traffic patterns.
- SIP Normalization and Interoperability: Capability to reconcile variations in SIP implementations across different vendors and platforms, ensuring seamless communication and compatibility.
- Transcoding and Media Handling: Automatic codec adaptation to maintain call quality across heterogeneous environments.
- NAT Traversal and IPv6 Support: Ensures true end-to-end communication within complex network topologies.
- High Availability and Redundancy: Supports failover and distributed architectures to eliminate any single point of failure.
- Access Control and Built-in SIP Firewall: Implements access policies, whitelist/blacklist rules, and restrictions based on IP addresses or user credentials.
- Management Dashboard and APIs: Provides integration with monitoring and automation systems through management interfaces and APIs.
Technical and Operational Considerations for a Successful Deployment
- Real-World Testing: Before full-scale implementation, conduct a live demo or Proof of Concept (PoC) using realistic traffic scenarios and simulated attack conditions.
- Configuration and Backup Plan: Request comprehensive policies for configuration management, backup, recovery, and software upgrade procedures from the vendor.
- Coordination with the Security Team: Integrate the SBC with SIEM platforms and notification channels to enable rapid incident response.
- Documentation and Training: Ensure your technical team receives complete documentation and adequate training for day-to-day administration.
- Modular Scalability: Confirm that the solution allows for seamless capacity expansion and feature upgrades without major architectural changes.
Cost and Return on Investment (ROI)
The initial cost of purchasing and deploying an SBC should be weighed against the potential expenses of service outages, security penalties, and reputational damage. Tangible benefits include reduced disruptions in call centers, prevention of costly cyberattacks, minimized downtime and lower support costs related to interoperability issues. To calculate ROI, model scenarios such as “reducing N hours of annual downtime” or “decreasing failed/repeated call rates.”
Why Choosing a Domestic SBC Matters?
In environments affected by sanctions, requiring local support, or subject to national security regulations, selecting a domestic SBC solution offers distinct advantages such as faster support response, customization aligned with local compliance standards, and guaranteed compatibility with national infrastructure needs. While international products may provide broader feature sets, local solutions often outperform them during critical situations by ensuring continuity, compliance, and accessible technical support.
SBC Purchase Checklist Summary
- Define current capacity and forecast growth
- Choose the appropriate deployment model: On-Premise / Cloud / Hybrid
- Verify security capabilities: TLS, SRTP, DDoS protection
- Confirm support for Transcoding and NAT Traversal
- Conduct a PoC test with real-world traffic scenarios
- Review SLA terms and ensure local support availability
- Prepare a maintenance, backup and upgrade plan
Conclusion
Selecting the right SBC is a strategic investment in the stability, security, and scalability of your VoIP infrastructure. A well-chosen solution—especially one that aligns with local operational realities—ensures not only technical performance but also long-term business resilience and customer satisfaction.
If you would like our team at Chakavak to prepare a customized technical plan and capacity assessment based on your network and business scenario, we would be pleased to arrange a consultation session and a personalized demo.
Please share your contact information or reach our technical team at +98 21 2970 0600.