Cloud-native, virtual, or appliances – pick the right SBC for your real-time communications network and services
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makes Ribbon SBCs stand apart from the competition? Maybe it’s the fact that the world’s most demanding service providers have trusted Ribbon to deliver secure, high-quality SIP communications for more than 20 years. Perhaps it’s the peace of mind that comes from independent testing that shows that Ribbon SBCs can thwart the most challenging denial of service attacks without impacting call traffic. Or, maybe it’s because we offer more deployment choices with SBC models that range from those that are perfect for small service providers all the way up to those with the best scale, performance, and security for Tier 1 service providers. It could also be the knowledge that Ribbon’s portfolio of cloud-native, virtual, and appliance-based SBCs all share common applications software. Ultimately, it likely just comes down to something simple – Ribbon SBCs work.
Ribbon SBCs are an integral piece of Ribbon’s Telco Cloud portfolio working in concert with Ribbon’s Policy and Routing Server (PSX), Ribbon Analytics, and Ribbon Call Trust(R) & Ribbon Connect as a Service offers. Together these integrated solutions are more than the sum of the individual pieces.
Ribbon SBCs are often deployed along with Ribbon’s PSX to enable highly efficient, centralized, and scalable network policy and routing control. Service providers can configure and institute a policy change in the PSX Primary and see it start to cascade across a worldwide network of PSX Replicas in minutes. This deployment model dramatically reduces operational costs compared to traditional solutions, enables one-touch network-wide policy management, and ensures operational decisions are consistent across a service provider’s network. It’s no wonder leading service providers around the globe rely on Ribbon SBC and PSX solutions.
Interworking between Ribbon SBCs, Ribbon Analytics, and Ribbon Call Trust services makes it possible for a service provider to more rapidly respond to real-time communications cyberattacks, fraud attempts, and network quality incidents than can be done with our competitors using standalone solutions.
Ribbon’s SBCs are certified with Microsoft Teams Direct Routing, Microsoft Operator Connect, Zoom Phone BYOC, Ring Central, Webex Local Gateway solutions, Google Voice SIP Link, AWS Chime, as well as many other cloud-based unified communications platforms. They are also tested with popular cloud-based contact centers from Genesys, Five9, Nice InContact, and more. Ribbon also has the benefit of hundreds of thousands of existing deployments worldwide, meaning our solutions are deployed with Avaya, Asterisk, Mitel, Cisco, Avaya, and countless other brands of PBXs and contact centers.
Session Border Controllers (SBCs) for Service Providers
Overview:
Session Border Controllers (SBCs) are critical components in modern communication networks, particularly for service providers offering Voice over IP (VoIP) and Unified Communications (UC) services. SBCs manage and secure the flow of SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) sessions across IP networks, ensuring reliable and secure communication.
Key Functions of SBCs:
Security:
Protection Against Attacks: SBCs provide robust security features to protect against various types of attacks, including Denial of Service (DoS), Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), and SIP-specific attacks.
Encryption: Ensure the encryption of signaling and media traffic to safeguard sensitive communications and comply with data protection regulations.
Interoperability:
Protocol Translation: Facilitate interoperability between different communication protocols and systems, enabling seamless communication between diverse networks and devices.
Network Integration: Support integration with a wide range of VoIP and UC systems, including traditional telephony, cloud-based solutions, and legacy systems.
Quality of Service (QoS):
Traffic Management: Manage and prioritize network traffic to ensure high-quality voice and video communications, minimizing latency, jitter, and packet loss.
Bandwidth Optimization: Optimize bandwidth usage to support high-quality communication even under varying network conditions.
Session Management:
Session Control: Control and manage the establishment, modification, and termination of communication sessions, ensuring smooth call setup and tear-down.
Load Balancing: Distribute incoming traffic across multiple servers to balance the load and prevent any single point of failure.
Regulatory Compliance:
Legal Requirements: Help service providers meet regulatory requirements by providing features such as call recording, emergency call handling, and lawful intercept capabilities.
Service Assurance: Ensure compliance with service level agreements (SLAs) by monitoring and reporting on network performance and service quality.
Benefits of SBCs for Service Providers:
Enhanced Security:
Network Protection: SBCs act as a gatekeeper, protecting the network from unauthorized access and potential threats.
Secure Communication: By encrypting signaling and media streams, SBCs safeguard communication privacy and integrity.
Improved Call Quality:
Reliable Performance: SBCs ensure high-quality voice and video by managing network traffic and mitigating issues such as latency and jitter.
Consistent User Experience: Maintain a consistent and high-quality user experience, crucial for retaining customers and meeting service expectations.
Operational Efficiency:
Centralized Management: Provide a centralized point for managing and monitoring communication sessions, simplifying network management tasks.
Reduced Complexity: Simplify network integration and interoperability, reducing the complexity associated with multi-vendor environments.
Scalability:
Flexible Deployment: Support scalability to accommodate growing traffic volumes and evolving network architectures.
Adaptability: Easily adapt to changes in network demands, technologies, and business needs.
Cost Savings:
Optimized Resource Utilization: Improve resource utilization and reduce operational costs by optimizing network performance and minimizing downtime.
Reduced Infrastructure Costs: Lower the costs associated with maintaining multiple standalone solutions by consolidating functions into a single SBC.
Key Considerations When Choosing SBCs:
Capacity and Performance:
Throughput Requirements: Assess the SBC’s capacity to handle the expected volume of concurrent sessions and ensure it meets performance requirements.
Scalability: Ensure the SBC can scale to accommodate future growth and increased traffic loads.
Compatibility:
Network Integration: Verify that the SBC supports integration with existing network components and communication systems.
Protocol Support: Ensure compatibility with the communication protocols used in your environment, including SIP, H.323, and WebRTC.
Feature Set:
Security Features: Evaluate the SBC’s security capabilities, including encryption, threat protection, and compliance features.
Management Tools: Consider the availability of management and monitoring tools that facilitate network oversight and troubleshooting.
Vendor Support:
Technical Support: Assess the level of technical support and service offered by the SBC vendor, including availability and response times.
Product Updates: Ensure that the vendor provides regular updates and enhancements to keep the SBC current with industry standards and evolving threats.
Conclusion:
Session Border Controllers are essential for service providers seeking to deliver secure, high-quality, and reliable communication services. By managing and protecting SIP sessions, SBCs enable seamless integration, enhance security, and improve overall service quality. Choosing the right SBC involves considering factors such as capacity, compatibility, feature set, and vendor support.
Discover how Mekan Company’s SBC solutions can enhance your communication infrastructure. Contact us today to learn more about our offerings and how we can help you achieve superior network performance and security.
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