What is SBCaaS? An Introduction

Defining SBCaaS: What is an SBC?

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What is SBCaaS An Introduction
Unified Communications ReviewsInsights

Published: January 13, 2023

Rebekah Carter - Writer

Rebekah Carter

As companies move away from legacy, on-premises systems in search of the agility and cost savings “as-a-service” solutions have to offer, they’re not just looking for ways to enable cloud communications. To maintain a high level of security, compliance, and privacy, organizations must also ensure they’re deploying the right tools to protect their network connections.

One proven method for protecting unified communications networks is to leverage session border controller technology. Session border controllers are tools that help organizations to control communications traveling through service provider networks.

SBCs act as a router between a carrier and a VoIP network, allowing only authorized communication sessions to pass through a virtual “border.” Companies can apply specific quality of service rules to their SBC technologies to determine what forms of traffic are permitted or denied.

SBCs can handle the various signalling and media functions required to make “SIP” (Session Initiation Protocol) services run seamlessly.

While traditional firewalls aren’t built to manage the real-time interactions of SIP and IP-based traffic, SBCs can handle this data seamlessly. They can help prevent malicious denial of service attacks while offering a range of bonus security features like encryption and topology hiding.

What is SBCaaS? Session Border Controllers as a Service

What is SBCaaS? If you’ve been working on upgrading your communications stack lately, you may have encountered this term once or twice. Often discussed alongside other communication-focused “SaaS” solutions, like UCaaS, CCaaS, and CPaaS, SBCaaS is quickly emerging as a powerful tool for companies shifting their technology into the cloud. Though these tools are rapidly gaining popularity, a handful of companies still don’t fully understand what SBCaaS is or how it works. Here’s everything business leaders should know.

SBCaaS, or session border controllers as a service, is explicitly designed for the agile and flexible cloud communications environment. In the past, companies looking to leverage the benefits of SBCs for quality control and security were forced to purchase appliance-based SBCs. These tools must be deployed and configured on-premises to ensure consistent interoperability with an organization’s business communications system.

Delivered according to the “as a service” model, SBCaaS provides companies with access to a flexible and versatile system for improving the security of various forms of communication.

Not only are some traditional SBCs relatively expensive to deploy, but they can also be complex and time-consuming to manage. This can be a significant problem for businesses that want to accelerate their transition into the cloud without relying on additional technical support.

SBCaaS solutions work similarly to a standard SBC solution. As with other Session Border Controllers, companies still gain access to quality service management tools, security features, and systems for controlling traffic flow.

The main difference is that SBCaaS are deployed in the cloud and managed by a third-party vendor. This reduces the requirement on the client or customer to handle their technology services.

The Benefits of SBCaaS for Business Leaders

SBCaaS solutions offer a more flexible, cost-effective way to leverage SBC technology without the on-premises management requirements. They essentially enable pay-as-you-go access to the functionality of an SBC without the need to invest in people and resources for testing, implementing, and maintaining the technology.

Investing in a cloud consumption model for SBC technology allows companies to preserve a higher level of flexibility and agility in their technology stack. Similar to other SaaS solutions, SBCaaS systems enable companies to scale the functionality of their service to suit their needs at their required pace. What’s more, because SBCaaS is deployed over the cloud, it’s usually faster and easier to deploy, much simpler to manage, and ideal for reducing operating costs

The key benefits of SBCaaS for companies include the following:

Simplicity: As a managed service solution, SBCaaS offers companies greater convenience and simplicity than the traditional SBC. There’s no need to hire additional technical experts to help configure, distribute, and manage the SBC technology. Everything is handled on the back end by a leading vendor.

Speed: Because SBCaaS solutions are delivered over the cloud, they can be deployed almost instantly without the same time investment involved in setting up a traditional SBC. Companies can start leveraging their new technology straight away. Implementing new functionality and features with a couple of clicks in a cloud-based portal is also possible.

Security: Like standard SBCs, SBCaaS solutions give companies more control over the traffic moving in and out of their network. The right tools can improve the quality of service while minimizing a company’s risk of being exposed to various attacks. The right tools can even help synchronize different platforms without compromising safety.

Flexibility: SBCaaS solutions give companies complete freedom to access the functionality they need based on their specific requirements. They can connect to various core platforms within their SBCaaS environment, adjust their routing strategies for traffic, and change their system whenever they choose.

Cost savings: Deploying an SBC with a service provider is often more cost-effective than implementing an on-premises SBC. There are fewer pieces of hardware to purchase (none in some cases) and fewer maintenance costs to think about.

The Rise of SBCaaS

As more companies transition into the world of cloud technology for communications, Session Border Controllers are emerging as an increasingly crucial part of a secure tech stack. However, thanks to SBCaaS, modern brands don’t necessarily need to invest significant time, money, and resources into unlocking the power of SBCs.

Dominic McDonald, Chief Executive Officer at ULAP Networks, said: “More and more customers, in order to save costs and management, are moving all IT functionalities into the cloud environment. It’s important that we recognize this trend early on, in order to develop simplified cloud solutions, to ensure customers maintain a sense of ease and comfort. Collaboration services today are fully managed, secure and provided on platforms that allows companies full control of their network services.

With SBCaaS, business leaders can transform their communications strategies, synchronize their networks, and enhance their operations with a minimal initial investment.

 

 

Session Border ControllerUCaaSVoIP

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