11/2/2004 -- Cisco Systems Inc. last week announced new security features for its IP Communications system.

Cisco’s CallManager 4.1 IP telephony system now supports voice media and signaling encryption for Cisco’s new 7940G and 7960G IP phones, along with the more than 2.5 million installed 7940G and 7960G IP phones. In addition, the revamped CallManager 4.1 also boasts a range of Q.SIG enhancements, which makes it an improved migration platform for customers who require interoperability with PBX systems. Other enhancements include better call-routing functionality, along with improved cost control and call tracking.

In addition, Cisco officials said that CallManager 4.1 can now provide voice media and signaling encryption support to a range of different Cisco Media Gateways, along with the Integrated Services Router line. According to Cisco, the incorporation of media encryption into media gateways can enhance voice privacy on Cisco IP phones in remote offices, as well as provide more secure connectivity to legacy devices, including digital telephones and fax machines.

"By adding media encryption to its 7960 and 7940 IP phones and media gateway products, Cisco demonstrates an insightful conclusion—that the phone endpoint should mirror any highly secure web application. At the same time, Cisco customers gain increased security at more layers of an IP Communications system than those from any other vendor,” said Zeus Kerravala, vice president of enterprise infrastructure at The Yankee Group, in a statement. -Stephen Swoyer