SBC, an acronym for Session Border Controller, is a network device that operates at the edge of a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) network. It functions as a firewall for voice and data traffic, controlling access to and from the network.
In simple terms, an SBC is a technology used to connect and secure voice calls over the internet. It is primarily designed to control and manage sessions between different networks, such as IP-PBX (Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange) systems and Internet telephony service providers.
The SBC serves various purposes, including network protection against potential threats like Denial of Service (DoS) attacks, eavesdropping, toll fraud, and unauthorized access. It also ensures quality and reliability by monitoring and managing signalling and media traffic.
Moreover, SBCs perform transcoding and protocol conversion functions, enabling communication between networks with different voice codecs or signaling protocols. They also address issues like network address translation (NAT) traversal and dealing with dynamic IP addresses.
SBCs are commonly used in enterprise networks, allowing organizations to securely connect their internal communication systems with external service providers or remote branches. They facilitate interoperability across different vendors, protocols, and network architectures.
As technology advances, SBCs are evolving to cater to emerging communication trends, such as the integration of Unified Communications (UC) features, mobile capabilities, and cloud-based services. These devices play a crucial role in ensuring secure and seamless communication in modern networks.
