A Short Introduction to Session Border Controller (SBC)

What is Session Border Controller (SBC)

Session Border Controller is a network element. As its name suggests, its main function is to control real-time communication calls or sessions. The Session Border Controller secures the important parts of a business’s communication network. In addition to this, it protects and governs IP communication flows. In other words, it governs how calls are initiated, conducted and terminated over the VoIP network.

Are SBCs Hardware or Software?

There are 3 types of Session Border Controller, which enterprises can choose according to their requirements and their budget.

Hardware Session Border Controller is a dedicated physical equipment installed on your business’s premises. In software form, a virtual Session Border Controller software runs on your server. Cloud-based Session Border Controller is also available as VoIP solutions for your business.

Why Do I Need Session Border Controller?

Session Border Controllers are powerful and robust with high capacity and redundancy. They are not only able to handle the average number of calls coming through the system simultaneously, but also to can handle peak calls easily. SBC's offers a complete solution for businesses. From security to managing sessions and more Session Border Controller includes all.

How Session Border Controller Work

The Session Border Controller is a point of demarcation between the enterprise network and the service provider’s network (the internet). It very efficiently secures and controls a SIP network by admitting (or not admitting) and directing communications between the internal and external world.  For example, a VoIP call between two phones or a video collaboration between multiple devices.

Deployment of SBC always takes place at the network perimeter (or border as the name suggests). This is because they would be able to control and secure real-time communication sessions for both enterprises as well as service providers.

Previously, Session Border Controllers were used to protecting and controlling the networks of VoIP service providers only. But in today’s world, it is used to regulate all kinds of real-time communications.

And this is especially beneficial for modern business. All this includes phone calls, instant messaging, video and audio collaboration and also desktop sharing. The latest generation enterprise Session Border Controllers are also quite popular to provide a robust secure environment.

What are the Main Functionalities of Session Border Controller

Here are some of the important functions of Session Border Controller:

Securing Real-Time Communication Network: With SBC enterprises can get complete security for Real-Time communication Networks. Enterprises can also encrypt signalling and media with the help of SBC. This encryption helps to prevent communication tampering. In addition to this, SBC Software also enables call admission control and dynamic blacklisting of rogue endpoints. 

Enables SIP Trunking: SBC is the termination point of the SIP trunk connection in the enterprise communication network. While it may sound similar to a firewall, SBC and firewall have their own differences. 

Interconnecting Networks & Protocols: All important inter-working and interconnecting tasks, such as dealing with SIP variants and translating protocols, between different networks and the protocols running over them are managed and performed by SBC. 

Session Admission Control: Session admission control which means it inspects and sees who should be allowed to access the network and who should not. SBC also helps to determine how much bandwidth is required for a session. In addition to all this, SBC also performs SIP internetworking. 

Intelligent Routing: Intelligent Routing includes a wide range of routing. All these have a similar end goal of cost-efficient quality service. Some types of advanced routing are Source and Destination based Routing, Loss Less Routing, and Least Cost Routing, Percentage Based Routing.