Burton Group analyst Irwin Lazar passed along word that Verizon has launched an enhanced VoIP Security Assessment Service. From the news release:

The Verizon Business VoIP Security Assessment Service is designed to identify and address potential security vulnerabilities associated with customer premises-based VoIP and hosted IP PBX systems from any hardware and software vendor.

The vulnerabilities range from risks inherent in traditional voice and IP-based data networks, including loss of service, fraud, privacy, denial of service attacks, viruses and SPIT (spam over Internet telephony), as well as newer vulnerabilities related to the integration and interoperability of VoIP software and hardware. In addition, a host of new risk factors are created when traffic is handed off between traditional phone and next-generation VoIP networks.

The security assessment service includes a comprehensive review of customers’ security policies, as well as an analysis of local- and wide-area network architecture.

More information is available in the Verizon news release.