Should your business be using Skype?

Simply put, Skype offers free voice and video calling between Internet-connected computers.  (Each computer needs to run the Skype software and be equipped with a microphone and speakers or a plug-in telephone headset).  Skype was released in Europe in 2003 and purchased by eBay in 2005.  At the time of the purchase Skype received a great deal of publicity and its popularity grew. 

It's the draw of the "free" phone call that draws companies in.  However, it's only free if you are calling another Skype user.  Otherwise, you need a plan, $2.95 a month for US calls, and $12.95 for international calls.  And there is also a plan that allows people to call your Skype number that is $18 for 3 months.  Still, you could be saving money with Skype….so why aren’t more businesses using it?  

The main reason is probably not the fact that the connection quality is not as high as landlines, but rather the security risk involved.  Skype is a peer-to-peer (P2P) technology.  P2P means that all of Skype's users collectively create the Skype network to create the available bandwidth and to route calls.   In order to be part of a P2P network you are essentially poking holes in the security system of your network that is designed to defend against hackers and other intruders.  The access that allows Skype phone calls can also be used to infect your computer or leak sensitive company information.  Both scenarios are not only possible, but happen.  In March 2007, a trojan was spreading on the Skype network.  And just this past February, P2P technology was the cause of a security breach on a defense contractor's network, which allowed Iran to obtain information on Marine One, President Obama's helicopter.

Skype does not offer a service level agreement (SLA), which many other business telecom providers do, warranting that service will be available and quality good, often at risk of financial penalties to the provider. Skype in effect guarantees only “best effort.”  

The bottom line is we are not recommending Skype for business networks.