SIP trunk fail over,uninterrupted communication,redundant network infrastructure and business continuity.

AI has the potential to revolutionize every aspect of the telecom sector. At Iristel, we're committed to staying at the forefront of this AI-driven evolution.

Author: Dr. Tarek Khei

It's crucial to keep your business protected against cyber attacks. Not only can these attacks be incredibly costly, but they can also damage your reputation and lead to long-term negative consequences. According to a recent study, cyber attacks cost businesses an average of $200,000 per incident. This cost includes not only the direct financial impact of the attack, but also the loss of customers, decreased productivity, and the cost of recovering from the attack. In addition to the financial impact, cyber attacks can also harm your company's reputation. Customers may be hesitant to do business with a company that has been the victim of a cyber attack, and the negative publicity can have long-term consequences for your business. Furthermore, cyber attacks can result in the loss of sensitive information, such as customer data and proprietary information. This loss of information can lead to legal and regulatory issues, further damaging your business. Fortunately, there are steps that businesses can take to protect themselves against cyber attacks. This includes implementing strong security measures, conducting IP vulnerability scans and having professionally monitored and managed cybersecurity services that keep you protected 24/7/365. You can also regularly back up data and provide employees with cybersecurity training. By taking these steps, you can reduce the likelihood of your business being the victim of a cyber attack and protect your company's financial and reputational health. Protecting your business against cyber attacks is crucial. The financial and reputational costs of an attack can be devastating, so it's essential to take the necessary steps to protect your company. By implementing strong security measures and regularly training employees, you can greatly reduce the likelihood of a cyber attack and protect your business from long-term negative consequences.

Iristel is committed to maintaining the integrity and security of our network and in full transparency, wanted to make customers aware of the issue at hand that was impacting our network. On Monday, November 15th at approximately 11:00 (EST), Iristel had a cyber-attack attempt (known technically as DDoS) on a network element, specifically a port on an element. The port establishes connection to and from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). This caused a packet loss (electronic method of transporting conversations over the internet) to our Core Network that hindered the ability to establish a voice call. Our senior engineers, along with our partners were fully engaged and dedicated on resolving the issue at hand to restore service, which has now stabilized and is functioning without disruption, per our current data, after implementing the permanent fix. On behalf of the entire Iristel Team, we sincerely apologize over this disruption of service as we are keenly aware of the frustration it has caused to your business. We are very proud in the trust that you have in our company to deliver your services and we continue to monitor the entire network. More information and updates can be found at https://status.iristel.com/ About Iristel Iristel is Canada’s fastest-growing Competitive Local Exchange Carrier providing innovative communication services that are changing how consumers and businesses communicate. Founded in 1999, Markham-based Iristel operates Canada’s largest facilities-based local voice network extending Coast-to-Coast-to-Coast. It also owns Ice Wireless, an LTE-A carrier with operations in Canada’s northern territories and Quebec. Iristel also owns brands such as Sugar Mobile, an Over-the-Top (OTT) app where phone calls and text messages can be transmitted through data, and Télécommunications de l’Est (TDE), a company that operates a Nomad mobile network, a unique two-way radio digital trunking network built to meet the specific needs of Canada’s rural regions. For more information: www.iristel.com pr@iristel.com or call 416-800-0010

To Our Valued Customers and Partners, On Monday, November 15th, as you already know, Iristel became the latest in Canada’s VoIP community to come under cyber attack. It was a network-level large scale Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack that attempted to make our services unavailable by overwhelming the network with traffic from multiple sources. The Russian-based “REvil” group – short for “Ransomware-Evil” – claimed responsibility and demanded a ransom payment. REvil is known as one of the world's most prolific ransomware gangs and has staged several attacks this year against major companies and organizations around the world. I am pleased to report Iristel beat back the attack and our network was fully restored to optimum levels in record time, fewer than 48 hours, and no ransom was paid. Although Iristel is not the household telecom brand, we touch countless businesses and consumer lives with every minute we carry voice and data across the largest VoIP network in Canada. As such, you felt the impact of this paralyzing event. We work for you, and we take pride in connecting people, that is why we countered this with full force. It’s only during these times – a crisis – that one truly realizes and fully appreciates the positive impact of our services, our customers, and our team. You, our partner, have chosen us to support your customers. We strive to create a partnership built on quality, survivability, and trust. We take great pride in the integrity and security of our network. I have spoken to many of you during this time. I heard you loud and clear. The vulnerability feeling caused by these attacks is very unsettling, but I refuse to be a victim. That is why we will tirelessly monitor and make our ecosystem even smarter, driven both by machine learning and human engineering excellence to prevent such attacks. I want to thank those carrier partners who have offered their support during these difficult times. We know this is not over for the VoIP industry as a whole. The DDoS threat will rear its ugly head again. Now we need to be an active part of the solution. We have already contacted cyber law enforcement agencies and will also share our experience with our carrier community as we feel being good stewards will help defeat these criminals and secure our communications’ future. I have seen firsthand our team step up, work around the clock, and face this crisis head on with leading edge and outside-the-box solutions to restore services. I was reminded once again of Iristel’s immense strength and higher vocation to keep everyone connected no matter where they are. I truly appreciate all of you who trust us to deliver your services. We will remain vigilant and defend our network. Sincerely, Samer Bishay CEO & Founder - Iristel About Iristel Iristel is Canada’s fastest-growing Competitive Local Exchange Carrier providing innovative communication services that are changing how consumers and businesses communicate. Founded in 1999, Markham-based Iristel operates Canada’s largest facilities-based local voice network extending Coast-to-Coast-to-Coast. It also owns Ice Wireless, an LTE-A carrier with operations in Canada’s northern territories and Quebec. Iristel also owns brands such as Sugar Mobile, an Over-the-Top (OTT) app where phone calls and text messages can be transmitted through data, and Télécommunications de l’Est (TDE), a company that operates a Nomad mobile network, a unique two-way radio digital trunking network built to meet the specific needs of Canada’s rural regions. For more information: www.iristel.com pr@iristel.com or call 416-800-0010

Iristel’s second annual appearance at Legal week in New York will begin on February 3rd! This event hallmarks the symbiotic relationship between the legal field and technological solutions, of which cybersecurity plays an ever more important role.