The Hidden Risks of VoIP for Emergency Phones in Government and Education Facilities

The switch to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has become commonplace, especially in schools and universities. It makes sense: VoIP offers cost savings, flexibility, and streamlined management for general communication. When it involves emergency communications, however, its convenience could come at the expense of safety.

Here’s why relying on VoIP for your emergency phones may unknowingly expose your campus to significant security and compliance risks, and why cellular connectivity is a smarter, safer solution.

Is VoIP Exposing Your Emergency Phones to Data Risk?

Unlike traditional landlines, VoIP runs through your building’s IT network. While that integration is beneficial for standard calls, it opens up emergency phones to cybersecurity vulnerabilities. This interconnectedness can inadvertently create an entry point for cyber threats, which in turn increases liability exposure. For example, a compromised system could give attackers access to sensitive data or disrupt emergency communication during a crisis.

It’s also worth clarifying that this risk isn’t theoretical. Because VoIP-based emergency communication sits on your building’s shared network rather than a closed phone line, it is inherently more exposed to outside threats. Overlooking this vulnerability could leave your school or university at risk of service disruption, data compromise, or both.

Even when a VoIP provider offers basic encryption, the responsibility for network security often falls on the internal IT team. That leaves room for inconsistencies and gaps that bad actors can exploit. An emergency system, by definition, should be separate, secure, and always on. VoIP simply wasn’t built for that.

VoIP Requires Specialized IT Oversight

For VoIP systems to operate reliably, routers must be precisely configured, bandwidth must be managed effectively, and continuous oversight is essential. The stakes for emergency communications are much higher than for everyday calls. Network disruptions or minor misconfigurations could mean critical emergency communications never connect, causing help to be delayed, or never arrive at all.

This specialized oversight places a significant burden on IT teams already managing a complex array of systems. Every second counts in an emergency. Adding complexity and potential points of failure increases risk and can slow response times.

Further complicating things, VoIP’s dependence on the internal network means emergency systems are susceptible to power outages and equipment failures. And unless backup systems are designed and tested with emergency use in mind, even a small disruption could prevent a life-saving call from going through.

Cellular Keeps Emergency Communication Off Your Network

Cellular-based emergency phones solve these issues by operating independently of your internal network infrastructure. By removing emergency communication from your IT ecosystem, you eliminate emergency phones as a potential entry point for cyberattacks, reducing risk and complexity. Cellular connectivity helps ensure reliability, simplicity, and peace of mind in a way that VoIP cannot when it comes to emergencies.

In contrast to VoIP, commercial-grade and purpose-built cellular emergency communication systems are built to prioritize signal strength and system resilience. Kings III technicians assess and optimize signal quality before installation, and backup power systems ensure phones continue to operate even during power outages. Because they don’t rely on your IT network, they also don’t depend on your IT staff for updates or troubleshooting.

This creates a dedicated line of defense for emergency calls which remains available even when the rest of your systems are offline.

Kings III Goes a Step Further: Encrypted, Secure, and Compliant

At Kings III, we understand the critical nature of emergency communications. Our Skyline cellular solution is specifically designed for life safety and code compliance without requiring complicated IT infrastructure or ongoing management. It integrates seamlessly with existing emergency phones and provides a reliable, fully managed connection that meets or exceeds all relevant code requirements.

With over 35 years of experience and more than 140,000 help phones in service, our systems are built for reliability and security, with one sole use case: emergency communications.

Our cellular communicator is installed in an area with verified strong signal strength and is then connected to the emergency phone wiring, enabling a seamless and compliant call path. This configuration ensures the delivery of proper voltage to meet standard emergency phone requirements and supports critical capabilities such as:

• Automatic Location Identification (ALI): Ensuring emergency responders know where the call is coming from without input from the caller.
• Reliable Callback Functionality: Operators can reconnect with the caller if a call is dropped, something VoIP systems often fail to deliver accurately.
• Battery Backup: Kings III cellular solutions are designed to meet the required four-hour talk-time backup for emergency systems.

All Kings III calls are monitored by highly trained, AEMD-certified emergency dispatchers. These professionals follow structured, medically approved protocols to quickly assess situations and dispatch the appropriate help, while keeping the caller calm and informed.

Skyline is also part of our all-inclusive solution, which means hardware, installation, cellular connectivity, lifetime maintenance, and 24/7 monitoring are all included in a single predictable cost structure. Additionally, Kings III’s emergency communication devices are FirstNet^® capable, which means they have priority access during emergencies for an added layer of reliability when every second counts.

CabView Video Monitoring: Secure Visual Communication

For campuses equipped with video-enabled emergency communication, Kings III’s CabView solution provides an additional layer of safety. CabView uses one-way video, activated during emergency calls, to give operators real-time visual insight while preserving caller privacy.

Unlike other Video Messaging Systems (VMS) that may rely on in-house IT support, CabView transmits encrypted video using the same secure cellular channel as the emergency call. It is never routed through your network. This avoids exposure to cyber threats and ensures any stored video remains isolated and protected.

Video is especially valuable when callers are unable to speak, disoriented, or under duress, allowing our operators to visually verify activity inside the elevator cab and respond accordingly. For more information on CabView, including information on ASME 17.1 adoption in your area, see our code compliance database.

Why It Matters for Schools and Universities

Schools and universities face unique challenges: aging infrastructure, evolving code requirements, limited IT bandwidth, and high public visibility. While VoIP may appear cost-effective on the surface, its vulnerabilities can quickly turn into liabilities in emergencies.

Kings III’s Skyline and CabView cellular solutions offer the security, compliance, and reliability that educational institutions need, without compromising IT networks or internal resources.

Ensuring secure and reliable emergency communication is non-negotiable whether you’re managing a K-12 district or a university campus. Cellular allows you to meet that standard without compromise.

Protect Your Campus: Switch to Cellular

Ready to reduce liability, simplify management, and enhance the security of your emergency communications? Kings III’s cellular and video solutions keep your emergency systems secure, compliant, and off your network, no matter what.

Contact Kings III today and discover how easy and cost-effective it is to future-proof your emergency communications.