Find the Best Session Border Controller Software

What is Session Border Controller (SBC)?

Session Border Controller (SBC) is a type of software or dedicated hardware that controls the signals over Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network. It enforces security and quality of service over VoIP sessions.

The term "session" refers to phone calls in the context of telephony. An SBC acts as a router between one part of a network and another (more like a border). It can be installed between peering service provider networks, between the residential users and service provider network, or between the service provider network and the enterprise network.

An SBC exerts control on the data that streams and travels borders between one part of the connection and another. Most often, it also provides access control and data conversion facilities for the calls they control.

Top 10 Session Border Controller Vendors

A session border controller allows only authorized sessions to pass through the connection point. It is used by enterprises whereby an SBC acts as a firewall for session traffic. It applies the quality of service rules and also helps identify specific incoming threats to the communications environment.

Besides, it assists in signal translation. And many session border controllers also include the hardware-based signal processing needed for media transcoding.

In short, an SBC is designed to achieve a variety of goals. But it’s also true that the same SBC may act differently depending on its configuration and usage.

1. Avaya Aura Platform

It is one of the leaders in the world of communication and digital transformation, renowned all over the world. It offers a range of high-class products for businesses ready to embrace the upcoming customer-focused strategies.

Avaya Aura Platform is a software-focused platform for real-time engagement using a session border controller. Besides, it provides a performance management module that captures, analyzes, and stores consumer interactions to highlight areas that need improvement.

Pricing

• Quote on request

Pros

• Offers 24/7 support
• Real-time and historical data readily available
• Quite easy-to-use

Cons

• Lacks a systematic installation process

2. Cisco Unified Border Element (CUBE)

It is an SBC-enabled router that works with all SIP providers globally. Any business size can use this session border controller, and it is even quite easy to use. It is well-known for its highly secure voice and video connectivity, from service providers to enterprise IP networks.

Cisco Unified Border Element (CUBE) offers four vital functionalities. Those are session control, interworking, security, and demarcation.

Pricing

• Quote on request

Pros

• Very easy to implement
• Secure, powerful, and flexible
• Have a reliable and active support team

Cons

• Need a third-party tool to see historical call traffic

3. AudioCodes E-SBC

It is based on the Mediant hybrid platform that enables users to easily pace migration from TDM to IP. Besides, it helps mitigate concerns and risks by supporting a hybrid TDM/IP connectivity mode on the same device.

It is the best solution for anyone who is looking to use more than one session border controller. It has a high capacity for call volume in a chassis with a low rack space requirement.

Pricing

• Quote on request

Pros

• Perfect for disaster recovery planning
• Low pricing as compared to other brands
• Easy to allow or block traffic from specific IP's or proxy groups

Cons

• Takes time to research as help files contain less information than required

4. Edgewater Networks

It is one of the market share leaders in the management of unified communications endpoints in the world. This session border controller is suited for all sizes, global regions, and methods of service delivery.

It has built-in mechanisms for both quality of service and security. Edgewater Networks SBC models provide intelligent mechanisms allowing for both hosted PBX services as well as SIP trunking applications.

Pricing

• Quote on request

Pros

• No additional hardware required
• Stateful VoIP aware firewall
• Support for NAT/PAT

Cons

• N/A

5. Ribbon Session Border Controller 

It aims to deliver high-quality SIP communications. It can be used by all sizes of businesses - from small scale companies to the world’s largest service provider networks. For 20 years now, they have managed to maintain the trust of their customers.

It helps you deploy Unified Communications with a high degree of security and quality. It acts as full-fledged service demarcation devices for enterprise edge networks.

Pricing

• Quote on request

Pros

• Reliable and active customer support
• Can handle high traffic volumes
• Implementation is straightforward

Cons

• Some users complained about stability issues and performance constraints

6. Dialogic Session Border Control

It is a highly scalable SBC that provides service providers and enterprises a better way to interconnect and deliver services through media and signaling session performance. It scales to over 100,000 sessions and 1,000 sessions per second per single instance.

What’s more, it offers highly secure connectivity, an integrated Web 2.0 management console, and native software transcoding. Besides, its intelligence reporting gives you better insights into commercial services and technical issues. It has a real-time dashboard.

Pricing

• Quote on request

Pros

• Process and visualize real-time operational data
• Detecting and reducing fraud
• Traffic cost optimization

Cons

• N/A

7. Ingate Systems E-SBC

It offers a cost-effective E-SBC system that connects the vast range of PBX and UC solutions to virtually any ITSP offering SIP trunks. Besides, it is quite easy to deploy and has its own advanced firewall/router. Thus, it can directly provide full VoIP and data security in any network environment.

What’s more, it solves connectivity issues to simplify deployments and also supports a remote diagnosis of reported problems.

Pricing

• Free for 30 days

Pros

• Support for multiple SIP trunks
• Provides security over the public Internet
• Supports ENUM

Cons

• N/A

8. Metaswitch Newtworks

Perimeta SBC by Metaswitch Networks is first of its kind to directly run on server hardware or within virtualized cloud data center environments. It is highly scalable and can handle both signaling and media traffic.

Besides, Perimeta maintains high performance even during malicious attacks. Your network stays protected with the help of advanced low-level packet handling, even when under denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.

Pricing

• Quote on request

Pros

• Not restricted to a single device, use network-wide
• Provides visibility into the operation of your VoIP infrastructure
• Flexible in deployment

Cons

• N/A

9. Oracle Enterprise Session Border Controller

It is a leading SBC that offers reliable security and interoperability for enterprise unified communications (UC) and VoIP networks. It is a well-known SBC vendor for delivering the highest service levels to customers.

It is compatible with fixed-line, mobile, and over-the-top service providers. Besides, Oracle Communications Enterprise Session Border Controller supports centralized, distributed, and hybrid session initiation protocol trunking topologies.

Pricing

• Quote on request

Pros

• Easy to implement and use
• Great stability and effective platform
• Prevent IP telephony fraud

Cons

• Has strict policies

10. Patton

Patton’s SBC is designed to meet carrier specifications demands; its SmartNode 5300 Enterprise Session Border Router can provide SIP-to-SIP normalization for up to 250 VoIP calls. It is ideal for offering SIP trunking services to enable unified communications.

And, the SmartNode 5530 SBC bridges the full range of IP-PBX products to their service providers. It guarantees strong security and a high level of efficiency in the VoIP network.

Pricing

• Quote on request

Pros

• High security and performance level
• Easy to implement and use
• Highly active support group

Cons

• N/A