I spotted this article and it really hit close to home for me.

SecureLogix Official to Discuss VOIP Management Challenges at VoiceCon Spring 2006; Kirk Vaughan Will Outline the Merits of Applying FCAPS Network Management Principles to IP Telephony
VoiceCon Spring 2006
Booth #717
SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 2006--SecureLogix Corporation announced today that its Director of Product Management, Kirk Vaughan, will participate in a presentation entitled "Applying FCAPS Principles to IP Telephony" during the VoiceCon Spring 2006 conference and exhibition. The presentation is scheduled for Thursday, March 9, from 12:00 noon to 1:15 p.m. The conference will take place March 6-9 at the Gaylord Palms Hotel in Orlando, Florida.

For all of its promise, voice and data convergence increases network management complexity and security risks. Whether a corporation maintains a largely traditional network or a VOIP network, the fundamental requirements for voice service performance, auditing, configuration, and security remain.

FCAPS, the International Telecommunication Union's standard model for network management, stands for Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance, and Security management. Together, the FCAPS areas encompass the core functional responsibilities of corporate network managers, and provide a powerful construct through which converged networks can be effectively maintained.

I've been finishing up an e-book on Enterprise VoIP Security that will be released shortly. One of the biggest components to security is planning and preparation. The FCAPS model is something I cited in the e-book and am quite familiar with. It's an excellent model for businesses to use, and mirrors the operational model used by the traditional telcos for managing the PSTN. It's easy for VoIP proponents and practitioners to play down the telcos. Certainly we see monopolistic tendencies and a very protective approach to keeping themselves in control of telecommunications. The FCAPS model presents and example of one of the things they do very well. I think it's important that we extract value wherever we can.

If you're attending VoiceCon next week, I'd encourage you to attend this session and consider how the FCAPS model can support your corporate network requirements for management.

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