Cisco Cisco TelePresence Video Communication Server Expressway Maintenance Manual
Configuring media encryption policy
The media encryption policy settings allow you to selectively add or remove media encryption capabilities for
SIP calls flowing through the VCS. This allows you to configure your system so that, for example, all traffic
arriving or leaving a VCS Expressway from the public internet is encrypted, but is unencrypted when in your
private network.
SIP calls flowing through the VCS. This allows you to configure your system so that, for example, all traffic
arriving or leaving a VCS Expressway from the public internet is encrypted, but is unencrypted when in your
private network.
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The policy is configured on a per zone/subzone basis and applies only to that leg of the call in/out of that
zone/subzone.
zone/subzone.
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Encryption is applied to the SIP leg of the call, even if other legs are H.323.
Media encryption policy is configured through the Media encryption mode setting on each zone and
subzone, however the resulting encryption status of the call is also dependent on the encryption policy
settings of the target system (such as an endpoint or another VCS).
subzone, however the resulting encryption status of the call is also dependent on the encryption policy
settings of the target system (such as an endpoint or another VCS).
The encryption mode options are:
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Force encrypted: all media to and from the zone/subzone must be encrypted. If the target system/endpoint
is configured to not use encryption, then the call will be dropped.
is configured to not use encryption, then the call will be dropped.
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Force unencrypted: all media must be unencrypted. If the target system/endpoint is configured to use
encryption, then the call may be dropped; if it is configured to use Best effort then the call will fall back to
unencrypted media.
encryption, then the call may be dropped; if it is configured to use Best effort then the call will fall back to
unencrypted media.
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Best effort: use encryption if available, otherwise fall back to unencrypted media.
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Auto: no specific media encryption policy is applied by the VCS. Media encryption is purely dependent on
the target system/endpoint requests. This is the default behavior and is equivalent to how the VCS
operated before this feature was introduced.
the target system/endpoint requests. This is the default behavior and is equivalent to how the VCS
operated before this feature was introduced.
Encryption policy (any encryption setting other than Auto) is applied to a call by routing it through a back-to-
back user agent (B2BUA) hosted on the VCS.
back user agent (B2BUA) hosted on the VCS.
When configuring your system to use media encryption you should note that:
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Any zone with an encryption mode of Force encrypted or Force unencrypted must be configured as a SIP-
only zone (H.323 must be disabled on that zone).
only zone (H.323 must be disabled on that zone).
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TLS transport must be enabled if an encryption mode of Force encrypted or Best effort is required.
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The call component routed through the B2BUA can be identified in the call history details as having a
component type of B2BUA.
component type of B2BUA.
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As the B2BUA must take the media, each call is classified as a traversal call and thus consumes a
traversal call license.
traversal call license.
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) that can have a media
encryption policy applied.
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is enabled.
Configuring the B2BUA for media encryption
The B2BUA used for encryption (and ICE support) is a different instance to the B2BUA used for Microsoft
Lync integration. Whereas the Lync B2BUA has to be manually configured and enabled, the B2BUA used for
encryption is automatically enabled whenever an encryption policy is applied.
Lync integration. Whereas the Lync B2BUA has to be manually configured and enabled, the B2BUA used for
encryption is automatically enabled whenever an encryption policy is applied.
Cisco TelePresence Video Communication Server Administrator Guide (X8.5.1)
Page 170 of 563
Zones and neighbors
Configuring media encryption policy