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Virtual SBC architecture
Deploy the SBC function as software in a virtual environment, enabling flexible scaling, centralized control and modern infrastructure alignment.
M5 Technologies • Sentinel CS • Virtual SBC
A virtual SBC built for secure, scalable enterprise and carrier voice.
M5 Sentinel CS Virtual SBC is designed for organizations that need secure SIP control, Microsoft Teams Direct Routing, carrier interconnection, contact center protection, service provider scale and mission-critical voice continuity. It positions M5 Technologies as a credible alternative to legacy SBC platforms from AudioCodes, Ribbon and Oracle for buyers who need performance, flexibility and telecom-grade security.
Up to 20,000 CallsDesigned for high-scale concurrent call environments.
Teams SBCSupport Microsoft Teams Direct Routing and PSTN connectivity.
SIP SecurityTLS 1.3, SRTP, topology hiding and SIP normalization.
Virtual DeploymentDeploy in enterprise, cloud, service provider or hybrid infrastructures.
Sentinel CS CoreSIP • SBC • TLS 1.3 • SRTP
M5 Sentinel CS Virtual SBC
Virtual SBC • Teams • Carrier • Enterprise • Multi-Tenant
SIP
TLS
SRTP
HA
20,000Concurrent call scale
VirtualCloud, DC and hybrid deployment
SecureSIP border control and policy
Virtual SBCSoftware-based Session Border Controller for elastic deployment.
Teams Certified PathArchitecture for Microsoft Teams Direct Routing and Teams Voice.
SIP SecurityTLS 1.3, SRTP, topology hiding, normalization and policy control.
Carrier ScaleService provider and multi-tenant deployment models.
Critical VoiceGovernment, contact center and infrastructure-grade communications.
Product positioning
Sentinel CS is the secure voice control point between users, clouds, carriers and SIP networks.
A Session Border Controller is no longer just a telecom appliance at the edge of a legacy voice network. In modern enterprise and service provider environments, the SBC is the policy engine, security boundary, interoperability layer and voice continuity platform that protects SIP infrastructure. Sentinel CS brings that function into a virtualized architecture so organizations can deploy secure voice control in private data centers, cloud environments, operator networks and hybrid enterprise topologies.
Sentinel CS is designed for complex voice environments where Microsoft Teams, SIP trunks, PBXs, contact centers, carriers, emergency services and distributed users must interoperate securely. It can help organizations reduce vendor lock-in, modernize voice architecture, consolidate border control and deploy a scalable SBC platform that aligns with real-time communications requirements. The product is positioned for decision-makers who may be evaluating AudioCodes, Ribbon, Oracle or other SBC vendors, but want an M5 Technologies alternative built around proven SIP expertise and practical deployment flexibility.
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Up to 20,000 concurrent calls
Support large enterprise, service provider, contact center and high-volume SIP trunking use cases with high concurrent call capacity.
03
Microsoft Teams Direct Routing
Use Sentinel CS as the secure SBC layer connecting Teams Phone to SIP trunks, carriers, PBXs and enterprise PSTN connectivity.
Architecture diagrams
Sentinel CS controls SIP traffic across enterprise, carrier, cloud and hybrid environments.
The diagrams below show the role of Sentinel CS in real-world voice architectures. They are built in HTML and CSS for Shopify readability and mobile responsiveness.
1. Sentinel CS virtual SBC overview
Sentinel CS sits at the SIP border, securing and normalizing communications between Microsoft Teams, PBXs, SIP trunks, carriers, contact centers and enterprise users.
Enterprise / Cloud Side
Teams, PBX, Contact Center, UC
Real-time communication platforms and users that require PSTN and SIP connectivity.
M5 Technologies
Sentinel CS Virtual SBC
SIP security, TLS 1.3, SRTP, routing, normalization, topology hiding and policy control.
Network Side
Carriers, SIP Trunks, PSTN
External voice networks, service provider platforms and public telephone access.
Virtual SBCSIP SecurityTopology HidingTeams Direct Routing
© M5 TechnologiesSentinel CS Virtual SBC Architecture
2. Enterprise and contact center deployment
Enterprises and contact centers use Sentinel CS to secure SIP trunks, normalize interoperability and protect mission-critical call flows.
Enterprise Users
Microsoft Teams / PBX / UC
Office users, remote workers, branch sites and collaboration platforms.
Customer Experience
Contact Center
Inbound and outbound customer interactions requiring reliability and quality.
M5 SBC Layer
Sentinel CS
Secures, normalizes and routes SIP traffic across enterprise applications and carrier networks.
Carrier Services
SIP Trunks and PSTN
Preferred carrier services and public telephone connectivity.
Continuity
HA / DR Routing
Redundant paths, disaster recovery and alternate call handling strategies.
Contact Center SBCEnterprise SIP TrunkingHigh AvailabilityDisaster Recovery
© M5 TechnologiesSentinel CS Enterprise SBC Deployment
3. Carrier and multi-tenant deployment
Service providers can use Sentinel CS as a scalable SBC layer for customer voice services, trunk aggregation and multi-tenant interconnection.
Tenants
Enterprises and Hosted Customers
Multiple customer environments requiring secure separation and controlled routing.
M5 Platform
Sentinel CS Multi-Tenant SBC
Tenant-aware SIP control, routing separation, policy enforcement and edge security.
Core Network
Carrier SIP Core / PSTN
Provider voice core, carrier interconnect and public network access.
Result
Hosted voice border control
Scalable SBC functions for service provider customer deployments.
© M5 TechnologiesSentinel CS Carrier SBC Flow
4. Cloud and hybrid deployment
Sentinel CS can be positioned in private cloud or hybrid architectures where voice workloads span cloud services, data centers and carrier networks.
Cloud Services
Teams, UCaaS, SIP Apps
Cloud collaboration and real-time communications platforms.
Virtual Border
Sentinel CS
Virtualized SBC control plane for secure voice interconnection.
Hybrid Network
Data Center, PBX, Carrier
On-premise systems, SIP trunks and legacy voice platforms.
Result
Unified SIP security layer
Consistent border control across cloud and traditional voice domains.
© M5 TechnologiesSentinel CS Cloud SBC Architecture
Security features
Designed to protect SIP infrastructure from exposure, abuse and interoperability failure.
SIP is powerful, but it can also be complex and vulnerable when exposed without a proper border. Sentinel CS helps secure the real-time communications edge by controlling signaling, media, routing, identities, domains and call behavior. For enterprises, service providers and government environments, the SBC becomes an essential cybersecurity control for voice.
TLS
TLS 1.3 signaling security
Protect SIP signaling with modern encryption design where supported by the architecture and connected peers.
RTP
SRTP media protection
Support secure media flows for voice environments requiring confidentiality and protection of real-time communications.
SIP
SIP normalization
Normalize headers, signaling behavior and interop differences between Teams, PBXs, carriers, contact centers and SIP trunks.
HIDE
Topology hiding
Protect internal IP addresses, SIP domains, routing details and infrastructure topology from external networks.
FRAUD
Fraud prevention
Reduce the risk of unauthorized calls, toll fraud patterns, suspicious routing behavior and uncontrolled SIP access.
DDoS
DDoS and traffic protection
Help validate and control SIP traffic to reduce exposure to abnormal signaling load and attack patterns.
Core SBC functions
The SBC function is where security, interoperability and business continuity meet.
Sentinel CS provides core Session Border Controller functions required by modern voice environments. The objective is to make SIP communications predictable, secure and manageable across multiple platforms, carriers and deployment models.
Signaling and routing
SIP trunk demarcation and interconnection control
Microsoft Teams Direct Routing support architecture
Policy-based call routing and route selection
Header manipulation and SIP normalization
Interoperability between PBXs, carriers, UC and cloud voice platforms
Resilience and operations
High availability deployment models for voice continuity
Geographic redundancy across sites or data centers
Disaster recovery routing and alternate carrier strategies
Multi-tenant deployment support for service providers
Operational visibility for troubleshooting and support teams
Deployment models
One virtual SBC platform for enterprise, carrier, cloud and hybrid voice.
Sentinel CS can be aligned to multiple deployment models. This is important because buyers often need a consistent security and routing architecture across different environments rather than a disconnected set of appliances and voice workarounds.
ENT
Enterprise deployment
Secure SIP trunks, Microsoft Teams Direct Routing, PBX coexistence, contact centers, branch voice and cloud communications in one controlled architecture.
CAR
Carrier deployment
Support service provider interconnection, hosted customer voice, trunk aggregation, multi-tenant policy and carrier-grade SIP demarcation.
CLD
Cloud deployment
Deploy SBC capabilities in virtualized infrastructure to protect cloud voice workloads and interconnect UCaaS, Teams and SIP services.
HYB
Hybrid deployment
Bridge cloud voice, on-prem PBX, SIP trunks, contact center systems and legacy telephony through a unified SBC layer.
GOV
Government deployment
Support secure voice modernization for public-sector organizations requiring control, resilience, interoperability and vendor accountability.
CI
Critical infrastructure
Protect communications for utilities, transport, airports, public safety, energy and other environments where voice continuity matters.
Competitive comparison
A credible SBC alternative for buyers comparing AudioCodes, Ribbon and Oracle.
Large SBC vendors are well known, but many organizations want a platform that combines technical depth, virtual deployment flexibility, focused support and a practical migration path. Sentinel CS gives M5 Technologies a strong position in the market for buyers who need secure SIP control without unnecessary complexity.
| Criteria | Legacy SBC Approach | Large Vendor SBC Stack | M5 Sentinel CS Virtual SBC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deployment model | Often appliance-led or tied to older network assumptions. | Broad portfolio, sometimes complex to size, license and operate. | Virtual-first SBC architecture Designed for enterprise, carrier, cloud and hybrid deployments. |
| Scale | May require hardware refresh or appliance expansion. | High scale, but often packaged in larger platform ecosystems. | Up to 20,000 concurrent calls Designed for high-volume SIP environments. |
| Teams Direct Routing | Possible but not always central to the deployment strategy. | Strong support, often with complex ecosystem dependencies. | Teams voice ready Positioned for secure Teams Phone, PSTN connectivity and SIP trunk integration. |
| SIP security | Basic demarcation may not address modern cloud and hybrid threats. | Advanced but sometimes operationally heavy. | Security-focused SBC controls TLS 1.3, SRTP, topology hiding, SIP normalization, fraud prevention and traffic control. |
| Interoperability | May require manual workarounds across carriers and PBXs. | Broad but often depends on professional services and templates. | Practical SIP normalization Designed to connect Teams, PBXs, carriers, contact centers and critical systems. |
| Best fit | Static networks with limited modernization needs. | Very large organizations standardized on incumbent vendors. | Enterprises, service providers, government, contact centers and critical infrastructure operators seeking a focused SBC alternative. |
Comparison is intended for positioning only. Final product selection should be based on technical validation, certification requirements, network topology, scale, support model and procurement constraints.
Technical specifications
Key capabilities for secure, scalable and resilient SIP infrastructure.
Sentinel CS is designed to address the technical requirements that matter most in enterprise and service provider SBC deployments: scale, security, interoperability, resilience, multi-tenancy and operational control.
| Category | Sentinel CS Capability | Buyer Value |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Virtual Session Border Controller architecture | Deploy SBC functions in virtual, cloud, data center or hybrid environments. |
| Capacity | Up to 20,000 concurrent calls | Support large enterprises, operators, contact centers and high-scale SIP environments. |
| Teams | Microsoft Teams Direct Routing architecture | Connect Teams Phone to SIP trunks, carriers and enterprise PSTN connectivity. |
| Security | TLS 1.3, SRTP, topology hiding and SIP policy | Protect signaling, media and internal infrastructure details. |
| Interoperability | SIP normalization and header control | Resolve differences between Teams, PBXs, carriers, contact centers and gateways. |
| Continuity | High availability and geographic redundancy design | Improve resilience for mission-critical voice environments. |
| Provider Model | Multi-tenant deployment support | Enable service provider and hosted voice architectures. |
| Protection | Fraud prevention and SIP traffic controls | Reduce exposure to toll fraud, abnormal call patterns and unauthorized traffic. |
Use cases
Designed for buyers who treat voice as critical infrastructure.
Sentinel CS applies to multiple strategic use cases where SIP communications must be secure, interoperable and resilient. The platform is especially relevant when voice touches customers, emergency workflows, regulated environments or high-volume enterprise operations.
SP
Service providers
Provide hosted voice, SIP trunking, enterprise interconnect and multi-tenant SBC services with a secure virtual SBC layer.
ENT
Enterprises
Secure Microsoft Teams Direct Routing, PBX modernization, SIP trunk migration and multi-site voice consolidation.
GOV
Government
Modernize public-sector communications with secure voice demarcation, interoperability and deployment accountability.
CI
Critical infrastructure
Protect voice services for airports, utilities, transport, public safety, energy and operational environments.
CC
Contact centers
Secure inbound and outbound customer call flows, carrier interconnect, high availability and SIP routing policies.
MSP
Managed service providers
Deliver Teams Voice, SIP trunking and secure enterprise communications services using a controlled SBC platform.
Customer benefits
Control the voice edge while modernizing communications.
The strongest SBC deployments are not only technical. They create measurable business value: fewer interoperability problems, better security posture, lower migration risk, stronger carrier flexibility and improved continuity for communications that the business depends on.
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Reduce SIP risk
Put a controlled security and policy layer between internal voice platforms and external SIP networks.
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Accelerate Teams migration
Use Sentinel CS to support Teams Phone, Direct Routing and PSTN connectivity without abandoning existing telecom strategy.
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Improve carrier flexibility
Connect multiple SIP trunks, carriers and routes while maintaining centralized policy and demarcation.
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Protect critical call flows
Design voice continuity for contact centers, emergency calls, customer operations and mission-critical sites.
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Simplify interoperability
Normalize SIP behavior between diverse platforms, reducing troubleshooting time and operational friction.
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Modernize without lock-in
Use a focused M5 virtual SBC platform as a practical alternative to larger legacy vendor ecosystems.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Sentinel CS Virtual SBC.
What is Sentinel CS?
Sentinel CS is M5 Technologies’ virtual Session Border Controller for secure SIP routing, Microsoft Teams Direct Routing, carrier interconnection, service provider voice and enterprise communications.
What does a virtual SBC do?
A virtual SBC secures and controls SIP communications in software-based infrastructure. It provides demarcation, routing, policy, encryption, topology hiding and interoperability between voice networks.
How many calls can Sentinel CS support?
Sentinel CS can support up to 20,000 concurrent calls depending on licensing, virtual infrastructure, topology, configuration and deployment requirements.
Does Sentinel CS support Microsoft Teams?
Yes. Sentinel CS can be used in Microsoft Teams Direct Routing architectures to connect Teams Phone with SIP trunks, carriers, PBXs and enterprise PSTN connectivity.
What security features are included?
Sentinel CS supports SIP security features such as TLS 1.3, SRTP, topology hiding, SIP normalization, policy controls, fraud prevention and traffic protection.
Can Sentinel CS be used by service providers?
Yes. Sentinel CS is suitable for service provider and multi-tenant deployments where customers require hosted voice, SIP trunking, interconnect and secure border control.
Is Sentinel CS suitable for contact centers?
Yes. Contact centers can use Sentinel CS to secure carrier interconnection, protect high-volume SIP traffic, normalize signaling and support high-availability call flows.
How does Sentinel CS compare to AudioCodes, Ribbon or Oracle?
Sentinel CS is positioned as a focused M5 virtual SBC alternative for buyers who need secure SIP control, Teams Direct Routing, scalability, interoperability and deployment flexibility.
Request assessment
Evaluate Sentinel CS for your SBC modernization project.
Share your Teams Direct Routing, SIP trunking, contact center, service provider, PBX or critical infrastructure environment. M5 Technologies can help define the right Sentinel CS architecture, scale, security model and migration path.