STIR/SHAKEN: Definition, Benefits, and Business Use Cases

Are you tired of your important business calls being ignored or flagged as “Scam Likely”? In today’s competitive market, trust is your most valuable currency. Every time a customer declines your call, you lose a potential sale and damage your brand reputation.

This is where STIR/SHAKEN technology becomes your most powerful asset. This cutting-edge authentication framework is the industry standard for securing telephone identities and restoring consumer confidence.

Verifying the source of every call, it ensures your legitimate outreach stands out from the flood of illegal robocalls.

In this guide, we explore how this technology works, the massive benefits it offers, and how you can implement it to dominate your market with a trusted, verified presence.

What is STIR/SHAKEN Technology? A Simple Definition

STIR/SHAKEN is a technology standard designed to combat caller ID spoofing. It verifies the telephone identity of calls originating from various networks. This framework adds a critical layer of trust for consumers.

Defining the acronyms:

• STIR: Secure Telephone Identity Revisited (The protocol). It defines how to carry the signature in the SIP trunking header.
• SHAKEN: Signature-based Handling of Asserted information using toKENs (The framework). It provides the rules for service providers to use STIR.

Standard STIR phone number Vs. An unauthenticated one

A verified number passes through a strict verification process. It receives a digital signature from the telephone service provider. Unauthenticated numbers lack this proof and often trigger spam warnings.

The table above compares how networks treat different call types. It shows that verified numbers use digital certificates to prove their origin. In contrast, unauthenticated calls lack these protections and face higher blocking risks.

How Does STIR/SHAKEN Work?

The process uses public key cryptography techniques to protect users. It involves three main steps to validate every telephone call. This ensures the caller id information remains accurate throughout the journey.

Step 1: Initiation

The process starts when a user or business dials a number. This initiates a session initiation protocol message. This request travels to the originating service provider network. The provider immediately begins evaluating the caller’s identity.

Step 2: Authentication & The STIR Verification Code

The originating provider checks its records to confirm the customer. They assign an attestation level based on how well they know the caller. Then, an authentication service creates a digitally signed signature.

• Digital Certificates: The provider uses a private key from trusted certificate authorities. This key acts as a digital seal for the calling party. It proves the call is legitimate.
• JSON Web Token: This signature is wrapped in a web token. The JSON Web Token contains the encrypted data about the call. It travels securely through the telephone networks.
• SIP Identity Header: The token is placed into the identity header. It contains the calling number, the timestamp, and the attestation level. This header moves with the calls originating from the source.

Step 3: Verification & Delivery

The call reaches the terminating provider network with the identity token attached. This provider must now prove the signature is valid before the phone rings. It checks the asserted information using tokens.

• Certificate Retrieval: The provider fetches the public key from a repository. This key allows the provider to unlock the digital signature. It is a vital part of caller id verification.
• Signature Validation: They use the public key to decrypt the header. If the data matches the call, the verification succeeds. The system confirms the secure telephone identity is correct.
• Verified Status: The provider adds a verification status parameter to the call. The consumer then sees a “Verified” checkmark or label on their device. This process reduces illegal robocalls effectively.

Understanding STIR/SHAKEN Attestation Levels

Attestation levels act as trust ratings assigned by the originating carrier. They tell the receiving network how much they should trust the caller ID information. These levels directly impact whether your telephone calls get flagged.

Full Attestation (Level A): The Gold Standard

The provider knows the customer and confirms they have the right to use the number. This happens when a business uses its own VoIP system for outbound calls. It offers the highest level of caller id authentication.

Example: Imagine a local hospital calling a patient to confirm surgery. If the hospital uses its own verified lines, the carrier gives a Level A. This tells the patient the telephone identity is safe to answer.

Partial Attestation (Level B): Moderate Trust

The provider knows the customer but cannot verify the source of the phone number. This often occurs when calls come from an enterprise PBX located behind a private network. The identity is certain, but the number source is not.

Example: Imagine a large company using a third-party dialing service for its support calls. The carrier knows the company is legitimate, but cannot verify the specific number source. This results in a Level B rating.

Gateway Attestation (Level C): Entry Level

The provider is merely passing the call from another network, like an international gateway. They cannot verify the calling party or the number. These calls have the highest risk of being blocked by robocalling mitigation systems.

Example: Consider a call coming from a small international carrier into the local network. The local provider has no data on the secure telephone identity. They assign a Level C to the call, often triggering a spam warning.

The table shows how carriers rank telephone identities during the verification process. Level A provides the best results for your reputation in the telecommunications industry. Level C often leads to calls being marked as “Spam Risk.”

How to Move to Full Attestation (Level A)

Moving to Level A is essential for any business that relies on the telecommunications industry for outreach. This change ensures your caller id information remains trusted. It prevents your telephone calls from being blocked by spam filters.

Step 1: Verify Your Business Identity

You must provide your telephone service provider with official business documentation. This includes your tax ID and legal address. The provider needs to link your company to your VoIP system. This creates a foundation of trust for caller id verification.

Step 2: Establish Number Ownership

You must prove that your company has the legal right to use specific telephone numbers. Your provider checks these records against a governance authority database. Once ownership is confirmed, the provider can move you away from gateway attestation.

Step 3: Implement Direct Signing

If you use a third-party dialer, ensure it integrates directly with your main carrier. This allows for secure telephone identity signing at the point of origin. When the carrier signs the call directly, they can grant full attestation.

Step 4: Clean Up Your Call Flow

Review how your telephone networks handle outbound traffic. Avoid using international gateways that strip away your digital certificates. Ensure the SIP identity header stays intact from the start to the end of the call.

Step 5: Monitor Your Reputation

Check your numbers regularly for “Scam Likely” labels. Use stirshaken solutions to track your attestation status across different carriers. Maintaining Level A status requires consistent compliance with federal communications commission rules.

This table shows the practical path toward better caller id authentication. By following these steps, you protect your telephone identities from being flagged. This results in higher answer rates and better customer engagement.

Real-World Examples of STIR/SHAKEN Benefits

Using STIR/SHAKEN offers major wins for your company. It restores trust in telephone networks by making every call clear. These perks help your sales and keep your customers happy.

Eliminating “Scam Likely” Labels

The biggest win is saving your brand reputation. Without caller id authentication, carriers might mark your calls as “Scam Likely.” STIR/SHAKEN proves your telephone identities are real. This stops bad labels and ensures people do not ignore your calls.

Imagine a local pharmacy calling a patient about a life-saving prescription. Without verification, the patient’s phone flashes a “Fraud Risk” warning, and they decline the call. With STIR/SHAKEN, the pharmacy name appears clearly, ensuring the patient gets their medicine on time.

Increased Call Answer Rates

Trust makes people pick up the phone. Research shows users are 4x more likely to answer a “Verified” call. When your calls originating from your network have high trust, they show a checkmark. This gives people confidence to talk.

A solar energy company struggling with a 5% answer rate implements stirshaken solutions. Suddenly, their calls display a “Verified” badge on major mobile networks. Their answer rate jumps to 20% because homeowners no longer fear they are talking to a bot.

Protection Against Spoofing

Id spoofing is a huge risk for your security. Criminals often pretend to be your company to steal money. STIR/SHAKEN uses digital certificates to stop these fakes. It prevents bad actors from using your name for illegal robocalls.

A regional bank notices that scammers are using the bank’s main office number to trick seniors into giving up passwords. By using secure telephone identity protocols, the bank ensures that only its real calls get a “Verified” status. Fake calls are automatically flagged or blocked.

Improved Operational Efficiency

Trusted calls mean your team works better. You spend less time on blocked calls and more time talking to prospects. You do not have to change your caller id information constantly. This makes your work more cost-effective.

A logistics firm used to buy hundreds of new phone numbers every month because their old ones were “burned” by spam filters. After fixing their attestation level, their primary numbers stay clean. They save thousands of dollars on hardware and number registration fees.

Data-Driven Insights and Analytics

Using stir-shaken solutions gives you a clear view of your calling. You can see which telephone calls get a “Verified” status. This helps you find bugs in your VoIP system fast. You can then optimize every call you make.

A travel agency notices that calls to one specific city are consistently failing verification. By checking their call authentication data, they find a routing error in an international gateway. They fix the route, and their “Verified” status returns immediately across all regions.

Essential STIR/SHAKEN Business Use Cases

Many industries rely on these protocols for daily operations. It secures different types of telephone calls across the country. Here are the most common ways businesses use this technology to succeed.

Now, let’s look into how business people achieve such a goal using STIR/SHAKEN.

1. Outbound Sales & Marketing

Achieving “Full Attestation” is vital for sales teams. It ensures your numbers stay reputable and avoids the “Scam Likely” tag. Your campaign results improve because more prospects feel safe answering your signed call.

For example, a real estate agency reaches out to new homeowners. Because they use a verified VoIP system, their company name shows up on the screen. This professional look helps them book more viewings than their competitors.

2. Customer Service & Support

Support agents often need to provide a callback to resolve issues. Verified calls ensure customers recognize your number immediately. This reduces frustration for the calling party and helps close tickets faster.

For instance, a tech company promises to call a customer back within one hour. When the phone rings with a “Verified” badge, the customer picks up instantly. They do not worry about a random number calling them.

3. Appointment Reminders & Alerts

Doctors and dentists use automated calls for important reminders. These calls must be trusted to reduce missed appointments and keep schedules full. It ensures patients receive critical information without any delay or doubt.

For example, a dental clinic sends an automated reminder for a root canal. Since the call uses caller id verification, the patient sees the clinic’s name. They confirm the appointment, which saves the clinic from losing money.

4. Financial Services & Fraud Alerts

Banks use verified calls for high-stakes messages regarding account safety. Customers must know the bank is really calling before sharing any details. This use case is vital for global fraud prevention.

For instance, a credit card company calls a user about a suspicious charge. The user sees the bank’s official telephone identity and answers right away. They can block the fraudster immediately because they trusted the incoming call.

5. Brand Protection & Reputation Management

Proactively prevent scammers from spoofing your main business line. You keep control over your telephone identities and maintain a professional image. This stops bad actors from ruining the trust you built with your clients.

As an illustration, a popular retail brand notices scammers are faking their customer service line. By using stir-shaken solutions, the brand ensures only its real calls get a checkmark. This helps customers spot the fake calls easily.

How to Implement STIR/SHAKEN for Your Business

Implementing these protocols is a straightforward process for most companies. You must work closely with your telecommunications industry partners to secure your lines. Follow these practical steps to verify your business identity.

Step 1: Contact Your VoIP or Carrier Provider

Your current provider is responsible for the technical setup. Ask them if they offer stir/shaken solutions for your account. They handle the certificate management and signing of your outbound telephone calls.

Example: A marketing firm calls their carrier to check their status. The carrier explains that they can enable caller ID authentication for all lines immediately. This move ensures every call starts with a digital signature.

Step 2: Provide Legitimate Caller ID Information

Be prepared to prove your business is real and legal. You must verify your company name and show that you own your telephone numbers. This documentation allows your provider to grant you the highest attestation level.

Example: A law firm submits its articles of incorporation to its phone company. Once the carrier verifies the data, they link the firm’s tax ID to their VoIP system. Now, every call is legally tied to the firm.

Step 3: Understand the Costs

Pricing for these services varies depending on your provider. Some companies include it for free, while others charge a one-time setup fee. Always ask about the cost per telephone identity to manage your budget.

Example: A small business owner compares two different carriers. One offers free caller id verification, while the other charges five dollars per month. The owner chooses the free option to save on monthly overhead.

Step 4: Consider Your Call Flows

Check every path your calls take to reach the customer. This includes your call centers and any third-party marketing dialers you use. Every segment of the call must support the sip identity header.

Example: A retail chain finds that its remote office calls are not showing as “Verified.” They discover that an old gateway is stripping the digital certificates. They update the hardware to fix the call flow.

Relationship with 10DLC

For text messaging, 10DLC is the equivalent trust framework for businesses. Together with STIR/SHAKEN, it secures all your mobile communications. Both systems require you to register your company to build a trusted reputation.

Example: A pizza shop registers its business phone number for both voice calls and SMS alerts. Now, their delivery calls show as “Verified,” and their text coupons are never blocked as spam. This total security boosts their sales.

Is STIR/SHAKEN Mandatory? Compliance Deadlines

Yes, STIR/SHAKEN is a legal requirement for phone companies in both the United States and Canada. Governments in both countries have set strict rules to ensure that every phone call is verified. This helps stop scammers and makes sure your business calls are not blocked.

USA Compliance Rules (FCC)

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the group in charge of these rules in the US. They have set several important dates that every phone company must follow:

• The Main Deadlines: Most big phone companies had to start using the system by June 2021. Smaller companies were given until June 2022 to get ready.
• The 2025 Update: As of June 20, 2025, every provider must use their own digital certificates to sign calls. They can no longer rely on a middleman to do it for them.
• New 2026 Rules: Starting February 5, 2026, phone companies must officially “re-verify” their status every year. This makes sure their information is always up to date.

USA Penalties

The US government takes these rules very seriously. If a company does not follow the law, they face harsh punishments:

• Getting Blocked: The biggest penalty is being removed from the Robocall Mitigation Database. If a company is kicked out, no other phone company is allowed to take their calls. This means the company’s service will stop working entirely.
• Large Fines: The FCC can charge companies $10,000 for every mistake they make in their official paperwork. If they forget to update their info, they can be fined $1,000 every single day until it is fixed.

Canada Compliance Rules (CRTC)

In Canada, the CRTC manages the system. They made STIR/SHAKEN mandatory for all modern IP-based phone services on November 30, 2021.

• Simplified Reporting: Since most Canadian companies are already following the rules, the government made things easier in December 2025. Most companies no longer have to send in reports twice a year.
• Annual Reports: New companies still have to send a simple update once a year by May 31. This shows the government they are keeping their systems secure.

Canada Penalties

Canada uses “Administrative Monetary Penalties” (AMPs) to punish companies that break the rules.

• Targeted Checks: Instead of making everyone file huge reports, the government now does “targeted checks.” If they think a company is letting through too many spam calls, they will perform a deep audit.
• Service Loss: Just like in the US, if a Canadian company fails to verify its calls, other networks can block its traffic. This protects Canadian citizens from receiving untrusted calls.

The Future and Limitations of STIR/SHAKEN

STIR/SHAKEN has drastically changed the telecommunications industry for the better, but it is far from being an ideal solution. In 2026, we can expect technology to address the limitations of STIR/SHAKEN and provide new functionalities for businesses.

Current Limitations of STIR/SHAKEN

Even though STIR/SHAKEN has been a big success, there still exist methods for criminals to outsmart the system. Knowing these loopholes will give you an advantage in securing your telephone identities.

• Non-IP Network Gaps: STIR/SHAKEN only works on modern IP-based networks. Many smaller or rural providers still use old “TDM” or landline equipment. When a call passes through these old systems, the digital signature is often lost, making the call look unverified even if it started as “Level A.”
• “A-Level” Spam: Some scammers have found ways to get a “Full Attestation” (Level A) rating by creating fake businesses or tricking small providers. Recent data shows that nearly 43% of spam calls now carry a Level A rating. This means the system proves the caller owns the number, but it doesn’t always prove the caller’s intent is good.
• International Hurdles: Many countries are still setting up their own versions of caller id authentication. Until every country uses the same rules, calls coming from overseas often arrive with no verification, making it easy for international scammers to hide.

The Future: Rich Call Data (RCD)

The next big step for telephone networks is Rich Call Data (RCD). This technology builds on top of STIR/SHAKEN to provide more information than just a phone number.

• Branded Calling: In 2026, the FCC is pushing for “Branded Calling.” This will allow your business to show its name, logo, and even a photo on the customer’s screen.
• Reason for the Call: RCD allows you to include a short text explaining why you are calling, such as “Fraud Alert” or “Your Delivery is Here.” This adds a second layer of caller id verification that is much harder for scammers to fake.
• Trust Indicators: Instead of just a checkmark, future phones may show a “Verified Business” badge that links directly to your company’s official profile.

The Future: AI and Better Security

As scammers use AI to create fake voices, the industry is fighting back with smarter tools.

• AI Fraud Detection: Carriers are now using AI to watch for “bursts” of calls that look like illegal robocalls. They can spot suspicious patterns in real-time and lower the attestation level of a caller instantly.
• Mandatory Own Certificates: As of late 2025, the FCC requires every provider to use their own digital certificates. This makes it much easier to track down the exact source of a scam call and shut it down within 24 hours.

Conclusion

In a digital world where trust is increasingly rare, STIR/SHAKEN is the essential foundation for any business that relies on the telecommunications industry. By embracing this technology, you are not just following Federal Communications Commission rules; you are investing in your company’s future.

Moving to Level A attestation ensures your telephone calls are delivered with a “Verified” badge, instantly boosting your answer rates and operational efficiency. As we look toward 2026, the arrival of Rich Call Data and branded calling will offer even more ways to showcase your professional image.

Do not let scammers tarnish your reputation or block your path to your customers. Trusted communication is no longer a luxury; it is the key to closing more deals and building lasting customer loyalty in a modern world.