Telecoms.com periodically invites expert third parties to share their views on the industry’s most pressing issues. In this piece, Dr Silke Holtmanns, head of 5G security research at AdaptiveMobile Security, looks at some of the unique security challenges associated with 5G.
5G networks are at a critical stage in their design and roll out. Touted to be the bedrock of the communications economy of the future, 5G is expected to deliver bandwidth and capacity never before seen and to unite key parts of countries’ critical national infrastructure.
Many of the new business opportunities that 5G brings come from partnering with companies from sectors different from the classic telecommunication customers. Those sectors see 5G as an enabler to take their business to a new level. It should therefore be little surprise that security has become a key consideration in ensuring that these new use cases – many of which can be considered critical in terms of sensitivity – will be protected.
While in the past 2G, 3G and 4G security was not a key topic, many potential business partners and governments have concerns now about 5G security. They know that if they use 5G as a foundation for their communications, then a potential security incident could cause havoc and immense damage. This public and governmental awareness of 5G security is a real step-change from the 3G and 4G networks in the past. Where security was very once much a secondary topic, today it is fundamental to the design, build, and operation of the core network.
However, while operators are investing in 5G security features to gain the trust of their valued vertical business partners, in many cases their vendor partners are giving them a false sense of security. The stark reality is that here are still multiple security risks derived from the approach the industry is taking to the migration from 4G to 5G.
For more information: https://telecoms.com/opinion/securing-the-path-from-4g-to-5g/
