Clouds and 5G creating big security problems
As 5G is rolled out, the network builders and their clients are unwittingly creating a security problem that will cost $8 billion to fix, according to global technology intelligence firm ABI Research. It seems rather a harsh cause and effect accusation, which could possibly be averted by a number of means, such as creating a security infrastructure as you go, a built-in security to support the building of the network. Perhaps these problems are resolved in the report, which is only available to subscribers.
The analyst predicts an opportunity will open up for software and service-based security as the need to secure virtualized and cloud-based assets becomes apparent, especially, it says, at the edge of the Radio Access Networks (RAN) and in the core. ABI expects a diverse multi-vendor cybersecurity market to use and adapt to the best digital security technologies to the 5G ecosystem.
Vendors are already putting together their security proposals, reported Michela Menting, Telco Cybersecurity Research Director at ABI Research. Their ‘commercial systems’ will authenticate the cloud and virtual network functions (VNF), protect subscription identifiers with traditional hardware security modules (HSMs) and secure container services in 5G core. Though that doesn’t very cloudy, perhaps it indicates the evolution of the telco cloud ‘environment’ in which ransomware operators are beginning to establish themselves.
“Numerous existing solutions in the traditional cybersecurity market can secure 5G networks, data and devices. The critical success factor is to ensure that these technologies are adapted to the new context and can work with the architectural requirements defined by 5G standards,” explained Michela Menting, Telco Cybersecurity Research Director at ABI Research.
The new ecosystem will consist of those coming from a telco background and are familiar with 5G networks, such as network equipment providers, like Ericsson and Nokia. Then there are the telco software and network security companies like BroadForward, Allot, and SecurityGen. Finally, pure-play cybersecurity vendors like Thales, Fortinet and Palo Alto Networks.
Cloud service providers and systems integrators, having built the networks, will re-enter the fray as managed security service providers. These findings are from ABI Research’s 5G Security: The Software & Service Opportunity part of its Telco Cybersecurity research service,
Follow up Questions:
According to Michela Menting, Telco Cybersecurity Research Director at ABI Research, the customers, presumably mobile network operators and industrial scale customers will, in the face of threats, want to use diverse, multi-vendor cybersecurity with creative outlooks. However, there are some who might argue that security buyers are notoriously conservative and unlikely to explore their option. Wouldn’t their priority be to just get the network safe, a process which might be expedited if all the security came from one source?