Latin America. André Kupfer, Sales Engineering Manager at Hillstone Brazil, makes an in-depth analysis of cybersecurity in the 5G network, addressing the issue from the challenges that lie ahead for Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Here is his document:
The presence of the 5G network is imminent. But with a big alert: either this network will be secure by design or it will cause cascading failures. In this architecture, data processing is brought to the edges of the network, which can produce speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps), with latency rates 10 times lower than those offered by 4G networks. In general, the data processing and delivery speed of the 5G network is believed to be up to 100 times faster than that of 4G networks (according to data from the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance). The 5G network will enable critical applications such as autonomous cars, smart cities and Industry 4.0.
People's lives will depend entirely on this new digital infrastructure. In telemedicine, for example, remote surgery tests performed by doctors at the Hospital das Clínicas, in São Paulo, using 5G connections, are already a reality. Earlier this year, with the support of Claro and Embratel, a proof of concept based on 5G services was carried out in the standalone frequency, in the range of 3.5 gigahertz. The Hospital das Clínicas test showed latency rates between 10 and 15 milliseconds. If this experiment were done with the 4G network, the latency would be in the range of minutes, making a critical application such as remote surgeries unfeasible.
It is impossible to dare to use a high-risk application like this without guarantees of a secure and stable 5G service, safe from cyberattacks.
Cloud Computing, Edge Computing and Fog Computing
The topology of the 5G network is itself a source of security problems. In 5G, the core of the network is a complex concept, combining Cloud Computing, Edge Computing and Fog Computing (a mixture of the first two) to process this data and return it, with the lowest latency, to be consumed. The result of this model is an extremely distributed network in which security must be maintained on several fronts simultaneously.
The panorama becomes more challenging when you consider that 5G is, in its origin, an SDN (Software Defined Network) that follows the standards of NFV (Network Function Virtualization), in which virtualization replaces traditional telecommunications infrastructures. The software layer, entirely IP, becomes responsible for the delivery and monitoring of digital services, which is done in a fully automated way. The extensive use of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), finally, also demands security solutions.
An IDC study published in 2020 predicts that by the end of 2023 there will be 1.01 billion 5G connections (mobile, IoT, OT and IT) in the world; So where there is an increase in digital infrastructure, there will be an increase in the attack surface. This implies a critical moment for the leaders of telecom operators and ISPs.
Software-defined 5G networks demand a new approach to security
From the point of view of the security infrastructure of the operator preparing to offer 5G services, it is critical to protect the data traveling on the new software-defined networks of the ISPs themselves. And it is precisely in this context that SD-WAN (Software Defined Wide Area Network) solutions come into play.
Many organizations use SD-WAN to replace the use of dedicated links such as multiprotocol label switching service (MPLS) with traditional Internet connections. The SD-WAN solution chooses the best path within networks and the Internet, enabling more efficient performance through connections such as dedicated Internet, broadband, 4G or 5G in various cloud formats (private, public and hybrid).
Operator professionals are undergoing a profound transformation
The telecom operator or ISP that adopts the most advanced SD-WAN solutions will gain not only visibility over their network traffic, but also the ability to act in this complex universe, both at the core and at the edges of the network. This is done from a centralized, Zero Touch approach that offers the best QoS (Quality of Service) for the customers of that Service Provider.
In 2023, the expansion of the 5G network will demand a new look at digital security. This care includes technologies such as SD-WAN but goes further: a new type of Telecom professional is being born. These are people capable of fully integrating network design and management with the protection of the 5G environment. Service Providers who thrive under this approach will be the most valued in their country, and rightly so.
