Security News > 2021 > January > The 5G toolbox of defense

The onset of 5G - which introduces new network architectures, services and devices - raises the stakes and increases the challenge for network operators.

The European Union is one such organization taking the lead. It has analyzed numerous risk scenarios and has come up with a toolbox that outlines nine mitigating measures and supporting actions that member states and network operators can leverage to defend themselves.

While the network components might have been initially configured with parameters in compliance with security policies, the network is a constantly evolving entity, and thus settings will need to adapt and change accordingly.

Looking from a broader perspective, 5G networks potentially comprise thousands of data centers distributed towards the network edge, each playing host to cloud-native virtual network functions.

This poses some big security risks for 5G networks and operators ought to ask: "How do I ensure the security of billions of devices and the network they are running on? How can I prevent a hacktivist group or state-backed actor from taking control of IoT devices to attack the network?".

Many operators, as well as network hardware and software suppliers, have played a pivotal role in securing critical networks in the past decade - and they will continue to be important players in securing 5G networks across the globe.

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