Security News > 2021 > June > 5G Security Vulnerabilities Fluster Mobile Operators

As 5G private networks roll out in the coming years, security may be a key issue for enterprises.

A survey released at Mobile World Congress on Monday shows that major gaps persist in security capabilities among mobile operators.

From a security perspective, these may not be ready for prime time: 41 percent of surveyed operators said they face challenges when it comes to solving vulnerabilities related to 5G's network virtualization, for instance.

5G networks represent a sea change from prior wireless networks in that they are largely software-defined and virtualized.

"We're focusing on corporate 5G implementations, generally called NPN - non-public networks. In these environments the 5G signal is restricted to a specific area - a port, a distribution center, a manufacturing facility - so we don't have random devices connecting, and every application and device can be authenticated," Malik said.

A full 44 percent of operators said they have seen increased growth in demand for security services from their enterprise clients due to COVID-19, while 77 percent of operators look to security as a top opportunity for revenue generation, forecasting that 20 percent of 5G revenue will come from security add-on services.

News URL

https://threatpost.com/mobile-operators-5g-security-vulnerabilities/167354/