The European Gigabit Infrastructure Act is proof that protecting 5G is a priority for the entire region. At a time when 5G is gaining momentum across the world, Europe and France, it appears essential to secure the entire network. Indeed, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) make it possible to proactively detect and prevent cyber threats.
Protecting the network edge then requires an advanced detection engine that can scale and provide end-to-end visibility, from the Radio Access Network (RAN) to the network core to the data center edge.
5G networks differ from 4G networks in that the disaggregated infrastructure of a 5G network requires very low latency and very high bandwidth. However, in this dynamic environment, malicious actors can easily take advantage of the network.
Attacks against mobile networks: when normal is no longer valid
Conventional protection systems have evolved to provide security measures adapted to mobile networks and services, helping to make these environments inherently secure and promoting effective use of traditional threat detection and neutralization techniques.
However, when a valid service attached to the network displays unusual behavior, this anomaly can cause a huge problem. This is particularly the case with infected mobile and IoT (internet of things) devices that act in unique ways on the network due to malicious activity. These devices will infect others and their data will then be redirected to unknown servers.
In addition to potentially causing signaling issues within the 5G environment, such security events can deplete other network resources. Without forgetting that their resolution is costly for the operator.
The mobile edge secured by operators
Security must come from operators, who provide remote communication services. 5G networks form an ecosystem in which companies and operators converge to provide reliable services at the mobile network edge.
This convergence allows them to unlock the full potential of edge computing and manage consumer services and applications. In this context, businesses expect specific service level agreements (SLAs) that include threat detection for services and network slices.
As for consumers, they want to know that they benefit from reliable and secure edge services. Operators must therefore integrate the 5G network security necessary to support all their subscribers.
An advanced security event detection engine
Additionally, protecting the network edge requires an advanced detection engine that can scale and provide end-to-end visibility from the Radio Access Network (RAN) to the data center edge to the network core. Indeed, operators must monitor networks from the outset to identify and neutralize threats at key points of the network: endpoints, RAN/backhaul and services. When attacks occur at the edge, it is too late to mitigate the 5G network security problem.
Using edge data alone is not enough to get a complete view inside the network to correlate and map complex control plane and user plane information, from endpoint IP addresses to subscribers, types of devices and locations. The complexity and agility of the 5G environment makes it very difficult for humans to discern valid device behavior and proactively detect device compromise from a distributed denial of service attack. (DDoS), fraud or data theft.
Strengthened security of 5G mobile networks
Operators need to look at different elements to secure 5G networks, including packet-level data that needs to be analyzed to feed artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) algorithms. Additionally, specific AI/ML algorithms will determine device performance. Next, it is important to note that knowledge of security domains will ensure better all-over protection, with the addition of increased monitoring within the network.
The 5G network is a prime target subject to increasing threats, and IT teams must secure it more, in order to detect and block any potential cyberattack as quickly and effectively as possible. End-to-end monitoring and visibility will indeed provide better understanding of these challenges, a more in-depth understanding of the issues, and will allow operators to monitor more calmly and effectively over the entire network in order to neutralize threats targeting endpoints. .