The telecommunications industry is the pillar of ongoing digital transformation and cybersecurity is one of the biggest threats to it. The telecom industry is continuously evolving and is expected to achieve unprecedented level of faster communications, however, it is also heavily susceptible to cyber-attacks due to massive amount of data generation and the critical communication infrastructure. The most common cyber-attacks observed in telecom space include Phishing, Malware, DDoS, Access Breach, Integrity Compromise, Social Engineering among few others. Such cyber-attacks result in traffic flooding, hardware vandalism, communication hijacking, data breach, implanting malicious codes in the software etc., causing major disruption across the communication network and data compromise by the user.
With the onset of 5G, a fully connected environment is expected through several IoT devices, such as autonomous vehicles and industrial automation, smart grid, smart cities etc. However, it will in turn make telecom operators more vulnerable to cyber-attacks and offer cyber attackers with new ways to infiltrate the network and other system vulnerabilities, thereby indicating the dire need of a robust cybersecurity framework. Several attempts are being made both by the telecom operators and cybersecurity vendors to build robust solutions adhering to the network specification as allocated by the 3GPP. There are several trends which to lead to focusing the cybersecurity aspects on the current telecom in
Trends
Increased usage of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning techniques to strengthen the network security and management
Most of the telecommunication companies rely on the usage of artificial intelligence-based platforms to enhance the network security, data security analytics. The technology offers massive benefits such as network automation, predictive maintenance, and network management, however, managing the enormous amount of data generated by the telecom operators is a huge challenge. These AI and ML algorithms record the anomalies observed in the regular data patterns of the network and minimizes the risks of data breach both in real-time and future. Such potentials of the AI technology are not hidden from the cybercriminals. By using these techniques, they incorporate several malicious software on the customer’s device, resulting in the compromised data security of the user.
Proliferation of IoT devices for a more connected network
The shift towards the hybrid work culture has fueled the usage of IoT devices. By using a fully connected network IoT is transforming the way businesses functions. Devices such as smart watches, autonomous vehicles, smart grid, to smart cities are witnessing an up surge, thereby generating the need of a ubiquitous and secure network. However, due to complicated nature of IoT devices they have become a prime target for the cyber criminals. The essential security concerns with the proliferation of IoT devices includes ensuring network level security, data security, endpoint protection of the IoT devices and tracking and managing security of IoT devices on a constant basis. DDoS and botnet attacks are the majorly observed cyber-attack on the connected devices. Cybersecurity companies such as Microsoft, Trend Micro are now implementing Zero Trust approach to ensure security across all network layers and to verify security and analyze the telemetry in order to secure the digital networks from sophisticated cyber-attacks.
Adoption of multi-access edge computing (MEC) with onset of 5G
Realizing the potential of MEC, telecom companies are shifting their working model towards cloud-based networks architectures. With MEC at the edge of the network, CSPs can easily reduce the volume of the traffic flow offloaded at core network and therefore minimize the operational costs. However, adoption of MEC and cloud-based model for a complex industry like telecom will expose it to cyber-attacks and further make it prone to vulnerabilities associated with network virtualization, interoperability within networks, privacy and insider threats and other such cyber-attacks. This demands for a strong security solution at the edge in order to experience a smooth migration from 4G to 5G.
Top Cybersecurity Companies in Teleocm and their offerings
In order to manage the cyber-attacks, cybersecurity entities are enforcing several approaches and strategies to timely detect the cyber-attacks and implement the mandatory steps required to mitigate those. Below is a list of few of top cybersecurity companies offering solutions for telecom industry.
1.1.1 Palo Alto Networks
Founded in 2005, Palo Alto Networks Inc. is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, US. It is one of the leading cybersecurity companies globally and offers a comprehensive portfolio of cybersecurity solutions across cloud, networks and mobile devices. AT&T, a telecom vendor utilizes Palo Alto’s Next-Generation Firewall to support its 5G-enabled IoT, OT and IT use cases. Palo Alto has also collaborated with NVIDIA for creating a security solution which includes Palo Alto Next-Generation Firewall with the NVIDIA’s BlueField-2 Data Processing Unit (DPU) for security in virtualized software-defined networks.
Palo Alto’s portfolio of solutions includes Network Security, Secure Access Secure Edge, Cloud-Native Security, Security Operations, Work from Home and Threat and Consulting solutions. Recently, in February 2022, the company launched its AI-driven platform Cortex® XSIAM, which is designed to accelerate the threat response. The company also upgraded its PAN-OS software, developed to collect, analyze and interpret potential zero-day threats in real time using inline deep learning technique.
In October 2021, the company collaborated with IBM to build secure 5G networks and address the unique security requirements of the telecom operators deploying 5G networks and edge services. The collaboration is focused on protecting the 5G network slice from the network attacks through end-to-end slice validation and towards enhancing integrated security solutions and services such as automation spanning multifunction network devices and VNFs, container and control plane security.
1.1.2 Microsoft
Microsoft was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Redmond, Washington, United States. The company is one of the prominent leaders in the cybersecurity space. Microsoft Security’s product portfolio includes App and email security, Compliance services, Endpoint security, Identity and Management Access, Network Security, Privacy Management, Security Posture and SIEM and XDR services. Additionally, the company also offers Azure Private 5G Core, which is designed to secure the private 5G core network on an Azure managed edge platform. The solution supports both 4G and 5G standalone radio access network and provides centralized orchestration and automation of 5G core software, service management for configuration, and monitoring.
Recently in March 2022, Microsoft revealed its Azure Operator Distributed Services which is built by combining AT&T’s Network Cloud technology with Azure’s security, monitoring, machine learning, and analytics.
1.1.3 Allot
Allot, a network and security solutions provider, was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Hod Hasharon, Israel. The company has wide portfolio of security services, which includes Network Secure, 5G Net Protect, IoT Secure, Service Gateway, ClearSee Network Analytics and Smart5G among other services. The company clientele includes major telecom vendors such as Vodafone, Telenor, Telefonica, Jio, Rakuten and Dish.
In February 2022, the company collaborated with AWS to jointly develop cloud-based 5G Network Intelligence and cybersecurity solutions.
1.1.4 Trend Micro
Founded in 1989, Trend Micro is cybersecurity software company which is headquartered in Shibuya City, Tokyo, Japan. The company offers solutions AI and ML based solutions such as Hybrid Cloud Security, MEC Security, Enterprise 5G Security Management, Network Security, User Protection and Detection and Response. The company also incorporates the zero-trust strategy and helps in securing private mobile networks, such as 5G, 4G/LTE, and NB-IoT, with end-to-end security. Trend Micro recently disclosed its unified cybersecurity platform which is designed by integrating its native services to work in an ecosystem where it will co-share its space with third-party partners and competitors such as Google Cloud, Microsoft, Palo Alto Networks and other such companies.
1.1.5 Kaspersky
Kaspersky is another prominent entity in the cybersecurity solutions space. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Moscow, Russia. The company’s products include Endpoint Security for Business, Hybrid Cloud Security, Endpoint Detection and Response Optimum, Security for Internet Gateway, Private Security Network, DDoS Protection and others. Telecom companies like Tele2 and VimpleCom are the clients of Kaspersky’s Endpoint Security and Security for Mail Server services respectively.
Kaspersky acquired Brain4Net, an SD-WAN and NFV orchestration software developer in October 2021, to strengthen its cloud security capabilities and XDR offerings.
1.1.6 Fortinet
Fortinet is cybersecurity solution provider which was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, United States. The company offers its services for both enterprises and small businesses. Its product portfolio includes services such as Network Security, Networking and Communications, Cloud Security, Zero Trust Access and FortiGuard Security, Secure SD-WAN, Fortinet Security Fabric and others.
1.1.7 Cisco
Founded in 1984 and headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, Cisco is a technology conglomerate which offers cloud-based cybersecurity solutions. It provides solutions such as SD-WAN Security, Cisco Secure Application, Secure Data Center, Cisco Umbrella Mobile Protect and others. The solutions are designed to prevent malware and phishing attacks through predictive threat intelligence based on ML and statistical analysis of data.
As per the survey of The Manifest, Sattrix Information Security is one of the Top 30 Cybersecurity Companies in India.
