According to tech experts, 5G technology will change how we use telecommunication devices. It will offer us a new method of reaching out to other users, placing emphasis on enhanced connectivity, efficiency, and incredible speed. Unfortunately, as fantastic as 5G might be, it comes with a fair share of issues.
First, we have to create a global infrastructure that will support this technology. After that, we also need to think about backward compatibility, something that would cause issues when connectin with old networks. Perhaps the biggest threat comes in the form of various, new security threats that will affect 5G devices and network.
To counter these issues, we must rely on SEPP or Security Edge Protection Proxy. With this technology, we can ensure unobstructed connection between networks. SEPP excels at overload protection, policing, and filtering, thus preventing common data breaches and other threats.
5G and SEPP Protocol
The best way to circumvent common security threats that 5G networks bring is by relying on SEPP protocol. With it, we establish a safe environment where data can be transferred from one device to another.
The technology brings an additional layer of integrity and confidentiality when transferring messages. SEPP comes with key agreement procedures and authentication, as well as robust security algorithms. That way, you can rest assured no one can excess your info as it travels from the initial point to receiver.
SEPP allows us to use PLMN, or Public Land Mobile Networks, without thinking about potential security risks. It offers users various configuration options, which includes traffic classes, buffers, and connections.
The use of SEPP isn’t a choice; it is a requirement. The users and providers can rely on the security edge protection proxy to ensure maximum safety while communicating. As such, the tech allows you to facilitate undisturbed roaming between 5G cores.
Common 5G Security Issues
The reason why SEPP protocols are so effective is because they fit seamlessly with the needs of 5G networks. The technology patches the biggest weaknesses within these networks, including:
Nowadays, each person has at least one phone and each of these mobile devices relies on 5G network for basic functionality. If we also consider the ever-increasing number of IoT devices, this means that providers have to think about a massive attack surface.
The large surface is ideal for attackers as it gives them numerous entry points into the networks. It also doesn’t have that all these devices are interconnected and accessing one of them give you entry to the others. Among others things, users have to think about data manipulation, eavesdropping, and spoofing attacks.
- Data Security Vulnerabilities
While 5G technology provides numerous advantages to users, such as unparalleled speed and connectivity, this also means it’s more data and memory-heavy. With these networks, you can transfer large quantities of information from one point to another, something that was previously unimaginable.
But to do so, there needs to be certain compromises that put the entire network at peril. As the number of endpoints increases, so does the overall amount of data. Single vulnerability can cause ripple effect through the network, affect all users within it.
Like many other modern devices, IoT equipment has several security measures in place that are supposed to prevent external intrusions. Unfortunately, some of its protective measures are not only lackluster, but they can pose a liability for the entire network.
To make matters worse, many of these devices don’t receive regular updates. Unlike our phones and computers, IoT devices don’t have the same protection, which opens up users to various risks. While you can patch these issues yourself, this would take a lot of time and energy.
There is another major threat people often overlook and it comes in the form of backward compatibility. Using devices across different mobile generations exposes you to major risks. As long as the older networks remain active and people use them, there will always be a threat of attackers exploiting vulnerabilities.
Whether we’re talking about 5G systems, devices, or data, each of them can be affected by a malicious element. Because of that, we need to use solutions such as SEPP to prevent issues that come with interoperability.
Despite their incredible features, 5G networks are still lacking in terms of coverage. The infrastructure is still in development, which is why many people still don’t have access to the tech. What makes things worse is that 5G signals do a poor job of penetrating thick structures and walls.
Unfortunately, besides limited access, there’s another issue that comes with this. As there’s a limited number of stations and antennae, it is easier for attackers to track users. Through location tracking, hackers can jeopardize users’ devices and data.
What’s the Solution?
The large number of devices within network makes life hard for the providers. They have the challenge of managing numerous network endpoints, tracking and protecting each device. Each of these devices requires an updated, modern security suite that would address potential issues.
Obviously, all these issues shouldn’t be overlooked. Among several things that we can do, centralization stands out as one of the best solutions.
With SEPP, you ensure a secure connection between your device and various public and private networks. We achieve this by centralizing and streamlining security management. This practice not only makes it easier to monitor traffic and devices but also simplifies the implementation of security policies.
By relying on SEPP, you can encrypt and authenticate all data that comes through the 5G network. As such, the protocol can easily transfer from one point to another, ensuring easy and straightforward management. Through standardization, SEPP makes the exchange seamless.
Conclusion
Without solutions such as SEPP, 5G networks can’t reach their full potential. They would be exposed to various outside threats thus jeopardizing users’ data. By encrypting data and simplifying data management, SEPP addresses some of the biggest challenges of these networks.
