The roll out of 5G is ongoing, bringing faster connectivity, greater capacity and increased reliability, resulting in higher performance, improved efficiency, and the ability to deliver connectivity to many more devices.
From smart cities, to autonomous vehicles, to connected medical devices, 5G has the power to redefine OT (operational technology) across all industries, including critical national infrastructure.
However, these capabilities make 5G and IoT networks an attractive target for criminals wishing to exploit and cause disruption for both organisations and governments.
As more organisations embrace digital transformation enabled by 5G, and with more devices connecting to networks, criminals will quickly look to take advantage of changing ecosystems. In addition, they will look to take advantage of 5G’s enhanced connectivity, with the ability to execute attacks faster than ever before across IoT networks.
To take full advantage of the benefits of 5G/IoT organisations need to be aware of the evolving cyber security risks and take ongoing proactive steps to secure their networks.
A network wide view and holistic approach is needed, including end-to-end view of all devices and systems connected to the network, plus details of how devices are connected and what data is accessed and processed between them.
A robust cyber risk management approach for protecting complex networks is required, ensuring that all ‘entry points’ to a network:
- Are fully identified and understood, so not lost in the ecosystem
- Are configured and deployed correctly
- Have access rights/privileges defined and upheld
- Are regularly and consistently patched with security and maintenance updates
- Are 100% visible to those responsible for protecting the network
- Are continually monitored for vulnerabilities and unusual activity
5G and IoT Network Security
A comprehensive cybersecurity strategy will no doubt create more workload and pressure on typically stretched internal teams, who may not have the skills or experience required to sufficiently protect a wide reaching and diverse IoT network, or to respond quickly and effectively in the event of an incident.
Our team of cyber security consultants are here to advise and guide you through the process of identifying and securing any gaps in your 5G/IoT network security strategy. Get in touch for more information.
As the first global expert partner, formally certified by Fortinet, to secure OT environments, Infosec Partners leverages the Fortinet range of security products to develop powerful cohesive cyber security solutions for organisations embracing IoT opportunities. What’s more, we are globally recognised for our advanced skills and ability to deploy, administer and troubleshoot OT cyber security solutions in complex environments.
