5G security: Everything you should know for a secure network

<p><a href=”https://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/definition/5G”>5G</a> technology, with its promise of faster speed, wider bandwidth and lower latency, is gradually becoming mainstream. It’s also increasingly viable as a networking option for businesses.</p>
<p><a href=”http://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/tip/What-are-the-features-and-benefits-of-5G-technology-for-businesses”>5G’s technical advancements</a> include a new security architecture, but they also present new security challenges.</p>
<p>Here’s a look at 5G security architecture, <a href=”https://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/feature/A-deep-dive-into-the-differences-between-4G-and-5G-networks”>how it differs from 4G</a>, and the benefits and security challenges it brings.</p>
<section class=”section main-article-chapter” data-menu-title=”5G network security risks and threats”>
<h2 class=”section-title”><i class=”icon” data-icon=”1″></i>5G network security risks and threats</h2>
<p>5G security consists of protections and practices designed to defend the entire architecture of fifth-generation mobile networks, which encompasses infrastructure — such as core networks, radio access networks (RANs) and edge computing — connected devices, data traffic and the services that run on top of them. 5G networks rely heavily on virtualization, software-defined components, <a href=”https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/network-slicing”>network slicing</a> and cloud-native functions that increase flexibility and performance but also broaden the potential attack surface.</p>
<p>As 5G becomes the backbone of industries, infrastructure and everyday life — connecting more devices, enabling critical applications like remote healthcare and smart grids — it carries higher stakes. A breach can affect not just individual users but entire systems. At the same time, advanced features like network slicing and distributed edge nodes create new security challenges, such as difficulties in isolating network slices from each other, securing supply chains and managing vast numbers of IoT endpoints.</p>
<p>Here are some of the key <a target=”_blank” href=”https://www.gsma.com/newsroom/article/safeguarding-the-future-managing-5g-security-risks/” rel=”noopener”>risks</a> and threats to take into account when securing a 5G network:</p>
<ul class=”default-list”>
<li><b>Supply chain compromise.</b> Malicious or faulty hardware, firmware and other components introduced through third-party vendors can compromise the network’s integrity.</li>
<li><b>Legacy infrastructure and backward compatibility risks.</b> Dependence on older systems, such as 4G LTE, as fallbacks can reintroduce known vulnerabilities into the 5G environment.</li>
<li><b>Expanded attack surface from IoT device connectivity.</b> Having to support a huge number of connected devices — many with weak security — can leave entry points for malware, botnets and other hostile elements.</li>
<li><b>Virtualization, cloud-native and software-defined infrastructure risks. </b>5G’s use of software-defined networking, virtualized network functions, edge computing and APIs means misconfigurations, insecure containers and shared resources are more likely to pose threats.</li>
<li><b>Network slicing and multi-tenant isolation vulnerabilities.</b> Virtual “slices” of the network might not be completely isolated, so compromising one slice can compromise others.</li>
<li><b>Denial-of-service</b><b> and signaling-storm attacks. </b>Because 5G networks carry a lot of device traffic and control signaling, <a href=”https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/denial-of-service”>DoS</a> attacks designed to flood them with control messages and other traffic can disrupt the availability of critical services.</li>
<li><b>Eavesdropping, traffic analysis and rogue base stations. </b>Attackers might intercept or manipulate data, track users or exploit fake towers to degrade privacy or integrity.</li>
<li><b>Inadequate monitoring and visibility in distributed edge environments.</b> With more edge nodes, devices and distributed infrastructure, spotting threats and enforcing consistent security becomes harder.</li>
</ul>
</section>
<section class=”section main-article-chapter” data-menu-title=”5G security architecture”>
<h2 class=”section-title”><i class=”icon” data-icon=”1″></i>5G security architecture</h2>
<p>The 5G core network, which provides coordination between different parts of the RAN and connectivity to the internet, is a service-based ar

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