Cybersecurity Trends in Telecom Industry

1
www.360quadrants.com

• Cybersecurity Trends in Telecom Industry

2
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
industry.
3

• 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
  customers 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.

4

• 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. ATT, a telecom vendor
  utilizes Palo Altos 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 NVIDIAs
  BlueField-2 Data Processing Unit (DPU) for
  security in virtualized software-defined
  networks.
• Palo Altos 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.

5

• 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
  Securitys 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 ATTs Network Cloud
  technology with Azures 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.

6

• 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 companys 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
  Kasperskys 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.

7

• 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.
• In April 2022, the company announced new features
  of FortisOS 7.2 which unifies the convergence of
  networking and security across NGFW, SD-WAN, LAN
  Edge, 5G, ZTNA.
• 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. It also
  offers a secure infrastructure, Cisco SecureX
  which combines solutions such as SASE, XDR, and
  zero trust.
• Cisco entered a strategic partnership with
  Comcast. Comcast is intending to explore new
  security frameworks such as SASE and zero trust,
  which integrates SD-WAN with advanced security
  solutions, in order to secure business
  infrastructure.

8

• About 360Quadrants 
• 360Quadrants is the largest marketplace looking
  to disrupt USD 3.7 trillion of technology spend
  and is the only rating platform for vendors in
  the technology space. The platform provides users
  access to unbiased information that helps them
  make qualified business decisions. The platform
  facilitates deeper insights using direct
  engagement with 650 industry experts and
  analysts and allows buyers to discuss their
  requirements with 7,500 vendors. Companies get to
  win ideal new customers, customize their
  quadrants, decide key parameters, and position
  themselves strategically in niche spaces to be
  consumed by giants and startups alike. Experts
  get to grow their brand and increase their
  thought leadership. The platform targets the
  building of a social network that links industry
  experts with companies worldwide.
• 360Quadrants will also be launching quadrants in
  fields like Multi Cloud Management Platform, 5G
  Infrastructure software, Genomics, and Electric
  Vehicle Charging Station (EVCS).

9

•  
• Contact
• Mr. Agney Sugla
• agney_at_marketsandmarkets.com
• 630 Dundee Road, Suite 430
• Northbrook, IL 60062