An organization’s reputation is closely tied to its security practices. 5G and AI have created the impression of endless innovation. However, amidst these vast opportunities, security must remain a reliable ally.
The temptation to invest in capabilities above all else is always tempting, but without security, any company’s hard-earned reputation can crumble overnight.
As the pace of innovation quickens, identifying and managing security threats becomes more difficult. In recent years, industry-wide standards and best practices such as “security by design” have become key to minimizing attack surfaces, but staying vigilant requires understanding evolving threats and We need a collective dedication to quickly defining the definition of . Extensive mitigation measures against them.
Protecting customers and mitigating cybersecurity threats to critical national infrastructure is a role that telecommunications companies are expected to play, a responsibility that extends to every other industry.
Penalties for poor defense become increasingly severe. Cyber security Ventures estimates that global cybercrime losses last year were a staggering $8 trillion, making it the world’s third largest economy after the United States and China.
The damage to individuals and businesses can only be described as catastrophic. According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach in 2023 was $4.45 million, an increase of 15% over the past three years. According to research from Centrify, 65% of data breach victims have lost trust in their organization as a result of the breach.
Security before mass adoption of new technology
Many of these challenges stem from mobile infrastructure modernization and must be resolved before new technologies can be released to market or fully utilized at scale.
For example, 5G RAN and 5G core technologies lay the foundation for a variety of new products and services, but their success depends on network security.
Network security, in all its forms, relies on cooperation between the broader ecosystem. Sharing real-time and strategic threat intelligence across the mobile ecosystem is a solid example of how the industry has excelled in recent years.
Successful measures such as the Telecommunications Intelligence Sharing and Analysis Center (T-ISAC) and the Threat Intelligence subgroup of the GSMA Fraud and Security Group (FASG) are leveraging collaboration and intelligence in preventing fraud in mobile networks and across them. It shows how important sharing is. broader ecosystem.
The rise of artificial intelligence
But what is remarkable about modern cybersecurity is the speed with which the industry has had to adapt to new technological changes, perhaps most notable being the rise of AI.
As stated by McKinsey, 2023 was a breakout year for generative AI, with rapid adoption by individuals and businesses.
In our 2023 survey, one-third of respondents said their organizations are using generative AI in at least one function, and 40% said advances in generative AI are driving their organizations to increase their overall AI focus. I answered that I would increase my investment.
However, few companies appear to be fully prepared for the widespread use of generative AI and the business risks that these tools can pose, with only a few respondents saying their company would reduce AI cybersecurity risks. Only 38% were companies.
As businesses and individuals around the world integrate AI more deeply into their daily processes, the industry must take a leading role in ensuring AI is protected from attack.
AI is emerging as a powerful force in cybersecurity, shaping the strategies of both attackers and defenders.
Cybercriminals can now use AI-powered tools to craft convincing phishing emails, orchestrate deepfake attacks, and develop malware with adaptive capabilities that eclipse many traditional defense mechanisms. becomes obsolete.
AI’s greater automation is accelerating cyber threats, allowing attackers to identify and exploit weaknesses at unprecedented speed, creating challenges for defenders trying to keep up.
AI-powered evasion techniques add further complexity to cyber threats. Polymorphic malware, which can modify code structures to evade detection, provides an example of how AI allows attackers to continually defeat traditional security measures.
However, as attacks advance, new forms of defense emerge. AI can play a vital role in identifying anomalies and potential threats. For example, AI’s proficiency in automating incident response processes can transform cybersecurity. Minimize the impact of cyber threats by enabling rapid detection, analysis, and response to security incidents at a pace unachievable with manual processes.
Join our community of experts
Raising awareness of emerging threats and bringing together leading experts will be the focus of two of the most important industry events of the annual cycle: Security Summit: Strengthening the Security of the Mobile Ecosystem on Tuesday the 27th. is the purpose ofth February and on Thursday 29th “GSMA SEC CON: Securing the Future with Artificial Intelligence”th Both at MWC Barcelona 24 in February.
These events are hosted by the GSMA and feature industry-leading security experts and thought leaders. These are must-attend for security ecosystem stakeholders, providing unique insight into the most pressing threats of 2024 and, more importantly, the most effective measures to thwart them. .
You can find out more and register for both events below.
Security Summit: Strengthening the security of the mobile ecosystem
GSMA SEC CON: Securing the future with artificial intelligence
