- 5G networks are gaining popularity around the world, promising faster speeds and lower latency.
- Many businesses will benefit from 5G, but not all businesses will need it.
- If you want to set up 5G, consider the public and private benefits and hire the right professionals.
- This article is part of 5G Playbook, a series that explores one of the most important technological innovations of our time.
The arrival of 5G networks around the world will give organizations the potential to transform their operations and use new technologies. Almost half of UK businesses surveyed in June 2022 by UK5G, a coalition of commercial and educational organizations supporting the UK’s rollout of 5G technology, said they were planning to invest in mobile network technology next year. A GMD Research report estimates that by 2031, the value of the global 5G enterprise market could exceed $83 billion.
5G is the latest version of ultra-fast mobile internet. Boasting higher capacity, faster capabilities, and lower latency than the previous generation of 4G mobile internet, consumers can now use mobile internet for a variety of business and personal purposes.
However, these potential benefits come with risks that companies and engineers must manage carefully. Two of his experts in 5G technology and cybersecurity, Rahim Tafazolli and Alan Woodward from the University of Surrey, spoke to Insider about the key steps organizations should take to develop secure 5G networks. spoke to.
1. Understand your needs and hire the right staff
The first thing to ask is whether you need a 5G network, and if so, how to configure the range. Everything from traffic, security levels, and latency requirements will determine how you lay out your 5G plan safely and reliably.
That requires trained staff, said Tafazoli, founder and director of 5GIC, 6GIC and the University of Surrey’s Institute of Communication Systems. “In most of these organizations, they are not communications people,” he said. “They have IT people who need communications skills to manage, maintain and support their communications networks.”
2. Evaluate public and private 5G options
If you don’t have the necessary communications skills, it’s much safer to rely on someone who has the skills to provide you with a secure 5G network. In this case, a public 5G network slice provided by your mobile carrier may be better than a private, on-premises 5G network that you must maintain internally.
Tafazolli said by choosing to be part of an existing public network, “we don’t have to worry as much about the maintenance and support of these systems.”
However, Woodward, a cybersecurity expert and visiting professor at the Surrey Cybersecurity Center, said, “Despite the fact that it is expensive to manage due to sensitive data and competitive concerns, “Some organizations may prefer a private network under their own control.” “And private networks are usually more secure.
3. Use 5G configurable security
Business owners and IT leaders may feel that security concerns require them to go the private network route. But 5G is a fundamentally different technology.
“When people used to install fiber for their personal high-security networks, they would want their own ‘dark’ fiber because no one could eavesdrop on it,” Woodward said. “What you have to remember is that 5G was designed from the beginning with security in mind, all the way down to the IP level.”
Of course, no system is foolproof or hack-proof. However, 5G is a software-defined network, so it can be configured to suit your needs. Assess risks and leverage 5G configuration capabilities to build appropriate mitigations.
4. Partner with experts
“If communications isn’t your core business, you’re going to need some help,” Woodward says. Although 5G is still in its maturation stage, experts such as mobile carriers and infrastructure vendors will guide you in planning and deploying your network.
In addition to accepting what a provider offers, Tafazolli said, “you can also implement your own security.”
“It doesn’t have to be a standardized security solution,” he said. “You can apply your own encryption to the mechanism to guard against possible attacks.”
5. Implement monitoring and automation
Operating a 5G network requires extensive communications expertise that many companies lack. However, there are advanced monitoring and automation, and tools that can help improve performance and maintenance. These tools can check and analyze uptime, connection latency, and 5G connection usage to ensure only authorized users can connect. Businesses and businesses need to budget and plan for these technical features.
