5G: what are the cybersecurity risks for organisations?

IMT-2020, otherwise known as “5G”, is set to revolutionise our consumption habits with more connected devices, lower latencies and enhanced connectivity. Many bold companies are sailing into these vast new oceans to seek opportunity… as are cyberpirates in their wake.

The incredible speeds that a 5G network provides, along with the apparent insecurity of some IoT devices, of great interest to any would be actor.

What are the dangers of 5G for organisations?

Unlike the 4G network, the 5G network requires a great number of transmitters to operate effectively. This new infrastructure expands the surface area that need to be defended by a CIO. A vast array of IoT devices are enabled by 5G – but this only increases the number of vulnerable entry points even further.

Mundane devices such as a connected lightbulb or a surveillance camera can be used to infiltrate a network. The problems for IT managers don’t stop there, with higher bandwidth, they have a harder time monitoring the flow of requests passing throughout their networks.

A small ray of sunshine on this horizon is the fact that 5G has enhanced security protocols, enabled by AI and Machine learning. Of course, the very same technologies are being deployed in reverse to act as a threat.

What kind of security threats are we talking about?

DDoS attack: The scourge of the 5G sea

A DDoS attack is carried out using a network of infected computers known as a botnet. The principle is simple, but terrible effective: overload the servers of an organisation with requests. With the increase in the number of devices, the botnet has an ample supply of devices to use in this effort.

Many devices are left using their default passwords – making it an easy task for hackers to worm their way in.

Here’s what will happen to your network if you are the victim of a DDoS attack:

• Services being knocked offline due to a server overload
• The loss of trust from your customers if there is a data breach
• A loss of competitive advantage if R&D data is leaked

Summarised, a DDoS attack is obviously best avoided. Luckily there are solutions to protect against it.

Protect your organisation from 5G hackers with China Telecom Europe

China Telecom (Europe) has been protecting European data and networks since 2006. Moreover, our SLA agreements are amongst the best in the market. China Telecom (Europe) has three tailored cybersecurity packages built to protect you against DDoS attacks: Origin Enterprise, Pro and Premium.

Anti-DDoS Origin Enterprise

For businesses that need to stay online with low latencies, this is the ideal package. Origin Enterprise provides unlimited protection support and utilises Alibaba cloud to protect user’s data.

A need for foreign knowledge

Despite the economic growth witnessed in the region, many countries admit there are still many shortcomings. According to a 2017 study in China, more than a third of respondents reported a lack of qualifications and skills. For European companies, it is an opportunity to bring their own expertise to position themselves in the market. The scale of trade between Europe and the China-APAC region is significant, with €586bn of trade occurring between Europe and China alone.

To find out more about our Anti-DDoS solutions, check out our webpage here

www.chinatelecomeurope.com/product/anti-ddos/

Or contact us today

About China Telecom (Europe) Ltd.

China Telecom (Europe) is your digital silk road between Europe and China-APAC markets. We are a strong APAC region partner for your digital transformation initiatives wherever, whenever you need telecommunication infrastructure and technology services.