GSMA Sees AI Playing Big Role in Detecting, Mitigating 5G Cyberthreats
Threats to wireless security are “continuously evolving” and artificial intelligence will play a key role in protecting networks as 5G is deployed, said GSMA Chief Technology Officer Alex Sinclair at the association’s virtual China conference Thursday. Officials said it's launching an AI in Security Taskforce.
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“AI is becoming an essential tool for detection and mitigation of attacks,” Sinclair said. He noted industry progress in making 5G more secure. “Despite what you may have heard, 5G is the most secure generation of mobile technology ever,” he said. “It contains a range of new features that address problems that have plagued previous generations.” As it becomes part of critical infrastructure, threats also become more severe, he said.
GSMA is collaborating with the 3rd Generation Partnership Project on security of network equipment, standardizing a testing requirement, said Jon France, GSMA head-industry security. Much of the recent focus is on what equipment can’t be part of a network, he said, without noting FCC actions against Huawei and ZTE (see 2006300078). “We think it’s just as important is … not what’s in your network but how that network is operated across its life cycle,” he said: “More of your security and stance” comes from “operation and configuration.”
The “threat landscape” is “changing,” France said: “It’s moving at the speed of software.” So "collaborate often and as widely as possible to keep up,” he said. “We’re noticing windows of detection and prevention are shrinking as the speed and complexity of things grows,” France said. Bad actors have more opportunities to execute attacks more quickly, he said. This points to the importance of machine learning and AI, he said.
More than 600,000 5G base stations will be deployed in China by year-end, said Li Huidi, China Mobile executive vice president. China will have stand-alone 5G networks this year, he said. “Countries define 5G as a priority of development,” he said. “The Chinese government and the relevant government agencies attach a lot of importance.”
Fifth-generation security challenges are “getting more complicated” and “any security issues may cause a chain reaction,” Li said. Security standards must improve and China will participate in standards bodies, he said. China Mobile will take part in security certification programs by GSMA and others, he said. Testing must also improve, he said. Li urged international cooperation: “We can grow together while helping each other.”
“Security governance still has a long way to go and 5G technology is here now,” said Yang Chuan An, chief architect at Nsfocus, a China-based network security company. Fifth-gen security focus must be broad, including a look at network slicing and data ownership and the application layer, said Tonny Xue, Deloitte China cyber service leader: “The most important thing is the security of the operations.”