"The Digital Future Requires Making 5G Secure"

Fifth-generation (5G) technology is expected to deliver the high-speed, low-latency wireless infrastructure required for the "smart" era. According to some predictions, fifty percent of all global data traffic will be created during the next five years by connected devices that do not require human participation. However, for the promise to become a reality, the connecting networks must be safe. A new report from the Brookings Institution evaluates the 5G promise, its cybersecurity problems, and the policy considerations required to realize the 5G promise. The report concludes that, as China and Europe advance their 5G initiatives, an American emphasis on network security will accelerate 5G adoption and generate a competitive edge for US enterprises abroad and at home. Such goals can be attained by applying well-known cybersecurity approaches, a federal oversight program that eschews regulatory micromanagement in favor of a light-but-frequent evaluation of 5G cyber risk mitigation operations, and adequate government funding. 5G wireless networks improve the efficiency and capabilities of the communications infrastructure to make room for a new generation of services, but they also open up new security holes that put the networks and the people who use them at risk. The first 5G vulnerability is that network tasks previously performed by purpose-built hardware are now virtualized in hackable software. Using software running on general-purpose computers to construct a network boosts capabilities and reduces costs, but introduces new vulnerabilities. Previously, networks ran on proprietary hardware and software that provided targeted security against threats. Moving additional functions to hackable software disaggregated from a purpose-built network appliance has opened up new attack vectors for 5G networks. This article continues to discuss key points made in the new Brookings report on 5G security.

The Brookings Institution reports "The Digital Future Requires Making 5G Secure"