Digital transformation is occurring across all industries at an unprecedented rate. IDC revealed that worldwide spending on IoT will surpass $1 trillion in 2026 with AI spending following this trend as it is projected to reach $632 billion in 2028. However, in the race to remain competitive, enterprises may overlook key security issues when deploying new solutions or scaling to meet demand.
What is common between IoT and AI is that manufacturing is listed as a top industry in terms of market share and potential. Smart factories are integrating new technologies including Industry 4.0, AI and IoT devices, all of which rely on the generation, collection and digestion of vast amounts of data. For these innovations to run seamlessly, they require a network infrastructure that provides secure, low-latency connectivity – all of which is present within a Private 5G network. These networks support critical infrastructure and are the backbone that enables solutions common to smart factories of the future and ensure critical business operations remain functional despite interruptions.
Managing your threat footprint
Private 5G is an industrial-grade private cellular network designed to enable enterprises to deliver connectivity that acts as a catalyst for digital transformation and the emergence of new use cases. One of the key differentiators from traditional Wi-Fi connectivity is that despite innovations over the years that have made Wi-Fi networks common, Wi-Fi still runs on an unlicensed spectrum. This opens potential attack vectors for bad actors to take advantage of and access critical information from the devices deployed across your organization. CIOs see this issue as indicated in a survey of 216 IT leaders which revealed that 87 percent agree that standard Wi-Fi networks do not offer the required level of security for their organization.
When we consider coverage areas and enterprises looking to scale their factories or premises, this issue becomes dramatically compounded. For example, a factory with a one million square feet area that needs network coverage will require hundreds of Wi-Fi access points, increasing the network’s risk and threat footprint. By comparison, a Private 5G network will only require a handful of 5G access points, translating to fewer security risks and network management headaches.
Strengthening your security posture with a Private 5G Network
Private 5G is inherently secure as the 5G standard acts as a strong base level of security. A 5G network leverages data encryption and integrity protection mechanisms to safeguard data transmission across an enterprise. This prevents information leakage and enhances overall data security, however with Private 5G, enterprises can take their security posture another step further.
Enterprise 5G micro slicing of Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) is a crucial feature of Private 5G networks that adds an additional layer of security. Enterprise slicing enables IT teams to separate data into distinct communities within your network. If a security issue arises, an IT team can go in, localize the issue to a specific layer and control which devices connect and communicate with other devices across the Private 5G network. What this accomplishes is the containment of a security issue to one space instead of exposing it to the entirety of an enterprise network and jeopardizing business operations.
Deep levels of visibility and strong access control policies through technologies such as enterprise slicing, are critical components of any enterprise security framework. This is especially true for systems deployed within sensitive Operational Technology (OT) industrial environments. Machines and equipment across a smart factory must have multiple access control layers which could include clear rules as to who can make changes to the network or which areas of the network or application suite a device can access. These layers are critical to preventing situations where control over a device is inadvertently placed into the hands of a bad actor.
Preparing for an evolving threat landscape
Maintaining robust security measures must be front and center for every enterprise. It is imperative that special attention be given to the design phase of the implementation process to ensure access control frameworks are not “tagged on” later. Enterprise security cannot take a back seat, especially as critical business functions continue to be digitally transformed. As enterprises deploy new solutions, security strategies should be “by design” and not through an “add-on” approach. Although this might seem clear to many IT leaders, it is imperative that strong security policies are reinforced alongside the introduction of AI solutions to support network operations and be considered the most important task of any enterprise management process.
AI is a powerful tool but still requires a human element to maintain a strong security posture. Looking ahead, the combination of human oversight, robust security measures and new AI innovations that assist with the automatic detection and identification of anomalies within network traffic ensures IT teams will be equipped with the tools they need to swiftly deal with security risks in a constantly evolving threat landscape.
About the Author
Parm Sanhu is Vice President of Enterprise 5G Products and Services, Parm is responsible for Private 5G and Edge Compute product management including offerings and technologies that help companies drive transformational change. Parm has over 30 years of experience leading transformative initiatives including Wireless IoT Connectivity Services Strategy and Planning, Edge Computing, 4G and 5G products and service development, Broadband and FTTH services development, Private and Public Wireless Network Deployments and Telecom Inside Plant operations. Parm can be reached at LinkedIn Parm Sandhu or at the company website at NTT DATA
