5G Experts Talk Modern Approaches to Network Security

Since its emergence, 5G has rooted itself in the technology space and fundamentally transformed the influence of networks worldwide. With the plethora of communications benefits 5G provides, the Department of Defense has identified the technology as an important asset.

New technology comes with new risks, and when integrating any tool into DOD operations, security is of high importance. According to 5G experts, who came together for a panel discussion at ExecutiveBiz’s 5G Forum on Tuesday, ensuring the security of 5G networks within the department requires contemporary approaches tailored to 5G’s unique characteristics.

Mark Rubin, director of network services at Jacobs, underscored the novelty of 5G.

“They have completely taken the core and decentralized it. That is both a strength and a weakness. I look at it as an opportunity to make it even stronger – but you have to embrace the opportunity to secure it,” he said.

Zero trust is one approach to ensure the efficient and safe use of 5G, said Maj. Benjamin Pimentel, U.S. Marine Corps lead for warfighter engagement, FutureG & 5G at the DOD’s Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering.

The hardware component of a 5G network, he said, can open up a number of vulnerabilities, but also the opportunity to implement zero trust and segment the architecture to support virtualization and containerization within networks.

For the USMC, mobility is key. With its ability to separate areas of authorization, Pimentel said that the zero trust method enables users to access specifically what they need rather than taking the steps to launch an entire network, which can hinder movement.

Dan Beaman, global director of 5G, Internet of Things and multi access edge computing at Palo Alto Networks, noted that though enterprise networks have been implementing zero trust for years, it has been focused on traditional IP networks.

According to Beaman, the biggest challenge when implementing zero trust in a 5G network is that its security is not quite at the enterprise-grade level that military and even private sector clients are used to.

What it comes down to, said Beaman, is looking at policy-based solutions at the granular level of controls, which can be quickly applied in line with traditional components used in military enterprises.

Rubin emphasized the number of players in the 5G realm. When dealing with the multitude of entities operating within the spectrum, understanding and communicating with suppliers is key, he said.

“You need to know every single device in your network and what it does, where it is, why it is there and what deficiencies it has,” he said.

“You must stress test your network. If you don’t, someone will and you will not be happy about it,” he cautioned.

With so many pieces of technology being provided by different groups, “the problem of composing security is still unsolved,” said John Baras, distinguished university professor and director for the University of Maryland’s Center for Hybrid Networks.

Most available results, he said, indicate that when putting together all of these components, the result is not secure unless extra mechanisms are put in place.

Eric Burger, technical program director for the Next G Alliance Technical Program Office at Virginia Tech Applied Research Corp., challenged the idea that federal organizations must remain tied to the multi-vendor strategy as opposed to manufacturing their own spectrum.

Currently, said Burger, there is still new spectrum being manufactured. Though it is not ready for mass deployment, he anticipates its launch in the future.

“5G is a solution looking for a problem. It’s not that there aren’t 5G problems out there – it’s that people aren’t really leveraging 5G to solve those problems, or they don’t know how, or it is not easy to do or the road isn’t well paved to get them there,” Rubin said.

This event would not be possible without our sponsors. Executive Mosaic extends its most sincere thanks to Illuminate, Booz Allen Hamilton, Oceus and Jacobs for supporting Executive Biz’s 5G Forum.

Alongside 5G, microelectronics has been identified as one of the DOD’s 14 critical technology areas of focus. For a look into this technology, ExecutiveBiz will host its Microelectronics Forum, which will bring together leaders in the field to discuss the role of microelectronics in the global technology playing field. To learn more and register to attend the event on July 25, please visit ExecutiveBiz’s events page.