Security and Monetization Realities of Cloud and Edge Networks

Service providers are ready to reap the business benefits of cloud-native infrastructures to realize more flexibility and higher performance. But they understand challenges lurk in the way of new cybersecurity risks that threaten network investments and new growth strategies.

Spirent joined industry experts from ABI Research, AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, STL Partners, and more at the RCR Wireless News Telco Cloud & Edge Forum event to discuss the implications of these new realities, in two speaking sessions focused on API monetization and overcoming cloud and edge security challenges.

In the “Overcoming Security Challenges in Cloud-Native and Edge Environments” session, we emphasized the importance of a comprehensive and layered security approach to cloud-native telecom networks. This includes addressing API vulnerabilities, encryption gaps, and proper network segmentation to safeguard against new cyber threats. During the “Roadmap to Monetization—Open APIs Standardization, Innovation and Integration” session, we discussed why it is critical to design networks to accommodate open APIs, underscoring a need for robust performance, scalability, and security. This is how stakeholders will deliver a seamless user experience and capitalize on new monetization opportunities.

Key takeaways from the event were covered in a companion key findings report RCR Wireless News released around the event, which details the agility, scalability, and resource efficiency requirements facing service providers as they transition to cloud-native architectures. As the report states, the important decisions to be made are as much about organizational change as they are technology.

Building monetization-ready telecom networks with APIs

Though open APIs are a path to new revenue generation, they introduce new complexity and uncertainty that must be carefully managed.

Service providers can prepare networks to support varying levels of Quality of Service (QoS) requests while maintaining a seamless user experience by making architecture decisions that can scale efficiently, especially as the volume of API requests increases.

Importantly, service providers must be ready to address new security risks like distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks associated with exposing networks via open APIs. On this front, robust security measures like rate limiting, encryption and continuous monitoring can all play a role in safeguarding networks. As service providers prepare to open networks to external developers and enterprises, these critical defense techniques will bring confidence that new opportunities are being safely pursued.

Spirent is playing a pivotal role in helping operators navigate new challenges, ensuring they are ready to implement innovative monetization strategies while ensuring network integrity and reliability.

Protecting against today’s threats to secure the future

There was agreement among panel participants that it is critical to tailor comprehensive security strategies to the unique demands of cloud-native telecom networks.

Open and software-driven architectures are a positive development, but they must be pursued safely as cyber threat attack surfaces broaden. Risks lurk everywhere from API-related vulnerabilities and insufficient encryption protocols to inadequate network segmentation. Securing API communications with strong encryption and proper token management can help ensure bad actors are not able to exploit implementation errors. These efforts should also include effective segmentation and network function isolation to prevent lateral movement within the network should a breach occur.

It is important to not overlook the importance of continuous vulnerability assessment and penetration testing. Regular testing and validation against established security standards like those from 3GPP are essential for finding and mitigating risks before they are exploited.

Spirent’s robust test suites and security assurance professional services are relied upon by service providers today to help protect cloud-native infrastructures.

Proactive security planning and ongoing assessments should be a pillar of any rollout, especially as telecom networks become more complex and interconnected.

Securing the future of profitable, cloud-native telecom

Spirent’s solutions play a vital role helping service providers navigate new challenges to ensure they can safely unlock new revenue opportunities.

Learn how we can help you future-proof new networks and capitalize on critical technology advancements.