The Future of Telecom Security: Top AppSec Trends to Watch Out For

by GuardRails on April 26, 2023

The telecommunications industry is one of the most critical and complex sectors in the world, providing essential services to billions of people and businesses. However, it also faces significant challenges in terms of security, as it has to deal with a variety of threats from cybercriminals, nation-state actors, competitors and insiders. Cyble Research and Intelligence Labs reports six data breaches impacting telecoms since the start of 2023, affecting over 74 million US-based customers.

The infiltration of malware is one of many evolving cybersecurity threats facing the industry, and while traditional security measures and standards (such as SOC 2 and ISO 27001) remain important, application security (AppSec) is becoming a top priority for the telecommunications industry.

In this blog post, we will be discussing the top AppSec trends in the telecom Industry that you should be considering as part of your cybersecurity strategy.

Overview of Telecom Industry in 2023

The industry provides essential services to businesses and consumers alike, and plays a critical role in enabling the digital transformation of industries such as healthcare, finance, and retail. Its growth has been driven by the increasing demand for data services as more people around the world access the internet and use mobile devices, and is also set to benefit from the ongoing roll-out of 5G technology, which promises to unlock new use cases and revenue streams. However, as the industry expands, it also faces new risks and challenges such as heightened cyber threats, data breaches, and the need for strong AppSec measures to safeguard users’ data and privacy.

Top AppSec Trends To Watch Out For In The Telecom Industry

The adoption of 5G networks, the proliferation of IoT devices, and the increasing use of cloud solutions are just a few of the trends that are likely to shape the AppSec landscape in the telecom industry. By staying abreast of these trends and taking proactive measures to enhance their security posture, telecom companies can safeguard their assets and customers from potential harm.

Securing 5G

Deloitte’s white paper on “Securing Telcos’ 5G adoption journey” opens with, “5G adoption is a non-avoidable reality.” The fifth generation of mobile networks (5G) promises to deliver unprecedented speed, bandwidth and connectivity for users and devices. However, it also introduces new risks and vulnerabilities for telecomms operators and their customers. 5G networks rely on a distributed architecture that involves multiple components such as base stations, edge computing nodes, cloud platforms and network slices. Each of these components can be a potential entry point for attackers who want to compromise the network or steal data.

To address these challenges, telecomms companies need to adopt a holistic approach to 5G security that covers all aspects of the network lifecycle from design to deployment to operation. They need to implement security by design principles that ensure that security is embedded into every stage of the network development process.

They also need to adopt security standards and frameworks such as:

3GPP SA3 (the 3rd Generation Partnership Project’s working group on security)
GSMA NESAS (Network Equipment Security Assurance Scheme)
NIST SP 800-187 (Guide for Securing Wireless Communications at System Interfaces)

Additionally, they need to leverage advanced AppSec solutions such as:

Static Application Security Testing (SAST)
Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST)
Interactive application security testing tools (IAST)
Software composition analysis tools (SCA)

The Rising Importance Of Mobile Application Security

Today, there is an abundance of mobile applications available, and telecom companies are utilizing these apps to offer their services to customers. However, with the increase in app usage comes the risk of cyber threats, such as hacking or data theft. Telecom companies must prioritize mobile application security to ensure their customers’ sensitive data is protected. This means implementing strong security measures, such as two-factor authentication, encryption, and regular vulnerability assessments. Failure to do so can result in reputational damage and financial losses, making mobile application security a top priority for telecom companies.

Real-Time Attack Detection and Mitigation

Reactive security measures is no longer sufficient – that’s why telecom companies should be leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms to detect and mitigate attacks in real-time. Security teams can quickly identify and respond to security threats, either by automating incident response, or providing security analysts with contextualized alerts and insights so they can respond more efficiently.

Organizations must adopt a proactive and continuous approach towards monitoring and threat detection. By implementing a robust monitoring and threat detection system, telecom organizations can swiftly identify and address any potential cybersecurity threats, thereby minimizing security risks and protecting sensitive data. This can help security teams proactively respond to such incidents before they escalate into more significant problems.

An Emphasis On Secure Coding Practices

Cyber attacks are becoming increasingly prevalent and complex, making it critical for organizations to ensure their software applications are secure. To reduce the risk of security breaches and protect sensitive data, organizations in the telecom industry should adopt secure coding practices and automated testing tools.

Telecoms companies need to adopt a DevSecOps culture that integrates security into every stage of the software development lifecycle (SDLC). They need to use AppSec tools that are compatible with cloud-native technologies, coupled with policies and controls that enforce secure coding practices, container image scanning, container runtime protection, service mesh encryption, and API security.

Aside from that, it is imperative for organizations to prioritize the security of their AI pipelines. This includes the implementation of robust AppSec tools that can safeguard the end-to-end processes involved in data collection, processing, model training, deployment, and monitoring. Additionally, organizations must establish effective governance frameworks that outline roles, responsibilities, standards, and procedures for the development, testing, deployment, and auditing of their AI applications.

By using these measures, organizations can improve their code quality, ultimately reducing the likelihood of security issues and safeguarding customer trust.

The Adoption Of Identity And Access Management (IAM) Solutions

The proliferation of mobile devices and the internet has led to a vast increase in the number of employees, customers, and partners that need access to data and applications. However, with that comes the risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and theft of sensitive information. IAM solutions offer control and visibility over who has access to what data and from where. They can also help companies comply with data protection and privacy regulations relating to identity management. As the telecom industry continues to expand its digital infrastructure and services, the implementation of IAM solutions will remain a top priority to ensure secure access management in the increasingly complex and interconnected digital ecosystem.

Some of the benefits of adopting IAM include:

Enhanced security: prevent unauthorized access to applications and data by enforcing strong authentication, authorization, and auditing mechanisms.
Reduced risk: help telecom companies comply with various standards and regulations, such as GDPR, PCI DSS, HIPAA, etc., by ensuring data privacy and security.
Improved customer experience: enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty by providing seamless and personalized access to applications and services.
Increased operational efficiency: streamline workflows and processes as well as reduce manual errors and overheads.

Managing Third-Party Risk

Telecom companies often rely on third-party vendors to provide various services and solutions, such as cloud computing, network infrastructure, software development, testing, and maintenance. However, these vendors may introduce security risks to the telecom company’s systems and data if they do not follow AppSec best practices and standards.

To mitigate these risks, telecom companies should establish a vendor management program that covers the following aspects:

Vendor selection: conduct due diligence on potential vendors before engaging them. This includes verifying their AppSec capabilities, certifications, policies, procedures, track record, requirements, and expectations.
Vendor monitoring: monitor the performance and compliance of vendors regularly. This includes conducting audits, reviews, assessments, and tests to ensure that the vendors are meeting their AppSec obligations and delivering quality services, as well as establish clear communication channels and escalation procedures in case of incidents.
Vendor termination: implement a clear process for terminating vendor relationships when they are no longer needed or satisfactory. This includes ensuring that the vendors return or destroy any sensitive data or assets that they have access to or store on behalf of the telecom company.

The Role of Security Teams Within Telecom Companies

It is clear that there is a growing need for greater collaboration between security teams and other departments within telecom companies. This trend is driven by the increasing complexity of modern telecommunications networks, which require a coordinated approach to security in order to be adequately protected against cyber threats.

In particular, it is important for security teams to work closely with developers, network operations teams, and other stakeholders to ensure that security is integrated into every aspect of the infrastructure. It is essential not only for protecting the company’s assets and reputation, but also for ensuring compliance with industry regulations and customer expectations for privacy and security. Companies that invest in the right tools and processes to foster this collaboration will be better positioned for success in today’s rapidly-evolving telecom landscape.

Conclusion

The telecommunications industry presents a rich target for cybercriminals, with valuable data and systems that need to be protected. As the industry continues to evolve, so will the nature of the threats it faces. Trends such as 5G adoption, digital transformation, and shift to cloud-native environments are certain to bring new opportunities and challenges for those looking to secure their applications and networks. As such, staying up-to-date with the latest AppSec trends and implementing proactive security measures will be essential for telecom companies looking to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their services.