Don’t Freak Out, But We Need to Talk About Security and Wireless

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It has been said that ‘you can’t have a picnic without a few ants.’ Well, the same can be said for wireless technologies like 4G and now 5G. Users of 4G/5G services get the advantage of superior, uninterrupted connectivity, and the ultimate flexibility for communication and mobile internet. The adoption of 5G will bring even more benefits like reduced latency, energy savings, cost reductions, and higher data capacity. The downside is that mobile wireless services also present security challenges at the hardware and network level. As carriers continue to deploy extensive 4G/5G wireless networks, IT leaders need to be aware of vulnerabilities and security concerns associated with each. This is particularly a concern as 4G/5G is becoming the infrastructure of choice for the Internet of Things (IoT) and business communication applications.

Think about how security issues could play out in a ‘smart city’ IoT application. Potential risks in 5G networks could pose a threat to smart traffic lights and street lighting, or electronic road signs – causing potentially dangerous situations. A recent study by Positive Technologies highlights flaws found in wireless’s GTP protocol (General Tunneling Protocol). With no built-in encryption included in GTP, security and authentication are left to be managed elsewhere in the applications. The report goes on to explain that exploiting these issues doesn’t require super hacker skills either. Instead, it only takes a laptop, a free software installer for ‘testing,’ and basic programming skills. (Source: Positive Technologies).

Don’t forget about AKA

Another issue is that 5G security is built around AKA (Authentication and Key Agreement). This authentication protocol is supposed to address the issue of devices using fake base stations known as IMSI catchers (International Mobile Subscriber Identity-catcher) also sometimes called ‘StingRays.’ However, there are some holes. (Source: Naked Security). Why is this a problem you might ask? By luring a smartphone to connect to a fake base, the protocol permits traceability attacks. Attackers can potentially identify the device’s owner and track their physical location. Although this scenario is harder with 5G, setting up fake base stations is still possible – however, the subscriber’s identity would be hidden using public key encryption managed by the mobile network.

How can security risks affect real users

Even if your business isn’t building a smart city, designing self-driving cars, or launching an enterprise-wide IoT project, organizations should still take notice. Not addressing security holes could lead to data breaches giving bad actors access to your network, Denial of Service (DoS), or a complete takeover. Ordinary mobile users are also vulnerable – would-be attackers can spy on mobile subscribers or potentially intercept internet traffic. If that’s not scary enough, these types of threats could allow for attacks on autonomous vehicles, medical identity, and more.  The good news is that understanding wireless security issues more clearly can help organizations take the proper precautions around their adoption and dependence on mobile wireless networks.

  • 5G offers some security enhancements – Experts tell us setting ISMI StingRays for 5G devices requires a lot more time and sophisticated hacking skills, compared to 4G. This fact buys defenders much needed time to close critical security gaps.
  • Firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and advanced malware – Minimizing security risks are all about reducing issues that account for most security incidents. These tools can help block primary 5G security threats. Malware that goes going beyond signature-based tools can better identify attacks designed to evade basic filters.
  • Network switches and routers should leverage big data and machine learning – For multi-stage threats that avoid basis filters, big data and machine learning tools embedded into network switches and routers can offer advanced protection. Most believe these add-on technologies are ideal because they turn the devices into 5G security sensors.

Security is one of the fastest growing concerns when it comes to the enterprise network. If you want help better understanding security challenges your customers may be facing with 4G/5G connectivity, talk to Broad Sky Networks! We can show you the best practices and steps for keeping data secure at the network’s edge and in transit. We can help! Visit our video library to learn more!

Getting Ready for 5G – What you Need to Know

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5G is no longer future tech. Commercial 5G phone networks and 5G-enabled smartphones will be rolling out in 2019. (Source: ZDNet). But with 4G wireless still getting faster, why is the industry already jumping into the 5G fire? In a word, data. Research from IDC tells us that currently, more than 5 billion consumers interact with data every day. By 2025, analysts predict that number will be 6 billion, or 75 percent of the world’s population. (Source: IDC). 5G mobile data connectivity promises to keep up with our insatiable demand for data. 5G and fiber-based connectivity promise unbelievably faster broadband speeds, but even more importantly this next-gen mobile connectivity will have enough capacity to support users, regardless of how many people are connecting at the same time. Commercial 5G networks will run on a new high-spectrum band, which uses higher frequency signals than 4G. The previously inaccessible high-frequency band was dormant, prior, because of high costs and government regulations. The newly opened 5G band consists of millimeter radio waves between 30 and 300 GHz. The new band means that 5G networks will be much less congested than current 4G networks, which is critical. In some major cities today, users are already experiencing slowdowns during the busiest times of day (mainly during evening hours).

In addition to increased capacity on the network, 5G signals will also deliver much faster broadband speeds, reaching multi-gigabit level speeds. In metropolitan areas, those numbers would equate to 5G speeds that are consistently above 750 Mbps. For those businesses and individuals that reside in the city that’s great, but it’s also good news for users in rural areas in the US. Carriers predict that even those in remote locations should expect faster internet service with 5G. For example, with 5G even ‘one-bar signals’ would be faster than traditional 4G services showing ‘four bars.’ If these breakthroughs sound exciting to you, check out these additional benefits and network characteristics expected in the 5G era.

  • Ending the battle between Wi-Fi vs. LTE – ‘Always connected’ is here. Even more, than supercharging broadband speeds and increasing data capacity, another 5G contribution is that it will unite wireless, wireline, and satellite services under a common structure – ending the battle between Wi-Fi or cellular connections. Imagine a world where we no longer hunt for a Wi-Fi signal in a coffee shop or restaurant to ‘save our data’ and then switching over to our LTE cellular signals when no Wi-Fi is available? Instead, we’ll seek 5G always. Eventually, all devices will run on the 5G ‘new radio’ or NR standard, opening up an era of truly always-connected mobility.
  • A growing opportunity for resellers and VARs – 5G signals can’t travel as far as current 4G signals, so there’s a need to establish a higher number of access points closer together, which will add to the complexity of designing and constructing 5G networks. So when it comes to providing dedicated indoor coverage for buildings, there will be significant opportunities opening up in the market for VARs and systems integrators to meet this demand. Building owners and businesses will be turning to these technology partners to develop networks which are cost-effective and can support multiple operators. Large venues, like stadiums and airports, will make moves to create their own networks, which will be designed to be shared by various operators. Sometimes called a ‘neutral host’ the idea is these networks will enable a venue to own the network, and open it up to many different operators to supply connectivity.
  • Realizing Internet of Things (IoT) potential – 5G is expected to slash data delays from an average of about 100-200 milliseconds with 4G, to 1 millisecond or less. Because of these latency improvements, mobile connectivity becomes always-on, ultra-reliable, and ultra-secure. As a result, devices and sensors that need instant connections, such as IoT deployments, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication or Industrial IoT (IIoT) will thrive in a 5G world. This might include sites with a high volume of connected devices like manufacturing plants, mining and oil operations, or shipping ports. Further, 5G can also be configured to manage different types of devices, applications, and traffic in specific ways. For example, 5G networks can push through mission-critical devices so that they keep operating, being prioritized ahead of others, even if there’s a network disruption.

Your future looks bright

The gradual shift to 5G in 2019 and beyond is expected to forever change the way we interact with technology. Lightning-fast speeds, incredibly low latency, and the capacity to carry massive numbers of connections simultaneously will engrain technology into our daily lives even more. More than that, the shift to 5G is also an absolute necessity if we want to continue to rely on mobile connectivity. Carriers are essentially running out of LTE capacity in many metro areas, and 5G opens up new routes and capacity to carry that data, adding vast amounts of spectrum in bands that have not been used for commercial broadband traffic previously.

As we get closer to full-scale 5G development and adoption the buzz around its potential to drive business transformation will continue to expand. If you want help demystifying the 5G hype from reality, and you’d like to learn more about what 5G services are available today, and what’s coming, talk to Broad Sky Networks! We can help you map out a smart and sustainable 5G wireless plan and position you to take advantage of new profitable opportunities available. Don’t wait!

Why Your Customers Need Gold Standard Wireless….Quality Matters

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The internet is no longer a luxury item, it’s an integral part of every business. As companies push more and more applications to the cloud their reliance and survival rely on their connectivity to the cloud! To meet these demands, there’s an increasing need for faster speeds and a network that can handle the capacity of today’s Cloud Applications. But, with more options and features available for business-grade wireless, the market has also become much more confusing and cluttered. Carriers are promoting cheaper IoT and Machine to Machine (M2M) wireless solutions that are marketed as ‘business-grade’ wireless when in actuality they don’t deliver the speeds or high-availability required. So what are businesses doing to overcome wireless internet challenges?

A lot of companies are going with the ‘hope for the best’ method, which, unfortunately, misses the mark and can lead to tarnished business reputations. Leading companies, however, are taking a different path. They are turning to their technology partners (like you!) for guidance about selecting their right enterprise wireless solutions. Let’s take a look at what you need to know about enterprise-grade wireless options.

  • Think about how wireless integrates with a customer’s overall environment – Today most enterprises have a hybrid mix of traditional IT and new cloud-hosted application. This dynamic environment dramatically impacts the requirements for connectivity between branch offices, plus connections to cloud services (i.e. Office 365, Salesforce, etc.). Corporate Wi-Fi is just one more piece of the puzzle. When looking at deployment options, consider those that have unified management capabilities. Customers want web-based tools for viewing VPN and WiFi performance, and things like inventory, configuration, and bandwidth usage. With analytics and web-based management capabilities, organizations will have visibility across their entire connectivity infrastructure, including managed WiFi networks, broadband, MPLS VPN, and access to cloud services.
  • Be wary of ‘business-grade’ options – While there are multiple options available for speed and latency that are touted as ‘business grade’ wireless, the fact remains that not all wireless packages can support enterprise functions like VoIP, IPSec VPN, VDN or video applications. Be confident that your wireless internet partner can deliver superior throughput, maximum performance, and extensive coverage for each customer deployment.
  • Make sure the equipment being used is the latest Chip Set for Carrier Aggregation – As the carriers have poured money and resources into upgrading their wireless networks for faster speeds and more bandwidth, a customers connection is only as good as the receiving equipment. You want to make sure you are looking at Category 6 or higher in the equipment deployed in your wireless connections. Category 6 Modem or higher provides access to the additional bands available on all the carriers providing faster speeds, more bandwidth and Carrier aggregation for the fastest performance at each location.
  • Why is everyone talking about Cat-M1 and when should it be used? Cat-M1 is just one of the technologies that are paving the way for 5G networks. Many believe that M1 marks a step closer to carriers delivering cellular-based IoT capabilities. While still being improved upon and further developed, LTE Cat M1 technology offers significant enhancements over Cat 1 such as ease of integration, battery life, and coverage. Once Cat-M1 goes mainstream, it will mean lower cost IoT projects, and enhanced flexibility. If your customers are looking for next-gen connectivity for large-scale IoT projects, you should look into the availability of Cat-M1.

The demand for secure, enterprise-grade wireless internet options is pushing leading companies and technology partners to cut through the clutter to bring next-generation wireless networks to life.                 

Whether a business requires wireless internet at multiple branch offices to support VoIP, or connectivity for M2M communications, Gold Standard Wireless from Broad Sky Networks can help you get there. At Broad Sky Networks, we engineer the fastest possible connections at every location. We also offer a winning pre-install process that simplifies installation, and makes partners look good! While carriers have segmented their wireless offerings and networks into categories like ‘good, better, and best’ you’re customers always deserve the best! Let Broad Sky Networks help you deliver. Your customers will love it!

5G is Almost Here….Your Questions Answered!

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Excitement is building around what 5G connectivity will mean for businesses, consumers, and the partners that support them. While 5G will promote faster speeds and less latency than previous iterations, the evolution in technology will also require a shift and reinvestment in cellular networks. What’s even more exciting is the potential impact 5G will have on the Internet of Things (IoT) landscape. It will require an increase in cellular networks worldwide to include new antennas that will soon, in the not-too-distant future, become the backbone of the IoT movement. In fact, research firm IDC predicts that by 2021, 5G’s broad enablement of IoT use cases will drive 70% of G2000 companies to spend $1.2 billion on connectivity management solutions (Source: IDC)

The possible implications of 5G connectivity are immense with the ability to impact not only mobile phones, but also homes, work, cities, and cars. While it may be some time before we see widespread 5G-enabled wireless networks available, it’s not too early to prepare for this new era of ultra-high-speed communication. Let’s explore some of the biggest questions around 5G networks and look at some exciting applications for business and end users.

  1. How fast are 5G speeds? 5G is a next-generation cellular standard, similar to 2G, 3G, 4G, LTE-Cat M, and NB-IoT, but faster.  One of the promises of 5G connectivity is faster data transmission speeds and much lower latency rates. For example, the fastest fiber broadband speeds currently being offered in the U.S. are hovering around 1 Gbps (gigabits per second). 5G connectivity could enable speeds of 20X that, up to 20 Gbps.
  2. What are the implications of 5G for IoT? Whether you’re talking about “smart cities” where sensors along roadways collect real-time information on traffic and send to traffic boards or “smart manufacturing” applications where interconnected machines share information, the reality is IoT can’t work without reliable connectivity. In the hyper-connected world of IoT, some projects can work fine with lower data rate solutions like 3G while other IoT plans, with more moving parts, have varying connectivity needs. The infrastructure and design of 5G-enabled networks and solutions are ideal for these environments because they are low energy and low cost. Not only that, they bring a level of reliability, latency, scalability, and security that’s needed for mission-critical services in the IoT space.
  3. Why does increased capacity matter? With the rise in IoT devices, such as ‘smart utility networks’ and manufacturing networks, the need for increased capacity will be a critical enabler of sharing data with multiple devices. Not only can 5G support the transport of data at a faster rate compared to 4G LTE, but it can also support a higher number of devices at the same time in a specific range. Experts predict 5G-enabled networks will have a connection density that is about 500 X as high as is the case with 4G.
  4. What opportunities are there around 5G? While 5G is on the verge of transforming how connected users interact with technology and the world around them, the success of 5G hinges on how wireless operators and technology partners can support these mobile networks of the future. The ability of partners to meet high capacity requirements and support practical IoT deployments with flexible and secure network architectures will propel leading partners to the front of the pack. Customers will look to IT service partners for solutions to support IoT plans, leveraging 5G connectivity, edge computing, software-defined networking, and network virtualization.

As organizations push for more data-intensive and complex IoT deployments, there will be an increased need for pervasive and fast mobile connectivity options: enter 5G. Talk to us today about how we can help you build up your support for 5G connectivity, wireless networks, and solutions that can support your customers’ core IoT infrastructure. Call Broad Sky Networks for more details (877) 291-9575.