Why Enhanced Security for 5G and IoT is More Important Than Ever

The convergence of IoT and 5G is a game-changer for a myriad of reasons. The proliferation of IoT devices, combined with the rollout of 5G networks, creates a whole set of new opportunities and possibilities for edge technologies.

5G’s lightning-fast connection and low-latency are needed advancements for intelligent automation in the digital future. Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), driverless cars, digital reality, and blockchain will benefit from this convergence.

However, this intersection brings to light new security requirements for 5G & IoT technologies. Although there have been gradual advancements in IoT security, most connected machines and devices have been built with security as a second thought, where basic minimum standards are “good enough.” It is truly a wonder that massive scale is projected on eSIM platforms on the backs of trust-based networks and applications that authenticate without hardware security. Given the ever-increasing importance of data security in today’s world, providing additional device and network-level security layers is paramount, especially for critical applications such as government, defense, and healthcare.

To this end, it is essential to use an eUICC platform that is fully GSMA compliant and designed to remove common vulnerabilities in security for 5G & IoT. Such solutions should also have features like:

• Cryptographic Certificates in every eUICC that allow device operators to load certificates from a private chain into the eUICC production process. These can be used to bring hardware-level security to your IoT application and keep the initial TLS key exchange off the internet.

• Private IPSEC VPN that can tunnel routes application data direct from the Carrier PGW to your internal application. This direct-to-doorstep functionality is ideal for sensitive government, health, or financial data.