NTT and Palo Alto Enhance 5G Network Security

As businesses across various industries continue to push the boundaries of digital transformation, private 5G networks are rapidly becoming crucial elements of effective critical infrastructure.

These networks bring the necessary agility, reliability and real-time processing to manage sophisticated applications within sectors such as manufacturing, logistics and utilities.

But there is a challenge to this evolution: the rapid integration of operational technology (OT) environments with broader enterprise systems introduces a wider scope of cybersecurity threats, especially at the point where information technology (IT) meets OT.

Each of these areas comes with its own set of vulnerabilities due to their traditionally separate operations.

While IT networks are backed by years of evolved security mechanisms, OT systems, which are crucial in managing physical operations and industrial machinery, often rely on older platforms that didn't prioritise cybersecurity in the same way.

This gap makes them attractive targets for cybercriminals looking to disrupt essential services.

In response to these emerging threats, NTT Data, in collaboration with Palo Alto Networks, has announced new managed security service designed specifically for private 5G networks in industrial and operational settings.

Combining expertise for enhanced security

This innovative service merges Palo Alto Networks' Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) and OT/IOT capabilities and NTT DATA's Private 5G framework, providing companies with a protective shield around their critical OT environments. It offers:

Real-time visibility: With this feature, enterprises gain a comprehensive view into encrypted data streams, device operations and traffic flows.

Device profiling: Leveraging machine learning techniques, the system categorises IoT and OT devices based on their behaviour and associated risks.

Zero trust security: This principle enforces rigorous access controls, permitting only verified devices and services within the network's communication realm.

Automated threat detection: AI aids in swiftly pinpointing and rectifying security threats.

Presented as a plug-and-play managed package, the solution is tailored to immediately enhance network visibility and security for modern OT environments - areas where conventional IT infrastructures converge with industrial systems.

Understanding private 5G and its challenges

Private 5G networks, frequently serving as exclusive cellular landscapes for organisations, are revolutionising industries like manufacturing, healthcare and transportation.

They foster connectivity at the edge, where data is generated, thus facilitating secure operational communications.

Even with their robust architecture, including end-to-end encryption to shield data from unauthorised access, these networks inadvertently introduce a visibility gap.

This often renders security teams unable to track network behaviour effectively, posing a challenge in identifying and tackling threats.

The 2024 State of OT Security report from Palo Alto Networks and ABI Research suggests the need for vigilance, pointing out that nearly 70% of industrial entities experienced a cyberattack last year, with about 25% enduring significant operational halts.

To address these concerns, Palo Alto Networks' solution advocates for a Zero Trust framework, mandating stringent verification across every network point, thereby minimising the attack surfaces.

"NTT DATA and Palo Alto Networks are creating a new standard for private 5G security and changing what's possible for industrial connectivity," says Shahid Ahmed, Group Executive Vice President of Edge Services at NTT DATA.

Deployments and benefits across the industries

Various sectors recognise the benefits of integrating comprehensive security with ongoing digital advancements.

Enterprises using NTT Data's service can now improve monitoring, rapidly address vulnerabilities and ensure uninterrupted operations across diverse functions such as manufacturing, energy and transportation.

Organisations like Roularta Media Group have benefitted significantly from deploying NTT DATA's Private 5G solutions. 

"We recently deployed NTT DATA's Private 5G network to improve productivity across our facilities and unlock innovative use cases across our global printing operations,” says Luc Neysens, CIO of Roularta Media Group.

“The implications of this network security enhancement will be a game changer for our business.”

Alejandro Cadenas, Associate Vice President at IDC, states: "Companies still see security as an add on when it needs to be built into the initial design of the network.

“This is where Private 5G with its inherent security features and advanced measures are making security an integral part of the network.”

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