The telecom industry is the target of cybercriminals as it stores a large amount of company data in digital space to ensure the flow of information. All digital communication, from e-mail and messaging to phone and video calls, takes place thanks to telecommunication technologies.
This advanced industry manages many networks and sensitive data to meet market needs. For companies providing services in the field of telecom, protecting and managing user data is as important as the service they provide.
Providing Cyber Security in the Field of Telecom
Ensuring cyber security in the telecom field is as challenging as it is important. The most important reason for this is that telecom companies with a large number of users continuously store new data streams.
For this reason, the telecom industry needs to act proactively and take cyber security measures before a threat occurs.
So, how is telecom in the fight against cybercrime? According to a 2018 report by EfficientIP, a network security and automation company, the telecom industry is struggling with cybercrime.
- 43% of telecommunications organizations were attacked by DNS-based malware.
- These companies took an average of 18 hours to respond to the cyberattack, while 81% took three days or longer to apply a security patch.
These statistics confirm that the telecom industry needs to improve itself and take precautions in the field of cyber security.
First of all, you can take advantage of our data security consultancy services to prevent data breaches in accordance with GDPR conditions.
You may also be interested in this article: Why Do You Need Data Security Services to Protect Your Company?
What Are the Current Vulnerabilities in Telecom?
According to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), your telecommunications company has to take many measures to protect data against cybercrime.
Understanding existing vulnerabilities prepares you for threats.
SS7 and Diameter Signaling Threats
The SS7 (No. 7 Signaling System) or Diameter protocols used by many core telecommunications services are flawed. Newer protocols such as SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) are vulnerable to threats without proper controls. Hackers, who can easily obtain 2FA authentication codes, can access users’ accounts.
DNS Attacks
DNS (Domain Name Security) attacks are a major problem for telecommunications companies. The cost of such attacks is increasing every year. He explained to the Global DNS Threat Report that in 2020, about 79% of telecom organizations were exposed to DNS attacks. The average cost of these attacks is $924,000.
DDoS attack
DDoS attacks interrupt the services of the Internet-connected host temporarily or indefinitely. We can say that DDoS attacks are one of the most common types of cybercrime. The 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report reveals that the telecom industry has suffered more DDoS attacks than any other industry.
These attacks can result in data breaches and identity theft, as well as increasing traffic costs, disrupting service availability, compromising internet access by targeting ISPs.
What are the steps to take when you are attacked?
Let’s say as a telecom company, you are faced with a data breach and identity theft. You need to act quickly to secure your systems and fix any security vulnerabilities that could lead to a breach.
These are the first steps you can take:
- Establish a breach response team to prevent additional data loss.
- Change access to credentials, passwords, and breach-related codes.
- Contact people who discovered the violation.
- Identify a data forensics team and legal counsel.
- Disable all affected equipment immediately.
- Use clean machines instead of affected machines.
Unfortunately, all this is not enough. In addition to following and directing the legal processes, it is a necessity to both prevent other possible data breaches and make a media plan that will protect your company’s reputation.
Cyber Security in Telecom: Challenges and Solutions
As a telecom company, there are some challenges you will face in dealing with cyber attacks. Chief among these: lack of knowledge, incorrect use of technology, and an incompetent team.
So how can you deal with these challenges?
The ways of providing cyber security in the telecom sector can be summarized under these 3 main headings:
Making difference
Awareness is the first step of telecom companies in the fight against cybercrime. The lack of technical knowledge of company employees and managers is one of the biggest challenges. Failure to take the necessary technical precautions regarding password and data sharing often leads to data breaches.
Creating cybersecurity awareness among customers and employees reduces risks to a certain extent. You should inform personnel about how they can be targeted and what the protocol is in the event of an attack. By raising awareness, you can protect your budget and your reputation.
Using the Right Technology
All your information technology infrastructure, from servers to mobile phones, should be protected with appropriate security solutions. First of all, adequate security measures reduce the risk of infiltration. This also allows you to quickly detect any attack.
The longer hackers have access to your system and information, the more damage they can do to your company. The cost of a major security breach exceeds your budget for data protection in the short and long term. For example, if customers are convinced that their data is not safe at your company, they may choose competing companies.
Building the Right Team
Cybersecurity requires the right team as well as the right technology. Having a competent and reliable team in the field is very important in terms of cyber security and data protection.
Your team should take on responsibilities such as following best practices, arranging training for staff, arranging the technical side of things. The cybercrime team is just as indispensable as your marketing team or finance department.
To effectively combat cybercrime, telecommunications companies need to raise awareness, organize employee training, and turn to appropriate technological solutions. But the first step is to set up the right work team.
At this point, Omreon, an experienced and competent institution in its field, is with you while taking the steps you need.