Nokia Networks safeguards network operations

As the complexity of mobile network security increases with 3G/LTE and telco cloud/SDN, a centralised identity and access control system able to authenticate operator staff and provide secure, granular access to network elements is required.
Potential vulnerabilities in the SS7 (Signaling System 7) protocol could open the door to advanced fraud, hijacking of subscriber communications or denial-of-service attacks. To help operators deal with the multifaceted demands of protecting security and privacy in the smartphone and Internet of Things (IoT) era, Nokia Networks has extended its security portfolio with new protection capabilities complemented by expert professional services in assessment and deployment.
Two new Nokia Networks solutions help shield network operations from unauthorized access, both from external attackers and from staff within organisations:
* Nokia’s Network Access Guard addresses the sheer intricacy that operators face in managing internal staff access to multiple network element systems. It secures, identifies and monitors employee access while simplifying the way privileged users handle critical network elements.
* Nokia’s Signaling Security Solution can identify weaknesses in an operator’s SS7 infrastructure and implement a firewall to protect against subscriber data being hacked as well as other malicious intrusions. Nokia Networks is the only major telecom infrastructure vendor to offer such end-to-end SS7 protection.
Nokia’s Network Access Guard implements centralised identity access management in multivendor networks. Protection is achieved through a combination of single sign-on authentication for user simplicity, session management to control who accesses network resources, audit logging to track user sessions, and user policy management.
he software can secure traditional, virtualized and Software Defined Networks (SDN) supplied by multiple vendors. It helps avert service interruptions that could damage customer experience, cause revenue loss and lead to Service Level Agreement (SLA) penalties.
Nokia’s Signaling Security Solution consists of two elements:
* Nokia Signaling Guard tracks SS7 sessions and inspects signaling traffic in real time. Thus it is able to detect external attacks that normally would not be recognized by conventional SS7 network elements. The solution can block  unauthorized access to subscriber profiles and helps assure service availability. Efficient fraud protection builds subscriber trust to secure revenue streams.
* Nokia Security Assessment is a new expert service that analyzes an operator’s network security architecture and protection of network elements to pinpoint vulnerabilities that could lead to security breaches or service disruptions. The insights provide the foundation for planning and implementing security improvements to allay subscribers’ privacy concerns, encouraging higher use of mobile services.