Solutions Summary - Private 5G on the Factory Floor

As 5G networks become increasingly critical to our infrastructure, securing them against a growing attack surface is paramount. Keyfactor delivers a comprehensive PKI solution aligned with 3GPP standards, enabling robust security for the entire 5G ecosystem.

5G Security Challenges

5G brings a new set of security challenges. The attack surface is expanded due to billions of connected devices, network slicing, and edge computing. While more resilient than older networks, 5G is still vulnerable to DDoS attacks, data breaches, man-in-the-middle attacks, and ransomware. Supply chain risks, securing Open RAN architectures, and protecting IoT devices with limited security capabilities also demand attention.

Keyfactor's PKI-Driven Solution

Keyfactor's comprehensive PKI solutions address 5G security challenges by providing strong device identity with X.509 certificates, enabling secure communication using IPsec and TLS, securing remote access with SSH certificates, and ensuring secure firmware updates. Keyfactor also secures 5G network slicing and Open RAN deployments, while providing robust security for IoT devices such as machine identity, IoT device fleet management and code signing.

Keyfactor Advantages

Standards-Based: Aligned with 3GPP standards (including TS 33.310, TS 33.501, TS 33.220, TS 29.274) for interoperability and compliance.
Comprehensive: Addresses a wide range of 5G security challenges, including device identity, secure communication using IPSec and TLS, and secure OTA updates.
Scalable: Handles the massive scale of 5G deployments with high-performance certificate management.
Flexible: Deploy on-premises, in the cloud, or in hybrid environments.
Automated: Streamlines certificate lifecycle management to reduce manual effort and errors.

Common 5G Use Cases

Private-LTE/5G for Manufacturing: Secure private networks for Industry 4.0 with high speeds and low latency.
Base Station Enrollment: Automate certificate enrollment for base stations using CMPv2.
Securing Backhaul Infrastructure: Encrypt and authenticate traffic between base stations and the core network using IPsec and TLS.
5G Network Slicing: Secure network slices to prevent unauthorized access and interference.
5G Open RAN: Secure communication and management in multi-vendor Open RAN environments.
IoT Security: Secure and manage certificates for massive numbers of IoT devices.

EJBCA Key Features

CMPv2, ACME, EST, SCEP support
CLA and Keyfactor Orchestrator for IoT device management
SaaS, Container, Hardware Appliance, and Kubernetes deployment options
Software, Container, and Firmware Signing
Post-quantum ready

Conclusion

Keyfactor's PKI solutions enable secure and reliable 5G networks by addressing key security challenges. These solutions provide:

Strong authentication: Verify the identity of devices and users through X.509 certificates, ensuring only authorized entities access the network.
Secure communication: Utilize IPsec and TLS to encrypt communication channels, protecting data confidentiality and integrity.
Automated certificate lifecycle management: Streamline certificate issuance, renewal, and revocation processes, reducing manual effort and minimizing security risks.
IoT device fleet management: Leverage Keyfactor Command for IoT to manage certificates for large-scale IoT deployments, ensuring secure communication and firmware updates.

These capabilities help mitigate security risks, ensure compliance with industry standards, and maintain business continuity in 5G networks.