Palo Alto Networks is looking to expand the role SASE plays in securing private 5G networks by collaborating with additional partners to offer end-to-end communications protection.
The cloud-based Prisma SASE 5G package melds network security functions including secure access control, advanced threat protection, user-behavior monitoring, and zero-trust network access (ZTNA) with wide area network (WAN) capabilities such as SD-WAN.
It also supports SIM-based authentication to identify 5G users and devices, enabling granular policy enforcement and utilizes artificial intelligence technology to detect and prevent sophisticated AI threats, according to Palo Alto.
Cellular connectivity has been around for a while with SD-WAN, with limitations in speed and cost limiting it to an expensive backup option but that has changed now as 5G advancements allow it to be used as a primary internet link, according to a blog posted by World Wide Technologies in January.
“5G speeds can match what is typically available from traditional links but without the need to wait for weeks while the ISP deploys the circuit. This allows for freedom and flexibility with planning deployments since an active SIM card from a carrier is all that is needed now,” WWT wrote.
“This can be very useful when connecting anything that needs to be deployed quickly, such as a kiosk or temporary shop. It can also allow for simple staging and delivery to remote locations for quick setup or emergency use as backups,” WWT wrote.
“While the 5G standard includes strong security features, like user authentication, privacy, encryption and some protection for signaling traffic, these are not designed to detect or stop advanced threats in mobile traffic. And it’s definitely not enough to protect enterprise, government or industrial businesses,” wrote Anand Oswal, senior vice president and general manager at Palo Alto Networks, in a blog about the news.
“To truly safeguard enterprise, government and industrial operations, organizations need a holistic 5G security package. It needs to go beyond built-in protections to provide end-to-end visibility, advanced threat detection and unified security across the entire network,” Oswal stated.
The new or expanded Palo Alto industry partnerships include:
Integration to support Anterix spectrum will ensure that Palo Alto Networks ruggedized firewalls are optimized for 900 MHz private LTE (PLTE) networks, letting utilities and other critical infrastructure providers deploy secure, reliable and high-performance private wireless broadband solutions.
Integration of Palo Alto’s NGFWs with OneLayer LTE/5G service to allow zero touch provisioning and device discovery in enterprise IT and OT networks to help ensure monitoring and security controls across an expanded attack surface, streamlining large-scale onboarding.
Also on the NGFW front, Palo Alto tied together its firewalls with Pente’s Hypercore package to let customers see applications, services, subscribers and devices on a private wireless network so that customers can secure, multitenant private wireless deployments.
International provider Telenor’ will integrate a variety of Palao Alto’s SASE security offerings to provide zero-touch end-to-end network slicing orchestration, letting customers enhance visibility, control mobile network traffic and ensure top-tier security, Palo Alto stated.
The security vendor has myriad partnerships with other vendors and service providers to support private 5G. security measures.
Most recently Palo Alto expanded its partnership with NTT to offer managed security services for NTT’s Private 5G network package specifically tying together Palo Alto’s Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) with NTT DATA’s Private 5G architecture for OT/ IOT integration.
Palo Alto also recently expanded its partnership with Kyndryl to bring a wide range of security offerings, including a family of next-generation firewalls, the Prisma Cloud security platform for cloud-based applications and workloads, endpoint security, and operational automation support.
In addition, Palo Alto combines its Intelligent Traffic Offload (ITO) technology and NGFW with the NVIDIA BlueField data processing unit (DPU) to improve the volume of threat inspection while reducing infrastructure costs. Palo Alto’s 5G security gateway provides security at scale by encrypting traffic between many connected things and data center networks.
It also works with 5G-LAN security specialist Celona brings zero-trust security to private 4G and 5G wireless networks. In addition Palo Alto and NetScout offer end-through-end service visibility, which is critical to assuring customer experience while monetizing device and end-user behavior.
Source:: Network World