As manufacturers digitize and automate their operations, they should look to adopt the most current, highest-performing and secure technology for wireless communications.
“That’s 5G,” said Michael Tanji, director of cybersecurity for MxD, the National Center for Cybersecurity in Manufacturing as designated by the U.S. Department of Defense.
“Anyone who has had a cell phone for more than about a decade is familiar with the migration from 3G to 4G and now to 5G,” said Tanji. “If you have a factory that uses wireless technology and it’s not 5G, put things back into that cell phone context: You’d be hard-pressed to get a 3G phone to work or work well in a 5G environment.”
Because modern factory floors are digital and wireless, investing in a fast, reliable network is a key investment, though less flashy than adding robotics or the latest internet of things (IoT) applications. One important but potentially overlooked benefit of 5G cellular technology is greater cybersecurity.
“Basically, 5G gives you the fast, reliable wireless backbone you need to connect everything in your factory, and makes it smarter and more efficient, ultimately making you more competitive,” Tanji said. “But 5G brings a lot to the table from a security perspective as well.”
Privacy and security Improvements from 5G include enhanced encryption and more robust mutual authentication between devices and the network. “This means the device verifies the network’s identity and vice versa, which makes it harder to trick devices into connecting to an unauthorized access point,” Tanji explained.
Another benefit of 5G is “network slicing,” which allows operators to create multiple virtual, independent networks on the same physical infrastructure. “This separation reduces the risk of cyberattacks spreading to mission-critical parts of the enterprise,” he said.
Here’s more about 5G and cybersecurity from Tanji (edited for space):
Q: The general benefits of 5G are obvious (the capacity to send more data at faster speeds more reliably). Describe some of the 5G benefits to manufacturers.
MT: 5G makes advanced automation more reliable and accurate. Robots can instantly react to changes on the production line, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) can navigate more efficiently and safely because of 5G’s superior connectivity. 5G also can handle more data in real time. That means more sensors providing you with more data to monitor and tune your operations and respond to issues in real time (predictive maintenance, etc.). One more thing: 5G’s high bandwidth and low lag time make the adoption of technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) more realistic and reliable.
Q: Tell us more about 5G’s cybersecurity strengths.
MT: 5G supports more advanced and stronger encryption algorithms relative to 4G, making it more difficult for attackers to eavesdrop on communication and decrypt data transmitted over the network. It improves privacy and security by using the Subscriber Concealed Identifier, which encrypts a device’s permanent identifier during transmission. 4G did not encrypt this sensitive data; 5G also provides integrity protection for user data traffic. This means the network can verify that the data hasn’t been tampered with during transit, ensuring the integrity of the information exchanged between devices and applications.
Q: For all the security benefits of 5G, digitization changes the overall risk profile, right? More connected devices mean more potential entry points for malicious actors. Are there other challenges for manufacturers from 5G?
MT: The 5G architecture is more complex than previous generations of technology, which has the potential to introduce new vulnerabilities if not properly secured. If 5G network slices are not properly configured and isolated, vulnerabilities in one slice could potentially be exploited to compromise others. As with all elements of cybersecurity, the risks from 5G can be managed.
Q: While 5G is clearly the future of manufacturing, is anything holding back adoption?
MT: The adoption of any new technology — and that’s “new” in the sense of “brand new” and “new” in the sense of “new to the buyer” — creates issues of trust and cost. Small and mid-size manufacturers in particular may not see the need to adopt new technologies or change the way they’ve been doing things. They’re also less likely to have the cash to invest in new capabilities (and they don’t come cheap). But 5G is the future. And don’t wait for 6G. It’s not due to market until 2030.
Visit the MxD Virtual Training Center for information on cybersecurity workforce training resources.