Page 22 - Telecom Reseller MayJun 2016

22 Telecom Reseller May/June 2016
Signalling
In 2008, telecom engineers discovered serious background of SS7 security threats, thus exposing can be expected from regulators seeking to
security aws caused by the IP transport layer’s the issue to a wider population. In the segment, defend the privacy of all consumers.
System No. 7 inability to detect acceptable versus unacceptable white-hat hackers took to their computers and is provides an opportunity for the fast-
tra c, leaving that subscriber data at risk. achieved access into a congressman’s mobile moving operator to become a more trusted
Mobile operators were faced with a problem. device through the SS7 network. e result?
provider. To combat potential exploitation,
Commentary
e networks they used to transport data and e hackers gained access to the congressman’s network providers need to deploy a
connect subscribers wasn’t nearly as secure as iPhone, listened and recorded his private comprehensive solution that is powerful enough
they thought they were.
conversations and even tracked his location in to secure all points of attack; not only blocking
While these SS7 network vulnerabilities weren’t real-time. e congressman was relatively lucky suspicious activity but also using advanced
widely known in 2008, fast forward to 2016, when that those hackers were well-intentioned and analytics to help secure the network against
WINDLE
there are more mobile users worldwide than on the aimed at public awareness; if they had alternative future attacks.
Internet and it’s safe to say that vulnerabilities related motives, his security could have been severely rough Xura’s involvement and experience
to SS7 are now threatening the privacy of mass threatened.
within the GSMA’s Fraud and Revenue Assurance
by Mark Windle, Xura’s quantities of people and the enterprises and Recent discussions around SS7 security, like working group and discussions with operators
Strategy & Marketing Director (www.xura.com)
organizations they work for. Because of this, the 60 Minutes segment, have led consumers directly, we know mobile operators are already
Snetwork operators are growing more concerned and subscribers to become more aware of the taking these threats very seriously and putting
ignalling System No. 7, or SS7, is the central about its security. However, for being such a critical dangers surrounding security leaks and demand safety measures in place.
nervous system of a mobile operator’s security threat to users and organizations, SS7
greater levels of protection. Operators are under With vulnerabilities well documented and
network. SS7 enables mobile subscribers
is little-known to anyone outside of the mobile increasing pressure to improve users’ security widely publicized, time is of the essence and the
to communicate with anyone, anywhere and operator space, although recent press exposure is before individual or enterprise customers
mobile ecosystem must work together to quickly
contains mission-critical real-time data on starting to change this.
su er security breaches and hold the operator implement measures now, before consumers,
subscribers, such as identity, location and status.
A recent 60 Minutes episode dug into the
accountable. Moving forward, further pressure
businesses, governments and operators su er. n

Accedian Launches VisionMETRIX location of a problem and con rm which Division Manager at Pioneer Telephone Accedian. “In today’s market for exible
4.0 for Improved SD-WAN customer(s) it a ects
Cooperative, the King sher, Oklahoma- and dynamic networks, customers
Di erentiate between network based operator that uses VisionMETRIX increasingly expect to be able to “turn
Monitoring and Reporting and service impairments using visual to monitor and measure its business up” or “turn down” their connectivity
...continued from page 16
correlation
Ethernet services in Western Oklahoma in the same way that they use a cloud-
Customers can use VisionMETRIX to:
and Southern Kansas. “VisionMETRIX based service. VisionMETRIX enables
Analyse their own data and measure gives our customers improved visibility of operators to provide their customers with
monitoring and analysis, ensuring SLAs performance according to selected the service they’re receiving, and allows a user-friendly portal that lets them see
are being met. By connecting directly to metrics
us to follow their behaviour and adjust our immediately what’s happening on their
SDN controllers, VisionMETRIX updates Customise information in real-time, network to ensure that we continue to network and take appropriate action.”
its per-second network reporting using the portal’s improved dashboard
deliver a high-quality service.”
Donahue added, “With these new
automatically when the service provider— “It’s critical that customer portals “Customer portals are a crucial part
features to VisionMETRIX, Accedian
or end-user—makes changes to network provide a real time view for customers, of business connectivity services, and is raising the bar for the analytics and
connections, services, or SLAs.
and that it accurately re ects any changes customers consider a con gurable visualisation capabilities available for
Operators can use VisionMETRIX to:
in the network and how the customer is reporting portal as a key di erentiator operators to manage their networks. This
Examine di erent domains, circuits, and using it, dynamically and as it happens,” when choosing their connectivity service lets the operator identify opportunities
layers across networks, simultaneously
said Scott Ulsaker, Pioneer Telephone/ provider,” said Keith Donahue, VP of to add value and introduce new revenue-
Quickly identify and isolate the
Pioneer Long Distance Inside Plant
Product Management & Services at
generating services.” n