Mobile Network Infrastructure Getting Started

5G is the next-generation mobile technology. New use cases, services, and applications in 5G are in the areas of enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communications (URLLC), and massive IoT (MIoT). High-value assets and critical processes run on 5G networks. Early adopters of 5G technology are enterprises focused on smart manufacturing, transport and logistics, critical infrastructure, oil, gas, and mining. 5G will accelerate the evolution of IoT as more devices become connected.

The attack surface increases in 5G. One major concern is a greater number of devices connected to 5G networks, which increases the number of opportunities for attackers to exploit the vulnerability of a device. For example, the increased number of devices connected to 5G networks makes it easier to launch a DDoS attack. Most of these devices likely lack robust security and software update mechanisms. Compromised devices can also impact service of the 5G network.

Security is one of the top concerns of organizations planning to adopt 5G. Network security capabilities are required, with the ability to identify and prevent the attack with the granularity of device or equipment identifier and subscriber or user identifier.

Detection of these threats in 5G mobile networks requires identification of compromised equipment, devices, subscribers, and users. Prevention requires the ability to apply network security based on equipment ID, which is a Permanent Equipment Identifier (PEI). This includes International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), and subscriber ID, which is Subscriber Permanent Identifier (SUPI), including International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI).

To extract IMSI and IMEI information, position the firewall on one of the following interfaces:

The N4 interface is typically available from service providers who split the Control Plane and User Plane functions or in private 5G deployments where the UPF is located on-premises.

In the following private 5G network deployment scenario, only the User Plane Function (UPF) is located on-premises. The 5G Core is located remotely in a central core site or public cloud. To enforce Security policy for user and control traffic, the firewall must be positioned on the 5G interfaces, including the User Plane (N3) and Control Plane (N4). The second firewall in the diagram is positioned on the perimeter (the N6 interface connected to the internet and the enterprise IT data center).

In the following private 5G network deployment scenario, the 5G Core, including the User Plane Function (UPF), is located on-premises. The 5G Core includes network functions (NFs) such as Session Management (SMF) and Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), as well as others. To enforce Security policy for user and control traffic, the firewall must be positioned on the 5G interfaces, including the User Plane (N3) and the Control Plane (N4). The second firewall in the diagram is positioned on the perimeter (the N6 interface connected to the internet and the enterprise IT data center).

In the following private 5G network deployment scenario, only the radio access network (RAN) is located on-premises. The firewall must be positioned on the 5G interface for the User Plane (N3).

5G network functions communicate with each other using the HTTP/2 protocol; HTTP/2 messages carry various mobile network identifiers, such as PEI. Traffic from IoT devices is carried in GTP-U tunnels in the 5G network. The firewall is positioned in N3 and N11 interfaces to inspect both HTTP/2 and GTP-U traffic, and it correlates the mobile network identifier information with the IP traffic inside the GTP-U tunnels in a 5G network.

PAN-OS supports the following HTTP/2 control messages on an N11 interface. From these messages, the firewall extracts the identifiers (such as Equipment ID, Subscriber ID, and Network Slice SST) to correlate traffic to a specific user at the N3 interface and to match the identifiers to Security policy rules.

You can apply network security based on the equipment identity of any device or equipment or the subscriber identity of any subscriber or user who is trying to access your 5G network.

You can investigate a security event related to a piece of equipment in a 5G network when you have the PEI including IMEI, or a security event related to a subscriber when you have the SUPI including IMSI. You can look at the traffic, threat, URL filtering, and WildFire^® logs and reports.

You can apply the following per equipment ID or subscriber ID: application control, Antivirus, antispyware, URL filtering, intrusion prevention, and Advanced Threat Prevention with WildFire based on an IMEI, IMSI, or a group of IMEIs or IMSIs.

5G equipment ID and subscriber ID security support an additional Radio Access Technology (RAT) not supported in 4G, and that is New Radio (NR).

When deciding which firewall model to purchase, consider the total number of 3G, 4G, and 5G network identifiers (Subscriber IDs and Equipment IDs) you need to include as external dynamic list entries or static entries. The following table provides the capacities of external dynamic list entries and static entries for each firewall model:

*You can use Software NGFW credits to fund a license for your VM-Series firewall based on the maximum memory limits (tiers) that you require in your network.