Telecommunications Network Security Against Nation-State APTs

This technical report discusses the critical state of telecommunications network security, particularly in defending against advanced persistent threats (APTs) posed by nation-state actors. It outlines the challenges faced by telecom networks, which are essential for modern civilization, processing vast amounts of data daily. The report highlights the Salt Typhoon campaign, identified as a significant breach affecting major U.S. carriers, and emphasizes the inadequacy of traditional security tools in protecting these networks. The Seceon Open Threat Management platform is presented as a solution, offering AI-powered protection tailored for telecom environments. The report details various attack vectors and methodologies used by nation-state actors, including protocol exploitation and supply chain compromises. It also discusses the vulnerabilities inherent in telecommunications protocols such as SS7, Diameter, and GTP, and the need for advanced security measures to address these weaknesses. The document concludes with a focus on the importance of adapting security strategies to the evolving threat landscape.