GSMA FS.11 & FS.19 vs GSMA FS.20

GSMA publishes three complementary signaling security specifications. FS.11 covers SS7 message screening at the STP. FS.19 covers Diameter screening at the DEA. FS.20 covers GTP screening at the P-GW / SGSN border. Together they define the modern signaling firewall.

AttributeGSMA FS.11 & FS.19GSMA FS.20
ProtocolFS.11: SS7 · FS.19: DiameterFS.20: GTP-C / GTP-U
PlaneSignalingSignaling + user
Category modelCat 1 / 2 / 3 by legitimacyMessage-type + IE consistency
PlacementSTP (SS7) / DEA (Diameter)P-GW / SGSN / UPF edge
Roaming borderInternational SCCP / IPXGRX / IPX

Verdict

FS.11 and FS.19 are the closest thing telecom has to a shared firewall baseline. FS.20 completes the picture on GTP. A "signaling firewall" that implements only one of the three leaves the other two planes wide open — a recurring finding in P1 audits.

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