Control Plane Security

Security measures protecting the control plane, which carries signaling and management traffic that directs network operations. Control plane security includes encryption of signaling and authentication of network elements.

Categories: SignalingSecurity ControlsOperations and Business

Control Plane Security in context

Signaling protocols carry the control-plane instructions that set up calls, register subscribers, hand over sessions and route SMS. SS7, Diameter, GTP-C and SIP are the four dominant families, and interconnect exposure of any of them is treated by GSMA FS.11 / FS.19 / FS.20 as a top-tier telecom risk.

Security controls in telecom span signaling firewalls (SS7/Diameter/GTP screening at the network edge), transport encryption (IPsec, TLS, PRINS), identity and access on OSS/BSS, and monitoring at both the packet and log level. Controls are audited against GSMA FS.11/FS.19/FS.20/FS.36 and, in Europe, NIS2 sectoral rules.

To place Control Plane Security in the wider telecom-security picture, review CAP, Core Network Security Assessment, 5G SBA, ACL, KPI and Management Plane.

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