Integrity

Integrity is the property that data has not been altered without authorisation. In telecom it is delivered by message authentication codes (HMAC, GMAC, EIA/NIA on the air interface, ICV on IPsec packets), by digital signatures (X.509, JWT), and by integrity-protected signalling such as SEPP PRINS on the 5G N32 interface. Loss of integrity undermines every other security property.

Categories: SignalingRoaming and InterconnectSecurity Controls

Integrity in context

Signaling protocols carry the control-plane messages that set up calls, register subscribers 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 as top-tier telecom risk.

Roaming and interconnect are where two operators exchange signaling and user-plane traffic. Trust boundaries here are the primary attack surface for location tracking, SMS interception and fraud, which is why GSMA now mandates SEPP with PRINS on 5G interconnect.

To place Integrity in the wider telecom-security picture, review N32 Interface (5G), Interconnect Security Model, Inter-PLMN Security, Signaling Firewall, N32 Tampering and FS.36: each entry cross-references back to this page so you can walk the topic in either direction.

Related terms

Related topic hubs

  • 5G Security 5G SBA, SEPP, SUCI, 5G-AKA, N32 and service-based interface security.
  • Roaming Security IPX/GRX interconnect risk, home-routed vs local-breakout, SEPP.
  • SEPP Security N32-c/N32-f, PRINS, JWE and OAuth 2.0 at the 5G roaming edge.
  • Diameter Attacks S6a IDR/PUR/CLR abuse, subscriber tracking, LTE signaling attacks.

More from the TelcoSec Glossary

Browse the full TelcoSec Glossary, the Ultimate Guide to Mobile Network Security, or the P1 Arsenal of telecom-security tools.