O-Cloud (O-RAN Cloud Platform)

Also known as: O-RAN Cloud

O-Cloud is the cloud infrastructure (compute, storage, network, accelerators) that hosts O-RAN Cloud Network Functions such as O-CU, O-DU and Near-RT RIC. It is managed by the SMO over the O2 interface and typically implemented as a Kubernetes-based platform on commodity servers with hardware acceleration for L1 processing. O-Cloud security spans host hardening, workload isolation, image supply chain, secure boot and the O2 trust boundary.

Categories: Radio Access NetworkCore NetworkCloud and Virtualization

O-Cloud in context

The radio access network is where mobile devices attach to the operator's infrastructure. Attacks in this layer include IMSI catching, rogue base stations and downgrade attacks; defenses rest on mutual authentication, integrity-protected signaling and Open RAN supply-chain hygiene.

The mobile core carries subscriber sessions, mobility and policy. In 4G it is the EPC (MME, HSS, S/PGW); in 5G it is the Service-Based Architecture with AMF, SMF, UPF, AUSF, UDM and the NRF.

To place O-Cloud in the wider telecom-security picture, review SMO, O2 Interface, Fronthaul, Core Network, CSPM and IGW: each entry cross-references back to this page so you can walk the topic in either direction.

Related terms

Related topic hubs

  • Open RAN Security O-RAN xApp/rApp, E2/A1/O1 interfaces and RIC security.
  • NAS Security Non-Access Stratum security, integrity and ciphering algorithms.

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.