RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman)

RSA, named after Rivest, Shamir, and Adleman (1977), is the long-standing public-key cryptosystem used for encryption and digital signatures, based on the difficulty of factoring large semiprimes. Modern security requires keys of 2048 bits or longer, with 3072+ recommended for new deployments. Post-quantum cryptography roadmaps (NIST PQC) anticipate eventual migration away from RSA.

Categories: Core NetworkSignalingSecurity Controls

RSA in context

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.

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.

To place RSA in the wider telecom-security picture, review 5G SBA, Core Network Security Assessment, ACL, Network Exposure Function (NEF), Signaling IDS and Telecom SIEM: each entry cross-references back to this page so you can walk the topic in either direction.

Related terms

Related topic hubs

  • SS7 Security SS7/MAP/CAP/SCCP attacks and defenses across 2G/3G interconnect.
  • SS7 Firewall GSMA FS.11 category 1/2/3 SS7 message screening at the STP edge.
  • Diameter Security 4G/LTE Diameter threats across IPX/roaming and DEA defenses.
  • SMS Firewall SMS spam, phishing, A2P bypass and MAP-layer SMS filtering.

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.