SSH (Secure Shell)

Secure Shell (RFC 4251) is the standard encrypted protocol for remote terminal access, file transfer, and tunneling, replacing insecure Telnet and rlogin. SSH supports password and public-key authentication and is the default management interface for Linux servers, network equipment, and many telecom OAM systems. Key management hygiene and disabling password logins are baseline hardening steps.

Categories: Radio Access NetworkSecurity ControlsProtocols and Standards

SSH 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.

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

To place SSH in the wider telecom-security picture, review 6G, DOCSIS, EAP, MPLS, IKEv2 and SRv6 — each entry cross-references back to this page so you can walk the topic in either direction.

Related terms

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