5GhOSTS · 5th GeneratiOn Security for Telecom Services

5th GeneratiOn Security for Telecom Services

5GhOSTS has analysed and improved the security of service-based implementations of 5G networks, relevant to protect the EU’s critical communication infrastructure. Starting from the emerging 3GPP's service-based architecture for 5G networks, which includes virtualization of mobile and core network functions, the project aims to improve the security of virtualization technologies: containers, lightweight Virtual Machines and orchestration frameworks. Unlike previous evolutions in the telecommunications sector, the 5th Generation of Telecommunication Systems (5G) presents diverse and novel requirements for technologies such as heterogeneous air interfaces, Software Defined Networking, Network Functions Virtualization, Mobile Edge Computing and Fog Computing, as well as algorithms to optimize the management of such complex networks. As a result, the 5G evolution will mainly built on layers of software services. The telecom industry has migrated to virtualized and orchestrated environments, allowing the deployment of Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) on cloud infrastructure enabling the concept of network slicing. The main motivation driver for this move is sustainability through cost and energy reduction as well as full automation of telecom systems operations facilitating dynamic and scalable adaptation to service demands. State-of-the-art light-weight virtualization and container platforms clearly contribute to this driver, but did not yet meet the stringent security requirements of telecommunication systems. The objectives of the 5GhOSTS project are: 1. To form an international and interdisciplinary research group of four ESRs and senior researchers from computer science and law; 2. To design, implement and release a number of building blocks for secure light‐weight virtualization and container orchestration technology for upcoming 5G networks, which provide a strong, well‐understood and formalized notion of security, and which complies with legal requirements with respect to data privacy. The developed building blocks all contribute towards improved security and privacy of container-based VNFs; 3. To address the growing need of the EU economy for young researchers with a strong profile (technical, legal and economic) in the 5G telecommunications domain. An ambitious and challenging training programme has been successfully adapted to the Covid-19 pandemic situation.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union