EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
In the age of the coronavirus, where the demand for connectivity is high, the enthusiasm for 5G is growing. Here’s what you should know.
What are the advantages of 5G networks for organizations?
In tech terms, the main advantages are:
- Increased communication speed (roughly 20% faster)
- Lower latency
- Higher capacity
In addition to offering faster video downloads and greater precision among automated vehicles, 5G may grow to underpin industries, including those that are heavily dependent on IoT and AI. 5G implementation could lead to overall improvements in business performance. Faster internet can translate to greater productivity.
Nearly 90% of business leaders report that their organizations maintain a 5G strategy. However, only 15% of those surveyed stated that their business had begun investing in 5G. Given organizations’ ambitions to optimize, what’s the hold-up?
What are the barriers to 5G network adoption for organizations?
Barriers to 5G adoption include cost and complexity, incomplete understanding of the technologies’ full potential for the business, and disinterest in taking an organizational risk, especially in the wake of business declines prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.
5G can introduce new security risks. The transition to 5G requires “…a shift from hardware-based, centralized switching to software-defined digital routing and [instead] relies on a system of distributed digital networks with more traffic routing points,” writes Alfred Jackson, for the Entrepreneur Fund. Implementing comprehensive cyber security for these routing points is critical, but can present technical and budgetary challenges.
How can your organization prepare for a 5G business environment?
First, take steps to ascertain which components of your business environment will see the greatest impact with the future adoption of 5G. Be sure to note those areas so that you can prioritize them when it comes to cyber security.
You’ll also want to think about setting up a cyber security solution that follows the workloads and the data. SASE based security platforms will take on growing importance in this area.
Consider shifting your cyber security program so that it is in-line with Zero Trust methodologies. Ensure that only those who need access to your systems are able to get in.
Invest in next-generation endpoint protection that comes with behavioral and machine learning capabilities.
And so much more. For additional info on how you can secure your future 5G network, click here.
