Telecom cyber resiliency: Lessons from a recent breach

Time of India

17 hours ago

By Arvind Khurana, Regional VP & Country Head for Cloud and Network Services at Nokia India
A few months ago, a sophisticated cyberattack quietly rocked the telecom industry in East Asia. The breach, which infiltrated the core network of a major operator, exposed one of the most sensitive components in telecom infrastructure: the Home Subscriber Server (HSS). This system, often described as the digital brain of mobile networks, stores critical user data—particularly from Universal Subscriber Identity Modules (USIMs). Once compromised, the attacker gained potential access to IMSI numbers, authentication keys, SMS metadata, contacts, and more.
The repercussions were far-reaching. With this level of access, malicious actors could theoretically clone SIM cards, launch identity theft campaigns, or commit financial fraud. To mitigate risk and regain public trust, the affected operator offered free SIM replacements to over 23 million users.
While the incident took place far from Indian shores, it serves as a stark warning for the telecom industry worldwide—especially for emerging digital powerhouses like India.
Telecom Data: A Goldmine for Cybercriminals
With more than 1.15 billion mobile subscribers and an economy increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure, India is among the largest and most connected telecom markets globally. In fact, the average Indian mobile user now consumes nearly 1 GB of data daily, a figure that has skyrocketed with the proliferation of 4G and rapid rollout of 5G in metro cities.
But with greater connectivity comes greater vulnerability. The attack surface has expanded exponentially, and telecom networks—which carry everything from financial transactions to biometric data—have become prime targets for cybercriminals.
Unlike past decades, where telecom was primarily about call connectivity, today's networks are integrated with e-commerce, banking, e-governance, healthcare, utilities, energy, and enterprise IT systems. In such a vast and data-intensive landscape, ensuring the cybersecurity and resilience of telecom networks has become not just a technical imperative but a national priority.
India's Data Surge Demands a Security Surge
Recent global incidents underscore a troubling trend. In the last 18 months alone, high-profile breaches have affected several major telecom players:
Salt Typhoon breached networks to access user data.A cloud workspace vulnerability exposed metadata of millions.A ransomware attack by the Trigona group disrupted services and encrypted vast amounts of sensitive data.And in one case, unauthorized access led to the potential leakage of critical information belonging to thousands of corporate clients.
These events emphasize that telecom-specific vulnerabilities are not theoretical—they are being actively exploited. As geopolitical dynamics grow more complex, the strategic importance of securing critical digital infrastructure like telecom networks has never been greater.
Indian telecom operators must now treat proactive security as a foundational pillar of network resilience.
Beyond Generic Tools: The Case for Telecom-Specific Security
One of the biggest takeaways from the East Asian breach—and echoed by Nokia's security experts—is that general-purpose cybersecurity tools fall short in protecting telecom networks.
Telecom core networks are complex, often built on Linux-based systems, and require specialized Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools designed for such environments.
A next-generation telco-specific EDR must include:
Agent-based detection powered by network traffic analysis, AI and machine learning for real-time threat analytics.Automated lifecycle management of EDR agents to reduce patching delays and ensure compliance.Lightweight EDR agents and sensors that operate without disrupting critical services or draining network resources.
Without these specialized capabilities, telecom operators are left exposed to increasingly sophisticated and targeted attacks.
Learning from the Breach: Critical Priorities
The breach in East Asia offers vital lessons for Indian telecom stakeholders. Here are four key takeaways:
Enhance 24/7 monitoring with telecom-specific XDR, powered by AI/GenAI: Always-on threat hunting and real-time detection are crucial—especially during weekends, holidays, and peak usage periods when attackers often strike.Strengthen Network Function protection: Advanced EDR should focus on telco vulnerabilities, identify malware behavior patterns, and alert teams to abnormal infrastructure activity.Enforce Zero Trust architecture and Privileged Access Management (PAM): Operate under the principle of 'assume breach' and verify every user, device, and request. Use digital certificates, implement network segmentation, and strictly control administrative access.Advance Risk Management and Regulatory Compliance: Conduct targeted risk assessments in alignment with global telecom standards and regional frameworks. Mature your Security Operations Center (SOC) and fast-track the security transformation for 4G and 5G networks.
Building the Future: A Proactive Defense Strategy
As cyberattacks become faster and more sophisticated—amplified by Generative AI and automation tools— telecom companies must adopt a more anticipatory and resilient approach to cybersecurity.
The
Nokia Threat Intelligence Report
confirms a steady rise in attacks on telecom infrastructure, demanding innovation in how we protect our networks.
What's needed now is an industry-wide shift to embrace security frameworks designed for telecom, by telecom experts. This includes continuous monitoring, automation, and intelligent threat analytics embedded across the network lifecycle.
At Nokia, we are deeply invested in building a leading telco security portfolio that can help operators stay ahead of attackers, comply with regulations, and—most importantly—retain the trust of their users.
A Call to Action for India's Telecom Ecosystem
India is on the brink of a digital revolution, but the promise of connectivity must be matched with the discipline of security.
The breach in East Asia wasn't just a local event—it was a global wake-up call. For India, where telecom is the backbone of both digital governance and economic inclusion, the stakes are even higher.
Now is the time for India's telecom ecosystem—government, operators, and solution providers—to join forces and ensure that cybersecurity is not a patchwork afterthought but a core pillar of infrastructure planning.
Because in the digital age, resilience is not just about recovery—it's about prevention.
(DISCLAIMER: The article has been published under the ETTelecom Brand Connect Initiative.)