Proximus NXT and Fortinet: maximum security for private 5G networks

5G PN uses the same technology as public 5G networks, but remains completely proprietary for the rest. You can enjoy significantly higher speeds, lower latency and greater capacity, while deciding who gets access to the network and how to set it up.

Data remains local

Rembert Van den Bosch, 5G product manager at Proximus NXT, notes that the number of deployments of 5G PN and interest from the business world are growing rapidly. "5G PN is a must in end-to-end monitoring of production processes. This explains the great interest within the manufacturing and logistics industries. But 5G PN is also finding its way into the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors. Local data processing and fast data transmission also open new doors in the medical world, for example for the use of surgical robots."

Increased data security with a local 5G network

A local 5G network significantly increases IT security compared to other technologies. “Advanced encryption and secure access controls provide increased data traffic protection,” Van den Bosch continues. "One specific feature of a private network is that it stores and processes the data locally, on its own site, unless you grant access to specific external parties for certain processes. That means you keep control over the data traffic yourself."

Pablo Molinero, responsible for product management at Fortinet

An additional layer of security

A private 5G network is already very secure and Proximus NXT and Fortinet put an additional, optional layer of security on top of it. “For maximum protection, companies benefit from company-specific security,” Pablo Molinero, responsible for product management at Fortinet, told us. "Those additional needs include the level of network configuration management: on no account would you allow unauthorized users to change the configurations. Additional precautions are also desirable at the endpoint level, as many 5G PN projects are linked to connected machines and processes, and so belong to the domain of operational technology (OT)."

Complete security solutions for 5G PN

Proximus NXT and Fortinet security focuses on all aspects of a 5G PN. Molinero explains: "We create a secure gateway that controls and secures network traffic between the internal environment and external networks. We also build in solutions for network configuration management and provide firewalls specific to the data traffic of a 5G PN. Those solutions fit seamlessly with concrete business processes and network requirements."

Separation between IT and OT

As security product manager at Proximus NXT, Bart Callens is a central point of contact when it comes to the security of private 5G networks. "Business continuity is one of the top concerns of organizations considering an 5G PN, certainly for companies that are highly dependent on ʿOperational Technology’ (OT), think of ventilation equipment in hospitals. The separation between OT and IT comes emphatically to the fore and Fortinet's security mechanisms offer that.

The ‘Purdue Model’ divides the customer's network into different ‘Trust’ zones, with a clear determination of allowed network flows between these zones in order to optimally secure the customer's network. Our security solutions support the customer to map his network to this Purdue Model and control the flows between the different zones."

Proximus NXT and Fortinet: a comprehensive solution for 5G PN and SD-WAN

Proximus NXT and Fortinet have been a successful combination for a long time. “As an expert partner of Fortinet, the cooperation is not only limited to the optimal security of private 5G networks,” Bart clarifies. "We also use Fortinet's technological solutions to protect SD-WAN configurations. This makes it easy for customers who combine SD-WAN with 5G and 5G PN. Thanks to our cooperation, they have a fully integrated security solution for their network infrastructure."

Full security spectrum

The expertise and experience of both partners create peace of mind and aim to relieve the burden. “Our strength lies in mastering the entire security spectrum,” Bart explains. "We map current security measures, expose vulnerabilities and provide the solutions to address them. For example, Proximus NXT helps the customer set up and embed an internal or external Security Operations Center (SOC): a centralized set of people, processes and tools to manage security incidents."

Rembert adds that elements such as additional security for 5G PN and the establishment of a SOC are also a necessity from a legislative perspective. "The NIS2 regulations require advanced security solutions in terms of protection of critical infrastructure. In addition, security measures are increasingly becoming a basic requirement for cybersecurity insurers."