Why security can’t be an afterthought
Imagine a city’s entire water grid going offline because a rogue actor slipped through unnoticed. Or an emergency communication network stalling at the moment it’s needed most. These aren’t scenes from a movie—they’re plausible consequences of modern threats like Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), which can sit undetected within a network for weeks or months, quietly gathering information or preparing for a coordinated attack.
APTs are sophisticated. They don’t crash through the front door—they study the floor plan, pick the lock, and take their time. To defend against them, organizations need more than firewalls. They need layered, intelligent defenses that can adapt just as quickly as threats do.
Ericsson Security Manager provides this layered defense through application-level visibility, behavior-based detection that flags abnormal activity, and protection against airspace intrusions such as rogue base stations. These aren’t theoretical capabilities—they’re built-in safeguards designed for today’s most complex networks. And by supporting Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), ESM ensures that no connection is trusted by default. Every user, device, and action must prove its legitimacy.
Designing for the new normal
In this landscape, regulations are getting stricter. Governments and oversight bodies are requiring operators—both public and private—to adopt controls that match the scale and sensitivity of their networks. But regulation is just the baseline. True leadership means getting ahead of the curve.
This is where operators must focus:
- Security operations must offer constant visibility. Without it, threats hide in plain sight.
- Automation must replace manual enforcement. As networks expand with virtualization and IoT, automation ensures consistency and speed.
- End-to-end protection means thinking beyond isolated solutions—securing the entire ecosystem, from radio units and core systems to cloud applications and services.
These principles aren’t abstract—they’re being implemented by mission-critical organizations every day.
Challenges met with clarity
Organizations in public safety, defense, and critical utilities face mounting complexity. Sensitive data must be protected. Service uptime must be guaranteed. Regulatory standards must be met. And above all, cyber risk must be anticipated, not just reacted to.
Mission-critical networks demand thoughtful architecture. That includes:
- Defense in depth to catch what singular controls might miss
- Isolation of critical traffic to limit exposure
- Centralized identity and access management, ensuring only the right people have the right permissions
- Advanced tools to detect modern threats without slowing down performance
These aren’t just IT upgrades. They are strategic shifts in how security is embedded into operations.
Securing the path forward
5G is not just an upgrade—it’s a reinvention of how networks function. And for critical infrastructure, that reinvention must come with a security-first mindset.
Ericsson Security Manager equips organizations with the visibility, automation, and assurance they need to operate confidently. From managing certificates to orchestrating secure configurations across complex environments, ESM reduces risk while empowering progress.
Because in today’s world, security isn’t just a requirement—it’s the foundation for trust, continuity, and growth.
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Learn more about Ericsson’s leading Mission Critical Networks portfolio and what it can do for your business.
Texas based Utility LCRA will leverage ESM for Cyber Defense of the Private Cellular Network.
Evolving the security posture for critical infrastructure
