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TELSEC03-BP02 Deploy signaling firewall on the roaming and interconnecting interfaces with other telco networks - Telco Lens
Implementation guidance

TELSEC03-BP02 Deploy signaling firewall on the roaming and interconnecting interfaces with other telco networks

The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) recommends deploying signaling firewalls on the roaming and interconnecting interfaces with other telco networks. This best practice is aimed at protecting the telco network from potential signaling-based attacks and maintaining the overall security and integrity of the network.

The signaling firewall acts as a gatekeeper, monitoring and filtering the signaling traffic exchanged between the telco network and its roaming partners or interconnected networks. By implementing a signaling firewall, organizations can effectively mitigate the risk of unauthorized access, signaling storms, and other signaling-related security threats, thereby enhancing the resilience and reliability of the network.

Level of risk exposed if this best practice is not established: High

Implementation guidance

Catalog and understand the network topology and signaling traffic across each identified interface. Deploy a signaling firewall solution capable of deep packet inspection, protocol validation, and anomaly detection, aligned with the organization's security policies. Integrate the signaling firewall with comprehensive logging, monitoring, and centralized security analysis capabilities. Configure the firewall to inspect and filter signaling traffic, implementing protocol-specific rules to detect and block unauthorized or malicious activities. Establish robust monitoring and incident response procedures, integrating the firewall logs with advanced security analytics tools. Regularly review and update the signaling firewall's configuration, rulesets, and software versions to maintain effectiveness against evolving threats, leveraging automated maintenance and validation processes.

Implementation steps

  • Identify roaming and interconnection interfaces:

    • Catalog the roaming and interconnection interfaces within the telco network, including the protocols and signaling traffic exchanged.

    • Understand the network topology and the flow of signaling traffic across the identified interfaces.

  • Deploy signaling firewall solution:

    • Select a signaling firewall solution that is compatible with the identified protocols and interfaces within the telco network.

    • Configure the signaling firewall to align with the organization's security policies and best practices.

  • Integrate signaling firewall with AWS services:

    • Integrate the signaling firewall with Amazon CloudWatch for comprehensive logging and monitoring of signaling traffic and security events.

    • Utilize AWS Security Hub CSPM to centralize the security findings from the signaling firewall and other security services, enabling holistic security analysis and incident response.

  • Signaling traffic inspection and filtering:

    • Configure the signaling firewall to inspect incoming and outgoing signaling traffic, validating the integrity and authenticity of the signaling messages.

    • Implement signaling protocol-specific rules and policies to detect and block unauthorized or malicious signaling activities, such as signaling storms, fraud attempts, and network element impersonation.

    • Regularly update the signaling firewall's rulesets and signatures to address evolving signaling-based threats and vulnerabilities.

  • Signaling firewall monitoring and incident response:

    • Establish robust monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect and respond to anomalies or security incidents related to the signaling traffic.

    • Integrate the signaling firewall logs with Amazon CloudWatch and Amazon OpenSearch Service for advanced security analysis and threat hunting.

    • Develop and test incident response procedures to mitigate the impact of signaling-based attacks or network disruptions.

  • Signaling firewall maintenance and updates:

    • Regularly review and update the signaling firewall's configuration, rulesets, and software versions to verify it remains effective against the latest security threats.

    • Leverage AWS Systems Manager for automated patching and updates of the signaling firewall infrastructure.

    • Conduct periodic testing and validation of the signaling firewall's functionality and security posture.