INSIGHT Simon Stokes - 01T
“Utilising MACsec with upper layer security technologies like SSL & IPsec enables prevention in
providing robust end to end network security.”
Simon Stokes, Commercial Director - 01T
MACsec: Next level
security for data networks
The integrity of data is still a burning issue. Rather than ignore where responsibilities end, in terms of the
protection and security of end users data, the reseller community should be leveraging the expertise that is
available within the supply chain. Simon Stokes, Commercial Director for 01T, explains
e government outlined
their ambition to safeguard the
UK’s national security interests,
possibly in a direct response to
the growing pressure surrounding
the use of Huawei equipment
in the UK’s communications
network infrastructure,
developing a Telecoms Supply
Chain Review.
At the very top level network
security is being taken very
seriously with state sponsored
attacks being identied as a key
threat which seek to exploit any
weakness within a network. At
every level of network design
operators and suppliers will
need to work much more closely
to ensure that there is proper
assurance testing for equipment,
systems and software.
ere are of course, as a
result of the increased threats,
increasingly robust measures
being taken to protect data on
a local level but what more can
be done to secure the transit
network layer?
When designing high
capacity network solutions
for our clients, it vital for us
to understand and mitigate
the growing risk to transit
trac from intrusion, denial
of service attacks, man in
the middle snooping, passive
wiretapping, playback attacks
and masquerading.
We are all familiar with the
growing demand in the channel
for higher capacity connectivity
which is vitally important for
today’s businesses. In no other
sector has demand for higher
Simon Stokes,
Commercial Director
for 01T
capacity been met as such rapid
speed and with more dark bre
becoming available 100g will
soon be the norm and not just the
prized bandwidth for backhaul.
Faster, more complex, more
integrated networks require more
attention to security at every level.
MACsec is a technology that
enables secure communication
for trac on Ethernet links.
Utilising MACsec with upper
layer security technologies like
SSL & IPsec enables prevention
in providing robust end to end
network security. In simple terms
it oers much better protection
from all types of threats adding
a level of security to the network
layer.
What makes MACsec
essential for protecting trac
is how it checks the integrity of
data when its being transmitted
It’s no longer a domain for
the subject matter experts,
protecting customers from
data security threats can be an
eective selling point and used to
objection handle when pitching
on a competitive requirement.
If you are not involved in
managing a data network day
to day, it’s sometimes easy
to glaze over when you see
the words Network Security.
However, Network Security is
as crucial today as it’s ever been
and despite a huge increase in
the number of UK businesses
implementing a cyber security
policy to protect their data, cyberattacks
are becoming ever more
sophisticated.
In July 2019 the Digital
Secretary Jeremy Wright set
out plans to improve security
standards and practices across
the UK’s telecoms sector. e
proposals put forward included
new legislation to enforce
stronger security requirements in
the telecoms sector and protect
the UK from threats.
“e UK telecoms sector
must prioritise secure and safe
networks for consumers and
business. With the growth of our
digital sector and transformative
new services over 5G and full
bre broadband in the coming
years, this is not something to
compromise on. People expect
the telecoms sector to be a beacon
of safety and this review will
make sure that safety and security
is at the forefront of future
networks.” – Jeremy Wright –
Digital Secretary.
from one place to another
enablingcondentiality and
integrity without performance
degradation.
Businesses are increasingly
using MACsec on layer 2 links
to adhere to strict regulative
protection in nance, banking
and other businesses passing
sensitive data through their
networks. Oering the same
protection as you would nd in
a datacentre to encrypt point to
point, encrypt VM/Applications
internally and external links
MACSec is gaining signicant
traction. Often trac can pass
un-encrypted across networks
(as we rely on inadequate upper
stack encryption), by utilising
MACSec, you can be certain
that all trac that passes across
your network will be encrypted -
leaving nothing to chance.
56 | Comms Business Magazine | September 2019 www.commsbusiness.co.uk
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