Sitting at the core of a nation’s CNI, telecoms operators face some significant challenges and obligations when it comes to data protection. Along with providing the nation-wide infrastructure that enables communications, telecoms operators also carry the communications traffic and data that flows between businesses and citizens every second of the day in the digital age.
As such, they are obligated to protect not only any data which they transport, but also the telecommunications infrastructure upon which citizens, businesses and entire nations depend.
As the digital landscape evolves, so too do the challenges facing these organisations. From managing vast data volumes to navigating complex regulations and more sophisticated threats, the task of securing a telco network has never been more demanding.
The weight of data
The key challenge facing today’s telecoms operators centres on data security given the sheer scale of information they handle. Telcos collect vast swathes of data on millions of people – metadata associated with call durations, locations and connection times, for example – equating to terabytes of data every single day.
This challenge is complicated by the changing nature of communication. We have moved away from traditional telephony data towards complex digital footprints left by messaging apps, WhatsApp calls, and other data services. As these data services have expanded, volumes have skyrocketed – creating a massive repository of information that must be managed efficiently and securely.
The fundamental question facing the industry is therefore one of capacity and security: how can an organisation possibly keep such a colossal volume of sensitive information secure – not only within its own organisation but also across its supply chain?
This question must be answered amidst an evolving threat landscape, as the mountains of data being collected don’t go unnoticed. Threat intelligence consistently identifies telecommunications operators and their suppliers as prime targets for a wide range of hostile actors, from opportunistic cybercriminals to sophisticated nation-state groups.
The attraction for these actors is clear. The vast amount of data held by telcos makes them a lucrative target for ransomware attacks. Criminals know that the pressure to recover potentially sensitive customer data quickly can force organisations into difficult positions, particularly given how the impact of a breach can affect millions of people within minutes.
And we’ve seen over the last 12 months how cybercriminals are becoming increasingly adept at breaking through defences, largely thanks to advances in AI. For example, today’s threat actors routinely use generative AI to identify vulnerabilities and assess which ones might be most impactful to exploit. What’s more, the means for human deception – through social engineering, deepfakes and other manipulation techniques – are becoming increasingly prevalent and effective thanks to AI capabilities – all of which highlights the scale of the challenge facing telco operators.
Meeting regulatory pressures
Governments around the world are responding to these threats with stricter regulations. For example, the UK’s new Cyber Security and Resilience Bill proposes new laws to improve UK cyber defences and protect essential public services, while the Telecommunications (Security) Act introduces a robust set of requirements for Tier 1 operators. By 2026, these organisations must demonstrate not only how they secure their own data but also how they ensure their sub-contractors and supply chains meet the necessary standards.
Ultimately, telcos are now being asked to do more to manage their suppliers, ensuring that security is maintained across the entire ecosystem. Similar legislative moves are happening across Europe, creating a complex web of compliance requirements that operators must navigate. For example, the EU e-Evidence Regulation imposes several technical and organisational obligations on service providers, including stricter timescales for responding to law enforcement requests and enhanced data protection requirements.
Moving from reactive to proactive
Given the scale of the threat, a reactive approach is no longer sufficient. Operators cannot wait for a breach to happen before they act. They must adopt a proactive security posture, ensuring their systems remain relevant and effective against modern threats.
This requires a shift in mindset. It is about flipping the internal narrative to focus on planning and risk awareness. Key strategies include:
- Ethical Hacking and Red Teaming: Employing 'Red Teams' to conduct ethical hacking, and identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors. These penetration testers work with the business to find specific areas of concern and attempt to exploit them in a controlled environment.
- Maturity Assessments: Independent verification of security posture at the board level provides a clear picture of an organisation’s readiness. These assessments suggest targeted remediation, helping leaders make informed decisions about where to invest in security.
- Tabletop Exercises: Simulating a crisis through tabletop exercises helps answer a critical question: is the business ready? By walking through scenarios, such as a major ransomware attack or a physical breach, teams can test their response plans and identify gaps in their processes.
Embracing holistic defence
The industry is currently undergoing a major transition towards cloud adoption. While moving to the cloud offers cost savings and operational flexibility, it also moves data into a potentially more exposed environment – blurring the lines between traditional engineering and compliance.
To manage this, operators need a holistic defence strategy. Solutions like STARA® (System Threat Analysis and Risk Assessment) help organisations view their security not as a series of isolated checkpoints, but as a comprehensive, integrated system.
By embracing this mindset – along with prioritising proactive measures and fostering collaboration with suppliers – telco operators can build the resilience needed to protect the data and infrastructure upon which our digital lives depend.
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