Cellular network security on tap from Narus

Software upgrades existing carrier security management suite

Narus this week at CTIA Wireless in Orlando is unveiling plans for a software module designed for cellular network security, to be added to the company's carrier security platform.

The NarusInsight Secure Suite is widely used at the core of wireline carrier networks, where the software monitors all traffic, and can inspect a packet from its low-level routing information up to the actual data the packet is carrying. Algorithms and other code detect identified attacks or problems or anomalies, correlate these, identify what’s happening, and take action to block them.

The new wireless module adapts a chunk of this capability for cellular traffic. Wireless carriers can identify viruses and denial-of-service attacks as in wireline traffic, but also specifically wireless attacks, such as continued pinging of a cell phone to keep the phone awake and drain its battery, or man-in-the-middle attacks to highjack a phone or its account.

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Narus this week at CTIA Wireless in Orlando is unveiling plans for a software module designed for cellular network security, to be added to the company's carrier security platform.

The NarusInsight Secure Suite is widely used at the core of wireline carrier networks, where the software monitors all traffic, and can inspect a packet from its low-level routing information up to the actual data the packet is carrying. Algorithms and other code detect identified attacks or problems or anomalies, correlate these, identify what’s happening, and take action to block them.

The new wireless module adapts a chunk of this capability for cellular traffic. Wireless carriers can identify viruses and denial-of-service attacks as in wireline traffic, but also specifically wireless attacks, such as continued pinging of a cell phone to keep the phone awake and drain its battery, or man-in-the-middle attacks to highjack a phone or its account.

Narus has a set of interfaces that lets customers or integrators quickly build connections with existing core network systems, including firewalls, RADIUS servers and intrusion-detection systems.

The NarusInsight Wireless Module is scheduled to be available in the fourth quarter. Narus doesn’t disclose carrier pricing.

Read more about software in Network World's Software section.